Flashback: I stopped here a couple months ago to kill some time and have a cocktail (and to hang out indoors) before a dinner reservation nearby. Seemed like a happening spot. Lots of people there, no free tables, very vibey (note the IG-able paper lantern backdrop) etc. We sat at the weird low bar thing by the entrance (it's more like a shelf at waist level) and watched as numerous other people came in hoping to get a table without a reservation and were all turned away into the cold Helsinki night. The front-of-house staff had their script down and were demanding the reservation status of everyone who walked through the door, including-- amusingly-- delivery drivers. We watched this cycle repeat for half an hour or so, finished our drinks, made a note to come back and see what the fuss was all about next time we were in town, left.
Present day: In Helsinki again. Showed up at 5pm for an early dinner like a couple of retirees. No reservation but the restaurant was empty so we figured it was nbd. Front-of-house nonetheless greeted us with the customary "DO YOU HAVE A RESERVATION" and then gave us our pick of tables (we sat in the front, near-- but not next to-- the paper lantern wall because we wanted to leave it open in case any IG couples showed up). We got cocktails (again), some kind of fancy tacos from their "visiting kitchen", and a noodle bowl thing. The drinks were good, but I was honestly kinda flummoxed by the food, in terms both of quality (tacos clearly had grocery store-bought salad green mix as a completely unnecessary filler ingredient) and prices (€15-18 for a main like this was SF). I can only conclude that the prices reflect a combination of (1) Helsinki is an expensive city, I get it (2) lack of other Vietnamese/E/SE Asian options, and (3) vibes markup. (Also-- 2 is kinda questionable because we've had absolutely had better and cheaper noodles / E/SE Asian food in Helsinki). They certainly didn't reflect the quality of the food, or explain to me why this place is as popular as we saw it the last time we were here.
HOWEVER, the weirdest thing about our second visit was that about halfway through our time there (drinks were on the table, still waiting for food) the music switched over from some totally unremarkable pop mix (Selena Gomez, etc) to someone's 100% Rihanna playlist. It took me a couple of tracks to realize what was going on because the leadoff cut was 'Lift Me Up' from the Black Panther soundtrack (which I had never heard before, but was so unremarkable that I probably wouldn't remember if I had), followed by 'We Found Love' (obviously RiRi but such a generic crossover hit that I thought nothing of it), followed in turn by 'Only Girl (In the World)' (which honestly doesn't feel like a Rihanna song to me-- really, anyone could belt this out. Was it even written for her?). But at that point I realized something was up and double checked the feature on Google Pixl that automatically shazams whatever you're listening to and confirmed that whoever's Spotify was playing had indeed switched over to "Your Weekly Lame Rihanna Songs" playlist. As if to drive this point home, the next track was 'Born Again' (had to look it up, another MCU tie-in). At this affront, I started loudly complaining to my dining companion about the curatorial taste of the playlist maker, and was rewarded by 'Rude Boy' (quintessential RiRi. no notes) and 'Love on the Brain' (overshadowed by other cuts on Anti- but still solid). At this point the frustration had given way to amusement at the absurdity of the situation: not Rihanna herself but why here? why these songs? why now? We moved on to 'Work' (I'll admit this one's still good but ugh I wish Drake was less of a twerp) and finally 'Take a Bow' (okay I actually love this one but it's really insane for a restaurant playlist, right??).
Anyway, that's that. Probably won't be back but I'm glad for the experience (the Rihanna roller coaster, not the food. Sorry :c). read more