Three Elves Restaurant & Lobby Bar — Restaurant in Rovaniemi sub-region

An overal aweful experience. We made a reservation and were seated near the entrance closest to the bar and lobby. We had the first menu (€59), picked a sirloin and a reindeer steak. The starters aren't half bad, be it somewhat tasteless and without a defined theme. The main course was a joke. Both came lukewarm on a plate that didn't do the portion we had any good. The sirloin consisted of 3 bites of meat and the reindeer was just a syrup drenched dry shoesole. This comes with 4 pieces of unrecognizable vegetables. The dessert buffet was, luckily the crème brûlée saved some of it, atrocious. A dry, close to being a fossil, marshmallow, a brownie that consisted of sugar and nothing else, and last but not least a panacota that had no distinguishable taste. It actually had no taste and might be the ideal base for whatever you wanna make.

Thanks to our seating we had a terrible service as well: We started with out starters and we weren't even finished with the plate, the one and only time we went to the starter buffet, before a waiter came around asking/commanding us "can i tell the kitchen to start with the main course!?". We entered the restaurant at 18:00 and we were eating our starter when he asked that question at 18:12. He pulled the plates from under us and that was almost the last interaction we had. We waited till 19:00 to finally ask a waiter ( more of a cleaner by the looks of his activities) where our main course was, since we were kind of hungry after not having a starter. He went to the kitchen and arrived with the before mentioned "main course". 3 bites doesn't take long so we finished it at 18:18-18:20 and waited for anyone to clean the plates up. The tables next to us had already received new customers so the waiter passed us by multiple times. After not getting any plates cleaned up we just went for the desert buffet, as mentioned. Without any further interaction we left to pay, not being asked if it was good or anything or if anything could have been improved. The guy behind the counter barely knew how to handle his register and when talking to the person he just shrugged us off.

Wouldn't recommend this place if it had a 50% discount and they served something...

Ok, let's get the elephant in the room out of the way...it isn't cheap. However, we're in the Artic Circle - not Helsinki.

So, I was pretty nervous when I went here based on the reviews...

However, the food was good. I was craving steak, and the steak delivered. My sister is vegan, and there aren't many options but they were more than happy for us to order a side of fries. Didn't blink an eyelid. Didn't make us order a kid's meal. They were also happy to get her more ketchup.

I had the reindeer tartar as well, and it was a bit mushy but super tasty.

We also had dessert. My sister had the chocolate fondant which was a lava cake with blueberry ice cream. She loved it. I had the creme brulee which was slightly dry but still tasty. It was served with raspberry sorbet which was lovely.

Other people ordered burgers and they looked substantial.

I had a couple of Christmas themed cocktails which were lovely. Definitely unique to the area and well presented. Ordered a Pinot with my steak at the start. When it didn't come out, I asked for it again, and was charged twice for one glass. That was very easily rectified when the bill came.

The service was good despite a large tour bus dining at the same time. We didn't feel rushed not neglected.

My takeaways - really good experience, but pricey due to location rather than price gouging. (No one here is driving around in a Lamborghini). Great staff who deal with a number is languages and cultures. I absolutely couldn't do their job. If you don't see something on...

During my visit to the Three Elves Restaurant at Santa Claus Holiday Village, I had the opportunity to sample several traditional Lappish dishes, including the grilled reindeer, sautéed reindeer, and the bear pulled meat soup.

Grilled Reindeer: The grilled reindeer was a highlight, featuring tender meat complemented by a rich, creamy sauce infused with local forest mushrooms. The dish was accompanied by crispy vegetables and a root vegetable purée, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. 

Sautéed Reindeer: The sautéed reindeer, known locally as “Pokka’s sautéed reindeer,” was served with mashed potatoes, pickles, and lingonberry jam. This traditional preparation offered a comforting and authentic taste of Lapland, with the lingonberry jam adding a delightful tartness that balanced the savory meat. 

Bear Pulled Meat Soup: The bear pulled meat soup was a unique and hearty option. The soup featured tender pieces of bear meat in a creamy broth, providing a rich and warming experience. This dish stood out for its novelty and depth of flavor, offering a rare opportunity to taste bear meat in a well-prepared form. 

Overall, the Three Elves Restaurant offers a commendable selection of traditional Lappish dishes, with the grilled reindeer and sautéed reindeer being particularly noteworthy. The bear pulled meat soup adds an adventurous option for those looking to explore unique...