TALLInn - In Your Pocket

24 restaurants
In Tallinn it seems they grant a new restaurant licence
every week and sometimes we do miss one, but we've
tried our best to have an accurate list by print time. Also,
be aware that in most cases you'll have to seat yourself,
so don't wait around like a dummy - just grab an available
seat and you'll eventually be brought a menu. In pubs,
you'll likely need to order and pay at the bar. Service in the
centre is nearly always English-speaking and foreignlanguage
menus are the rule - although, the words may not
always be spelled correctly. VAT (20%) is always included
and gratuity should never be added to the bill.
African
African Kitchen B-3, Uus 32/34, tel. (+372) 644 25
55, info@africankitchen.ee, www.africankitchen.ee.
This highly funky African-themed establishment is the place
to go for affordable, exotic meals and a trendy, lounge-like
atmosphere. Traditional and contemporary cuisine from the
continent is served in hip, colourful surroundings. Lounge
tables in the main room are a bit low, so reserve a spot in
the cosier ‘Cave Room' for more comfortable dining. Service
slows considerably when crowded. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00,
Fri, Sat 12:00 - 02:00. (€9.60). JLDXSW
American
Baby Back Ribs & BBQ H-1, Endla 45 (Kristiine
Centre), tel. (+372) 600 55 92, booking@babyback.
eekristiine@babyback.ee, www.babyback.ee. You will seriously
question what country you're in once you step into this
authentically American-style ribs joint. Upholstered booths,
bottles of Heinz 57 on the tables and a piped in radio station
from Louisiana make it perhaps more American than any place
in America. The long menu includes pizzas, milkshakes and
burgers, but the steaks and ribs are the stars here. Order
the full rack 'monster' and contemplate why Texans are so
huge. QOpen 10:00 - 21:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 22:00. Also at:
Kallaste Keskus 12, Tabasalu, tel 600 55 62, booking@
babyback.ee. Open 12:00 - 22:00, Fri - Sat 12:00 - 23:00.
(€10.85). T6ULSW
Mack Bar-B-Que H-4, Tartu mnt. 63, tel. (+372) 601
09 69, table@americanfood.ee, www.americanfood.
ee. In terms of American-style atmosphere and service, it's
hard to get any more authentic than Mack. Designers of this
combination sports bar/family-style restaurant went all the
way, with red, vinyl booths, bottles of Heinz catsup, piped-in
80s hits and ‘no smoking' signs in Spanish. There's even
Symbol key
J Old Town location U Facilities for disabled
T Child friendly 6 Pets allowed
E Live music S Take away
X Smoking area I Fireplace
L Parking available N Payment in cash only
W WiFi connection
free ice-water! Unfortunately the food quality doesn't really
live up to expectations. The long menu includes nachos,
pizza, burgers and milkshakes, but barbecued meats are the
speciality. If you get stuck, just order a Dr. Pepper. QOpen
12:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 13:00 - 24:00. Also at: Paldiski
mnt. 102 (Rocca Al Mare Centre), (+372) 665 91 61,
booking@americanfood.ee. Open 10:00 - 21:00. (€10.85).
T6VXSW
Texas Honky Tonk & Cantina B-3, Pikk 43, tel.
(+372) 631 17 55, texas@texas.ee, www.texas.ee.
Beer ads, steer horns, cactus and rowdy conversation - this
bar screams 'Texas' so loud you might think you've walked
into one of those old roadhouse movies. Thankfully the
ambience is more rock and blues than twangy two-step. The
long menu is mostly U.S. -style Tex-Mex (Cadillac nachos,
quesadillas, etc) with other things like hot wings, Texas
potato salad and a decent selection of vegetarian items
thrown in. Not all dishes are as authentic as the Alamo, but
enough are to make this a decent destination for homesick
Yanks. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 01:00. (€8).
J6IESW
Australian
The Lost Continent G-4, Narva mnt. 19, tel. (+372)
662 36 65, info@lostcontinent.ee, www.lostcontinent.
ee. During a recent and much-needed update, management
of this Aussie-style pub finally got rid of the inane and predictable
‘Wombat X-ing’ kitsch and turned the place into a
kind of lounge. You can still order ‘Kangaroo stick with fruit
chutney’ if you dare. Most of the menu now caters to more
mainstream tastes, offering fondues and pastas, as well
as some cheap options aimed at students from the nearby
university. Table service doesn’t seem to work, so you’ll have
to join the queue at the bar. QOpen 11:30 - 23:00, Wed
11:30 - 24:00, Thu 11:30 - 01:00, Fri, Sat 11:30 - 02:00.
