Helsinki Dining Guide
Nov 15, 2010 | 1:19 pm
#166
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Finland
Programs: Almost anything with six to twelve steps...
Posts: 1,034
Thanks guys, maybe we will try Manala then if that is nice. I emailed Helsinki Tourism and they sent me a long list of Restuarants/Bars/Clubs that were open on 24th/25th/26th December last year and the times they were open to. Manala was open from 6pm - 4am on the 26th last year so no problems there but there were other restaurants that were open until 11pm or later. Is Manala close to an area where we might be able to take some nice photos around town after dinner? Or any other suggestions are welcome!! These were some of the other restauarants that were open late according to the Tourism Office, are any of these any good food/location wise?
Belge, Kluuvikatu 5, tel.010-766 3590 11-23
Kynsilaukka Garlic, Fredrikinkatu 22, tel.651 939 (garlic) 13- (entr. before 23)
Kmp Cafe, Pohjoisesplanadi 29, tel.5840 9530 11.30-01
Lastu/Scandic Continental, Mannerheimintie 46, tel.4737 2207 17-23
Makasiini/Scandic Grand Marina,
Katajanokanlaituri 7, tel.09-16 661 18-23
Manala, Dagmarinkatu 2, tel. 580 77 707 (Fin-nish/home-cooking) 18-04
Savotta, Aleksanterinkatu 22, tel.7425 5588 (Finnish) 17-23
Salve, Hietalahdenranta 11, p.603 455 14-23
Teatteri, Pohjoisesplanadi 2, p.6811 1311 11-01
Zetor, Mannerheimintie 3-5, t. 010-7664 450 (Finnish, tractor theme restaurant) 12-24
Thanks again for your help!
Belge, Kluuvikatu 5, tel.010-766 3590 11-23
Kynsilaukka Garlic, Fredrikinkatu 22, tel.651 939 (garlic) 13- (entr. before 23)
Kmp Cafe, Pohjoisesplanadi 29, tel.5840 9530 11.30-01
Lastu/Scandic Continental, Mannerheimintie 46, tel.4737 2207 17-23
Makasiini/Scandic Grand Marina,
Katajanokanlaituri 7, tel.09-16 661 18-23
Manala, Dagmarinkatu 2, tel. 580 77 707 (Fin-nish/home-cooking) 18-04
Savotta, Aleksanterinkatu 22, tel.7425 5588 (Finnish) 17-23
Salve, Hietalahdenranta 11, p.603 455 14-23
Teatteri, Pohjoisesplanadi 2, p.6811 1311 11-01
Zetor, Mannerheimintie 3-5, t. 010-7664 450 (Finnish, tractor theme restaurant) 12-24
Thanks again for your help!
Manala (meaning The Underworld) is a late night standout in town, but mainly because you can get food very late. Quality and selection wise nothing to write home about, though.
Whichever place you decide to choose, be sure to email them directly to make sure they are open and serve food at the time you plan to arrive.
One further suggestion, firmly off the beaten path, is Eerikin Pippuri, a legendary kebab joint on Eerikinkatu. It is cheap, portions are huge, and the food tasty. Definitely not gourmet, but a very authentic slice of late night Helsinki. They are open til midnight plus they have a hole in the wall that is open til 5 am.
Cheers,
T.
Jan 11, 2011 | 1:52 pm
#167
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Finland
Programs: Almost anything with six to twelve steps...
Posts: 1,034
Recommending Allotria
I've found a new worthwhile place in North Helsinki, called Allotria. They are located at Hmeentie 68 in the Hermanni area. It is unpretentious, relaxed, and the food is always good (based on four visits of late). Not gourmet, but tasty bistro-type food at decent prices. On some nights, there is dinner theatre available.
Nice and relaxed, excellent price/qualty ratio.
Cheers,
T.
Nice and relaxed, excellent price/qualty ratio.
Cheers,
T.
Jan 11, 2011 | 9:49 pm
#168
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Helsinki
Programs: AY Platinum, IHG Gold, Diners
Posts: 1,299
I agree with Thalassa that Allotria is an ok place when it comes to price/quality. Just be aware that at least a few months ago the staff was clueless when it came to special diets. We checked with the waitress before we ordered that a dish was gluten-free. She checked with the kitchen, and we ordered it when it was confirmed it's gluten-free. When the dish came, it contained loads of barley, which definitely is not gluten-free. Luckily my girlfriend noticed it before eating.
They were very sorry and handled the situation quite well, but still we have been quite afraid of going there since, even if it's walking distance to the place.
They were very sorry and handled the situation quite well, but still we have been quite afraid of going there since, even if it's walking distance to the place.
