Lappi Ravintola — Restaurant in Helsinki sub-region

We ordered the pre-fix menu at a table of four. Three ordered the meat (reindeer) option and I ordered the vegetarian option (barley risotto and chanterelles).

The atmosphere is great if you want to experience the ambiance of a rustic Finnish mökki without having the opportunity to visit a mökki in Finland.

The service was average. The waiter brought the food and said what the dish was, but did not explain anything about the ingredients, where they come from, or their cultural importance and relevance in Northern Finland. This is more than the average waiter does; however, this restaurant is branded as upscale. For the same price of the pre-fix menu at Lappi, you can go to another upscale restaurant and the waiter will explain the pre-fix menu in greater detail (e.g., Restaurant Natura's 4-course menu the waiters explain in detail about the unique ingredients in each dish, or how the dish was made, etcetera).

The quality of the food was poor, and appeared to be made in bulk. I was not impressed by the flavors. While reindeer slivers atop mashed potatos with some lingonberry is not the most romantic food, it can be spruced up or improved with a twist. The plating was very basic. The barley risotto and chanterelles felt like something I could cook by simply throwing mushrooms in a pan and warming up instant risotto. The presentation of all the dishes reminded me of a University canteen, except for the vegetarian pre-fix menu's appetizer (beet salad). The beets were presented nicely and tasted very nice too.

At Lappi, it feels like what you pay for is to see a rustic cabin and waiters in Sami regalia, rather than quality food. You can spend the same amount of money for the prefix menu at another upscale restaurant and receive quality food that is an order of magnitude better. This choice is simply a matter of preference. I prefer food over ambiance.

Also charging 1 euro for water was bizarre. Likewise, asking for a tip given how basic the food also surprised me. It felt like the restaurant really wanted to be fancy but didn't meet the requirements of...

UNWELCOMING AND TRIED TO SCAM US FOR BREAD MONEY.

I came here with my family of 4 adults and 2 children. Immediately as we walked, we didn’t feel welcomed. A tall male waiter first told us we couldn’t bring in a stroller. When we said we could fold it up, they said ok it’s fine we can bring it in. That just made us feel like they first tried to create an excuse for us not to dine there.

The tall waiter ended up taking care of our table. He didn’t smile at all and overall didn’t give off warm vibes. Service wasn’t horrible so we tried not to think much of it.

We had ordered a starter salmon soup that was supposed to come with complementary bread. However, our waiter gave us the soup but no bread. As we saw all the other tables had a basket of bread with their starters, we asked the waiter for it. He then brought it over and we enjoyed the rest of our meal.

Food was pretty good and the experience was fine until we saw the bill. Our waiter charged us ~7.5 euros for the bread that was supposed to be complimentary. After asking the waiter about it he looked a bit guilty, and then took off ONE euro. Then he said that soup only comes with one piece of bread but not for everyone (the basket he gave us had enough for everyone). But we never asked for bread for EVERYONE? What bothered us most was that the waiter never intended to bring us the complimentary bread that came with the soup and when we asked for it, he didn’t inform us that more than one piece of bread would cost extra. Rather he just ASSUMED we wanted to order an entire basket for the table. As a waiter at such a high-end restaurant, shouldn’t you confirm before making assumptions?

As we left the restaurant, the waiter clearly saw us leaving but didn’t bother saying thank you or goodbye.

To be honest, we don’t really care about the bread or the 7.5 euros. It wasn’t even good bread. It’s just the feeling of being scammed by the waiter that ruined the entire experience for us. Would NOT go back.

If you decide to go, be careful about...

Picture this: you enter the restaurant, a restaurant so Lappish it practically screams "Yoiks!" from the reindeer-hide wood as walls. Tourists mill about like a herd on Black Friday, all eager to experience a taste of the Arctic. Therefor was everybody, including me on this restaurant. The air crackles with a frenetic energy, a bizarre mix of excited chatter and the faint scent of desperation for a decent table, where you can hear the people you are out a dinning whit.

The service? Solid. Not the synchronized ballet of a Michelin-starred joint, but more like a well-rehearsed school play. You get what you came for, no muss, no fuss - Real Finish.

Now, the atmosphere. Here's where things get a little...well, like a misplaced IKEA display in the North Pole. The attempt at a Lappish lodge vibe feels more "theme park yeti" than genuine. Still, it's has it charming in its own, but slightly in a confused way.

But fear not, intrepid diner! For the true star of the show here is the food. They may liberally sprinkle "Lappish" before every dish name like culinary glitter, but there's no denying the quality. The reindeer tenderloin? Oh boy, the reindeer tenderloin. It's a revelation. Imagine the most melt-in-your-mouth steak you've ever had, then sprinkle it with reindeer magic. Just try to ignore the fleeting image of Rudolph on a hot plate.

So, the verdict? It is a tourist trap, sure. But it's a delightful, reindeer-fueled tourist trap. The food is good, the atmosphere is...interesting, and the crowds? Well, they add to the cacophony of the experience. Just be prepared to fight for your table and embrace the inner Viking when it comes to grabbing your server's attention. If you're looking for a hushed, intimate Lappish experience, this ain't it. But if you want a fun, slightly chaotic adventure with some fantastic reindeer on the side, then go. Just be aware it...