Restaurant Saaga — Restaurant in Helsinki sub-region

Filling Comfort Food

We ate dinner at the Lappi Restaurant to try Laplander (also known as Sami) cuisine. This rustic restaurant serves its own smoked fish, as well as traditional methods of reindeer preparations. The server is dressed in a simple version of the Sami peoples' traditional garb.

Our drink before dinner, a "Reindeer's Tear." The alcohol is a Finnish distilled spirit similar to vodka and served with frozen cranberries. We joked that the reason Rudolph is shedding tears is because later in the meal, we will be eating reindeer. Of course, another couple of shots and we'd be Blitzen!

We shared an assortment of Lapp appetizers, including smoked herring, salmon mousse, salmon tartar, whitebait fish roe, farm cheese and cloudberries (behind the orange roe), pickled cabbage, pickles, wild mushroom-and-onion salad (the whitish, circular dish behind the lingonbery sauce), dried reindeer liver, dried reindeer heart (the small dark shavings), and reindeer carpaccio. What a taste bonanza!

We had reindeer filet and sautéed reindeer for our main courses. We had absolutely no room for dessert, after all that meat!

Yes, we are adventuresome eaters, so we loved this meal, but I’d encourage everyone to try Lapp cuisine at least once, and this Lappi Restaurant in Helsinki is a terrific experience. Just be sure to make reservations since they are often...

A beautifully designed restaurant with a strong Finnish character. From skis on the walls to fishing nets as décor, everything is arranged so tastefully and stylishly that just being inside already feels like an experience. We tried the Campfire Feast ( skewered reindeer fawn sirloin, reindeer sausage, fire-baked potato, onion compote, and a butter sauce) The flavors were excellent – the meat was very tender and carefully prepared, with sauces that matched perfectly. The only thing that left me a bit disappointed was the portion size, which I expected to be larger. I also ordered the house Finnish berry wine and absolutely loved it. If you enjoy slightly sweet wines, I highly recommend giving it a try. So, for two people, our total bill came to €120 (including tips and a 15% discount we had). It’s definitely on the expensive side, but considering the atmosphere and the chance to try authentic Finnish cuisine, I would still say it’s worth visiting at least once when you’re in Helsinki. Judging by how many guests were there, the place is clearly popular and well appreciated.

✅ Pros: stylish interior, authentic Finnish atmosphere, delicious food, excellent berry wine, friendly vibe. ❌ Cons: small portion sizes,...

Outside has a cute little lantern propping the door open to lead you inside. Immediately the traditional Laplandish décor set the tone. You wait to be seated and once led to your table you are treated with immpeccable service. Our wonderful server explained the history behind our meals and offered the perfect amount of assistance without being over bearing. We order Tin Soldier ciders that came served in a horn. They were amazing, not too sweet. As main course I had reindeer. The presentation of the meal was gorgeous. The server asked if I had eaten it before. When I said no, she offered to serve it properly on my plate. She began by making a mound of mashed potatoes with a dip in the middle in which she poured the meat and some gravy. Topped with lingenberries and pickles. It was amazing, not tough, served similar to roast beef. My friend had the Arctic char with a spinach mashed potato and a butter sauce. It was cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. To finish, we asked for the Lapland cheese dessert (not on the menu but they obliged us). We cried tears of joy while eating this “squeaky cheese”. Pan fried and topped with cloudberry sauce we did not...