Bangkok

This place is in the basement - really dark basement. In case you didn't know, I'm no big fan of basements and I think that a slight case of claustrophobia is nothing to be ashamed of.

They do have pretty good soups and Pad Thai noodles are as good as they get outside of Thailand or some place that has a considerable Thai community. Obviously Tallinn is not one of them.

Interior of Bangkok is OK, just OK, no more, but also no less. I guess it's a modern take on "I'm surrounded by bamboo". I would have to say the biggest surprise about this restaurant is it's door. It can easily be considered a cumbersome piece of machinery. I don't see myself as a weakling, but I have trouble with it every once in a while.

All together dining experience over here can be quite enjoyable, as long as you stay away from the curries. Too soupy, not spicy enough and just lacking character. It's not like this is a challenge or anything, but I myself prepare a pretty mean Panang curry. OK enough of blowing my own horn, since I actually have something else to add.

It could be just a coincidence, but at least twice I've walked to their door and they've been closed without any advance warning on their web-site. Plus today when I called to order take-out, somebody proudly announced over the phone that they are closed for shooting a movie.

But I was hungry, so a fair warning.

Monaco

Naming your restaurant(Monaco) after the consulate that happens to be located in the same hotel is not a particularly good idea. But OK, I can live with that. Having a staff that is incompetent to the extreme on the other hand is not.

I didn't start off well, then again neither did they. I ordered the easiest thing on the menu - Caesar's Salad with grilled chicken and a bottle of white wine. I love Caesar's salad, can't stand when it's soggy and when people who serve it, don't know that there's just one way to make it and that it has nothing to do with ancient Rome.

Caesar Cardini is in the history books and millions of people are enjoying his creation from Mexico for hundreds of years to come. Unfortunately restaurant Monaco is not a good place for doing that. Don't get me wrong, quite possibly everything else on the menu is delicious. And maybe you'll get great service as well...



P.S. I'm adding a picture of the original in Tijuana.

Il Gallo Nero

I'm not even sure if Il Gallo Nero belongs in this blog, since what it is, is basically a bodega with few tables. So if you're leaving the house thinking to your-self "I'm famished" - you probably shouldn't go there. But I like this tiny space with the homely feel.

They serve paninis, simple baked pasta dishes and tapas. The first time I had a panini with a glass of Chianti and it was real good, plus reasonably priced. The second time I enjoyed a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino and tapas. Again quite nice. Never had the baked ziti and lasagne type things, since I don't really dig the whole re-heating idea.

So if you are looking for a cozy place just to hang with friends, have some snacks, or to chat up with a friendly owner straight from Italy - Il Gallo Nero is just right.

Buenos Aires

OK...this is it...all things considered...Buenos Aires is the worst restaurant in Tallinn. It's not easy for me to say this and I'm not taking it lightly. I've been unfortunate enough to visit this place three times, so there's no bad luck or dark mood on the chef's part involved. It got worse - not better with every visit.

Let's see - the prices are outrageous, specially considered, that 80% of the stuff - yep that's right, stuff on the menu is just inedible. Without getting too wrapped up in higher mathematics I can safely say that Buenos Aires is in the same price category with the yard stick of all eating establishments - THE Fat Duck. The difference is that one is commonly referred too as the best restaurant in the whole wide world and the other is well.....


And WHAT is the deal with these round stacked wooden thingies? Either the designer was smoking dope or had been reading way too many stories by Dr.Seuss or just an idiot. In any case they are either disturbingly silly or scarily ugly. You pick. Well done - whoever you are.

The menu - mostly meat - forgets to mention that it doesn't really matter what you order, since everything will be either over-cooked or tasteless or both. So save your money and get the cheapest thing on the menu, chances are you are not going to be eating it anyway.

Alright, enough ranting, I'm starting to feel guilty for saying such nasty things. I'm not used to this and it's taken me a long time to gather up all the courage to say all these nasty things. ANYHOW...Buenos Aires - all things considered is the worst restaurant in Tallinn.

Best Menu in Tallinn Tonight

Appetizer - In Studio Vinum

Pan fried foie gras with apple-sea buckthorn compote on the toast

Soup - Tchaikovsky

Borsch with sturgeon and herbs, do not forget the heavenly addition of TCHAIKOVSKY PIROZHKI

Entrée - Stenhus

Grilled pork belly with ratatouille mille-feuille, parsnip and black truffle purée

Dessert - Nevskij

Fresh Berries „Zapekanka“



BON APPETIT

Butterfish

As a response to my post about the Kalev Yacht Club somebody sent me a picture of a butterfish. So here it is.
Thank you

Ribe

Ribe. I find it hard to say much about this place and I consider myself somewhat opinionated.
It's just that it seems like everybody involved worked really hard not to offend anybody. What happens when you try to make something that pleases everybody? You end up with something that most people don't dislike, but nobody loves.

Let's start with the good. I liked the wine list, not too long or too pretentious and they didn't multiply the whole-sale price by 10. Ended up with a glass of white from Luxembourg - a first for me. Served way too warm, but liked it anyway. Since I ordered fish, I decided to follow up with a bottle of Pouilly-Fuissé. You can't really go wrong with this often delicate Burgundy white.

Also liked a industrial looking chandelier made of stainless serving spoons and forks with a single light bulb.That pretty much wraps up the good.

The rest of the interior design is best described as forgettable. Mostly minimalistic crap with elements of so-called modern chic. OK...

I had Escargots de Bourgogne for a starter and did not like it. Too salty and too garlicky. Didn't think the second one was possible for me, but hey. For a main dish had Steamed pangasius fillet with blini, trout roe and leek-fennel sauce. Waitress, who mind I add was very friendly and patient, explained to me that it's a freshwater fish that inhabits rivers of Vietnam. Alrighty, something new, except that it didn't taste like anything and oh yeah - the blini were soggy in that leek-fennel sauce. Blini and soggy, that's like bread and soggy, it makes no difference what they got soggy in.

So if you like your dining out kinda middle of the road, no surprises, good or bad - go ahead. You are not going to hate it. You probably not going to love it either. It's just not one of these tell your friends all about it experiences.

In Vino Veritas

Not taking into account a name - In Vino Veritas - that lacks any kind of imagination, everything else about this place is well thought through. It's interior is warm and comfy, menu short and inexpensive, service friendly and helpful and having a actual well stocked wine store attached to it is not bad either.

Finally somebody figured out that opening a new place with uppedy design and we have the most expensive menu choices in town , may not be the soundest business strategy.


The food here is simple, but good. Maybe could use a little spice and flavoring from herbs, but excellent wine pairings make up for chefs little forgets.

On top of the convenience and joy of being able to cross the hall to pick the nights wine choice, this place is one of the very few that serves their reds at the right temperature.

I had Sliced Filet Mignon in wine sauce and a salad, not sure why it was sliced, but it was tender and cost 150EEK. Nowadays a price like that makes you do a double take, you just can't believe your eyes.


What made the night even more memorable was a bottle of Pommard Albert Bichot 2003 and a nice finishing touch Chateau Le Crock St. Estephe 2002. No no I had friends helping me ,even though I probably could have accomplished this without them.

Good wine, good friends, a homey place with pleasant service, you just can't ask for much more. Oh yeah and the food is not pricey - perfecto.