My Best Helsinki Restaurant Reviews 2

WELCOME TO MY BEST HELSINKI RESTAURANTS 2


My Best Helsinki Restaurant Reviews 2

	Wherever we go, we eat out all the time. We love good, creative and well prepared food and good wine, in both formal and casual restaurants. We particularly enjoy dining with groups of friends and family. These are some of the restaurants that we and our friends have visited and liked in Helsinki.


	ON THIS PAGE (click on name): SÄRKÄNLINNA, SUNDMANS, SUNDMANS KROG, NOKKA, LA COCINA, MAXILL, FAROUGE,
	PALACE GOURMET, MEKKA, CHEZ DOMINIQUE, TORNI SANTA FE, & a few links to different RESTAURANT LISTS. CAFES: AALTO, CHAPMAN, CARUSEL, CARUSEL ESPLANADE, EKBERG, ESPLANADE, ENGEL, FAZER, SENAATTI, URSULA,
	TAMMINIEMENTIEN KAHVILA & VILLA ANGELICA

MORE MY BEST HELSINKI: HOME RESTAURANTS 1 RESTAURANTS 2 RESTAURANTS 3 PHOTOS 1 PHOTOS 2 PHOTOS 3 PHOTOS 4 HELSINKI ARCHITECTURE

HELSINKI MUSIC HELSINKI CLUBS & BARS HELSINKI SIGHTS & DESTINATIONS HELSINKI HOTELS, TRANSIT & TRAVEL SERVICES FINNISH WORDS


		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. You should now be able to dine totally smoke-free in Finland: A SMOKING BAN IN FINNISH RESTAURANTS TOOK EFFECT June 1st, 2007. LEARN THE DETAILS

