Restaurant review: Kappeli

9 07 2017

Restaurant Kappeli was opened to the public 1867 as summer restaurant but since 1970′s it has been open all year round. Latest renowation was in autumn 2011 still keeping same traditions in building structure.

In the summer you can also dine at the outside terrace, which is at the end of the building behind main terrace. If you want to sit in the middle of the main terrace but inside, ask for oriel window table for two. It is small but charming and one can even watch bands and singers at the stage opposite to the restaurant. We dined in that small glass walled space on Mid-Summer Eve.

Kappeli - reijosfood.com

Menu today looks tempting and first time it included vegan dish. But as it was Mid-Summer, it was nice to start the dinner with Vodka Martini. Unfortunately, as drink order was taken at the same time as food orders, starter came earlier than aperitif.

For starters ordered Kappeli’s Green salad and Prawn salad and smoky chilli dressing Citrus and tarragon marinated prawns, fried potatoes, samphire, cherry tomatoes seasoned with sorrel and egg.

Prawns were fresh and tasty. Potatoes were extremely delicious, they were cooked somehow differently than ever seen before. I do no recommend to try to spoon the tomatoes with fork, they might surprise you…

As green salad was so basic, no picture or story.

As main courses had Chargrilled whitefish, fried scallops and a fish roe and crème fraîche sauce Almond potato purée seasoned with dill, grilled spring cucumber and carrots and Broad bean and tomato ragù Deep-fried kale, fried mushrooms, macerated mini plum tomatoes and vegan cheese.

Long names for portions and all ingredients well listed.

Whitefish is favorite Finnish fish, light and not greasy at all like salmon. Side dishes were delicious and paired well with the main dish.

Ragu was made of Finnish invention called “Härkis“. It is made from broad beans and also available in the supermarkets. Vegan dishes are not basically meant to look or taste like meat, but this one was made so well that could have thought it was minced meat like ragu usually consists of. With spaghetti would be perfect, made like that.

 

For wine had organic Savia Viva from Pares Balta. Paired well with all dishes enjoyed. Take a look at the label! You can see some historic pictures from Finland, including Kappeli.

Kappeli is a perfect place to try Finnish kitchen in the center of events. Most of the diners are tourists especially now when it was Mid-Summer Eve.

Food was the best one so far compared to previous visits. Especially ragu surprised.

Service was polite and professional, but as mentioned earlier, aperitif was brought too late.

 

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

http://www.kappeli.fi/index.php?id=etusivu

 

 


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Restaurant review: Kappeli

11 08 2013

Muusa at Kappeli - reijosfood.com

Finnish food in historic building.

Restaurant Kappeli was opened to the public 1867 as summer restaurant but since 1970′s it has been open all year round. Latest renowation was in autumn 2011 still keeping same traditions in building structure. You can also find some art pieces inside the restaurants if you look carefully, like “Muusa” sculpture in the picture.

In the summer you can also dine at the outside terrace which is at the end of the building behind main terrace. If you want to sit in the middle of the main terrace but inside, ask for oriel window table for two. It is small but charming and one can even watch bands and singers on stage opposite the restaurant. We dined in that small glass walled space, like private dining at the sames time as Jazz Espa was playing at the stage and there were several diners in the main dining room.

Kappeli - reijosfood.com

For starters ordered large Kappeli’s vegetable salad Salad, sweet pepper, artichoke, endive, green beans, croutons and honey sauce and Kappeli’s fish assortment Smoked salmon mousse, cold smoked Baltic herring skagen, smoked whitebait, cold smoked salmon and organic scrambled eggs.

Vegetable salad was fresh and it was asked to be served without green beans and croutons. Fish assortment was dissappointment, too salty and more simple than last year when we dined and made review (see link below)

Kappeli salad - reijosfood.comFish starter - reijosfood.com

As main courses had Smoked salmon creamy false morel sauce, potatoes with dill, butter and onion, baked tomato and zucchini and large Caesar salad and chicken.

Differences compared to last visit can be seen from previous review. Asked now to get false morel sauce in separate bowl. Salmon itself was well prepared. Caesar salad was delicious again as it was last time, a safe choise.

Salmon at Kappeli - reijosfood.comCaesar salad at Kappeli - reijosfood.com

Kappeli is a perfect place to try Finnish kitchen in the center of events. Most of the diners are tourists. However, food compared to experience is too expensive as well as wines. But you have to pay some extra for the specific athmosphere, restaurant style and location as in any other city. If weather is good, take a table at the terrace which unfortunately is a little bit aloof and try large Caesar salad.

If you have S-Group loyalty card you can utilize offers like Italian sparkling wine. Maybe cost of a bottle is about 2€’s to the restaurant but as we are in Finland, 24€’s for Loyal Customers and for others 35€. Best offer still is bottle of champagne for 39€ in all S-Group HOK-Elanto restaurants and that is decent offer!

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

http://www.kappeli.fi/index.php?id=23

https://reijosfood.com/2012/07/14/restaurant-review-kappeli/

Sparkling at Kappeli - reijosfood.com


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Categories : Art, Food, Helsinki, Restaurant, Restaurant review, Travel, Wine

Restaurant review: Kappeli

14 07 2012

Restaurant Kappeli – “the pearl of Espa” –  was opened to the public 1867 as summer restaurant but since 1970’s it has been open all year round. Latest renowation was in autumn 2011 still keeping same traditions in building structure. In the summer one can also dine at the outside terrace which is at the end of the building behind main terrace. If one wants to sit in the middle of the main terrace but inside, ask for oriel window table for two. It is small but charming and one can even watch bands and singers on stage opposite the restaurant.

A la carte consists of menus honoring famous Finnish artists or writers like Eino Leino, Sibelius and Juhani Aho. It also includes Finnish traditional fish and meat dishes. Wine list is artless and expensive which provides opportunity for the restaurant to improve it. Service needs some experience, forgot to serve us bread and no towel or cloth for Prosecco bottle.

For starters ordered Kappeli’s fish assortment – smoked salmon mousse, cold smoked Baltic herring skagen, smoked whitebait, cold smoked salmon and scrambled eggs and Caesar salad and chicken. Fish assortment was diverse but skagen was too salty.Wonder also why scrambled eggs were included? Caesar salad was as it should be.  Even the chicken was much better than last year, without skin and fresh. Great improvement!

For main courses had Grilled whitefish with spinach, Hollandaise sauce, potatoes with dill, butter and onion and Smoked salmon with creamy false morel sauce, potatoes with dill, 
butter and onion, baked tomato and zucchini. Whitefish was a little bit over grilled but potatoes in their butter onion sauce were excellent in both portions. Salmon was also a little bit too much smoked. Good achievement was that both portions were warm, almost hot.

In the summer the terrace of Kappeli is always crowded. Most of the diners inside were tourists; heard Spanish and German in nearby tables. Because of historical building and athmosphere Kappeli earns 4 as an overall grade.

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

http://www.kappeli.fi/index.php?id=frontpage


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