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:

Eating in Tartu: Püssirohukelder

First Impressions

Püssirohukelder is the most touristic restaurant in Tartu. This historical place is over 300 years old, and originally it was used as a gunpowder cellar, which is also what the Estonian name of the bar stands for. The ceiling of the bar is 10.2 metres high, and it is in the Guinness book of records for being the highest pub ceiling in the world. 

The interior of the bar resembles a tavern from the Middle Ages: there are a lot of massive wooden tables in the bar and beer pints made of clay hanging on the walls. The place has put a lot of effort on the program with different events and live music. This is one of the only places in Tartu to have karaoke and beer pong nights once in a while.

The Food

The menu offers true tavern food: hearty stews and soups served in hollowed bread. There are also a lot of beer snacks, such as garlic bread, stuffed jalopenos and fried onion rings. 

The food menu includes a lot of specialities, such as pork tongue, deer steak and venison salad. Even though the food is not mind blowing, the menu is still unique in Tartu. The crumb cake with vanilla sauce is a tasty dessert worth a try.

The selection of beers in Püssirohukelder is wide and the speciality of the place is the 1 litre beer mug. It is also possible to order ciders, drinks and shots. The prices are surprisingly low for a place this attractive to tourists: the one-litre-beer costs 4.5 euros and a 0.5 litre beer is 2.5 euros.

More About the Establishment at:

http://pyss.ee/?lang=en

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Illegaard

First Impressions

The first impression of this bar is not the most welcoming one: the bar is located in a cellar at a dark inner ward. But as you enter the bar you will find an easygoing sports bar with old stone walls, colourful ceilings, lots of sofas and a never ending menu of shots and drinks. This bar is not the tidiest of them all, but it is a nice place to spend a Saturday evening with friends. There is a fussball table in the bar and the games are free on Sundays and Mondays. 

The Food

Foodwise this place is not the best, but also not the worst. The menu includes mediocre hamburgers, wraps, salads and bar snacks. This is not the place to go to for a dinner, but if you are in need of a place where you can have drinks, watch sports and have a snack with beer, Illegaard is for you. 

The shots and drinks are cheap and the bar always has drinks on offer. The price of a set of five shots ranges from 5 to 8 euros, a beer is around 2 euros and a mojito costs 4.5 euros, so if you are a party person, Illegaard is the perfect starting point of your evening.

More About the Establishment at:

http://www.illekas.ee/

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Vein ja Vine

First Impressions

Vein ja Vine is the best wine place in Tartu and it is located in the heart of old town. The bar resembles a cozy apartment with old brick walls, bookshelves and homey furniture. The bar is full of welcoming corners and it is always packed with locals and tourists alike. The staff is very friendly and helpful.

The Food

This is the place for wine lovers! The house wine is always a safe choice to share with friends, but if you like to experiment, the bar also offers wines that cannot be found in every supermarket. It is also possible to rent Vein ja Vine for a wine tasting night hosted by the staff of the bar. 

The snack selection includes different types of meats, cheese and tapas. If you are feeling peckish, the bar also offers delicious paninis with the fillings of your choice. 

More About the Establishment at:

http://www.veinjavine.ee/

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Kapriis

First Impressions

Kapriis is situated at the town square. During the summers it also has a small terrace. The interior is pallid, colorless and has nothing special about it, a dime in a dozen. If you have small children this restaurant is for you, since they have a nice playing area with a lot of toys. When Bokkila was visiting the waiter was very rude and uninterested in his work. He just threw the menus on the table and was pissy about everything. He was the most nasty waiter Bokkila has ever had in Tartu. 

The Food

The restaurant offers western dishes, with pastas, salads and different meals such as steak, chicken and duck. Everything is bland, you might as well be having cardboard. The only positive thing about the menu is its short dessert list, with a couple of gems such as the lime-coconut cake. 

