Restaurant review: Roster Helsinki – Wappu Eve dinner

20 05 2018
Roster is a Bar & Restaurant near Market Square opposite to statue of Havis Amanda. Always full in the evenings as far as when it comes to those visits been there.
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Visited Roster this time on the 30th of April 2018, which is Eve for Wappu (Vappu), the day before May Day. Had not make table reservation because the plan was only to have drinks at the bar. But luckily asked for table and got the best table possible to watch capping of statue of Havis Amanda. There are two tables facing to the statue by the window. One has to sit side by side because the table is like a window ledge. One can not reserve these tables, but on the other hand, sitting there is not so convenient as in “normal” table.
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In the short video clip one can see waving of secondary school graduate caps before the statue gets it’s own huge cap. Video was filmed through the window while having dinner.
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As mentioned earlier had the drinks in the bar. Champagne Taittinger tasted refreshing, it was the champagne of the day.

 

Starters were Carrotofu Charred carrot, yuzu and crispy tofu and Straight Outta Sea Cured salmon, crispy rye and roe emulsion

Tofu and carrot were excellent, the way dish was prepared was master piece. As menu changes quite often it provides new experiences also for vegans.

Salmon was fresh, almost like straight from the Baltic sea. Always nice to taste new ways to to serve traditional Finnish food which is more typical in the Christmas time.

 

For main coursed had vegan dish Jerusalem Art Artichoke terrine, marinated chard and savory mayonnaise and Mighty Sole Pan fried whole torbay Sole, grilled cos lettuce and Green Goddess sauce.

Artichoke was tasty and matched well with side dishes. Roster has always had excellent vegan choises.

Fish was perfectly fried, not over cooked, which would make it chewy. One of the best thing about Sole is that fish bones do not bother at all. Still you get all the taste which they can provide. Grilled salad was delicious, have also tried that at home, and it is easy. But what makes it tasty, is the sauce and that is more difficult part.

And always tasty side dishes, Roasted Potatoes and Cauliflower with Satay sauce, made the portions fill the stomachs.

 

Most of the times have visited Roster, the wine has been Ned & Henry’s from Hewitson. This wine suits to all dishes even with the fish, which was proven with starter and main course.

For second aperitif tasted house Sima, which is made only for Wappu from water, brown sugar, lemons and yeast. If you wait enough long yeast and sugar start to produce alcohol and then you have close to cider kind of drink

Roster Helsinki is combination of fine dining in casual athmosphere. Dishes are ambitious and their names entertaining. The menu which was served was vol. 10. Quite soon early May there is new menu available.

If you reserve table enough early, ask for window table. Havis Amanda Square opens up just front of the restaurant.

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

https://rosterhelsinki.com/


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Restaurant review: Roster Helsinki – re-visit

19 11 2017
Roster is a Bar & Restaurant near Market Square opposite to statue of Havis Amanda.  TV Chef Kari Aihinen and Paul Hickman and part of restaurant Savoy team established the restaurant and opened second Roster in Turku. One can drink aperitives in the bar before heading to tables upstairs or downstairs for dinner.

What made Roster Helsinki attractive restaurant after opening, if not also otherwise, was the pricing of wines. Wines were priced with fixed margin, which made quality wines more affordable. Enjoyed during first visit Ned & Henry’s Shiraz 2013 from Hewitson. Usually this wine costs 60-80€ in most restaurants, but “only” 46,40€ in Roster. But after success, restaurant had increased the price to 67,50€. And similar price increase was made for all wines.

Started the dinner with aperitives, French Coolers, which were fresh and good start for delicious dinner.
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For starters ordered SCAM(pi) Marinated scampi, pickled raddish and mustard crème and Chermoula Grilled squash “Chermoula”, saffron pickled Brussels sprouts and Baba Ganoush.
Scampis were tasty and fresh. I am not sure if dark bread was needed, usually it is served with spiced fishes.            
Chermoula was also well prepared. Vegan versions had improved from last visits.
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Main courses were Porky Pork Glazed pork cheek, parsley purée and all spice – red wine sauce and Open Sesame! Deep fried Jerusalem artichoke, oyster mushrooms and sesame mayonnaise

Tender pork was delicious and nicely placed on the plate.

