Maruseki

Japanese restaurant Maruseki in Tampere had disappointed us some years ago with unfresh fish or the feeling that you might be eating fish, which is not fresh anymore. Now we wanted to give a second chance for this restaurant, which had moved to a new, bigger (!!) place in Tampere. I was pretty sceptical   beforehand - why restaurant moves to a bigger place, if they can't make good and fresh food in the small place, how they could do it in a big place?

Well, First May we went to give it a try.

For a starter we all took misoshiru, a miso soup. Nice and tasty soup for a starter or along your nigiris and makis. For the main course we had different kind of sushi sets plus some extra favourites like avocado makirolls, roe nigiris etc. As a drinks we had different kind of Japanese beers and ginger tea.

So what is the verdict? We took different kind of sushi set. One went for a fish free set, the other for a fish set.
The sushis were huge, maybe too big actually (needed 3 bites to be abbe to swallow a Inari sushi!) and the rice spent maybe too much time in the vinegar. But then the vegetarian sushi set (with some maki, avocado sushis, Inari, tamagoyaki...). Despite of their huge size most of them were pretty good. Only the tamagoyaki got a red card as the omelette definitly seemed to be escape form egg powder bag and not made out of real eggs.

But then, when it is about the usual essence of sushi, fish, things turned bad. Salmon sushi were ok, but not the best ever. then the ebi or the shiromis definitly did not look or taste fresh. And that's the sad thing. Maruseki has kind of monopoly in the centre of Tampere and does not make the needed effort to propose the best sushis in town to its customers. Moreover, the restaurant decoration itself give the same feeling: at first it look nice with all the separate rooms, but then when you look closer it looks that it is not finished or that it has been made in a very cheap way. The service though is very friendly and professional.

Tampere definitly deserve a better sushi place, so if you know one feel free to tell us which one! We love Tampere and we love sushi, would be great to love them at the same time!

Sushibar

Sushibar on Uudenmaankatu 15, Helsinki, Finland.

Miso soup and kim chi salad. 

Lunch set of 10. 

Sushi - maybe the best thing, what comes from Japan. It seems that eating sushi has been the thing to do at your lunch time (and when ever) in Helsinki already for some years. There's a pretty new sushi place called Sushibar on Uudenmaankatu, very centre of Helsinki. The district (Punavuori) is famous for it's luxury design shops, small food places, bars and nice, old architecture. 

Sushibar's interior decorating is modern, "cool" in the Nordic way. If I've understood right, it has been created with some young Finnish designers. I have to say that it's fresh and not too cold, as these kind of places too often happen to be. At least at the lunch time the stuff working in the restaurant is very warm and friendly. They wish you welcome already, when you are opening the door and their smile seems to be authentic. 

At the lunch time you can choose between two nigiri & maki sets. Small one is with 10 different nigiri and maki and it costs you 10,90 euros. Big one contains 15 nigiris and makis and it costs about 13 euros. You can also get some miso soup (3,50) or very tasty Korean salad Kim Chi (4,50). Sushibar is also offering white and red wine with your lunch. With 3,50 you will get a glass  of wine, which makes your workday even more hilarious. 

Miso soup is very average. It's rather small, but the cups where it's served are nice. On the contrary kim chi salad is superb. Very tasty and it brings smile on your face. It's a dish, which will make you to come back to this restaurant for sure. Sushi sets are basic and fine. The rice is not as good as you could get, but the lunch is generally good. A bit pricy, but it makes you happy. The nice thing is also that this might be the only sushi restaurant, which keeps the doors open also in the weekends and it won't close at six o'clock in the evening. 

ZenSushis, Kamp market mall

Probably the best sushis in Helsinki. nice place even if it's only inside without any window, and the toilets are not in the restaurant but in the Kamp centre, but that's ok)

we had for 44€ for meal and beers for 2
a sortiments of 24 sushis, all more delicious than the others, and Japanese beers (well here maybe a bit expansive...but don't worry they also think about the Lapin Kulta lovers).
Really all sushis are delicious, again, and served in a big bowl for 2 pers. The Wasabi really taste and remember me that I'm not used anymore about Dijon's mustard!
the service was good nice waitress, menu available in English.

I may recommand this place for lunch more than for dinner, the prices are then more interesting, but the place may be crowded.