TALLInn - In Your Pocket

36 restaurants restaurants 37
Meaty choices
Caravan H-3, Maakri 19/21, upstairs, tel. (+372)
653 31 99/(+372) 507 63 57, info@caravangrill.ee,
www.caravangrill.ee. Imagine a huge, mirrored ball and
a keyboardist playing a deafening rendition of Elton John’s
‘Nikita’ to an empty room. Otherwise this might be a worthy
place, with date palms adding a quasi-Egyptian touch. The
food at the self-proclaimed ‘grill house’ is a cut above the
pub-style average. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00, Fri, Sat 12:00 -
02:00. (€9.90). ES
Goodwin Steakhouse C-3, Viru 22, tel. (+372) 661
55 18, info@steak.ee, www.steak.ee. Goodwin has tried
hard to be the best steakhouse in Tallinn and it probably is,
even though it’s really the only one. The interior is rich and
woody, the service is efficient and the imported cuts of beef
are excellent. If a full-on beef-fest is a little too heavy, you
could always drop by during the week for their business lunch
specials, but let’s be honest, is a big slab of beef ever ‘too
much’. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00. (€19). JS
Grillhaus Daube D-2, Rüütli 11, tel. (+372) 645 55 31,
daube@daube.ee, www.daube.ee. A huge step up from
the typical throw-the-pork-on-the-fire grill house, Daube is a
roomy, two-floor affair decorated in a warm style that’s the
very definition of ‘smart casual’. Expect smiling service and
happy tastebuds. Find it in a nicely redone little house just
off Harju street. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00. (€11.20). JIS
Kuluaar C-3, Aia 2, tel. (+372) 631 35 07. The sign
outside offering ‘pippuripihvi + olut’ (Finnish for ‘peppersteak
and beer’) tells you all you need to know about Kuluaar’s target
market. This modern - and earily spartan - cellar venue cooks
up a small selection of typical meat and fish dishes. Service
is fast and food is actually pretty good, but if you do decide
to eat here we suggest you do so during the patio season.
QOpen 10:00 - 23:00. (€9.60). T6ISW
Madissoni Grill & Bar D-4, Rävala pst. 3 (Radisson
Blu), tel. (+372) 682 34 22, info@madissoni.ee, www.
radissonblu.com/hotel-tallinn/dining/madissoni. The
name rhymes with Radisson, as in Radisson Blu, the towering
hotel to which this two-storey grill-bar is attached. Gigantic
windows, slick design and TVs tuned to satellite channels give
it that familiar international feel. In addition to pricier items
from the grill, the menu includes a club sandwich and a bacon
cheeseburger. On weekdays it also works as a breakfast café.
QOpen 08:00 - 22:00, Fri 08:00 - 23:00, Sat 12:00 - 23:00.
Closed Sun. (€12.80). T6ULSW
Munga Kelder C-3, Vene 12, tel. (+372) 644 46 14,
mungakelder@gmail.com, www.mungakelder.ee. Overtly
geared toward tourists, the Monk’s Cellar is essentially a
basement bar turned upscale by the clever use of table linen
and glasses. Meat and fish dishes are served up along with
awful, saxophone versions of 70s hits. The salmon in foil was
mediocre and the service indifferent. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00.
(€11.80). JI
Oliver C-3, Viru 3, tel. (+372) 630 78 98/(+372) 53 47
47 41, info@oliver.ee, www.oliver.ee. A diligent, carved
wooden waiter spends all day long on Viru tänav trying to entice
people into this cellar restaurant, where meaty items like
entrecote and steak dominate the menu. Other choices such
as a vegetable wok are available to the less protein inclined.
We’ve heard a few good reviews about the food and service
as of late and the kids play area and eight-page children’s
menu certainly make this a good stop for families. QOpen
10:00 - 24:00. (€16). TJUIESW
Revalia Grill House C-2, Raekoja plats 8, tel. (+372)
641 21 83, info@restaurantrevalia.ee, www.restaurantrevalia.ee.
With its enviable location right on Old Town’s main
square, Revalia is never wanting for customers. The interior
décor makes it look a bit like an art shop, but there’s no
mistaking the menu - tenderloin steaks and other grill items
of the type that are popular around this part of Europe. Crepes
available too. QOpen 10:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 10:00 - 03:00.
(€16). TJUS
Steakhouse Liivi C-3, Viru väljak 2 (Metro Plaza), tel.
(+372) 661 61 78/(+372) 661 62 79, info@steakhouse.
ee, www.steakhouse.ee. Even though the location has
changed we have been assured that their overall level of
service, atmosphere and menu haven’t - which could be either
a good or a bad thing depending on what you’re looking for.
The food, which reminded us more of a glorified pub meal is
nothing fancy, nevertheless our steak was decent. Expect
every possible sauce known to man, often containing peppercorns,
slathered over a cut of beef. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00.
(€17). TUXSW
Tommi Grill Metro C-4, Viru väljak 2 (Metro Plaza),
tel. (+372) 662 20 99, tommigrill@gmail.com, www.
tommigrill.ee. This oddly located grill actually surprised
us - and in a good way. Although we had to order at the bar,
service was snappy, of the friendly variety and the food was
overall to our liking. We suggest you stick with the grilled meat
choices though as it seems to be what they do best. Keep in
mind that they can get busy during lunch hour. QOpen 10:00
- 02:00, Mon, Tue, Sun 10:00 - 24:00. (€9). JS
Medieval
Maikrahv C-2, Raekoja plats 8, tel. (+372) 631 42
27/(+372) 55 51 45 17, reserve@maikrahv.ee, www.
maikrahv.ee. Named for the ‘May Count’ of Tallinn’s medieval
days of yore, this respectable establishment hidden under Town
Hall Square hints at old-style regality all the while providing a
decidedly modern and down-to-earth dining experience that
won’t bust your budget. The menu is international, dominated
by fillets with a couple of pastas thrown in for good measure.
Delicately prepared food and professional service made the
experience come off without a hitch. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00.
(€14.40). TJES
Olde Hansa C-2, Vana turg 1, tel. (+372) 627 90 20,
reserve@oldehansa.ee, www.oldehansa.ee. Many frequent
travellers would say that you haven’t really been to Tallinn unless
you’ve visited Olde Hansa. This Mecca of mediaevalism in the
heart of Old Town doesn’t just serve historically authentic fare
made from carefully-researched recipes, it provides guests with a
whole experience using a combination of candlelight, waiters and
waitresses in period costume and medieval background music.
Chamber musicians round out the ambience every night of the
week. Make sure to check out Olde Hansa’s Waggehus located
just around the corner at Vanaturu Kael 8. QOpen 11:00 - 24:00.
(€13). J6UIE
Peppersack C-2/3, Viru 2, tel. (+372) 646 68 00, peppersack@peppersack.ee,
www.peppersack.ee. Peppersack
makes wonderful use of the 15th-century building it calls home -
both the vast main hall and the more intimate rooms further back
exude comfy medieval-ness. The menu is European-based and
fun-loving, with clever choices like Lady Margareta’s weakness
(chicken fillet) and Mansion Lord’s contemplation (duck fillet).
The fresh, hot rolls are a nice touch. Every day at 20:00 there’s
a theatrical sword fight on the staircase, on Fridays and Saturdays
followed by Oriental dancing. Great Terrace in the summer.
QOpen 08:00 - 24:00. (€16.85). TJUW
Tallinn In Your Pocket tallinn.inyourpocket.com tallinn.inyourpocket.com
October - November 2012