259476 Sun May 16 10:23:47 -0700 1999 5 26 International 0 1371746 We're going to Finland in the near future and would enjoy any suggestions for fun dining. Many thanks!! ildavis Sun May 16 10:23:47 -0700 1999 0 ildavis 1 1371747 Oh, man...I didn't eat a single decent bite during my week there (I played at the Pori jazz festival in about 1989). My clearest memory was trying desperately to find a meal for under $20 (I was particularly broke in those days), and wound up in a place--written up in a guidebook--that was the subterranean snack bar of some technial college in Helsinki. Had an awful hamburger, waxy fries and a beer for like $19. Scandinavia is soooo expensive (on the same trip, two friends had to chip in with me to split a single cookie in Stockholm)....at least it was in 1989. Idunno, maybe it's better these days. Also make sure you're not gonna be there in mosquito season. I arrived just after, and everyone was covered with these enormous welts. Sorry to be a downer...you may well do better than me, I was with 20 non-chowhound musicians so I didn't have total freedom to scout Sun May 16 13:15:35 -0700 1999 1371746 0 jim leff 1 1372224 AS USUAL, I AM LATE IN SEEING WHATS POSTED BUT.. ANYONE GOING TO HELSINKI IS ADVISED TO TRY rAVINTOLA kANAVARANTA @ 3 e +f kANAVARANTA. NOT FAR FROM THE hARBOR mARKET, RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE BIG CHURCH. THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO EAT, PRICE FIXED DINNER W/WINE WAS EXTREMELY REASONABLE ESPECIALLY FOR FINLAND, GOOD FOOD, NICE FOLKS, NOT CHEAP THOUGH. BUT..NOT THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN TOWN EITHER. Tue Apr 25 12:43:38 -0700 2000 1371746 0 IVAN STOLER 2 2849066 Kanavaranta is closed, the chefs retired, one of them just continued with their cooking school. In itse place stands "Restaurant Nokka", that also is very, very good. Wed Aug 15 14:30:33 -0700 2007 1372224 73361 FoodWine 1 1374714 I hope this isn't too late. I haven't been to Finland but read these are the tops for Helsinki. My boyfriend (a Finn) confirmed that he had heard that Kanavaranta is excellent. -Kartano (seafood, Simonkatu 6, 358-9-586-0701) -Pulp (chef Samu Koskinen from Aquavit in Manhattan, Mannerheiminaukio 3, 358-9-684-4290) -Kanavaranta (country's 1st Michelin star chef, Kanavaranta 7E, 358-9-622-2633) Thu May 10 22:27:54 -0700 2001 1371746 0 Frances Kibbe 1 2849180 These almost a decade old "Helsinki comments" need an update, so here it goes: . The HELSINKI DINING SCENE ROCKS! Helsinki has many, many excellent restaurants - large and small, formal & casual - including some that have been awarded with “Michelin stars” & so called Michelin “rising stars” & Bib Gourmand mentions - several years in a row. (Not that I really care about Michelin stars, I often disagree with them). Numerous Finnish chefs are super talented and, while internationally trained and experienced, as a general trend (in all of Scandinavia), have the so-called “New Nordic Cuisine” as their guideline. (Clean lines, local ingredients, etc, etc) I can see that no one has inquired about Helsinki in years, but just in case, if someone is interested, I will include this non-commercial Helsinki link: http://www.mybesthelsinki.com/HelsinkiRestaurants.html This site includes 3 pages of Helsinki Restaurant "reviews", some with photos. Even if some of the reviews are a few years old, they still stand. There are links to all the restaurants, and links to other restaurant lists. Enjoy. The site also provides other very useful Helsinki info, on it’s other pages. BTW, “Jim Leff”; already in 1989 Helsinki had MANY excellent restaurants, and - even though Helsinki has never been a cheap destination - not all of them were expensive, especially considering the exchange rate back then.(*). (Now the exchange rate is abysmal for us Americans who need to buy Euros.) You just had bad luck. My husband and I enjoyed many good meals in Helsinki back then (1989-1990). As we have throughout all these years, during our vacations in Finland. The food scene has gotten better and better, and one of the reasons we go there, is the food. Unfortunately, because of the current exchange rate we have not been back for a few years, but are planning to go in the near future. We love Helsinki restaurants. - (*) Actually, the exchange rate in 1999 and early 2000’s almost made it a “cheap” (reasonably priced) destination: Once we had reason to celebrate big and so we decided to splurge on a 1990 Dom (shared by 4), in a restaurant. The champagne cost us $90 !!! In a restaurant! Actually this happened at Kanavaranta, the restaurant that 2 people recommended above. As I stated, Kanavaranta closed and was replaced by Nokka, which we have enjoyed a lot. Maybe at another time, I will list our favorite Helsinki restaurants. Wed Aug 15 14:55:07 -0700 2007 1371746 73361 FoodWine