Ravintola Nokka — Restaurant in Helsinki sub-region

Commodified and coasting , Ravintola Nokka provides careless service, uninspired food and a large bill.

As a fan of Michelin destination restaurants I make it habit to visit at least one in each city I visit. I’ve done it on every continent except Antarctica. This one deeply disappoints.

The service was perfunctory with barely a care to our needs, with proactive requests needed to clear the table of used glassware, and frequent requests for water refills — which one must pour on your own from a one liter bottle.

Sadly, we were neglected. A local with us said this was the worst service she’s experienced in Helsinki.

Our server seemed inconvenienced by our presence, as if we had interloped on her evening. The table observed her setting glassware and chargers and silverware at empty table in lieu of asking for our needs. Perhaps this place has no table assistants?

We chose from the a la carte menu so maybe that’s why we’re treated like chattle (is it that the tasting menu deep spelunkers get more focused care for their efforts to explore the unknown , yet the a la carte ended up costing us more).

The cocktails were okay, with house made beer and gin. But they were not stellar.

An amuse busche of an interesting Nordic chimmicuri and pea-hummus almost made up for the rude welcome. But this hope was soon quelled:

We were upsold on a “reindeer delicacy” appetizer that was limp and tasteless.

The charred salad is prepared with a gloppy sauce that obscures any bitter interest. It’s a slapdash aside.

A tomato tart was zesty and fresh, like someone actually cared about their station on the line. Kudos to whomever paid attention to their job.

The table unanimously decided to have the local fish, which was bland and tasteless, formed in a terrine without a lot of effort.

It was accompanied by a indistinguished potato side with a truly discordant “spring wrap” of sickly sweet rhubarb. Gross.

After waiting for 25 minutes, we asked for dessert, which was slopped out like a cafeteria meal, melted white chocolate mousse, a mess on the plate, and financier, which was less satisfying than an airplane dessert — and over priced.

With a seat to the kitchen, I watched the chefs work all night.

They seem earnest, but they are being asked to create a volume of food incommensurate to the ambitions of the menu.

As to the service? It was insulting. I told the manager this. She blustered but had no answer. They get away with it too often to be accountable.

This place is catering to tourists from Estonia, Russia and Finland with the “performance of service. “

As if being a snooty jerk is the same as being a good waiter. Pathetic.

We had much better food and care a few doors down for...

We came here to celebrate my birthday – with the intention to treat ourselves – and, well… mission beyond accomplished. This wasn’t just a great evening. This was, hands down, the best meal we’ve had in the past year. Bold statement? Maybe. But absolutely deserved.

What made it even more special: we ordered one regular (meat-forward) tasting menu and one vegetarian – and both were absolute knockouts. That rarely happens. Usually, one steals the show. Not here. From the very first bite, the kitchen made it crystal clear: they came to play. The mousse of sea bream with pickled cucumber sorbet was an opening act that could’ve headlined. And the tomato tartlet from the veggie menu? A tiny edible symphony. The house-made bread paired with a Finnish twist on chimichurri? Outrageously good.

My reindeer tataki nearly shut me up completely – and that’s saying something. My partner’s vegetable composition with multiple mousses was perfectly balanced, rich in flavor, and executed with finesse. For the mains: my lamb came with a jus so deep, it might’ve had its own origin story. But shockingly, the vegetarian main might have edged it out. I was granted one bite (begrudgingly shared), and I instantly got why she didn’t want to hand over more. The pickled vegetables and house-made tempeh were straight-up mind-blowing.

Desserts? On-brand perfection. The pre-dessert raspberry sorbet: bright and beautiful. Her white chocolate mousse: pure velvet. My own dessert featuring various local ingredients: a flawless final chord to a full-blown culinary concert.

We’d come back in a heartbeat. In fact, we’re low-key watching the front door… waiting for that first Michelin star to show up alongside their well-earned Green Star. Trust us –...

Three stars but minus one cause the main waitress that serve us was terrible. Food first, three stars because the food is not very impressive neither spices, cooking method or texture of the dish. The meat and ingredients are really good and they stop at that. Most of the food was salty for my taste and I had to send the main back. The better of the dishes maybe the house-made chacuterie, which would goes perfectly with wine.

With the price point, I expect better service than what I experienced. I had to wait for my friend so I got 30' on my own. The waitress showed me the table, gave me the food menu and then forgot about me. I was sitting without water for about 10 minutes before I saw her sight again and asked for water and drink menu. Throughout the evening, she didn't once try to sell any drink or asking how the food taste for neither of us. Other supporting waiter and waitress had been more friendly and helpful. At the end of the meal, another waitress actually finalized our bills and I saw the seller name as "trainee 1" so I hope that was the case with our main waitress. Otherwise, it would be so unacceptable for putting this price tag on this kind of service.

Would still recommend people here if they want to look for simple and staple Finnish cooking or would like to try good reindeer...