My Best Helsinki Restaurant Reviews 3

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 restaurant names):




A spot that everyone seemed to be talking
about when it was new.

Kuurna is very different from other restaurants in
Helsinki. Its small size (22 seats) and a bit grungy
look, paired with skill and passion for their product,
the food, make Kuurna's two young, enthusiastic
chefs the owners of the most popular new restaurant
in Helsinki.
 
The house (er .. little cottage) is full, night after night.
There is an open (anything but fancy) kitchen, a
"rough" vaulted ceiling, and not a lot of space. The
chefs double as servers, although they do have one
waiter. The going is sometimes a bit clumsy, but
homey, intentionally eschewing any pretentiousness.
 
The plates are simple, but skillfully prepared, from
fresh, high quality ingredients, some greens from
their own garden, with some of the fish promptly
delivered by fishermen from the day's catch.
 
The small menu changes weekly, and offers just
one choice of either a vegetable, fish or meat starter
and entree. A three course dinner costs 32 Euros
and a 2 course dinner 27 Euros. A really good deal.
And it gets even better when you consider this:
 
The wine list is one of the few reasonably priced
wine-lists in Helsinki. What makes this truly
commendable is that the wines on the list are not
"cheap" wines, and the variety is very well thought out.

The Emilio Moro Ribera is very attractively priced
(it definitely needs to breathe a while), as is the
Billecart-Salmon Champagne. The broad range of
producers and regions virtually assures a satisfying
match.

Those willing to spend to satisfy their demanding
or refined wine tastes can also obtain satisfaction
with the Gevery-Chambertin offering, or, on the white
side, the Condrieu. The wine list displays a hip side,
with an offering from Alvaro Palacios in Priorat, makers
of the muscular "L'Ermita" which can bring hundreds
of Euros per bottle, food friendly Shiraz from the
Barossa valley and of course the never miss Allegrini
Amarone.
 
Both chefs have worked in London, and brought to
Helsinki not just what they learned as chefs, but
something that we have missed there for years:
different seatings.
 
Numerous times we have witnessed patrons
without reservations trying to get a table at a half
full Helsinki restaurant (where we were already
dining), only to be turned away because the
"restaurant is fully booked". No amount of pleading
has helped.
Then, during the course of the evening, we have
witnessed the empty tables stay empty for hours -or
for the remainder of the evening.

We have seen this happen in all levels of Helsinki
restaurants, including some of our favorites, and
have been puzzled over the poor business sense
of turning (groups of) patrons away, only because
a restaurant has a  reservation for table a few hours
later -or not.
 
So, kudos to Kuurna for the seating policy, even though
it comes with a Finnish twist: strict enforcement of
non-lingering.
 
Kuurna is located in beautiful Kruunuhaka, "just behind"
the Presidential Palace.

The sign outside the restaurant states plainly ”Ravintola”
( the Finnish word for Restaurant), but this is the place.

Address:
Meritullinkatu 6, 00170 Helsinki

Tel:+ 358 (0) 9 670 849, info@kuurna.fi

These talented people also own the popular restaurant  


YUME is a modern Japanese restaurant
close to the Esplanade Park. Its theme is
the four seasons, and the pampering of all
the senses: the beautiful design, the best
ingredients and a seasonally changing look
of the interior.

The space is divided into four rooms: the Water
Bar as the “living room”, the Garden Room, the
private Wooden House above, and lastly, the
Veranda.
Address: Kluuvikatu 2, 00100 Helsinki,
Tel:+358-9- 5761 1718

Summer Terrace on North Esplanade
Helsinki, North Esplanade patio


KABUKI  
Lately, our "local agents" have not been very happy
with this restaurant. They feel that if you
have access to top quality sushi where you live,
you might be disappointed here.
Still: Kabuki is very popular among locals who dine
on their own dime. The smallish space is often full.
Reservations are highly recommended.
The room is different; not a stiff temple of
imported Japanese décor, nor one of these
white-beige nouveau-modernist dime-a-dozen
restaurant spaces of today...
Its a fun, funky room donning lots of ice hockey
memorabilia and some rock memorabilia.
The owner is a big hockey fan and has received
the hockey stuff directly from the players, and the
"rock stuff" from Finland’s best-known rock band,
Himi.
Address: Lapinlahdenkatu 12, 00180 Helsinki,
Tel:+358 (09) 694 9446 



Bulevardi, Helsinki
Corner of Annankatu & Bulevardi. Winter.

     

Fresh fish in a beautiful, traditional atmosphere. Havis
specializes in fish an shellfish but offers also meat and
vegetarian dishes. Havis seats 54 people in its two vaulted,
muraled rooms.

Our friends (sophisticated diners, who have eaten in both casual
and in some of the best and finest restaurants all over the world)
had quite a disastrous experience on their return visit to Havis.
The service was rude and indifferent, from the first (missing)
"hello". In addition, the service was quite amateurish, with
seemingly zero knowledge about wine.

