Patrona

Spring is final here, you are dreaming of sun, and if you think about the sun you are thinking nice beach, hot weather and why not a magarita and some spicy food...mexican food!

the problem always been that so called mexican food in Helsinki was trusted by bad and expensive chains, not really an intersting option. Luckily since few months, a group a South American migrant had the good idea to open a new and real mexican restaurant 'Patrona'!

Well located on Annankatu, right ín the centre of Helsinki the place is pretty well decorated in a traditional mexican style (or cliché) with the tradtional skeleton painting on the wall and lively colours.

And as we already mentioned, good mexican food in Helsinki was a non existing thing before this place, which creates a problem here. On top of the buzz made by such a place, it becomes almost impossible to pop in the place and get a table. Reservation are almost al week long the only way to get a table. This is very good to hear for the people running the place, they are succefull, but personnaly when I think Mexico or even just 'latino' I have a more spontaneous idea in mind. It is perfectly fine to have the opportunity to book a table in a restaurant, it is even an asset, but perhaps the place is missing something if they don't pay attention to passing by customers who just would like a table now, if there is room. Well maybe this will be improved in the future, the place is still pretty new.

The owners are Finnish-Mexican couple. The staff is mostly south american (Mexican, Chilean...) and a bit Finnish. Appart from this detail the staff is extremly friendly and helpfull explaining you about every dishes, giving you advices on which wine to choose with your meal, which is really nice plus.

But let's talk about the food!

The place is perfect for a nice dinner so why not starting with a cocktail, like a nice margarita. Probably some of the best in town.

The starters are very tasty and served in a perfect size. We went fro guacamole and nachos on one side and a metled cheese and mushroom place on the other. Nothing to say here except 'yummy'!

Then went the main course. As one of us is vegetarian, the basic 'Enchiladas de Pollo' (chicken) meal was changed to Enchiladas de Queso' (cheese) meal, if you can say so. It was pretty good, even if perhaps a bit too cheesy. On my side I was curious about one specialty the 'Enchiladas de Pollo al Mole', a chocolate sauce based dish with chicken.

Well I have to say that after the fireworks that were the margarita and the starters both these main courses tasted a bit like a disappointment. But still don't get me wrong, the place is probably the best mexican option the Helsinki.

One last thing, the wine list. We tried a Californian red and a Italian one. Both were pretty good and suiting pretty well our dishes. Nevertheless, in a environment friendly mind, it feels a bit bad to see a wine list which only had 1 European choice (this Italian). It is understandable that as a South american you wish to propose wine from your home, as most likely French or Italian restaurants in America might propose a large list of European wine. But still, there are good and bad wines a bit everywhere nowadays and perhaps we should all go for the most local production.

Anyway as a conclusion we definitely recommend you to book a table in Patrona, you will spend a very nice evening!

Yobot

Frozen yogurt! It's good, healthy (?) and cold. In Helsinki there has been already one frozen yogurt place called Kippo, but it didn't impress us - we should pay another visit there. Now there has been opened a new small frozen yogurt place in Töölö, very close to the Helsinki's Opera. This small place is called Yobot and it works a bit differently compared to the places in Berlin for example. Yobot counts on self service: you take a cup, get some frozen yogurt (the machine is one of these soft ice machines) and choose the fillings you wish to have. Last Sunday there wasn't that many fresh berries and fruits, but candies, chocolate, mueslis, defrost berries, nuts, dried fruits etc. After this you go to the cashier, your cup will be weighted and you pay. At the moment a 100 grams costs 3 euros. 

I hope that there will be soon fresh fruits and berries (especially during the summer), because this place makes happy people. Yobot is open everyday until 7pm.

Putte's Bar & Pizza

The new place where to show up. That's mostly what to say about Putte's.

The location is good, the place looks good but the honestly the service is terrible, not really friendly, as if being arrogant was the new cool way to behave...

But let's talk about the food. The pizza list is short which allow them to have an easy and fast turn around. But honestly not the best pizza in town, looks and almost taste like a frozen pizza from the store.

It's a shame because the place looks very nice and have a good potential even more, if you think that the draft beer comes from a real beer tap not from a stupid machine with a button which will deliver you an exact and boring same quantity of beer without any foam...

Verdict: If you want to join the hype and show up in your new trendy clothes or with your flow festival uniform, if you like waiters which treat you like a dog because it is so cool, this is your place.

If you simply like friendly and warm place, just pass your turn. The owner has amazing places like Kuurna, so this a bit the black sheep of herd.

EDIT 3.12.2012//
After a long break, Mademoiselle Unikko paid another visit to Putte's with her friends. The experience was better than the first visit: staff had changed (or the unfriendly ones were not working) and they were very helpful and friendly. Food was ok, though slightly a bit too salty.

Vapiano

German concept Vapiano brought in Finland or how to tune up a bit the concept of self service.

One of the most strategic position in town, and most likely the one which suits this place the best, on the railway station square. Well let's be honest you won't get the best atmosphere or the most amazing Italian food in town, but the prices are decent and rate price/quality is perfectly fine. 

If you go for Pastas, the nice thing is that the chef is cooking right on front of you (may give some tips for some home cooking). If you go for Pizza then you will enjoy the piece of technology which will ring once your meal ready. Then you will become the waiter and go and pick yourself your plate.

It's taste really fine otherwise and the small plus of the place is the self-service fresh basilica on every table, a good idea.

So all together if you are in the centre and want a decent and fast meal for less than 10€, green light!

Otherwise if you can walk 5 minutes further and are really graving for Italian food (and far better wine selection) I recommend you to head only few blocks away, there.

Lokal

Go and visit the local Lokal. A little café gallery and a shop on Annankatu 19 has just opened its doors. This charming place is offering you a lot things to admire and also the owner Katja Hagelstam says that they have the best coffee in the town. 

PS. This amazing kitchen is also for sale, as everything in that store (except people).