Restaurant Moon — Restaurant in Tallinn

Moon Restaurant, Tallinn: Where the Lamb is Heavenly but Everything Else is Lunar-ly Lost

Housed in a repurposed warehouse in Tallinn’s up-and-coming Telliski i quarter, Moon presents itself as an archetype of industrial-chic dining. The atmosphere hums with a youthful, almost frenetic energy—perhaps more “busy urban canteen” than “cosseting gastronomic sanctuary.” The raw-brick, steel-beamed space has instant visual appeal, but as my evening progressed, it became clear that style here is not necessarily matched by substance.

A sense of hospitality should ideally begin the moment you sit down, but my experience got off to a rocky start. Bread—which one might expect as a courtesy in a country that prizes its dark rye—must be summoned for and, somewhat cheekily, paid for. It arrived only after a gentle reminder, a harbinger of the excruciating wait to come.

My main course made its entrance after a glacial hour and fifteen minutes. During that time, I nursed a fish cake appetizer that was less “cake” than dense, pudding-like slab—unpleasantly reminiscent of an overcooked omelette—languishing atop a pool of tartare sauce that grew increasingly tepid as it awaited rescue. To call it a disappointment would be generous.

Redemption arrived in the form of roasted lamb: a dish that, quite frankly, belongs on another restaurant’s menu. Succulent, perfectly pink, and crowned with a deeply flavoured crust, this was, without hyperbole, among the finest lamb preparations I have encountered in years. It’s a shame that its supporting cast—an anonymous scoop of tzatziki-like cream and some forlorn roasted peppers—seemed to have wandered onto the plate by accident.

Phase in the relentless noise of the space (amplified by high ceilings and hard surfaces), and what should have been a memorable culinary journey becomes an exercise in endurance. Moon has the bones of a great restaurant: an enviable location, buzzy ambiance, and, on occasion, truly inspired cookery. But as it stands, the experience too often misses the mark—one endures far too much for flashes of brilliance.

If they ever decide to serve their lamb to go, I’ll gladly join the queue. Until then, Moon remains a place of potential,...

Moon is a really great restaurant in Tallinn and I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner there. They serve traditional eastern European food, but the balance and execution of flavours in all the dishes is elevated without sacrificing the authenticity of the dishes themselves.

The borsch soup starter had excellent flavour and was heartwarming on a chilly evening; it also had a lovely beetroot colour to it, which made it look very appetising. This was followed by the chicken kiev. It was elevated through the accompanying mash potato which was very smooth yet not too rich, and also the watercress and pomegranate salad that also helped to cut through the richness of the butter in the kiev. The chicken was perfectly cooked and it was nice to mop up all the parsley butter using the potato.

Dessert was the syrniki (a sort of doughnut with cheese curd), which was absolutely delicious and something I'd not tried before. The accompanying vanilla ice cream was superb, which I didn't necessarily expect. This dessert was probably the highlight of a faultless meal.

You are given some bread to begin the meal - the rye bread was delightful, and when I mentioned this to the waiter, they even gave me some to take away after dinner, which was a lovely gesture.

As seems typical in Estonia, service is slow (or relaxed depending on your point of view) but the staff were friendly. I also thought the prices were good value considering the food was all excellent. I'd...

Okay, if you're reading this and looking to make an informed decision as to whether or not you should dine here, especially if you have limited time in Tallin, book immediately! It will be one of the most memorable experiences of your holiday. To be honest, the walk and location did not lend itself to what would ensue but once we were inside, it felt as though we were welcomed into someone's home. The room had unpretentious decor and local artwork on colourful wallpaper and simple understated table settings. The wine list is varied and has options for all palettes and wallets. The menu is dynamic and super flexible for vegetarians and vegans which was perfect for us. We ordered the pickled cucumber which the best waitress in Europe (Joana "Yoana") recommended we have with vodka! A great suggestion. We followed with both sets of dumplings which were outrageous, a vegan orsoto, perhaps one of the best beef tartare I've ever had, the Hazelnut Venison with red wine Bourgogne veg, the chicken Kiev which inspired food envy all round and finally, perfection on a plate Duck Breast. (This was the autumn menu) Joana made excellent wine recommendations throughout. We also had some excellent desserts which came with an impromptu flight of digestives. We ended up buying a couple of bottles to take with us. The quality of the food was exceptional. The engaging and fun service was incredible. Memorable for all the right reasons, we are so happy we found...