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	RESTAURANT NOKKA is located in the beautiful Katajanokka neighborhood, on Kanavaranta (=Canal bank), in one of the restored 19th century warehouses, by the water. The same space used to be home to Restaurant Kanavaranta, now long gone. The Uspenski Cathedral is a block away. The name, “Nokka”, stems from the name of the neighborhood: Katajanokka. Loosely = Juniper tree Peninsula From the getgo, "hand-picked, clean, and high-quality raw materials", have been the guiding ideas of this ambitious restaurant. We dined here soon after the opening and found the familiar, warm rooms pleasantly pared down. As a result the space is more elegant and calm. The ambiance is very pleasing. The restaurant was still struggling with some glitches, mostly having to do with the service, but the over all experience was promising. In July 2002, we dined here in a group of three. My husband now found the restaurant very romantic and said he would recommend it to anyone who wanted to take his date for a romantic evening. Since the service was excellent and the food is very good, I agree. We had a very pleasant and enjoyable evening. Some of our choices for the evening: Appetizers: -“HERRING CAVIAR” WITH DARK ARCHIPELAGO BREAD CHIPS -LIGHTLY SALTED BEEF SLAKED WITH CALVADOS, SUMMER VEGETABLE PICKLES Main courses: -CRISPY PAN-FRIED PERCH FILLETS, SMALL FINNISH MORELS AND NEW POTATOES -RIVER TROUT FROM PYHÄMAA STUFFED WITH CRAYFISH, FENNEL SAUCE Dessert: -MERINGUE, BOURBON VANILLA ICE CREAM AND WARM COCOA BEAN SAUCE Barbadillo, Pedro Ximenez ”Extra Rich” July 2003: A lovely dinner on Nokka's summer patio, by the water, confirms the praises above. Address: Kanavaranta 7, 00160 Helsinki Tel: +358-9-687 7330 Second link Nokka's summer patio:		SUNDMANS is a beautiful restaurant located in an old mansion-like building (empire style) located next to the harbor. It is a very romantic spot for a dinner for two, but it is just as delightful for bigger groups who want to enjoy a world- class meal in a stately setting. Over the years, we had visited Sundmans several times, since it is practically next to our hotel. We had fallen in love with the restaurant after one strikingly good dinner for four. The service was friendly and professional, and the food, from the starters to the main course (we had mostly fish) was remarkably good. In July 2001 we dined there again. We were in a group of four. The atmosphere was very upbeat and welcoming from the moment we walked in through the downstairs main door and up the stairs to the beautiful restaurant. We were seated in the lovely main dining room. Our waiter who was a friendly, very professional and good-humored gentleman, (who returned Lawrence’s New York humor and repartee with admirable speed) helped make the dining experience perfect. Both the starters and the main courses were truly excellent. The wine list was, in our experience, one of the very best, if not the best, in Helsinki. A recent review of their current list, available on the web, shows an amazingly thorough representation and is even stronger than we remembered from our visit. Their Champagne selection is also compelling. Since we talked so much about wine, our waiter told us about Sundmans’ wine cellar and arranged a tour for us after our dinner. We discovered why the staff sounded so proud while mentioning the wine cellar: The beautiful, vaulted cellar has a broad selection of fine wines and a long, handsome table and chairs in the middle of the room, for wine tasting and other events. It can be privately rented. This was an absolutely wonderful and satisfying evening that left us wanting to come back soon. Several later visits during the past years confirm previous statements. Sundmans has had a Michelin for years and has won the American Express Service Award three times. Address: Eteläranta 16, 00130 Helsinki Tel: +358 - 9 - 622 64 10 A second link
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	CHEZ DOMINIQUE is a gourmet restaurant in the center of Helsinki. It has been receiving awards and accolades for years, including two Michelin stars, several Finnish "best" awards, and is also mentioned in the "50 Best Restaurants in the World" - list (at no. 39). We know several people who really love this place and we hear a lot of praises. We (a group of 4 gourmands), however, were unimpressed (with the food) during our one and only lunch here some years ago. Maybe they had a bad, uninspired day. Yes, we know we should give the place another chance, but have not been motivated enough / have not had enough time to do so. Next time we travel to Helsinki we probably will pay a visit. We did, however, give huge credit to Chez Dominique for the wisdom and good taste of making their old restaurant 100% smoke-free, way before the smoking ban in Helsinki restaurants took effect in 2007, thus letting their patrons enjoy the aromas of the food and the wine, without the interference of tobacco smoke. Chez Dominique has moved to a new location, which now seats 50, plus an additional 14 in their cabinet. New address: Rikhardinkatu 4, 00130 Helsinki. Tel: + 358 9 612 73 93. Second link.		G.W. SUNDMANS KROG is a lovely, casual "sibling" of Sundmans. The room is intimate and cozy (especially during the winter months) and the food is good. We, 5 adults & a child, had a lovely dinner there in November -02. We all loved it. Our "agents" in Helsinki went back that February and still loved it. The only (little) complaint we had both times was that the service, while very friendly, was a bit too slow. Later visits confirm that this is still a lovely spot to come for a very good, casual dinner. There is something for everyone. The fish eaters in our group have anjoyed their fish and the herring selection. The carnivores have enjoyed the meat dishes. The wine list is a bit short, but you can also order wines from the "upstairs" wine list. The service is always very friendly, and lately, it has not suffered from the slower tempo that we complained about earlier. Recommended for cozy, casual dining. Address: Eteläranta 16, 00130 Helsinki Tel. +358 - 9- 6226 4120
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	MECCA is the joint effort of chef Hans Välimäki and Palace Restaurants. It consists of four different spaces; Mecca Restaurant, Mecca Fresh Bar, Mecca Patio and Mecca Lounge. The restaurant has been wildly popular from the start. Address: Korkeavuorenkatu 34, 00130 Helsinki Puh. 09-1345 6200, tables@palacekamp.fi Second link.		SÄRKÄNLINNA is a charming -and very different- gourmet restaurant, open during the summer season only. It is located on the tiny, historic fortress island, Särkkä. (Which is a part of the Suomenlinna Fortress Island). The taxi boat ride off the Kaivopuisto/Ullanlinna shore to Särkkä takes abut 5 minutes, and costs 5 Euros per person. (Before ending your meal, ask the staff when the next boat back leaves. That way you can linger indoors a little longer, if necessary. Of course, if the weather is nice, its nice to take on the view from the pier). .
			Helsinki skyline. Taxi boat from Katajanokka to Särkka.

			Click for larger view & information: place names, etc:
	FAROUGE is a restaurant we had heard many good things about over the years. We were told that the service is extremely good and friendly and that the food is consistently delicious. In the beginning there were not many choices for fish eaters, but wisely, the owners have listened to feedback and added fish entrees to the menu. There still is only one vegetarian entrée daily. But the starters include lots of vegetarian dishes, so, if one wishes, it is possible to build a meal out of them. In Nov 2001, a visit by a couple of our Finnish friends once again confirmed these positive statements. Our “agents" also added that the dessert was something out of this world. So, especially for meat eaters, Farouge seems to be a very good bet for a delicious meal accompanied by a well-flowing, very friendly service. Revisited in April 2003: Lovely lunch -and now more fish choices. We were warmly fussed over by a delightfully caring hostess. Later visits again confirmed everything above. Farouge has now expanded, and serves customers on two floors. Although Farouge serves mostly Lebanese food, some of their dishes have a "European twist." Especially the lunch menu, which serves food that is more international than strictly Lebanese. Warmly recommended. Address: Yrjönkatu 6, 00120 HELSINKI Tel: +359- (0) 9- 612 34 55		The restaurant is located on the top floor of the old fortress, a long and narrow room with sloping floors and wonderful views of the sea on the other side, and the charming Helsinki skyline on the other side. The room and the deep window sills are decorated with historic artifacts, beautiful tall ship miniatures,etc. The restaurant is popular and for good reason. The food is very good and the setting is one of it's kind, and even though the decor at Särkänlinna is a little rustic, I find the place very romantic. In July 2001 we thought that Särkänlinna was the best restaurant in the city, even though it is only a seasonal restaurant. The meal the four of us had (fish, of course.) was the best we had in Helsinki, and the staff, especially the Maitre´d, was splendid. In July 2002, the restaurant is under new ownership. There is a new chef and a new staff and while the service is very friendly, something got lost in the changes. The service was at times maddeningly slow or forgetful. For example, the waitress brought our wine to a serving table close to our table, but then disappeared back to the other end of the restaurant, to the kitchen, and the wine sat there -unopened- even though we already had our
		TOP	appetizers. Several times we had to ask the friendly

		DOWN	hostess to do what our waitress was supposed to do.
	Palace Terrace Bar. South Harbor. Click for larger view		That detracted from our dining experience. The food was still very delicious, but not as superb as the previous summer. The restaurant is open from May 1 to September. Reservations are highly recommended. Address: Särkänsaari, 00130 HELSINKI tel. +358 9 1345 6756 A second link Download the taxi boat schedule


	PALACE GOURMET Finnish-French, global cuisine, with modernist touches. Make sure to reserve one of the window tables that face the South Harbor. Address: Eteläranta 10, 00130 Helsinki Tel: +358. (0)9 1345 6715. Second link LA COCINA Serves food that is strongly inspired by Catalan and Basque cuisine. The restaurant has been very well received, and that is no surprise, the food is good: The chef de cuisine, Sami Rekola, who already is quite well known and respected in the culinary world, has traveled in Catalan and Basque regions, tasting, learning & getting inspired, among others, by one of the foodie-world’s “cult” chefs, Jean Arzak (of 3 star restaurant Arzak, in San Sebastian). Chef Rekola has also worked in top restaurants both in London and in Helsinki, before becoming the master of tastes at La Cocina. The space is dominated by dark colors: Chocolate brown and red. The waiters are dressed in black. This is actually a refreshing change to the now so typical sleek, white or light neutral walls & spaces that dominates restaurant design today. The Cocina Bar / Lounge on the street level serves pintxos. You can have a snack of piquillo sweet peppers, sausages, fish or seafood. Wash them down with wine or drinks. La Cocina is now located in the GLO hotel. Address: Kluuvikatu 4 (2nd fl), 00100 Helsinki Tel +358-9-13456749 second link	TOP DOWN	SANTA FÉ serves, you guessed it, Texmex ( & Cajun and international foods).The prices are low and the plates are large. The food is pretty good the prices. The space is pretty cozy, despite it’s size. It seats 240 people in its different rooms. They serve drinks, international beers, cocktails & wines. The wine list is short and includes mostly low wines. The most expensive wine being (in Feb., 2007) a Montecillo Gran Reserva at 43 Euros. (Vintage not mentioned.) All the other wines are in the 27-31 Euro range. It’s a fun, very popular place among locals, for a casual snack together with friends or family. Address: Aleksanterinkatu 15, 00100 Helsinki Tel +358 9 4242 6010


