Ravintola Finnjävel SALONKI

So my first cordon blu / high scale meal in Finland, unsurprisingly in the Huvudstad, Helsinki. This is not to say that I have never had good food in Finland before, quite the contrary. But here we have a Michelin star restaurant. And to cut to the chase, it is a success, albeit an expensive one (which in Helsinki goes without saying - it is more expensive here than even Stockholm). The theme here is rustic revival, taking old ingredients, the freshest possible, which native Finns would have met say in more prosaic situations, like an evening meal at home, or even a school dinner (lovers of the film Ratatouille will nod!). There is a 5 or 7/8 course tasting menu, and a wine pairing too. We (my wife, and an old friend) had the 5 courses, with champagne to start (a house with a good dose of Pinot Noir), a lovely white Burgundy, and red Burgundy at the end (a glass only). It's hard to say that one course was best - it is best to say that the pace increased in quality as we got towards the end, but that increase was from good to excellent quality. The decor is simple, warm, homely. The staff, all but one of whom was female (oh my, a lot of boomer assumption there), and well done throughout. We left feeling replete and at ease, despite the bill! Recommended for a special occasion!

In a city with so many excellent dining options, Finnjävel stands out. Every presentation on their tasting menu, in addition to being delicious, is beautiful and meticulously crafted. The staff is warm and engaging, and I appreciated the details they shared about each dish -- whether about its place in Finnish culture, or a personal story about having a more down-home version as a child. An additional endearing fact is that so much (if not nearly all) of what is in the restaurant itself has been made specifically for it, right down to the clever cutlery. A genuinely memorable experience.

Well, we were in Finnjävel Sali. We had a 4 course menu. The menu itself was tasty, but what worries me was my allergies, miss take... However, I must say that they fixed the error reasonably quickly, and they also refunded it brilliantly. This is thanks to the professional and high-quality service. A big thank you for that👍🙏

In early December, I had a business dinner here in the front room of the restaurant. The more “refined” as they call it part of the restaurant. Overall the food and wine pairings were stellar - quite honestly, I think this is the best restaurant I’ve been to thus far in my travels to Helsinki (and I’ve made my way at least through more than half of the Michelin Guide named restaurants). Service was lovely and the plates were not only beautiful they were all very tasty from the initial finger foods to the last of the deserts. Hoping to make it back prior to the summer for another round at the restaurant. I went with a pescatarian option and didn’t have any issues with the selection of the 8 course tasting. Thank you for having us.

Amazing and truly authentic Finnish experience, with high-quality ingredients and impeccable service. I visited Finnjävel on my own and was pleasantly surprised by how attentive and warm the staff were, ensuring I never felt alone for a moment. I highly recommend opting for their eight-course tasting menu paired with their excellent wine selection. For an additional charge, you can also enjoy optional caviar and cheese courses. I tried the cheese course and was blown away by the pairing of blue cheese from Helsinki with a 1990 port wine—it was a perfect match. Overall, a fantastic dining experience that I would highly recommend to anyone looking to explore local cuisine in an innovative and refined style. Thank you to the staff for making it such a memorable visit!