Came here on 2 separate occasions. Since it was near my hotel. The food wasn't anything crazy and a…read morelittle pricey. This place is known for their fried herring. First few bites of this were pretty good. Salty and flavorful that comes with mashed potatoes that helps reset your taste buds when it gets too salty. But after halfway, I got tired of the taste. Wasn't enough variety. The salmon wasn't anything crazy. The shrimp tartar sauce that came with it was really tasty.

First meal in Finland, after checking into the hotel checked Yelp for a real Helsinki style…read morecuisine. This came up and we took Uber and arrived 10 minutes later. We tried quite a few things, my buddy wanted to sample their different looking items as well. It was fun trying their seafood, their unique sauces that accompanied them, the lamb, the mystery fish which I couldn't find in google translate, the wild mushroom soup, and to top it off was that excellent cloudberry cheesecake. Had to google was 'cloudberry' was and this was the definition "Cloudberries are very juicy, and they taste a bit like a cross between a raspberry and a red currant". We were sold! So unique and different at the same time had to upload a picture so one could see what they look like before turned into a dessert. For sure would return to this place, great service, excellent tasting food which is so different from other countries.

We were very cold and wet from a nasty weather day and wanted to try something warm. Also wanted…read moresomething local to Helsinki as well and Yelp said this one would satisfy our taste buds. Not a single tourist in site, everyone speaking Finnish so we knew this was the perfect spot. Had only 30 minutes before lunch ended so we ate quick and snapped as many pictures as I could. Very interesting salads with unique dressings, most them couldn't tell what in the world made them taste so good. Helsinki proved to be awesome and to not copy Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Finland borders Russia on the East side which might be why their foods are so different and yet so delectable. Would be better to visit when the weather is warmer with some sunshine. For sure would return to this place as it was superb!

Love the unpretentious lunch hidden in the street corners of Helsinki city centre here. You kind of…read morehave to look for a place as it doesnt have street front...just a sign they put outside to say they are open...and you kind of have to brave yourself to step in a small corner inside the streets to actually get to the restaurant. There are all types of clienteles here and you pay right when you arrive, get your plate, grab your food from the buffet line and seat whereever the table is free. Pretty casual and stress free...and the staff there do run like a well-oiled machine. They clear thr empty plates and clean the tables, and refill the food in tje buffet line as much as they can. The buffet line has a section for vegetarian and regular hot meal food. There's also a separate corner to grab your own tea/coffee as you wish, too. For ~€12 and quality all you can eat lunch...this is a very very good deal! I did try everything from the buffet line and they all tasted fresh! I had 2 full plates and a cup of tea..and didn't feel bloated after eating so much afterwards at all. If I had time to come back to Helsinki again, I would definitely want to have lunch here again. I debated goinf back there again my last day in Helsinki but unfortunately didn't have enough time to go back there...else I would be back there again! Give yourself and your friends a nice casual lunch when you are in Helsinki and you will be happy to stopped by for sure!

Nice looking cafe on the main esplanade of Helsinki. Came in late winter for the salmon soup -…read moreunlimited with bread and coffee for 16.9 euro. They definitely don't skimp on salmon - large tender chunks. Soup was creamy but not too rich. A variety of bread along with whipped butter and pumpkin spread. Need to get the dark rye bread - Finn's love this. Nice ambience although a tad noisy. Mostly locals the evening I went.

The location of this restaurant was formerly a chapel, and today it is including a café and a…read morerestaurant. Inside, the café has a cozy, lively, and relaxing atmosphere that makes it an inviting place to spend time. The café offers a salmon soup buffet along with a wide selection of pastries, sandwiches, and salads. The restaurant, on the other hand, is well known for its reindeer dishes. I really loved the location, which is perfect to visit during a day of sightseeing or as a stop between exploring Helsinki. Personally, I enjoyed the café more than the restaurant. While it isn't fine dining, the café offers healthy, simple dishes and a great variety of local favorites. The restaurant has a good selection of menu options; however, aside from the reindeer dish, I found the other items to be quite salty. The service throughout our visit was very good.

Excellent location for a nice quiet dinner with great food in the center of Helsinki although…read moreportions tend to be on the smaller side. They serve a homemade malt bread which I had never had before, a touch of sweetness but savory and definitely delicate at the same time but the butter is absolutely fantastic and a flavor I cannot pinpoint but unique and delicious. The celeriac (vegetarian) dish is a must have, flavorful and delicate at the same time. The dessert portion is really tiny (the cake slice could only accommodate three blueberries on top!) but it is nice and the cream igelayo is soft and delicious. I think prices are a bit steep for the portions but I guess they are in line with similar establishments in Finland. Definitely recommend.