Bokkila ordered:

Chicken Filled with Blue Cheese with Rice - One of the biggest disappointments ever in Tartu. The chicken was dry as the sahara on a summer day and the rice was completely tasteless. A horrible experience. 0/5

"The Clients Favorite"-Chicken Salad - The dish looked lovely, but it had no substance. The chicken was bland and as dry as the sand between the toes of Moses. In comparison the dressing was so full of flavors, but there was SO little of it. If this is the favorite dish of the clients, then Estonia is lost. 1/5

More About the Establishment at:

http://www.kapriis.ee/kontakt

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Tokyo Sushi Bar

First Impressions

This is definitely the best sushi place in Tartu. It is located right at the city centre. The interior is simplistic and the walls are covered with huge photographs of modern day Tokyo. The place is often packed in the evenings so be ready to wait for your food 30-60min. 

The Food

The menu offers a wide selection of different types of sushi and other Japanese dishes. A delicious oddity, which one does not find in every Japanese restaurant, is the tempuramaki. It is a normal maki, which is coated with tempura batter and then deep fried. So yummy! A must try! 

A must try are also the "Glistering River" sushi maki, the "Salmon and Wakame" futomaki and the "Philadelphia" maki. All the ingredients are fresh and the rice is always just perfect. 

The sushi is not the most traditional kind, with lots of cream cheese and a narrow selection of fish, but it still works perfectly. The sushi is good-sized and the prices are quite low, with the cheapest 8 piece maki being 4 euros. 

More About the Establishment at:

http://www.tokyosushibaar.ee/

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Ruunipizza

First Impressions

Of all the places in Tartu, this is probably the most student friendly. The prices are surprisingly low and the menu is to everyones liking. The restaurant was recently renovated and now accommodates more customers. The interior has an Estonian theme with hand knitted rugs on the wall and adorable wooden chairs and tables. The waitress was rude and seemed annoyed by the presence of the customers, which was a shame, since the place is in general cozy.

In connection with the restaurant is a store selling authentic Estonian goods such as buckthorn jam, honey from Saaremaa, local cheese and sweet rye bread. 

In the summertime ice-cream is sold outside. The ice-cream is served with homemade waffle cones, which are delicious! In addition to the more common flavors, some interesting Estonian ones are also available, including gooseberry, buckthorn and plum. 

The Food

The menu consists of pizzas, savory pancakes, hot pots, salads and a variety of cakes. The pizzas come in 2 sizes and the price is from 2.00-7.40 euros, depending on the fillings. The pancakes are from 2,50-4,00 euros. All and all a very inexpensive restaurant with decent food. 

Bokkila ordered:

Salmon Calzone - One of the best dishes on the menu, this pizza gone mad is a perfect choice for lunch. It contains salmon, red onions, feta cheese and salad topped with sour cream dressing. Despite the unusual fillings, this unholy union between a wrap and a pizza is divine. 5/5

Savory Pancake with Blue Cheese and Shrimps - The savory pancakes are a good choice for breakfast combined with scrambled or fried eggs, but on its own the portion is too small even for a quick lunch. Either there should be more pancakes or the filling should be heftier. 3/5

The Desserts - The smoothie was reasonably priced and made out of fresh berries. Unfortunately it was waaaaay too sweet. There was a selection of raw cakes. The chocolate cake tasted too healthy, almost like a protein bar. It was dry and there was none of that chocolaty richness. 2/5

More About the Establishment at:

http://ruunipizza.ee/

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Mila Studio

First Impressions

Mila studio is a new addition to the restaurant scene in Tartu. The interior is chic: simplistic with smart details, but not too antiseptic. The concept of design and fashion is present, but it is not forced. The staff is really friendly and attending. 

Connected with the restaurant is a design shop. The repertoire varies from Renaissance-inspired bath tubs to quirky fabrics and posters.

The Food

The menu is compact, but yet there is something for everyone. The lunch deal is affordable. The deal includes scented water and freshly home baked bread with flavoured butter. 

Bokkila ordered:

Lunch Chili Con Carne - This lunch deal was a positive surprise! Plentiful, made of beef minced meat, well spiced and not watered down at all. 4/5

Pavlova with Goat Cheese and Mango - A heavenly dessert for anyone who loves rich flavors. The combination of sweet mango, creamy goat cheese and chewy meringue is incredible. What a fresh taste, definitely worth a try! 5/5

More About the Establishment at:

Mila studio on Facebook

The Official Bokkila Score: