Eating in Tartu: Da Vinci Pasta & Pizza

First Impressions

Located in Tasku shopping centre is this Italian inspired restaurant. It is a prototype of all shopping centre restaurants, with its edgeless interior and all-pleasing menu. Because of its location the atmosphere is very busy and restless. If you enjoy people watching (you creepo!) then Da Vinci offers the perfect views for this. 

The Food

The menu contained a variety of pizzas and pastas to choose from. The pizza was a pizza, nothing special about it and so was the pasta. The only truly redeeming aspect of Da Vinci was the Italian Gelato selection. The ice-cream was creamy and soft, with flavors such as blood orange and Amaretto. If you closed your eyes you would think you are in Milan, but still in a shopping centre. 

Bokkila Ordered:

Pollo Fantasia - Mozzarella, chicken, Gorgonzola, sweet peppers, pineapple, oregano

Tortelloni with Parma Ham in a Parmesan Sauce 

More About the Establishment at:

http://davincifood.ee

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Restoran München

First Impressions

When you walk in this pub-restaurant you feel transported to the German countryside. The decor is plentiful, but not overwhelming. There are many rooms to explore and every room is unique. In the true spirit of German pub culture the beer is flowing and the food is hearty. 

The Food

Looking for that special Wurst? How about some good old Schnitzel? Well don't look too far, for this is the place you have been dreaming of. The spicy beef goulash was hot and steamy. The taste was right on the spot and the beef so tender it just melted away. The only let down was the unnecessarily dry Apfelstrudel with a microscopic amount of vanilla sauce.

More About the Establishment at:

Restoran München on Facebook

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Hot Pot

First Impressions

This establishment is a typical Estonian Asian restaurant that serves dishes from all around Asia. You will find your Indian tikka masala, your Thai green curry or your Chinese Peking chicken. The interior is modern with a splash of stereotypical Asian inspired trinkets.

The Food

You will get exactly what you expect, the food is moderately spicy, but the taste is not mono-flavored. There is an extensive use of various spices. The butter chicken was creamy, but the chicken was dry. Bokkila was very pleased with the stuffed naan, but the plain naan was a disappointment as it was dry and thin. If you want basic non-surprising Asian food, this is your place!

More About the Establishment at:

http://hotpot.ee/menuu/

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Himaalaja Jutud

First Impressions

Himaalaja jutud is situated at GMP-plaza. The location is in the city centre, but right next to a busy parking lot. They have a small terrace looking over the parked cars, so not the most ideal view one could hope for. The restaurant is moderately decorated with an Asian theme. The place looks cheap, but the food is surprisingly expensive. 

The Food

The menu has a wide selection of Tibetan and Indian dishes. The food is passable, many of the other Asian themed restaurants in Tartu offer better quality and tastier food. 

Bokkila ordered:

Tandoori Lamb - The dish cost 12.5 euros and it was served with mint sauce and naan bread. Rice was not included. The meat was extremely chewy. The flavors were there, but the lamb was way too tough.  The best part of the meal was the soft naan bread, but that is not enough to save the dish. 2/5

Crispy Lamb with Chili Sauce - This dish was plentiful in meat. The lamb was nice and crispy and the sauce was spicy as promised. All in all, a satisfying dish. A good choice when you crave for a dish containing a lot of meat. 3.5/5

More About the Establishment at:

Himaalaja Jutud on Facebook

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Suudlevad Tudengid

First Impressions

You should try your best to avoid this place altogether. The food is horrendous! From the 50 restaurants Bokkila visited, "Suudlevad Tudengid" was the worst of them all. It takes effort to fail so miserably as a restaurant. The location is perfect at Raekoja Plats town square, but there is no power great enough to make Bokkila ever taste anything coming out of this kitchen again. 

The Food

Bokkila ordered sea food pasta, but unfortunately the fish, shrimp and mussels are still happily swimming in the sea, for they were not found in the dish. The pasta was soft and smoochy, no surprise there. 

This atrocity they dared to call a hamburger, was just wrong. Just look at the picture! What is going on?! The "patty" was rock hard meat (?), made into a ball, warmed in a microwave and slapped between the buns that were dryer that the Gobi desert. There was some ketchup, disgusting cheese and a random cold onion ring. Like seriously what is going on?

More About the Establishment at:

http://suudlevadtudengid.ee/en/

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Lõvisüdame

First Impressions

There are many restaurants situated at Raekoja Plats, Lõvisüdame is not one of the best of them. The interior is shabby and the quality of the food is low. The only positive thing about "The Lion Heart's" is the cheap alcohol and the terrace during the summer times. Food wise try to avoid this place if possible. In case you want to sit outside and all the other places are full, strictly stick to drinking. 

The Food

At best the food is tasteless and overcooked, except when it comes to potatoes, approximately 1/3 of them will be raw. The mystery of how this place can at the same time overcook and undercook the potatoes in the same portion will remain a mystery. Bokkila ordered oven cooked salmon and salmon pasta. Needless to say that the pasta was not al dente and the salmon was not nice and moist. 

More About the Establishment at:

http://xn--lvisdame-e4a7e.eu/

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Metro

First Impressions

This place is an institution in Tartu. It is a well known place among students and party-goers. After the bars and clubs close their doors, Metro comes alive. The prices are very cheap and the portions more that enough.  The interior is basic, nothing special, but then again they are not even trying to have a theme. The staff is at best neutral, although most of the time they are grumpy and annoyed about your existence. Maybe you won't notice through the alcohol cloud that is smothering your brain.

The Food

The concept is easy: 1. Choose a sandwich or a wrap. 2. Choose a protein. 3. Choose a sauce. 4. Choose the rest of the toppings as you please. 5. Enjoy!

The toppings are simple, such as tomatoes, eggs and olives. You can also have very salty fries as a side dish. All the food is decent, but it lacks that special something. Not the best fast food place in Tartu.

More About the Establishment at:

http://www.kiirtoit.ee/

The Official Bokkila Score: