Lets' continue with fish and seafood. Now this is one category where Helsinki truly shines:
Finnish fish:
Havis as successor to the legendary
Havis Amanda ( "Daughter of the Baltic" ) and included in the splendid recs by
ORD Finn.
Messenius
Messeniuksenkatu 7
Tel: (09) 241 4950
http://www.messenius.fi
This fine neighbourhood place outside the city centre is famed for the "catch of the day", often caught by the fishing enthusiast owners themselves. Also fairly good steaks for the carnivores amongst us.
Finnish fish and seafood:
Rivoli
Albertinkatu 38, 00180 Helsinki
Tel (09) 643 455 Fax (09) 647 780
E-mail:
[email protected]
Traditional fine dining restaurant quite close to the
Sas Royal and
Scandic Simonkentta hotels. Specialities include oysters, shellfish and mussels in season ( this was the first place to import them at all ) and Zander in a onion and cream sauce trad style.
Carelia
Mannerheimintie 56, 00260 Helsinki
Tel (09) 270 90 976 Fax (09) 270 90 977
Finnish-Italian with a strong fish and seafood emphasis. Oysters and other seafood in Winter, local fish in the Summer season.
Fried herring with potato mash:
"Working class" fare similar to fish & chips in Britain and a mainstay in several Helsinki restaurants. Good versions can be found f.ex at
Salve,
Sea Horse,
Elite,
Kosmos and their luxury cousin at
Savoy.
Crayfish:
From end of July until early September it's worthwhile to ask for crayfish menus and prices at many of the better restaurants in Helsinki. It's not cheap, you don't get full from the crayfish alone and there are many rituals involved but it should be tried at least once. Or try to sneak onto a corporate crayfish party guestlist, places are extremely coveted at some.