Best Finnish Restaurants -You Only Know After You Try!

Best Finnish restaurants we have experienced are in the town of Tampere and Turku. By no means are these top rated with 'Michelin Stars.' FYI... listed is what criteria we use to rate them.

• Finnish and Scandinavianish-ness
• Popularity among Finns
• Romantic atmosphere
• Ceiling height
• Variety of foods
• Friendly service
• Price is right-- will not outright rob you

Generally speaking, Finnish people eat in their homes, rather than eating out. The eating out culture is not the same, as those of Americans: "Let's go grab a bite." thinking.

So, When visiting a restaurant in Finland, expect to spend a minimum of 15 euros per person with high quality restaurant standards, unless,of course, you are aiming to have lunch at a Kiosk, or fast food restaurant.

Best Finnish restaurants -"Harald Hämeenkatu 23, Tampere. Right across from Sokos shopping center downtown Tampere

...where folks are dressed up in Viking clothes, and the atmosphere is not too loud.

We went to Harald's having heard it was on of the best Finnish restaurants in Tampere and a great place to take someone who was from out-of-town.

Get a taste for real Finnish berries, Haralds speciality is game and berries!

This best Finnish restaurant's interior has a Viking ship built inside. At the Tampere Harald location, this truly creates a Viking mood.

As you walk through the main entry hallway to the upper level of the Viking restaurant, pictures of Viking battles, wolf and bear skins cover the walls.

Once you are seated you cannot help noticing the Viking shields and fish nets on the windows, the Viking boat, and the Viking- style interior returning you to Viking days.

Lots of room. perfect for holding a Viking party for between 6 - 30 people.

The best Finnish restaurants are where a friendly waitress calls customers before opening hours. Unbelievable!

I called them before opening hours on a Saturday morning to reserve a table. My call was returned before opening at 12:15. Good service from Harald's in Tampere.

Before our main dish comes. We start with....

Finnish hard rye-bread hard 'cracker-like' Finnish rye bread with melted butter. That comes served on a shield.

!!-And in the meantime...my beer is here-!!

A heavy Viking pottery mug filled with cinnamon beer. I got a cinnamon beer...smooth taste and not at all bitter. Definitely worth a try!
If you like these mugs, you can take one home with you. Harald's sell authentic Viking beer and wine mugs.

Food served exotically.

A Viking waitress brings the game. Our "Innkeepers shield" arrives. Aura and I ordered food served on the shield called the Innkeeper's Shield--Food arrives served on a wooded shield.

Food served on a Viking style shield has filet of beef, a ragout of red deer, salmon, vanilla red wine sauce, chanterelle sauce, crayfish mousse, deep-fried potatoes, spruce honey marinated root vegetables, gooseberry compot.

Food served on a sword. Mari got the sword, pierced through it were...Duck, Reindeer, and some Elk. Shield and sword plates provide enough to feed two adults.

Lunch at Harald's offers...

Salad buffet with a wide selection of veggies with Fresh bread, soup with a choice of hot meals

....and is quite reasonably priced.

Viking Wild Boar Feast Groups of 6 - 30 people can have a special Viking baptism arranged.

Best Finnish Restaurants that serve authentic Indian food. Näsilinnankatu 17, 33210 Tampere. Close to the main square.

It's my birthday so let's go to one of the best Finnish restaurants in Tampere that serves Indian food

On my birthday, Aura treated the whole family to some real Indian food. Tomi is waiting to get his picture taken on our way to try some Indian food. There are other Indian restaurants in Tampere.

Nonetheless our close friend Kalle says..at Nanda Devi

Indian cooks prepare food.though every once in a while a local Finnish chef cooks.. So I went to get a sneak shot of the chefs.

Nanda Devi has wide variety of Indian foods. In this best Finnish restaurant Indian music and the restaurant interior create a bit of that Indian atmosphere.

A Sunday afternoon visit means a full house,yet seating is well-spaced not too close so you hear what others are saying around the other tables. Friendly waiter asks adults and kids. "Do you have any food allergies?"-- He did when we visted

Nanda Devi has wide variety of Indian foods. Be sure to ask the waiter what speciality he recommends.

When I ordered Tandoori Chicken it was medium hot, delicious and did not burn my mouth at all.

Nanda Devi's chefs adjusts the tastes and spice levels of foods to meet the needs of the local Finnish tastebuds

Dessert --"Mango Lassi" A refreshing yogurty beverage made with mango -helps cool the palate off. Indian ice cream served with coffee. And with most 'eat out meals', coffee comes with the dessert. Thanks, Aura, for my birthday treat.

Best Finnish restaurants -"Foija" Aurakatu 10, Turku

And if you are in Turku city looking for a popular and not too pricey restaurant...

Turku is a romantic, old city, and close to the Market Square in the Hansa Center, or town square, is a romantic restaurant with friendly service. Good food at a good price. So people come back here year after year.

With groups larger than eight people, use the cellar for dining, corporate or family meetings.

Food: The salads have a smooth vinagrette dressing with a nutty taste.

There is a large menu with a wide selection of Foija Classics like Chicken Basket

with fries, pizzas, and lots more.

The service is fast and the waiters fiendly. When we ate there with a group of eight people, the waiter wished us 'Bon appetit' with a loud and happy voice.

Our favourite romantic red brick restaurant in Turku.

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