Jan 25, 2011 | 2:06 am
#169
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: AVV
Programs: QF, HH
Posts: 1,217
Russian: Saslik, Neitsytpolku 12
Across from the Russian Embassy, Saslik is a frequent destination on my travels. I highly suggest the bear, combined with a decent selection of ice cold vodka. The restaurant is rather cramped, so it makes escaping the Russian folk singers a bit difficult.
Note that this restaurant company has other branches serving Finnish and other cuisines, some of which I've eaten at, and seem to be equally as good.
http://www.asrestaurants.com/saslik/index.asp?lang=en
Across from the Russian Embassy, Saslik is a frequent destination on my travels. I highly suggest the bear, combined with a decent selection of ice cold vodka. The restaurant is rather cramped, so it makes escaping the Russian folk singers a bit difficult.
Note that this restaurant company has other branches serving Finnish and other cuisines, some of which I've eaten at, and seem to be equally as good.
http://www.asrestaurants.com/saslik/index.asp?lang=en
Last edited by Catweazle; Jan 25, 2011 at 2:53 am
Jan 31, 2011 | 3:09 am
#170
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,353
Mar 13, 2011 | 3:06 am
#171
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Helsinki
Programs: AY Platinum, IHG Gold, Diners
Posts: 1,299
Two new-ish additions worth mentioning to the Helsinki dining scene:
La Table is the new restaurant of Markus Aremo, who has been awarded the Michelin star twice. Whenever he gets a star, he closes the restaurant and opens a new one. So where he had Carma before, he now has La Table http://www.latable.fi. I went there the other night, and the food was excellent. Price-wise it's very reasonable I would say.
My better half went to another new place called Muru. Two young chefs who used to have a TV-show (perhaps still to some extent do) have opened a restaurant. I haven't been there myself, but the reviews I've heard from friends are quite good. Rumours say it's booked 2-3 months forward for weekend-nights. Price-wise also reasonable. http://www.murudining.fi/
Nice to see more reasonably priced, quality restaurants in town!
La Table is the new restaurant of Markus Aremo, who has been awarded the Michelin star twice. Whenever he gets a star, he closes the restaurant and opens a new one. So where he had Carma before, he now has La Table http://www.latable.fi. I went there the other night, and the food was excellent. Price-wise it's very reasonable I would say.
My better half went to another new place called Muru. Two young chefs who used to have a TV-show (perhaps still to some extent do) have opened a restaurant. I haven't been there myself, but the reviews I've heard from friends are quite good. Rumours say it's booked 2-3 months forward for weekend-nights. Price-wise also reasonable. http://www.murudining.fi/
Nice to see more reasonably priced, quality restaurants in town!
Apr 2, 2011 | 2:39 am
#172
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Finland
Programs: Almost anything with six to twelve steps...
Posts: 1,034
One New Michelin Star in Helsinki
The Michelin men (and women) have been in town again and we have one new starred restaurant - Olo, which concentrates in modern Finnish and Scandinavian cuisine.
My only experience at Olo was rather lacklustre so I guess I better go and revisit to see if they have improved or I just happened to be there on a bad night.
Others retained their stars: CD still has two (and their 29 three-course lunch remains the gourmet deal of the decade) and Demo, Postres, Luomo still have one. As Carma was closed, it naturally lost its star (the word on Carma's successor, the more relaxed La Table has been positive and they did earn a Bib Gourmand).
The Asian fusion eatery Farang also earned a Bib Gourmand (with a little bit of polish, they are a likely candidate for a star in a couple of years).
Grotesk and Solna kept their Bib Gourmands while Mecca lost it (deservedly, in all instances).
Cheers,
T.
My only experience at Olo was rather lacklustre so I guess I better go and revisit to see if they have improved or I just happened to be there on a bad night.
Others retained their stars: CD still has two (and their 29 three-course lunch remains the gourmet deal of the decade) and Demo, Postres, Luomo still have one. As Carma was closed, it naturally lost its star (the word on Carma's successor, the more relaxed La Table has been positive and they did earn a Bib Gourmand).
The Asian fusion eatery Farang also earned a Bib Gourmand (with a little bit of polish, they are a likely candidate for a star in a couple of years).
Grotesk and Solna kept their Bib Gourmands while Mecca lost it (deservedly, in all instances).
Cheers,
T.
Apr 5, 2011 | 1:30 am
#173
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: HEL
Posts: 51
The Michelin men (and women) have been in town again and we have one new starred restaurant - Olo, which concentrates in modern Finnish and Scandinavian cuisine.
My only experience at Olo was rather lacklustre so I guess I better go and revisit to see if they have improved or I just happened to be there on a bad night.
T.
My only experience at Olo was rather lacklustre so I guess I better go and revisit to see if they have improved or I just happened to be there on a bad night.
T.
The service was a bit unpolished compared to the other Michelin-starred places I've been to (Postres and Carma). Some of the waiters were clearly not very experienced and as our table was near the bar we could hear the senior waiters teaching them how to do things.
I'll definitely go back sooner or later. The lack of polish in the service is something that doesn't bother me much when the food is that good.
Apr 5, 2011 | 6:56 am
#174
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: AVV
Programs: QF, HH
Posts: 1,217
I had dinner at Olo about a week ago. We had the five course "Menu Nordic" and every bit of it was really good. My favourite was the king crab with pork, and my husband enjoyed the "Onion with onion and onion" dish (that doesn't seem to be on the menu anymore). We also loved the yoghurt and rosewater marshmallows that came with the bill. I almost want to go back just for those.
Apr 5, 2011 | 10:47 am
#176
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: HEL
Posts: 51
Jun 1, 2011 | 3:40 pm
#177
Join Date: May 2011
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: 1K, Marriott-Gold
Posts: 73
Greetings! I am heading to Helsinki for the first time next week. I'll be there on business and mostly likely eating by myself. Anyone have good suggestions for solo dining? I generally trend toward places where I can sit at the bar and eat and drink, avoiding hotel restaurant as much as possible. thks
Jun 2, 2011 | 12:25 am
#178
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Finland
Programs: Almost anything with six to twelve steps...
Posts: 1,034
Greetings! I am heading to Helsinki for the first time next week. I'll be there on business and mostly likely eating by myself. Anyone have good suggestions for solo dining? I generally trend toward places where I can sit at the bar and eat and drink, avoiding hotel restaurant as much as possible. thks
As for solo dining, I'd consider these places:
Nuevo Spanish cuisine, modern decor
Ateljee Finne relaxed near fine dining from local ingredients
Kolme Sepp (here you migth even be able to eat at the bar, not sure) "California type" cuisine
La Table French bistro style, run by a Michelin chef
Grotesk a stylish, relaxed dining place, owned by Michelin starred chefs
Salve an atmospheric greasy spoon, good fish dishes
Chez Dominique not good for solo dinner, but for the far and away best lunch in town. Two Michelin stars, 3-course lunch for 29 .
If you can give a bit more detail as to what you are looking for food and pricewise, we can probably give better recommendations.
Cheers,
T.
Jun 2, 2011 | 10:54 am
#179
Join Date: May 2011
Location: PVD, BOS
Programs: 1K, Marriott-Gold
Posts: 73
Having a meal at the bar is pretty rare in Finland and you might be in for a disappointment in that department, especially if you do not wish to eat at hotel restaurants.
As for solo dining, I'd consider these places:
Nuevo Spanish cuisine, modern decor
Ateljee Finne relaxed near fine dining from local ingredients
Kolme Sepp (here you migth even be able to eat at the bar, not sure) "California type" cuisine
La Table French bistro style, run by a Michelin chef
Grotesk a stylish, relaxed dining place, owned by Michelin starred chefs
Salve an atmospheric greasy spoon, good fish dishes
Chez Dominique not good for solo dinner, but for the far and away best lunch in town. Two Michelin stars, 3-course lunch for 29 .
If you can give a bit more detail as to what you are looking for food and pricewise, we can probably give better recommendations.
Cheers,
T.
As for solo dining, I'd consider these places:
Nuevo Spanish cuisine, modern decor
Ateljee Finne relaxed near fine dining from local ingredients
Kolme Sepp (here you migth even be able to eat at the bar, not sure) "California type" cuisine
La Table French bistro style, run by a Michelin chef
Grotesk a stylish, relaxed dining place, owned by Michelin starred chefs
Salve an atmospheric greasy spoon, good fish dishes
Chez Dominique not good for solo dinner, but for the far and away best lunch in town. Two Michelin stars, 3-course lunch for 29 .
If you can give a bit more detail as to what you are looking for food and pricewise, we can probably give better recommendations.
Cheers,
T.
Jun 2, 2011 | 6:34 pm
#180
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Finland
Programs: Almost anything with six to twelve steps...
Posts: 1,034
Also, if you are free some morning, do go to the Hakaniemen tori (Hakaniemi market place) and have a plate of porridge at Kahvisiskot (orange tent, a large coffee pot for a sign) for breakfast amongst the locals. Unique, fun, and cheap.
Kabuki is a good and fun Japanese restaurant. Farouge is a pretty good Lebanese place. They might also be worth a shot.
Cheers,
T.