Fine dining in this part of town is the norm, therefore , I expect the very best …read more Nevertheless, there was an atmosphere which cannot be fabricated. laughs and chatter from almost every table...loved it ! I had the Toasted duck and others had the pike perch. they were both extremely tasteful. the combination of vegetables and ingredients was something to look forward to . I with I would've had an appetizer because the portion was a little small for my big appetite. We had the Tarte Tatin for dessert, which is basically vanilla ice cream over heated apple pie. service was good . I would repeat to try other dishes . Reasonable prices, considering the area.

From start to finish, an excellent experience. Enthusiastic service by the staff, beautifully…read moreprepared delicious dishes. View of the park across the street is charming.

Phenomenal experience! Picked this spot based off the variety and prices were pretty good. We had…read moreoutstanding service from a very sweet server and incredibly delicious food. Got the autumn course meal which was rabbit rillette followed with slow cooked moose then cheese with jam and finished with chocolate ganache dessert. The rabbit was ok but the rest were outstanding. My friends got the reindeer, meatballs, and liver which were all incredibly delicious also (I actually preferred the taste of all 3 of these over the moose but had to try moose since it's rare to find). If I were to go back I'd get the goat cheese salad followed with the reindeer main course. You won't be disappointed!

Best restaurant in the neighborhood. Very cosmopolitan ambiance, impeccable service and delicious…read morefood. Most likely need reservations on most nights, I was in during late lunch. Delicious whitefish with potatoes. Update went 3 times during my visit, delicious onion soup and reindeer steak for dinner ! Yum!!

We had an enjoyable dinner at Maxill. It was perfect for a nicer weeknight dinner during our visit…read moreto Helsinki. - Atmosphere: Maxill has a modern, but classy atmosphere. There are also a few small tables outside the restaurant. - Service: The service at Maxill was great. We enjoyed our time getting to know the people working there. They even called a cab for us at the end of our meal. - Food: The menu had a good mix of Scandinavian and other flavors. We started with a fresh tomato and cheese dish. I had a shrimp pasta for my main which was tasty and filling. We shared the creme brulee for dessert and that was definitely the highlight of the meal! - Value: Overall, the value at Maxill was fairly good for Scandinavia, but it was priced like a nicer restaurant.

This was honestly one of the best and most memorable meals from my trip to Finland. My friend and I…read moreopted to just order a bunch of Sapas so we could try a bit of everything. Every dish was so delicious. My favorites were the pork tenderloin and the celeriac dish. I had to order another pork tenderloin dish because it was so good! What I liked best is that no ingredient is used in vain. Every part of each dish really shined and blended together perfectly. I had the petit fours for dessert and like the Sapas they were a great way to taste a variety of desserts. The service was also amazing. Our server was very friendly and attentive. She gave us a few suggestions for dishes and also recommended some of of her favorite local libraries to visit when she heard we were in Finland for a library conference. This was simply a wonderful meal and a nice twist on Finnish food.

OMG. So so good!! Their presentation is impeccable and the flavor of each dish is very well thought…read moreout having quite exquisite balance. I had big lunch so was not hungry at all but the dish I order, a lamb dish from the appitizers menu blew me away. The portion here is pretty small. The size is not any smaller than what you would expect at qualifying three dollars sign restaurant. You get complimentary breads and chips with spread. So so good :) If I were to visit Helsinki again, I would definitely be coming here again. It's a place that you want to introduce to your friends!

Great service followed by a great piece of pie! They have several desserts to choose from.read more

I visited Cafe Engel for a light breakfast, which was a great spot for doing so as it's located…read moreright across from Senate Square in Helsinki, which is the main square of the city. It's a gathering spot for several people, which is where I was heading after getting some breakfast. Cafe Engel is open all day, but for the earliest part of the day, they have breakfast, along with coffee and tea and pastries. I ordered a drip coffee and a cinnamon bun, which is a must have pastry anywhere in the Nordic world. And this one here at Cafe Engel was solid, and I liked that it was warm, making it extra tasty. For drip coffee, it's unlimited, which you can pour yourself. The cafe itself is a charming space, with many tables and chairs. When I visited, all of the tables by the windows were taken, which are the best spots because they look out to Senate Square. The staff were very nice, and it's the kind of place where you order at the counter and staff brings you your order at the table of your choosing. Casual and welcoming.