Frans & Chérie, Rovaniemi — Restaurant in Rovaniemi sub-region

Staying at the Scandic across the street during Christmas Eve and Christmas, we faced the challenge of finding a restaurant amid a sea of fully booked spots. Fran’s & Cherie came to our rescue, and we couldn’t be happier.

Though the kitchen was set to close at 4 p.m., leaving us just 45 minutes to dine, the warm and accommodating staff graciously welcomed us. The food? Exceptional, with a diverse menu that caters to all tastes.

First Night: We began with escargot and bread—an offering that rivals some of the finest French restaurants I’ve visited. For mains, I enjoyed perfectly cooked salmon atop pumpkin risotto, while my mom savored a tender sirloin steak. Despite our late arrival, the staff let us choose a dessert at the last minute. We indulged in the chocolate cake and the almond and chocolate mousse—both rich, decadent, and unforgettable.

The friendly team not only made us feel at home but shared stories about the town, deepening our appreciation for the Christmas village experience. On a whim, I asked if they could fit us in for Christmas Day, and they kindly accommodated us again.

Second Night: We couldn’t resist starting with the escargot once more but added the roasted butternut squash to our starters—a warm, comforting dish perfect after a day in the cold. For mains, my mom opted for salmon, substituting mashed potatoes for risotto, and I chose the pepper steak, which was cooked to perfection. We ended the meal with a trio of desserts: crème brûlée, almond and chocolate mousse, and chocolate cake. Each dessert was a triumph, with fresh ingredients and balanced flavors that weren’t overly fussy but utterly satisfying.

The staff’s kindness and the consistently high-quality food made this a standout dining experience. Every dish was fresh, seasoned to perfection, and presented with care. Fran’s & Cherie was truly a Christmas blessing—an unexpected gem that turned our holiday into something even...

We were craving some good food in Rovaniemi, Finland and Frans & Cherie, Rovaniemi delivered with awesome food, good service, and a cabin like atmosphere vibe.

For the starter, we had the salmon soup. The salmon was soft and flavourful. The potatoes were good. The soup overall was savoury :) Would definitely recommend if you are looking for a good soup.

For the mains, we tried the Reindeer Steak with Cep Sauce and Grilled Beef Sirloin Steak. We got both steaks medium rare and they cooked them perfectly (see pictures). Both steaks were nicely seasoned with salt and pepper making them savoury and not bland.

The Reindeer Steak was pretty good with no gaminess. However, it was more on chewy side, even when cooked medium rare, when compared to the Beef Sirloin Steak. Overall, both the Beef Sirloin and Reindeer Steaks were good.

Of note, the lingonberries that came with Reindeer Steak were awesome. It surprisingly complemented the Reindeer Steak well by providing a tart and not so sweet sauce. Also, the French fries that came with the Beef Sirloin Steak were awesome with their crispiness.

For desserts, we got the Cream Brûlée with Cloudberry Compote and two dessert wines (Spain: Floralis Moscatel Oro and Italy: Il Nostro Vin Santo).

The Cream Brûlée with Cloudberry Compote was awesome. The Cream Brûlée was perfectly made and complemented well with the Cloudberry Compote which was refreshing. Only slight downside is that the Cloudberry Compote comes with the berries seeds which gives you a crunchy texture that doesn’t really go with the Cream Brûlée.

Both dessert wines (Spain: Floralis Moscatel Oro and Italy: Il Nostro Vin Santo) were delicious with a good amount of sweetness. Out of the two dessert wines, we preferred the Spanish dessert wine which was the sweeter...

Very disappointing experience at this restaurant. From the moment you sat down, no one asked if you wanted drinks or wine, and the basic level of service was completely lacking. When there was an issue with the card machine and we couldn't make the payment, the staff's attitude was rude, and they acted like it was an inconvenience.

Before you leave, waiter members crumpled up the receipt and seemed ready to throw it away, showing zero courtesy or professionalism.

As for the food, five different dishes, and only one was even remotely edible. The taste was far below expectations, especially compared to the previous quality at Frans & Chérie The service was extremely poor, Will not recommend this place to...