Welcome to My Best Helsinki
RESTAURANT REVIEWS
CAFES: aalto, carusel, carusel esplanade, chapman, ekberg, engel, esplanade, fazer, ursula.
SUMMER RESTAURANTS, LOCATED ON HELSINKI ISLANDS: boathouse, chapman njk särkänlinna uunisaari walhalla & a general Suomenlinna link.
ALSO: a restaurant list &more photos.
Many
top
restaurants in Helsinki are closed during the whole month of July,
some
for even longer. If
you
are planning a "foodie vacation"
in Helsinki during
the summer,
July is probably not the
best time to do it. July,
which usually is
the warmest summer month, is
"vacation month" in
Finland. Most Finns start
their vacation around
the 21st-24th of
June,
when "Midsummer Eve",
a huge
holiday in Finland, is celebrated. Check in
advance.
RESTAURANT
SAVOY
Our revisit to this old, and very expensive,
establishment years overdue, but a happy one.
Savoy has been known as a quality eatery
since it opened in 1937. Many top Finnish chefs
have worked their magic in its kitchen over the years.
The decor was designed by, among others, Alvar
Aalto, the famous Finnish architect. (See "history"
on the Savoy home page.)
While I appreciate the genuine historic interior, for me the charm of Savoy is sitting on the summer terrace, overlooking the Esplanade Park, over its treetops and toward the beautiful, newly restored buildings along the Northern Esplanade and the beautiful glistening white Dome a little further away.
The service was professional and friendly and much less self important than it had been years ago when we dined there last. The food is world class. The nice house champagne, Gosset, set the mood. The amuse bouche just melted in our mouths.
Our appetizer, a langoustine ravioli with lobster and vegetable ragoût absolutely delicious. Our friend also enjoyed hers, a beef carpaccio.
For our main courses my husband and our friend had grilled sea trout, sauté of new potatoes and chanterelles, smoked roe and sauce Rémoulade . They loved it.
The restaurant was very accommodating about substituting some ingredients. They were more than happy to let me have the before mentioned main course with fried fillets of Finnish perch (which I love in the summer - and cannot get in New York, sigh!) instead of the grilled sea trout. Delicious.
The Tahiti vanilla soufflé, marbled cherry ice-cream and compote of cherries flavored with hops, was good but not exciting. With the food we shared a bottle of Volnay, 1989, Camille Giroud.
Address: Eteläesplanadi 14, 00130 Helsinki
Phone: (358)- (0)9 - 6128 5300
RESTAURANT SAVOY, summer 2010. Click to enlarge.
Delicious lobster at RESTAURANT SAVOY, summer 2010. Joyous re-visit: We found delicious food and very friendly & professional service. Cannot wait to go back to Savoy.
The best herring plate I have had, ever. Enjoyed at RESTAURANT SAVOY, summer 2010.
I would go back just for this. Click to enlarge.
RESTAURANT
GROTESK
From the owners of Demo, a new, casual restaurant
serving simple but delicious food.
Chefs/owners: Tommi Tuominen & Teemu Aura
Grotesk received a Bib Gourmand mention in the
2010 Michelin Guide.
Address: Ludviginkatu 8-10,
00130 Helsinki
Phone: (358)- (0)9 10 470 2100
Email: myyntipalvelu at grotesk.fi
NY Times review of Grotesk.
Helsingin Sanomat review
(the "NY Times of Helsinki") of Grotesk
RESTAURANT
LUOMO
This less than a year old 30 seat restaurant is starting with
a gloriously sounding bang: it received one star in the 2010
Michelin Guide.
The locals already knew the restaurant is good; it is pretty much packed night after night.
Luomo uses ingredients both from "local, small producers
and from high end global producers" and describes the cooking
"innovative, modern; based on classic gastronomy".
Beautiful, small, fresh and creative dishes.
Chef owners:Jouni Toivanen
& Mika Mattila
(formerly, Chez Dominique).
Address: Vironkatu 8, Kruununhaka, Helsinki
Phone:(358)- (0)9- 135 7287
Email: info at luomo.fi
Online reservations
Driving instructions & contact info
RESTAURANT
DEMO
is an ambitious, small place
and was popular tvery popular from the start, in 2003. We have been told that
the
food
is very good, fresh and, for the quality and
level
of cooking,
very reasonably priced.