	RESTAURANT TORNI Restaurant Torni has been in business since 1931 (since the building, that also hosts Hotel Torni, was constructed). The interior design of the restaurant tries to stay true to the traditional Finnish functionalism (modernism). It has been a while since we had a chance to sample this restaurant, but when we did, we thoroughly enjoyed it: The food was made of very fresh ingredients, with nice layers of flavors and the presentation was beautiful. The service was friendly & unpretentious. We have heard that the restaurant is still very good and cannot wait to try it again. Address: Kalevankatu 5, 00100 Helsinki Tel +358 9 4336 6320		MAXILL Is a casual restaurant, serving good casual food. For the price it is a real bargain. We dined here in different groups of four. The food was consistently tasty and the service attentive and friendly. The menu contains delightfully many seafood dishes, but has choices for everyone. The wine list features a broad range of low to medium end wines. This restaurant became immediately popular when it opened in 1992; the food was good and the restaurant was refreshingly different compared to most other restaurants in Helsinki back then. It is not a place that tourists would easily find on their own. That already is a good reason to pay a visit:
		TOP	You get a satisfying meal in a "cool" setting,

		DOWN	for a reasonable price with almost only locals
	KAPPELI This historic and well known structure has been one of the gathering places of locals and tourists alike, since it opened in 1867. And when the famous composer Jean Sibelius and other Finnish artists were not hanging out at Kämp, they were here. Casual fare for good prices. It is hard to beat the location: in the heart of Helsinki, in the Esplanade Park, right next to the Havis Amanda Fountain and the Market Square by Helsinki South Harbor & the sea. Throughout the years, this old gem of a building has suffered trough different kinds of restaurants, interior designs, and patrons. There has been times when I have not cared for any of them. Which is too bad, since it is in such a nice spot. Kappeli now conists of: Kappeli Bar, Bar Café, the “Sali” dining room, Cellar, and the most popular Summer Patio in Helsinki.		as patrons. The room is a small rectangular space. The ceilings are high. The two walls that face the street are basically huge windows. That gives a more spacious feeling to the small room and also provides a nice overlook of the street. The tables have tablecloths, and there are some decorative pieces of "art" on the walls. The place is still quite popular among locals, so Reservations are recommended for dinner. First reviewed in 2001. Later visits confirm our original thoughts, with some variations. -Still good. Address: Korkeavuorenkatu 4, 00150 Helsinki, Tel:. 09 638873
	Kappeli was featured in last seson’s

	“Amazing Race”.
	Address: Eteläesplanadi 1, 00130 Helsinki tel +358 9 6812440 Second Link P.S. PHOTOS OF KAPPELI ON OUR HELSNKI (WINTER) PHOTOS 4 -page.		RESTAURANT KLIPPAN An absolutely wonderful setting for a summer restaurant, on a tiny island in the South Harbor. A must. Click photo for larger view and place names.

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	RESTAURANTS & CAFES ON SUOMENLINNA (SVEABORG) ISLAND, which is a wonderful picnic and/or excursion destination. Take advantage of the info, destinations of this list. If you go sightseeing anywhere outside the center in Helsinki, Suomenlinna should be it.	DOWN	CAFE CHAPMAN on the historic Suomenlinna Fortress Island serves surprisingly good fare both indoors and in their back yard garden. We absolutely love this unpretenitous cafe/restaurant and make sure to have lunch in their garden every time we visit the Suomenlinna Islands.