Restaurant review: Saari

7 07 2013

Restaurant Saari

Restaurant Saari is located on the island Sirpalesaari about 1 km from the centre of Helsinki. Saari provides Finnish delicacies of the season from land and sea as well as stunning views and genuine maritime atmosphere.  A boat serves the island every hour and half from the Saari pier located on the shore of Merisatama close to Cafe Carusel. The crossing takes only a couple of minutes. Also a few berths are available for guests arriving at the restaurant aboard with their own boats. You can dine either in the dining room inside, in the “Captain’s Cabin” of the private room Sampo or on the outdoor terrace.

Restaurant Saari

Restaurant Saari

 

Because have enjoyed restaurant starter speciality couple of times before decided to compare portion to previous visits. Starter is called The secrets of Sirpalesaari island An assortment of Saari’s best appetizers (served 2 or more person).

Quite expensive starter but you do not necessarily need to eat main course if you are not starving. 4 person portion included this time spiced salmon, two herrings, pork loin, elk sausage, duck breast, new potatoes, salad, cheese, marinated onion and mushroom salad. Again cheerful assortment which did not let down. Whole serving was tasty and well prapared.

Restaurant Saari

For main courses ordered Fish catch of the day and Entrecôte of Åland lamb braised in rosemary stock warm salad of summer vegetables and marjoram sauce.

Fish was whitefish with barley risotto and mushroom sauce. Fish was a little bit over cooked and risotto included too much leek. Lamb was better than entrecote because there was almost none grease. Meat was really tender and side dishes matched well with the lamb.

Whitefish at SaariLamb at Saari

For desserts had An assortment of cheeses from small Finnish cheese producers with Åby manor’s crisp bread and season’s fruit or berry compot and Saari’s traditional pine tar ice cream home-made blueberry and raspberry jam, oat bisquit (classic dish since 2000). Peltola Blue cheese (similar to roquefort) was the best piece of cheeses which also included goat cheese and gryerere with buckthorn compot. Ice cream was pimped by request and jam was replaced with fresh strawberries, really tasty.

CheesesIce cream

Be sure not to anger connection boat driver, if you come with your own boat. Because of variable weather restaurant had decided not to serve outside which was a little bit dissappointment. At least starter would have been nice to eat at the terrace, but rain would have interrupted dinner later. However choose Saari instead of Saaristo if you want to enjoy good food in a relaxed athmosphere. Especially starter we had is worth to try.

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

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http://www.asrestaurants.com/EN/restaurants/saari/presentation.html

You can also find summary of island restaurants via https://reijosfood.com/2012/07/04/island-restaurants-in-helsinki/


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

Restaurant review: Lasipalatsi

1 12 2012

Lasipalatsi – the Glass Palace – is 75 years old building at Mannerheimintie. Although the building had originally been intended to serve as a temporary structure, the building became central monument next to the old bus station. Essential part of the building was the large restaurant Lasipalatsi on the upper floor.

In the end of 1996 the building had undergone years of gradual decline, was given protected status and a restoration project began. Two young architects – Pia Ilonen and Minna Lukander – assisted by interior designer Martti Lukander restored the original Functionalist style; pure white walls, large windows, interiors with warm colours and delightful little details. New restaurant Lasipalatsi was opened in the autumn 1998. There is also small bar in front of the dining room. Restaurant plays soft traditional Finnish “lager” music which leads 50 years back.

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Lasipalatsi kitchen combines the cherished traditional Finnish culinary culture with international influences. Restaurant is also well-known for its “theme weeks”, such as Blini, Asparagus, Fish and Reindeer.

When you enter restaurant, it is like you go back in time. But it is refreshing! We were able to get window table, should ask for that. Winter had just arrvied day earlier.

Sokos

For starters enjoyed Lamb vorschmack with baked potato acccompanied by pickled gherkin, beetroot and soured cream and Raw-pickled salmon, smoked salmon and salmon roe. Vorschmack http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorschmack was excellent and best part of the meat dinner. I am not so familiar with this food but trusted kitchen. Fish starter was great as expected, simple Finnish tastes

DSC02841Fish plate

For main courses ordered Fried pearch fillets and scallops with ruby red orange and Rack and neck of lamb from Åland potato purée flavoured with garlic. Pearch was well preapared but one of the two scallops was maybe a little bit raw. Lamb again was delicious but would have expected more flavoures, especially rack of lamb was tender and with potato pure great.

FishLamb

And for desserts Pieces or assortment of Finnish cheese, one piece for both with port wine. One was Peltola Bule and one Mouhijärvi Metsuri. Both genuine and relly tasty Finnish cheeses. Not so Finnish was that you were able to get grappa.

Because of Little Christmas Party date restaurant was full, otherwise you might get table easier.

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

http://ravintola.lasipalatsi.fi/en/index.php

Imagine what it was like 50 years ago, picture taken on 30th Nov,2012.

Lasipalatsi


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Restaurant review: Havis

23 06 2012

Restaurant Havis specializes in seasonal Finnish and Scandinavian seafood. It consists of three different dining room styles. Dining room Havis looks as historic as building restaurant is located. Decided to reserve window table from this room. One can see old Market Hall from the windows http://www.wanhakauppahalli.com/. Dining room Kitchen is by open-plan kitchen and dining room Terrace is more relaxed sheltered patio restaurant which might be cold sometimes.

Dinner started with kitchen’s greeting which was marvelous. Whitefish roe, smoked fish mousse and red onion; could have eaten dozens of those “glasses”.

For starters ordered Toast Skagen a la Havis and Terrine of cockerel from Viskilä farm with apple and parsnip. Toast Skagen was real fine dining, maybe best ever.  Terrine was tender and best parts were sweet sauces and pyres which complemented flavours.

For main coursed had  Pan-fried perch, spring vegetables and browned butter and Grilled fresh-water pike-perch with beetroot risotto and false morel.
Both fishes were great. Also ordered new potatoes because one might survive only with those during Midsummer. Maybe peas and pine seeds could have been left out from Perch but otherwise well done. Kitchen also was flexible as they were ready to modify portions.

Dessert this time was as many other times before Assorted cheeses  (piece / selection). Chose one French Livarotti and one Finnish Peltola Blue (blue cheese).
Both were tasty and recommend to purchase Peltola Blue to home instead of often too salty rivals if you like blue cheese.

     
     

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

http://www.ravintolahavis.fi/en

FYI: If you visit Helsinki in Midsummer, notice that almost all restaurants are closed on Friday and Saturday. Finn’s can be found from their cottages, boats and festivals, not from the city.


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