Reservations
highly recommended
weeks in
advance.
The menu changes daily. We hear
Demo
offers the best "bang for the buck" in quality
food
Helsinki right now. Demo has one
Michelin star, again in 2010 .
Chef
Owners:
Tommi Tuominen &
Teemu Aura, who opened the more casual restaurant
Grotesk in
Nov. 2007.
Phone: (358)- (0)9 2289 0840
Address: Uudenmaankatu
9-11, 00120 Helsinki
Email: demo at restaurantdemo.fi
LA
PETITE MAISON
is a small restaurant serving French Cuisine.
This restaurant is very popular and seems to
always be packed, and therefore we have not
been able to score a reservation during our
stays in Helsinki. (Next time we will book in
advance of the trip). But we have heard people
sing this restaurant's praises.
One gentleman even took the time to e-mail us,
to warmly recommend the place and suggested
that we put the restaurant on our site. Thank you
for the feedback.
Address: Huvilakatu 28, 00150 Helsinki
Phone: (010) 270-1704
ESPLANADE PARK, Restarant Kappeli patio. Click to enlarge:
Restaurant Kappeli & patio, midnight early July in Helsinki. More about Restaurant Kappeli on restaurant page 2.
RESTAURANT FARANG
Southeast-Asian inspired modern cuisine.
Farang is the brainchild of two Chez Dominique alumni,
Tomi Björck and Matti Wikberg, have worked abroad for years,
Björck in London & Sydney (Longrain), and Wikberg in Thailand
and Australia.
The pastry Chef Susanna Vuori has worked in Paris and in London.
Farang opened its doors to a very happy public in August 2009 and immediately became one of the favorite restaurants in Helsinki to many a food loving Helsinki resident.
Farang was voted number 1 on the "50 best restaurants in Finland, 2011" - list. Not too shabby!
Address: Ainonkatu 3, 00100 Helsinki
Phone: (358)- (0)9 454 4212
Email: info@farang.fi
RESTAURANT GAIJIN
This is the second "Asian" influenced restaurant by (Tomi Björck & Matti Wikberg) the owners of the super popular Farang, above.
Where Farang serves food inspired by Southeast, Gaijin's cuisine is inspired by Japanese, Korean & Northern Chinese cooking, preparing (and combining) the traditional foods of these countries with a modern twist.
The immense popularity of both these restaurants shows that there is a market for high quality "ethnic" & fusion cuisine from all over the world, and maybe right now especially cuisine from all over Asia.
Address:Bulevardi 6, 00120 Helsinki
Phone: (358)- (0)9) 698 0101
Email: info at gaijin.fi
RESTAURANT
NUEVO
a popular spot, was our "best bang for the buck"
restaurant in Helsinki, in 2003. The location, in a
historically preserved alley in the heart of the
"Empire Centre", between the dome and the Market
Square, is great, especially if you sit on their
sidewalk terrace, enjoying the historic ambiance,
facing the Dome or the harbor. Wow.
The food was surprisingly good and the service fun and friendly. Based on our experiences there in 2002, we ate at Nuevo 3 times on our eleven day trip in 2003. We particularly enjoyed their gazpacho and their whitefish. Our dinner guests told us that the meat dishes were quite tasty.
The wine list actually has some decent affordable choices, not so common in Helsinki. We had a very nice Rioja, Fuedo Crianza, for less than 28 Euros. Nuevo imports its espresso from Spain, and for our taste, it was the best coffee in Helsinki. Recent visit; still good.
Nuevo is one of the few restaurants that are open Sundays, a day when staff has to be paid double in Finland. second link
Our local agent visited Nuevo, in spring 2010 and found the food mostly quite goodand the service competent and considerate. All in all, the dinner was delightful: Review of Restaurant Nuevo in Finnish & English
Address:Sofiankatu 4,
00170 Helsinki
Phone:(358)- (0)9 6128 5900
Click to enlarge. Sofia Street & Helsinki Dome.
The patios of Restaurant Nuevo & Café Sofia:
July 2010, old location view from inside Cafe
Strindberg onto the restaurant's
patio and over Esplanade Park, in the
center of Helsinki.
STRINDBERG
is two different restaurants.