The food was either salted to such extremes that it was virtually
inedible, or, in case of a salmon entree, so over cooked that
it was totally dry. The other entree,which was cooked to correct
doneness, was also way too salty.
The wine that had been ordered, never arrived. After first having a
hard time getting the wine order right, the waiter came back,
a looong time after the appetizers had been served, announcing
that the restaurant had run out of the (expensive) wine (which was
on the menu).

When the diners complained about the devastating saltiness,
the response was (vis-a-vis the appetizers): "Yes, we know.
Obviously the chef poured a bit too much salt into the pot.
"
When the diners complained that the entrees were also way
too salty, the waiter ignored them.

We will add a link to a detailed review later.

seats 40.

 is a modern & casual space, with an open
kitchen, also serving fish and shellfish.
Address: Eteläranta 16, 00130 Helsinki,
Phone: (358) 9 - 6869 5660,



 "A Café and Restaurant in Grand European tradition."
Address: Pohjoisesplanadi 29, 00100 Helsinki
Tel. +358 9 5840 9530


KÄMP - Paul's bar & bistro    second link
We have heard that people enjoy the good service
of this bar very much. Modern but comfortable, with
warm tones. 
Address: Unioninkatu 20 (on the corner
of Unioninkatu and Pohjoinen Makasiinikatu - streets)
,
00130 HELSINKI, tel: +358-9-1345 6271


"The newest and hottest club in Helsinki offers live music
and relaxed atmosphere in an international and memorable
setting"
Address: Pohjoisesplanadi 29, 00100 Helsinki            
Phone: (358) 9 - 5761 11
Email: sales(at)hotelkamp.fi   






POSTRES   (one Michelin star - 2010)
serves very good food, combined
with good, no-nonsense service. That makes
this dessert loving restaurant a good choice both
for dinner or lunch. The prices are, especially
compared with the quality, very reasonable.

Again, a place where locals like dining on
their own dime.

Postres strives to offer well thought out
dinner & lunch menus that are topped with
one or more desserts.

The lunch consists of a 3 course menu
that offers 2 choices of each course. It
is served Tu-Fri, for 22€.


Good location:
Eteläesplanadi 8, 00130 Helsinki
Phone: (358) 9 - 663300
Email: info@postres.fi


RESTAURANT OLO
is an exciting new restaurant, owned by two 
seasoned restaurant professionals:
Pekka Terävä (chef de cuisine) &
Petri Lukkarinen (restaurant manager),
are both well respected in Finnish
restaurant/foodie circles. Chef Terävä has
an impressive resume, including:  Havis
Amanda, Alexander Nevski, Palacen Ranta,
G.W. Sundmans, Klippan & Linna. Seems like
he has worked in most of our favorite places
in Helsinki.

Restaurant Olo offers cuisine that is based on
modern Nordic cooking; clean lines & fresh,
seasonal ingredients. The emphasis is on high
quality, delicious but non fussy dining, in a
relaxed atmosphere.

There is also a bar, a wine room, and a
seasonal patio.

The restaurant is open for dinner and lunch.
Address: Kasarmikatu 44, 00130 Helsinki
Phone: (358) 9 -  665 565

"Olo" = "being"
or "feeling" in Finnish, depending
on
the context. Philosophically speaking it conveys
the idea of a state of existential  being.





LA PLACE serves delicious lunches  for
reasonable prices.
Local foodies talk warmly about this place.

The lunch menu changes daily
offering single dishes or a 2 & 3 course menu
that includes a salad, main course & dessert.
On top of that, an espresso is included.

The 2 course lunch is 3 Euros less than the 3
course lunch. A bargain any way you look at it.

Address: Unioninkatu 18,  00130 Helsinki
Tel/fax: +358 (0)9-666 366,
chef@laplace.fi




BELLY is a nice place that serves casual,
good food for extremely reasonable (cheap)
prices.  It is a club in the evenings and a
lunch place during the day.

Lunch changes daily: salad, warm entree (a
couple of choices), coffee & dessert 8,20€,
salad, soup, coffee & dessert 6,40€

Address: Uudenmaankatu 16-20, Helsinki
Tel:+358-9-644 981
Lunch: Mo-Fri 10.30 AM - 3 PM



SAFKA   (= "Chow") is no more.
Since May, 2009, this space is has been occupied by
 the quite popular "molecular to traditional" spanning
Michel star recipient, restaurant luomo.
Address: Vironkatu 8, 00170 Helsinki
Tel: +358 9 1357 287, e-mail:safka@safka.fi



Fun, reasonably priced, casual restaurant
for evereyone who likes -surprise, surprise-
garlic.