(€6.70). TEW
Argentinian
Argentiina H-2, Pärnu mnt. 37, tel. (+372) 660
51 77, info@argentiina.ee, www.argentiina.ee.
Believe it or not, they actually played ‘Don’t cry for
me Argentina’ when we were here, but that’s not why
we recommend the place. The truth is it’s actually a
well-established, popular and slightly swank restaurant
where South American cooks grill slabs of steak
and fish right in the centre of the dining room. The
formal-ish look of the place is offset by some very
quirky Mexican-style wall décor, as well as a lovably
kitschy dance show on weekends. QOpen 12:00 -
24:00. (€15). JES
Asian
Asian Aroma H-2, Süda 1, tel. (+372) 627 89 77/
(+372) 53 31 15 63, aa.asianaroma@gmail.com,
www.asianaroma.ee. This fast-food café was originally
billed as pan-Asian, but just about everything on the menu
seems to be Chinese, or at least Chinese-like. The spring
rolls were great, and the sweet and sour fish was, well...
let's say edible, though uninspired. On the plus side, the
service is actually fast and friendly. QOpen 12:00 - 22:00.
(€5.75). VS
Asian Wok & Grill H-2, Paldiski mnt. 4 (Meriton
Grand Conference & Spa Hotel), tel. (+372) 628 81 51,
hotel@meritonhotels.com, www.meritonhotels.com.
Other than the fact that it's pretty tasty food for a decent
price, there's one more bonus - you can eat as much as you
want for that same price! There are a couple of ways to get
your food here. The first way is to load your plate full of hot
and ready Asian cuisine, take it back to your table and dig
in. The second option is to fill your plate full of meats and
vegetables, choose a sauce and have the smiling chef 'wok'
it up for you. Starters, sushi, soups, salad and a dessert
are also included - in case you were worried. Drinks cost
extra and there's also an à la carte menu for those with
little imagination. QOpen 12:00 - 15:00; 18:00 - 23:00.
(Buffet €25). JUW
Bollywood B-2, Pikk 31, tel. (+372) 644 24 45/
(+372) 56 24 26 07, info@bollywood.ee, www.bollywood.ee.
This slash-Indian-Asian place in Tallinn is actually
quite decent and usually fills up in the evening hours. The
name and décor are decidedly Indian but they offer a plethora
of Chinese and Thai samplings for those that prefer crispy
or coco-nutty over chutney. As is the norm for the genre,
mains come with rice and can usually feed two - as long
as an appetiser has been ordered. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00.
(€10). TJ6VXSW
Chedi B-3, Sulevimägi 1, tel. (+372) 646 16 76,
chedi@chedi.ee, www.chedi.ee. Call it a swank, upscale
restaurant with an Asian menu, or an Asian restaurant done
up to the nines. In either case, what you'll get at Chedi is
a sleek, novel dining experience that fuses East Asian and
Western trends. This is where Thai Pike Perch meets lamb
chop in chocolate sauce, and the quality is always top-notch.
The only hiccup here is the service, which can at times be
sluggish. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 - 24:00, Sun
13:00 - 22:00. (€17). JS
Everest Kathmandu H-3, Liivalaia 19, tel. (+372) 644
20 68, www.kathmandu.ee. Set up like a casual, lunch
café, this nominally Nepalese establishment is a contrast in
styles, meaning the piped-in monks' chanting clashes a bit
with the sexy Fashion TV models strutting on the corner set.
The menu is divided into Indian and Chinese sections, and
the food was passable. Be warned that if you opt to try the
chef's own sauce, you'll want to suck on a fire extinguisher.
QOpen 11:00 - 23:00. (€6). 6VSW
Masala D-4, Maakri 19/21, tel. (+372) 610 84 40,
info@masala.ee, www.masala.ee. Masala, which in Hindi
means a mixture of spices used in cooking, is the kind of
place that's filled with warmth. We're pretty certain that at
least one of the many Asian dishes on offer here will find
a suitable home in your belly. The garlic Naan was perfect
and the crispy lamb was quite succulent. Only one caveat,
if you like it spicy ask for it, as the heat is tuned down a
bit to reflect local preferences. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00, Sat
12:00 - 23:00, Sun 12:00 - 22:00. (€13). VESW
restaurants
Asian restaurant
HEALTHY CHOICE!
The food preparation
takes place in the
show kitchen in the middle
of the restaurant.
Paldiski mnt. 4 Tallinn
Buffet 25.00 €
Price does not include drinks.
Open daily 12:00 – 15:00 18:00 – 23:00.
Reservations: +372 6288 153
www.meritonhotels.com
Tallinn In Your Pocket tallinn.inyourpocket.com tallinn.inyourpocket.com
October - November 2012
25