Name of the vegan main course was interesting, sesame was not so dominant taste as one could think. Anyway as mentioned before huge improvement in vegans versions compared to first visit August 2016.

However, without side dishes, Roasted Potatoes and Roster Coleslaw, portions would have been too small.


Roster Helsinki is combination of fine dining in casual athmosphere. Dishes are ambitious and their names entertaining.

If you reserve table enough early, ask for window table. Havis Amanda Square opens up just front of the restaurant.

Although gave food better points than did when visiting first time, new way to price wines decreases overall grade.

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

https://rosterhelsinki.com/


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Restaurant review: Roster Helsinki

13 08 2016
Roster is a Bar & Restaurant near Market Square opposite to statue of Havis Amanda. New concept replaced restaurants Sasso and Fishmarket in order to provide more trendy and casual way of fine dining. Chef Kari Aihinen and Paul Hickman and part of restaurant Savoy team established the restaurant and as it called Roster Helsinki, one can expect similar concept in some other cities.
You can drink aperitives in the bar before heading to tables upstairs or downstairs for dinner. One option is to book one of the three Chef’s Tables next to open kitchen and watch chef’s preparing food.

What makes Roster Helsinki attractive restaurant, if not already otherwise, is the pricing of wines. Wines are priced with fixed margin, which makes quality wines more affordable. Enjoyed Ned & Henry’s Shiraz 2013 from Hewitson. Usually this wine costs close to 100€ in most restaurants, but “only” 46,40€ in Roster. Wine paired well with all dishes, full-bodied with light spices.

For dinner ordered fish and vegan dishes. Was actually going to order Wagyu BBQ, but beef was fineshed.

To start with you get warm bread and with starters green salad without extra charge.

Fish starter was C.O.D Amanda Lemon verbena seasoned cod, capers and clam crème.

Usually spiced “raw” fishes are salmon and whitefish, but cod suits perfectly for same purpose, when it is prepared like C.o.d Amanda.

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Fish main course was Mrs. Pulpo Grilled octopus, Romesco sauce, avocado and chickpeas. Pulpo is difficult to prepare after octopus has been frozen. It becomes soft and loses it’s crispness, which was partly the case in M.r.s Pulpo. However, sauce and add ons were delicious and paired well with octopus, as well as Ned & Henry’s.

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Vegan starter was Grilled Salad Grilled baby gem lettuce, tomato, avocado and jalapeno mayonnaise.

The lettuce was too soft, but the dressing, which was replaced by a vinagrette to make the vegan option, saved this dish.

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Vegan main course was BOND Special Fried cauliflower, coriander and peanuts.

This is the only vegan option in the menu.  A big head of cauliflower covered in too much peanut butter sauce.  Not the most creative vegan dish.

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Before dinner had visited restaurant terrace and enjoyed lunch. You could choose small dishes one by one but chose to taste all of them Bit’s and Bites. You could also call this tapas or antipasti.

Two type of cheeses, grilled sweet pepper, spiced whitefish, foie gras and sausage/olive bowl were excellent. Dish also included roasted almonds and pop corn, but could have survived without those. Suitable separately with beer, but not so matching with Pinot Noir red wine.

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Roster Helsinki is combination of fine dining in casual athmosphere. Dishes are ambitious and their names entertaining.

Overall grade is 4+ because of pricing of wines. That way should be more common and would definately attract customers to explore better wines they would not usually do at restaurants.

 

REVIEW (FISH): FOOD 4/5 – SERVICE 4+/5 – OVERALL GRADE 4+/5

REVIEW (VEGAN): FOOD 2+/5

REVIEW (LUNCH): FOOD 4,5/5

https://rosterhelsinki.com/

 

 

 

 


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