The food is reasonably priced, but the patrons' 
opinions are mixed at best. Last time we dined
here, it was pretty tasty. 
Cozy, warm rooms (in need of someTLC),
with huge, vaulted windows facing the street



a.k.a. Keittiö & Baari Juuri (= Kitchen & Bar Root )
Traditional Finnish food in a "fresh, new way".
Specialty: "Sapas", i.e. Finnish Tapas.
Korkeavuorenkatu 27, 00130 Helsinki
Phone:  (358) 9- 635732,  Email: ravintola@juuri.fi  
and the great Punavuori neighborhood.

Second Link  with photos of restaurant.
Address: Fredrikinkatu 22, 00120 Helsinki
Phone: +358 9 651 939,

Cell: +358 50 591 4579
Email: jan.berg@kolumbus.fi



SUMMER RESTAURANTS (on islands around Helsinki):


KLIPPAN  in the South Harbor.
Luoto, 00140 Helsinki
Phone: +358 (0)9 633 408
second link
location on map.
Click photo for place names & larger view:

 Klippan island


NJK on VALKOSAARI in the South Harbor.
Valkosaari, 00140 Helsinki
Phone: +358 (0)9 6128 6500
second link

BOATHOUSE
Liuskasaari, FI-00140 Helsinki
Phone: +358 (0)9 6227 1070
second link   third link

SÄRKÄNLINNA
Särkänsaari, 00130 Helsinki
Phone: +358 (0)9 1345 6756
second link
-our review on  restaurant page 2

Click photo for place names & larger view:

Taxi boat arriving at Särkkä Island pier.


CAFE CHAPMAN -on Suomenlinna Fortress Island
- our review on  restaurant page 2

WALHALLA -on Suomenlinna Fortress Island
Address: Suomenlinna A10, 00190 Helsinki
Phone / Fax: +350-(0)9 - 668 552
Email:
walhalla@kolumbus.fi       second link

UUNISAARI -sorry, in Finnish only.
Uunisaari, 00150 Helsinki
Phone: +358 (0)9 636 870
second link (in English)

RESTAURANT SAARI  -on Sirpalesaari Island
Sirpalesaari, 00150 Helsinki Phone: +358 (0)9 7425 5566
second link

RESTAURANT PIHLAJASAARI -on Pihlajasaari Island
Pihlajasaari, FI-00150 Helsinki
Phone: +358-(0)45-129 2000
+358-(0)40-546 5350
second link

SAARI = ISLAND in Finnish.



BALI HAI
Iso Roobertinkatu 35, Helsinki
(Punavuori neighborhood, very close to the center)
Phone: (09) 179 904
Popular, pretty reasonably priced restaurant, by the
owners of "We Got Beef" & "Slussen".
second link



Restaurant Tori
Telakkakatu 2, 00150 Helsinki, Finland
Phone:  +358 (0)9 - 687 43 790

Nice, casual place, located by a small square in Punavuori.
During the warm months it is quite pleasant to sit outside, on
their patio.
Second link



RESTAURANT SATKAR
Fredrikinkatu 46, 00100 Helsinki
Phone:  +358 (0)9 - 611 077
Nepalese cuisine.  second link


RESTAURANT KAISA      second link
Vilhonkatu 6 / Mikonkatu 17, 00100 Helsinki
Phone:  +358 (0)9 - 676717
Email: info@mesopotamia.fi
The only  Curdish restaurant in Helsinki.
Traditional food  with  mezes and fresh
salads.







A good list of:
RESTAURANTS & CAFES ON SUOMENLINNA
(SVEABORG) ISLANDS
, 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 of
Helsinki, Suomenlinna Fortress Islands should be it.



An extensive alphabetic Helsinki
RESTAURANT LIST It is in Finnish, but you will
figure it out. Click on the restaurant links.



Chaîne des Rôtisseurs:
WINNER OF THE 2009 'Concours International
des Jeunes Commis Rôtisseurs' competition:
LASSE KOISTINEN from FINLAND

CHAIN DES ROTISSEURS: FINLAND

The 33rd Concours International des Jeunes Commis
Rotisseurs Competition to be held in Helsinki, Finland
in September, 2010.


Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, advice on  table etiquette  
;-D
 ... oh, well ...


Remember, in Finland the dates are marked: day /mo / year.

We are continually upgrading all pages on My Best
Helsinki with photos,
links
and text. We strive  to keep all links in working order. If you notice a
defect, or have
suggestions or questions,  please let us know:  e-mail.



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
 


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.
For example,  it is not  uncommon
to see a wine that would retail in a 

wine store for $15 in the US, selling
for over $50 on a menu in Finland.
An example: We saw a Marqués de
Riscal Reserva 2002, Rioja for 42
Euros (=  $ 55.5 in Feb., 2007) on
the wine list of a casual restaurant 
in Helsinki. In New York the retail
price  for  this  wine  ranges  from
$13 to $14 The  Marqués  de  Riscal  
Reserva  2001  (that  has  an  IWS
rating of  90 points)  sells between 
$10  to  $14  in  New  York.   

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