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:

Eating in Tartu: Pahad Poisid

First Impressions

If you are looking for a sports bar, this is the place to go to. It shows the most important games going on, be it ice hockey, football or general athletics. There are several screens, so you can catch the game from any corner of the bar. The interior is typical for a bar with booths and sports memorabilia on the walls. The location is perfect on the corner of the town square. During summer months the bar also has a big terrace. 

The Food

The bar has a wide selection of snacks that are just what they are supposed to be - greasy and salty and perfect for sharing. A good addition to any game. The rest of the menu is typical Estonian flavourless pub food. If you have to eat here, Bokkila recommends having the pulled pork burger, but beware, it contains dill! There is a wide selection of beers and ciders. In general, the beer is cheap and there are always beverage deals. 

More About the Establishment at:

http://www.pahadpoisid.ee/welcome/

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Väike Vine

First Impressions

This wine bar is located along Rüütli walking street in the heart of old town. The place emits central Europe vibes: the old brick walls create a cozy atmosphere, the light in the bar is soft and the small tables force everyone to huddle together. One of the staff members keeps telling bad jokes and has weird comments that sometimes dims the overall experience of this lovely place.

This is the perfect place to spend quality time with friends: the music is not too loud, the ambiance is laid back and most importantly, the house wine is cheap.

The Food

The bistro offers a selection of cheese and meats that vary depending on the day. The wine selection is wide: one litre of house wine costs 11 euros but the price of bottles varies between 20 and 60 euros, so if you are into vintage wines, you will probably find a bottle that suits your taste.

The bistro offers a small selections of tapas, such as olives, sun dried tomatoes and artichokes. It is also possible to order paninis with the fillings of your choice. They are perfect for a light lunch or an evening snack.

More About the Establishment at:

Väike Vine in Facebook

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Väike Deli

First Impressions

This lovely small cafe offers take-away salads, wraps and sandwiches. It has the feeling of a local place in a small village somewhere in the countryside of France. The counter boy was super duper cheerful and cheeky. What a nice surprise! The prices are student friendly.

The Food

One can build their sandwich/salad/wrap out of the components they want. The selection of ingredients is not extensive, but it is enough to satisfy ones needs, if you don't grab lunch from this place every day. The chicken is probably the best choice. 

The sandwich bread was a fresh whole grain baguette with seeds. It was soft in the middle and crunchy on the top, which is what a baguette should be like. 

There are a variable selection of syrups that you can add to your coffee. This is a great way to modify your every day coffee experience. During the summer there is also an ice-cream stand outside with a couple of tables and chairs.

More About the Establishment at:

Väike Deli on Facebook

The Official Bokkila Score:

Eating in Tartu: Balkan Restoran

First Impressions

When you see this place from the outside you probably don't feel the urge to enter, but the interior is a bit better and even cozy. There are a lot of Balkan themed decorations and paintings. The restaurant is situated right at the start of the Rüütli walking street. 

The restaurant offers over-priced Bulgarian and Greek dishes. The quality and price don't correlate at all. A simple chicken kebab with fries is 10 euros and this does not include any sauce such as the traditional tzatziki. The lunch menu is always the same and is not recommended! If you are after traditional home made hearty food, Bokkila would rather recommend for example Gruusia Köök, which is located a couple of hundred meters away.

The Food

Bokkila ordered:

Chicken Shish Kebab - The chicken was, well chicken. Nothing special about this dish, there wasn't much seasoning and there was no tzatziki. The sauce cost an extra 1,5 euros and there was a spoonful of it. What a rip off! 1/5

Salmon Steak - This dish was supposed to have an Ouzo sauce, but unfortunately the Ouzo-aroma did come through. The salmon was well done. The potatoes were fried. A disappointment, since the description would have indicated a special kind of dish. 2/5

More About the Establishment at:

http://www.restoranbalkan.ee/en-home/

The Official Bokkila Score: