Restaurant Review: Kielo

3 06 2012

Restaurant Kielo is located in Joensuu in the North Karelia. It has one of the most sophisticated kitchens in the area. Name comes from flower, lily-of-the-valley, which happens to be national flower of Finland. Kielo serves Finnish and local dishes and uses ingredients which are purchased from local producers. In the summer diners can also eat at the terrace.

A la carte list is short but offers enough alternatives for tasting delicious Finnish food. Wine list could be more versatile; wish to add Riesling as one of the crapes.

After graduation party it was time to dine.

Started dinner with Green salad (starters were a little bit difficult for allergic guest), Smoked fish mousse and potato salad (maybe more clear taste of potato would have made the starter perfect, Starters of the house – 5 small starters from North Karelian flavours (reindeer, chicken rillette, smoked salmon mousse, beef rillette and pate) and Asparagus with sauce Maltese. All starters were good, but especially Starters of the house were masterpieces. Tender reindeer and pate were best part of it.

For main courses ordered Pan fried perch with false morrel sauce, Fillet of deer with beef rillette (Roe) and Vegetables of the house. Fresh fish was this time Pike Perch as Perch has finished. Fish was fried with experience. Ordered one portion without morel sauce which actually is well suited for Finnish fishes. Roe was so soft that one could have been able to eat it with spoon. Beef rillette was also tasty but maybe a little bit too much salty.

For dessert had Finnish cheeses (Aura Gold blue cheese, 4 and 6 months ripened Finnish cheeses), Sorbet of the house with berries and Cow´s first milk pudding with rhubarb and ginger flavoured ice-cream. Would have prefered one older and stronger cheese, but port wine smoothed over flavors; as always. Sorbet and ice-cream are always delicious as they were also this time.

Kielo is genuine Finnish restaurant serving well prepared Finnish food. In warm summer day one should always choose to dine at the terrace.

REVIEW: FOOD 4-/5 – SERVICE 4-/5 – OVERALL GRADE 3,5/5

Etusivu


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Restaurant Review: Messina (Spain)

29 05 2012

Restaurant Messina is ranked 2nd by TripAdvisor customer reviews in Marbella. Messina is quite small with about 30 seats. Made reservation 2 weeks ahead and restaurant called to reconfirm it same day as we dined. All seats were occupied by diners by 9PM, so obviously restaurant is very popular place.

Decor is modern, background music played was soft lounge e.g. like from Hotel Costes albums. Waitering was professional and polite, contents of each portion were described in detail.

Greetings from the kitchen were generous. Smoked Bressaola, Serrano and other stuff in stone “cup”; aroma of smoke was strong when waitress raised cover. Parsley with cheese in sticks with some additional ingredients and “ice cream” in glass cube were brilliant performance by the kitchen.

For starters we ordered Ingredientes de sushi y espuma de arroz – Sushi “de-fusion” with a rice foam and Cecina de Salmon – smoked dried salmon with tomatoes and olive powder. When sushi was brought, thick gray steam raised from small grid after waitress poured ginger liquid on it, amazing! And when soft tuna fish was dipped in rice foam, wasabi and ginger liquid, combination was marvelous. Salmon with add on’s was also enjoyable.

For main courses chose Salmonete con meloso de quinoa – Red mullet with sweet quinoa, shimps and octopus and Corvina de conil – Sea bass/Crocker. Both fishes were properly cooked and accompaniments suited well for them. Octopus under red mullet was crispy and asparagus under Crocker enough crisp also.

For wine we chose Radix rose wine. Almost red but still rose with strong bouquet and flavor. Good choice for wide taste of the world during dinner.

Dessert was Queso y vino – Cheese and wine. Four different types of cheese with 4cl glass of Pedro Ximenez sherry. Cheese and port or sherry are always unbeatable combination; with these cheeses sherry was bulls eye.

Restaurant Messina provides culinaristic and artistic dinner experience one should try if visiting Marbella.

REVIEW: FOOD 4,5/5 – SERVICE 4,5/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4,5/5

http://www.restaurantemessina.com/ (Messina website is not up to date when it comes to a la carte list)

http://www.paresbalta.com/default2.asp


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Restaurant review: Aroma (Spain)

14 05 2012

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Restaurante Aroma is pleasant surprise in a little bit worn area. Polite waiter and waitresses and well prepared portions. One can dine outside or in, both have same style and red coloured tables.

For starters chose Ensalada ahumados and Primera mixta.. Both were delicious, best parts in Starter selection were fried camenbert cheese and pate. Ahumados, smoked cold salmon was soft and fresh.

For main courses ordered Lenguado planch, Sole fish. Maybe a little bit over grilled but garlic taste made it enjoyable. Side dish vegetables were well prepared also for eye.

Only Sorbetes fruta for dessert, so big were portions served. Tea was served in nice pot, had to include in photo.

Aroma awakens your senses, it is written in the check. Close achieving that!

REVIEW: FOOD 3,5/5 – SERVICE 4/5 – OVERALL GRADE 3/5
Too many by passing peddlers trying to sell copies of different brands. One can avoid this by dining inside.

http://www.restaurantearoma.com/


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Restaurant review: Teatterin Grilli

1 05 2012

Restaurant Teatteri is one of the most popular places to spend evening in Helsinki night life or to relax at the terrace on warm summer day. Complex consists of dining room Teatterin Grilli, night club, two bars (Kellobaari and Teatteribaari), popular terrace and self-service wine & deli cafe. Decor is modern including pictures/paintings; one can catch a glimpse of those in picture below.

Decided to dine this time on Labour Day or 1st of May Eve instead of having lunch on May Day which is typical lunch and picnic date for celebrating spring and studies.

Teatterin Grilli a la carte list is tempting; many savory dishes which makes difficult to decide what to order. Think I have eaten here best hamburger ever, TG burger, which includes chilli flavoured shrimp mayonnaise and country style potatoes. Would also say it was worth of price 19,10€.

This time ordered for starters Starter selection Creamy langoustine soup, salmon roasted with black pepper and slightly smoked deer which is well qualified combination of single starters and Salmon roasted with black pepper, marinated fennel and avocado crème.
Soup was best part of the selection of 3 starters, otherwise quite ordinary tastes. Nicely arranged on the plate, however.

For main courses ordered  Fried whitefish, puikula potatoes mashed with lemon butter and vendace roe sauce and Grilled halibut, fried salsify and parsley sauce.
 Both fishes were well prepared and cooking time was rightly calculated. One needs to take Side orders for these portions like Country style potatoes, otherwise one might stay hungry. Mashed potatoes were replaced by vegetables; kitchen is ready to make changes if needed.

For dessert had Cheese Plate; manchego, gouda and Peltola blue. Portion could have included fig or fig jam because it was quite dry but Peltola blue is always savory and glass of port wine made it easier to enjoy dining.

Teatterin Grilli is always popular, need to make table reservation in advance. Got email reply in few minutes which might be the record in confirming reservation. Little bit focus on taste of food and restaurant would earn full 4, because all other elements are in good shape.

REVIEW: FOOD 4-/5 – SERVICE 4/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4+/5

http://www.teatteri.fi/gallery

Ravintola Teatterin grilli


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Restaurant review: Salutorget

20 04 2012

Restaurant Salutorget, Scandinavian bistro, includes an unassuming dining room, bar and classic cafe with waitress services and terrace. Restaurant serves lunch and dinner but also brunch on Sundays and English style Afternoon Tea.

Salutorget is located by Kauppatori (Salutorget in Swedish and  Market Place in English) which is most known market or plaza in Helsinki. One can see that there has been financial institutions operating in the  same location earlier  as rest rooms are in old bank vault. Place has been renovated with craftmanship; 1800’s construction and pillars create a dignified athmosphere. Salutorget is part of Royal Ravintolat chain which has several fine dining restaurants in Helsinki. On Friday it was quite busy inlcuding bar.

Menu consists of traditional Finnish and Scandinavian dishes, such as Toast Skagen, Baltic herrings, raindeer and pike perch.  One can also choose lobster for starter or main course. Wine list is quite short; interesting to see that all wines are from European countries, mainly France, Italy and Spain.

Had to choose  Fried scallops with ceps, pine kernels and salsify puré with garlic for starter; being big fan of scallops. WOW, one of the best scallop starter ever tasted. Second choice was Broiled whitefish tartar with Jerusalem artichoke cream, good but cucumber might have been more flavoured.

For main courses ordered Tender braised reindeer shank with oven baked beetroot, bacon and almond potato puré.  Bacon was more like smalll pieces of  pork ribs and absolutely portion was best part of the kitchen. Reindeer smelted in the mouth and was tender. We also ordered  Roasted pike perch with champagne and pea risotto, fennel sauce but asked vegetables instead of risotto. Fish was absolutely prepared with professional way but vegetables were lightly boring. Suggest to keep with risotto.

Dessert was a ittle bit disappointment. We were prepared for chocolate cake  Chocolate cake with mango sorbet and one was ordered with ice cream. Unfortunately chocolate cake was more or less mousse. If it would have been real chocolate cake you could add + on Food Review.

Dining room and bar were almost all the time full of diners and people having drinks; both places worth of visiting.

REVIEW: FOOD 4/5 – SERVICE 4+/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4,5/5

http://www.salutorget.fi/en

more fotos: http://www.salutorget.fi/en/gallery


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Restaurant review: Loiste

18 03 2012

Restaurant Loiste is located in the heart of Helsinki at the 10th Floor of Hotel Vaakuna and Sokos department store. There is a fantastic view from terraces and part of the restaurant windows. If you are seated on the right side of the restaurant when you come in you can not enjoy of the view, unfortunately. Therefore ask for window table and you can take a look at Kamppi shopping center, old bus station and Lasipalatsi (in english Glass Palace). Loiste is casual type of restaurant but tries to put effort on the menu and food.

There is also playground for the children; if you do not need this “service” as many hotel guests might, be sure your table is not close to it because of the noise. For this reason we gave lower overall grade.

If you want to enjoy aperitif or you are not hungry enough you can always visit Bar Loiste which serves you on the same premises, at 10th floor.

You could choose three different type of starters. Restaurant has on the menu “Snadit”, small appetizers, as one option to start your dining. Two other options for starters and main courses are “Herkkuja Pohjolastaie. Delicacies from the North” and “Pohjolasta Etelään  ie. from North to South”. Menu includes mainly Finnish genuine food but also provides flavours of European kitchens; mainly Southern part and Italy.

From a la carte list we first chose “Snadit” i.e. Duck liver toast with fig compote and Goat Cheese with honey-beetroot syrup. Duck liver toast smelted smoothly in the mouth. Goat cheese should have been grilled a little bit more. Beetroot carpaccio and herb foam and Smoked reindeer with cowberry syrup. Both were delicious; one suggestion for improvement, should not use cold meat as restaurant obviously aims for high standards.

For main cource chose from Delicacies from the North Fish of the day with vegetables and aspargus potato pyre. Fish was typical Finnish fish Pike Perch and perfectly roasted. Excellent flexibility from the kitchen also when we asked some changes. And from North to South chose Red Mullet with shellfish risotto and crab stock which was generous portion, risotto properly prepared and surprise was the amount of prawns and pieces of scallop. Usually you can only taste the flavours of risotto.

For dessert chose only Red Currant sorbet which was nicely served as you can see from the picture above.

Wine list is short and consists of quality wines. Means also that bottle of wine increases quite a lot the total price of the  dinner.

Restaurant Loiste has upgraded it’s menu, a year ago served also hamburgers. Requires a lot from casual type of restaurant but succeeded well this time!

REVIEW: Food 4+/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 3,5/5

http://www.ravintolaloiste.fi/ravintola-loiste.html

Virtual presentation:

http://www.sokoshotels.fi/hotellit/helsinki/vaakuna/virtuaaliesittelyt/

But: if you just want to have a drink at Loiste and wine bar is closed, recommend to find another place because they are not able to serve you from the bar in mid of dining room (update on 21st July 2012)


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Restaurant review: Bon Vivant – at Cruise Ship

13 01 2012

Bon Vivant is a fine dining restaurant at Tallink Silja cruise ships Symphony and Serenade on route between Helsinki and Stockholm.

Restaurant is quiet compared to buffet restautants which gives opportunity speak and hear. You could also dine “outside” at the terrace which you can see in front of the restaurant (picture below)

Menu changes occasionally and wine list is wide due to special wine bar and shop. Dinner included appetizers, main course and cheese plates.

You also get greetings from the kitchen to start with.

At Christmas cruise we had reindeer with potato crocket  and fish in stock and vegetables. Reindeer was tender and rose as you can see in the picture. Fish portion was little bit difficult to eat because vegatables were too raw and soup around them splashed easily (no spoon available).

If you take cheese as dessert you can choose them from trolley; 5 different choices. Blue cheese and white-veined cheese always as favourites.

Waitress also wrote down all choices for us as we tasted all of them.

Ship itself especially cabins need renovation. Those cruising between Helsinki and Tallinn are newer and therefore in good condition.

REVIEW: Food 3,5/5 – Service 4/5 – Overall grade 4/5

http://www.tallinksilja.com/en/shipsAndTerminals/symphony/restaurants/eating.htm

 


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Restaurant review: Food and Lounge Restaurant Namu

8 01 2012

UPDATE ON 1ST OF NOV: NAMU PROVIDES NOWADAYS CALIFORNIAN KITCHEN

Visited Food and Lounge Restaurant Namu a month after opening. Early dinner, half of the tables occupied. Decoration quite unusual for restaurants having asian menu but maybe main idea is to provide opportunity eat while spending time at lounge type of night club. Huge place from which restaurant was about 1/5. Typical customer was around 25-30 years old. It is interesting to see if huge terrace which open ups to railway station will be busy in the summer.

Menu was short consisting on Japanese, Korean and Chinese flavours. Interesting to see Kimchi was served in different modifications. Wine list was maybe too complicated for asian food.

Had Sashimi and Tsukemono  for appetizers which were really OK. Best part were main courses Kakuni to kimchi and Som tam nieriä ie trout; delicious and perfectly prepared! Kimchi with pork included kimchi which was like coleslaw salad but tasty. Pork was tender and also tasty. You have to choose side dishes for main course from 3 options. But unfortunately warm dishes came right after appetizers which is quite common way to serve asian food but as appetizers were quite big portions, had to eat warm dishes first.

Price for appetizers, main courses and bottle of rose Cava was 108€.

En

REVIEW: Food 4+/5, Service 3/5, Overall rating 3,5/5


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