I%26#39;m planning to have a nice meal out in Helsinki in a couple of weeks%26#39; time, and have been looking at the following restaurants:
Babushka Ira on Uudenmaankatu
Annapurna in Fredrikinkatu
Famiglia in Keskuskatu
Acapulco in Annankatu
Has anyone eaten in these places and what are they like - good value for money, good food, good service?
Any other suggestions are welcome, would like to find a place that serves nice food with reasonable prices.
Thanks in advance!
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Hi Tuija,
Of those places you mentioned, I would definitely recommend (La) Famiglia. (http://www.rafla.fi/index.php?id=2370) It%26#39;s a great Italian restaurant with great value for money (in Helsinki standards). If you are thinking of going there in the evening (especially fri or sat) you should book a table in advance.
I love %26quot;Mama%26#39;s meatballs%26quot; there. Also if you are a group of four or more packed with a huge appetite, I would recommend the menu option there.
Annapurna is an OK Nepalese restaurant, but I only eat in those places during lunchtime (a lot cheaper than in the evening)
I have not been to Babushka Ira (never heard of it actually) but if you want to eat Russian cuisine, you should go to either Ravintola Saslik on Neitsytpolku. The food is great but it is rather expensive. Restaurant Troikka (http://www.troikka.fi/) is a bit cheaper but the food there is very good.
My favorite restaurant in Helsinki is Ravintola Sea Horse (http://www.seahorse.fi/) in Kapteekinkatu. Restaurant Sea Horse serves traditional Finnish food and you get great value for money there. Prebooking for this restaurant is also recommended.
The service in restaurants in Helsinki is mostly pretty good, (especially for foreigners for some reason) and you do not have to tip (Finns tip very rarely, only if the service has been outstanding) The waiters in restaurants also speak english, so language will not be a problem for you either
I hope this helps you a bit.
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This is a big topic which calls for a book rather than a page, but here are a few thoughts.
I went to the Russian restaurant on Uudenmaankatu several times you mention some years ago and always found it interesting and satisfactory. Great personality. On the pricey side and rather out of the way.
I gave up going to Famiglia after a good many visits because I got fed up with the slovenly service. Wrong dishes were delivered, some ordered items were missing, and the staff plainly did not care when these errors were politely pointed out. I disagree in general that service in Helsinki restaurants is very good. It can only be considered so if you are used to standards of service in Finland.
A great, original place in a naturally beautiful setting is Saari, on an island a stone%26#39;s throw from the seashore. You get there on a boat leaving from the jetty next to cafe Carusel (Merisatamanranta 10, Eira district). Finnish dishes made with care, great setting and the place is not awash with tourists.
Kellarikrouvi (Pohjoinen Makasiinikatu 6), within walking distance of the city centre, is a stylish basement restaurant in an Art Nouveau building. International dishes, never had a disappointment there in 30-plus years. Well, not with the restaurant, anyway...
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Famiglia is too standard for my taste. Okey food, but no personality.
A small turkish restaurant Antioka http://www.antiokiabar.com/index2.html a bit off the centre has good food at good prises. Their turkish meatballs ( 13 euros) are superior.
Also Meze point http://www.meze.fi/ right at the centre is cheap anfd good. Full meze plate, for 22e /person is exellent. Altouhg too much food. Never been able to eat all off it, 2 portions for 3 people wpould be plenty.
Babushka Ira i visited some years back. Good food, nice atmosphere.
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MImmo, thanks for the tip, I%26#39;ve been to Antioka a long time ago and really liked it, so might try that again!
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Another vote for Antiokia! Never been disappointed there.
In Töölö I like very much little Italian family owned restaurant Coma on Museokatu www.coma.fi
Annapurna is one of the several Nepalese restaurants in Helsinki. My personal favorite is Mount Everest on Lapinlahdenkatu http://www.everestyeti.fi/, another good is Himalya on Ratakatu http://www.himalaya.fi/.
I thought Babushka Ira doesn%26#39;t exist anymore, it%26#39;s not very far from my office, so have to check if it still is on Uudenmaankatu (or have they moved?). My favorite Russian restaurant is Troikka on Caloniuksenkatu http://www.troikka.fi/indexenglish.html
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If you like Chinese food, THE LONG WALL on Annankatu is a good choice with reasonable prices. I%26#39;d recommend the pinneapple chicken.
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