Helsinki: Ravintola Juuri

I wish I have better, clearer, sharper photos to flaunt for my best (and last) meal in Helsinki but darn the poor dim lighting and admittedly, my own hunger was making me weak and causing my hands to shake hahaha.

Ravintola Juuri is known for “sapas“, the Finnish take on (you guess it) tapas. Each plate costs €4.60 and being the small bite-size morsels they are, you’d need about 2-3 for starter and then 4-5 more to feel comfortably full. Advice is to order as you go along — that’s what I was told by the friendly staff.

Amuse bouche of marinated herrings and beetroot and I-don’t-know-what-else-is-in-it-but-it’s-delicious-please-bring-the-rest-quick.

Vendace (a freshwater whitefish) with pork, swede and rye (€4.60)

Broad bean patty a la Lindström (a Swedish surname) and pea crème (€4.60)

Cold smoked rainbow trout Juuri style and pickled root vegetables (€4.60)

What can I say, can never go wrong with smoked trout (or salmon) right. A safe choice and this was the only item on the menu that’s familiar to my palate and I.

Slightly salted and fried pikeperch and blueberry mayonnaise (€4.60)

It is very common in Scandinavia to eat more salty than other parts of the world so when they say “slightly salty”, expect “very salty”. The only dish I didn’t fancy that night, simply because I’ve had a salt overdose during my two weeks stay in the region.

Smoked egg cheese from raw milk, sea buckthorn and carrot (€4.60)

I like this! Intriguing milky flavour without the pungent smell of the usual cheese.

Cep pie and pickled pumpkin (€4.60)

Earthy batter baked to a golden hue, this is my favourite sapa other than the egg cheese!

Mushroom fondant and opera sandwich on brioche a la Juuri, dark cep and onion sauce (€28; from the “main course” section)

This was incredible!! The highlight, no doubt. Imagine a chocolate molten lava cake but this is the savoury mushroom cousin. Cut it open and a onion-béchamel-ish sauce oozed out elegantly. So sooooooo good that I attempted to google for a recipe online to try replicating it at home when I’m back but only got results for cutesy toadstool fondant cakes -_-“

Blurry photo *wail*

Blackcurrant frangipane, currant leaf sorbet and almond meringue (€12)

On that sweet note, I bid farewell to Helsinki and the rest of Scandinavia… Someday, again, for sure.

Ravintola Juuri
Högbergsgatan 27
00130 Helsinki, Finland
+358 9 635732