Downstairs, Cafe Strindberg offers sandwiches,
salads, pastries and coffee (espresso, cappuccino,
latte etc.). They also serve wine and beer. You
take a tray, and move down the line picking up
the stuff you want and you pay at the end.
In the
summer, you can sit outside and enjoy the
Esplanade park and some great people-watching.
Upstairs, Restaurant Strindberg serves pretty good
fare at both lunch and dinner. Window seats
overlook the Esplanade park.
Strindberg has a lounge, with comfortable sofas
and chairs, good for late night drinks and
conversation, if you do not mind the smoke.
You can click here for a second
link
Address: Pohjoisesplanadi
33, 00100 Helsinki
Phone: (358)- (0)9 6128 6900
Email: strindberg at royalravintolat.com
Delicious Shrimp Sandwich at Cafe Strindberg.
KATAJANOKAN
KASINO
a favorite of ours for many years- is located on
Katajanokka, a bit of a walk from the market square,
behind the Uspenski Cathedral.
The restaurant is in a mansion-like building, on
it's own lot by the sea.
The main dining room on the ground floor is
grand in an old style.
Upstairs there are smaller
rooms for private meetings and dinners and there
is also a big banquet room for larger parties.
The restaurant also has a terrace facing the bay,
and, a few steps down, summer outdoor seating
in the garden, by the water. The garden is
wonderful for dining or drinks
We have had both dinner and lunch at the "Kasino"
on several occasions over the years, both indoors
and in the garden, usually in a group of four plus a
baby. The reception and the service have been
warm and friendly.
The quality and consistency of the food is quite high.
They have also been very gracious about
substituting items on the menu or mixing items from
different dishes on the menu.
One evening we went there and the restaurant was
closed due to a private reception. Nevertheless, they
accommodated us by placing us in a private dining
room upstairs.
These are nice people who run a
great restaurant with delicious food and friendlier
service than most restaurants in Helsinki.
Addition in July, 2002:
This time we dined here twice. On our first evening
in Helsinki, it was just the two of us. We were so
impressed that we decided to return in a bigger
group.
Everyone in our group of 6 adults (and a child) was
blown away by how good the food was.
Even the desserts were wonderful. So good, that
we were "teasing" each other about who had the
better choice.
Again, the service was warm, natural and filled
with of good natured humor.
We wanted to go back for a third time, but they
were hosting a couple of weddings that night. We
are not surprised: it is a beautiful place to have a
wedding.
P.S. Ask the waitress to tell you about the friendly
house ghost.
Recent visit: Still delicious.
second link
ALEXANDER NEVSKI is gone. Too bad; it was our favorite Russian restaurant in Helsinki. We have noticed that many people are still looking for the restaurant.
RESTAURANT
SASSO
with Italian fare, now proudly stands in "Nevski's" space,
which has been thoroughly transformed into quite the
opposite of what the "old" space used to look like, with
heavy draperies, etc.
Now, a modern interior, mostly in light earth tones,
has emerged. We have yet to sample the place
ourselves, but have heard pretty positive reviews.
Address: Pohjoisesplanadi 17, Helsinki 17
Phone: (358)- (0)9 1345 6240
E-mail: sasso at palacekamp.fi
Contact & map.
Second link
Downstairs, replacing Restaurant Havis Amanda, is
FISHMARKET
a seafood restaurant, just like it's predecessor.
Also this space has been renovated and updated.
We have heard very favorable reviews and opinions
about the Fish Market.
We dined here in June or July, 2010. The food was ok, not great. Especially my plate represeneted the old, heavy and buttery way of Finnish cooking, not the Nordic Cuisine concept, that I so like. They did, however have some nice finds, for reasonable prices on their wine list. The service was friendly.
Address: Pohjoisesplanadi 17, Helsinki 17
Phone: (358)- (0)9 1345 6220
E-mail: fishmarket at palacekamp.fi
Restaurant Fish Market, 2010. Click to enlarge.
CHECK OUT OUR REVIEW OF:
RESTAURANT KUURNA
ON OUR:
RESTAURANT REVIEWS, PAGE 3
TONY'S
DELI
"Tony´s Deli is a declaration of love to Italian
and Mediterranean food." Nice place.
Address:
Bulevardi 7, 00120 Helsinki,
Phone: 020- 7424 268
second link
RESTAURANT CARMA has closed, the space has been renovated and re-emerged in November as "LA TABLE", a bistro style restaurant. Read more about the reasons to closing, including some less desirable effects of receiving a Michelin Star.
LA TABLE
a bistro style restaurant.
Exept for the menu, the website is so far only in
Finnish.
Address: Ludviginkatu 3–5, 00130 Helsinki
Phone: (358)- (0)9- 673 236
E-mai: linfo at latable.fi
second link
RESTAURANT LOFT Specializing in seasonal Scandinavian cuisine, using locally grown / produced ingredients. Chef: Jussi Peisa. Established in 2007.
Address: Yrjönkatu 18 (Btw Bulevardi and Uudenmaanaktu)
00120 HELSINKI
Phone: (358)- (0)9 428 12500
ATELJÈ FINNE Is located in a space that used to house a sculptor's, Gunnar Finne's, studio. This is a popular restaurant, that cranks out consistently good food, made out of fresh ingredients. Friendly service, nice atmosphere, fresh fish. Popular for brunch, too. ATELJÈ FINNE is owned by the same talented people, who own Restaurant Kuurna.
Address:
Arkadiankatu 14,
00100 Helsinki
Phone: (358)- (0)9- 493 110
We have not had a chance to visit these two restaurants, but our agents in Helsinki have enjoyed their dinners at both establishments.
BISTRO
HELSINKI 15
Address: Korkeavuorenkatu 4B,Helsinki
Phone: (358)- (0)9 -4242 76 50
E-mail: bistro at bistrohelsinki.fi
RESTAURANT GASTONE
Address: Korkeavuorenkatu 45, Helsinki
Phone: (358) -(0)9- 666 116
E-mail: ristorante at gastone.fi
Later visits to Gastone produced less enthusiastic reviews.
RESTAURANT
GEORGE
GEORGE IS CLOSED.
Restaurant George was established in 1985. There, just
like at Restaurant Savoy, many a famous and skilled chef
worked over the years, for example Markus Maulavirta and
Markus Aremo (an owner of
La Table and of the now
closed Restaurant Carma ).
George also received accolades from the Michelin guide.
We were fans of George. We
loved their food and their friendly
service. The
service was impeccable, and at times, perhaps the
best service (most considerate and personal but at the same
time professional) we had
in Helsinki at any restaurant.
Be sure to check out our
SUMMER RESTAURANT - LIST
that features restaurants
on different islands, just a few
minute boat ride from the center area.
Below, just one of these "hidden" Helsinki gems
that are worth a
visit:
Klippan island & Klippan restaurant & bar.
CLICK ON PHOTO for place names and a much larger view:
Seafood starter plate at Seurasaari Restaurant. Click photo.
General about Finnish Cuisine and Helsinki Restaurants:
For years, Finland has been one of our top destinations partly because of its excellent and constantly evolving culinary scene, that encompasses not just the Scandinavian way of cooking, but also integrates international flavors and styles.
Every time we travel back to Helsinki, there is something new and exciting going on in the restaurant scene. The culinary know-how and the skill level of many of these chefs is truly impressive and often delights even the most demanding and spoiled patrons.
We live in New York and are spoiled rotten by the abundance of high culinary skills, both in "fancy" and casual restaurants here, but we still find dining in Helsinki restaurants quite enjoyable. And just like everywhere else, of course there are also bad restaurants in Helsinki. But to hear someone bash the culinary skills of all Finnish chefs, based on one or two bad experiences (or based on ignorance), is just plainly silly.
Restaurant Sasso on North Esplanade by the Market Square in Helsinki
General about
wine pricing in Helsinki Restaurants:
Be aware that Finnish restaurants generally appear to mark-up
their wines to a higher degree than comparable American
restaurants.
Also good to know: A smoking ban in Finnish restaurants took effect June 1st, 2007.
Website feedback: So many restaurants, so little time! Unfortunately we never have the time
to
explore all the splendid restaurants we would like to while in Helsinki.
We would love to hear from fellow Helsinki travelers & foodies. Please
let us know
WHICH RESTAURANTS YOU HAVE ENJOYED IN HELSINKI
Looking at Suomenlinna fortress island shoreline and its old lighthouse. Incredible light blue light of a Nordic midsummer night. View from Särkkä island (=part of Suomenlinna) after delish dinner at Särkänlinna restaurant.
