The Able Butcher — Restaurant in Tallinn

Culinary artistry pretty much describes the food in this restaurant: a lot of attention to the visuals of the dish and less so to the dish working as a meal.

I ordered braised beef cheeks for dinner. And while individual ingredients paired well with the artichoke puree (espuma may come from the ingredients, but not the texture I had on the plate), there was no overall unity to the dish. It felt like I had 3 or 4 separate dishes in one plate.

Morel mushrooms were the clear star of the dish: well seasoned, well soaked, cooked gently. They went down first as no matter how much I tried, they didn't want to play along with anything but the orange artichoke puree.

Cherry tempura and kale were nice in itself, but felt like accessories added mainly for colour. If someone orders beef cheeks, they know it is brown meat - no need to sugarcoat that message.

Red onions were strong, pungent, well selected, but yet again didn't marry into any other ingredients but the plentiful artichoke puree. It felt almost like this was originally a vegetarian dish with the beef cheeks added as an afterthought.

The braised beef cheeks were the sorry last bit on the plate: oversalted, overmarinated, very unhappy they were treated this way. And even the puree was not able to give them a lift. Had to ask for a wine pairing and after a friendly chat with the waiter got a nice spicy dry white from Uruguay. It did the trick and I could finish the meal.

The sourness of the in-house baked bread and low quality of spreads offered with the bread didn't do any favours to the eating experience. For a kind of dish I had some sort of oat-based possibly seeded dry bread would work well. Would also highlight the Estonian ingredients and cooking traditions.

The most annoying was the disco music constantly thumping in the air at an early dinner time of 5 PM. When coming for dinner I was playing with an idea of a dessert or a long drink, but the beaty music totally killed my appetite and I finished my dining...

The Able Butcher – A true gem in Tallinn! This is hands down one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in Tallinn. I ordered the Butcher Burger and my friend chose the fish soup. Both dishes were absolutely spot on — rich in flavor, beautifully presented, and cooked to perfection. The burger was massive, juicy, and incredibly satisfying — definitely a must-try for any burger lover.

We were lucky to visit on the very first day of their new menu launch, so I had the privilege of being one of the first to taste it. The new menu is full of creative and exciting dishes, offering something for everyone — from meat lovers to seafood fans and even vegetarians.

What made the experience even better was the staff — warm, professional, and truly passionate about what they do. You can feel the attention to detail not just in the food, but in the entire atmosphere.

A special thanks to Mr. Reşit, who took care of our table with great kindness and professionalism. He made us feel very welcome and added a personal touch to the whole experience.

If you’re in Tallinn and looking for an unforgettable meal, The Able Butcher should be at the top...

I had the pleasure of dining at The Able Butcher recently, and the overall experience was outstanding. From start to finish, everything was top-notch.

Food & Flavors:

My steak was cooked to perfection — beautifully seared on the outside, tender and juicy within.

My partner’s pork chop was equally impressive, with excellent seasoning and texture.

We also tried the beef tartare as a starter: fresh, flavorful, and well balanced.

Service: Our server, Egert, was attentive without being overbearing. He guided us through the menu, made excellent recommendations, and checked in at just the right moments. His professionalism and friendly manner added significantly to our evening.

Atmosphere & Ambience: The restaurant’s interior is warm, inviting, and refined — a perfect setting for a special dinner. The lighting, decor, and acoustics all create a comfortable and elegant vibe.

Overall: We left very satisfied. The food, service, and atmosphere combined to make it a standout meal. I highly recommend The Able Butcher to anyone looking for a top-tier steakhouse in the city — and ask for Egert if...