Turku & Rauma - Indian Restaurant

[Karhunkoski]

We'll visit both this week. Anyone local who can give up to date recommendations on an Indian Restaurant?

[Karhunkoski]

anyone?

[Karhunkoski]

ah, ok, doesn't sound good. Thanks Cory, we'll look for something different to eat. I'm a bit out of touch with Turku, last time i was there was 1993, went there for 2 days, ended up staying for 4 weeks. By the way, is the old bank pub still going?

[sammy]

I don't have any experience of the local Indian restaurants, but if you're going to Turku, the "school" pub might be worth visiting.

http://www.panimoravintolakoulu.fi/english/brewery.htm

They also seem to serve food there, either lunch or à la kerta

[Karhunkoski]

thanks Sammy, will check it out, downstairs part too.

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

By the way, is the old bank pub still going?

Yeah, tis....

[blaugrau]

For what it's worth, I think Indima on Puutori is not that bad: http://www.indima.fi/kartta.htm

Turku has gotten quite a few new bars and restaurants lately -- the old bank is still there, but then Koulu (eerikinkatu 18) and Teerenpeli (Eerikinkatu are great for their own beer and cider -- they have a lovely beergarden in Koulu by the way, and you can even play minigolf there

Blanko (Aurakatu 1) does great food (and good mojitos), there's also a new winebar called Tintå right next to it (by the river) that seems to be quite nice, and the Scandinavian restaurant Smör is said to be really good too (Läntinen Rantakatu 3, http://www.smor.fi/fi/index.cfm) - it's just a bit further along the river (direction cathedral).

Along the river in the other direction, there's also a few nice places where you can also sit outside:
- Paviljongin vaakahuone: always has live (jazz) music and also serves food (Linnankatu 38)
- Sergio's: an Italian restaurant, quite good in my opinion. (Läntinen Rantakatu 27)

I also like Kuka, a somewhat quirky/alternative-ish/studenty place, with varying events (and table football!): Linnankatu 17, http://barkuka.blogspot.com/

At the other side of town, not too far from the railway station, are also a few decent places:
- Kerttu: nice burgers and other food, not too pricey, comfy atmosphere: Läntinen Pitkäkatu 35
- Alwar: great international selection of beers (but no food): Humalistonkatu 7
- Cup&Pint: lovely bar, good selection of draught beers (IMO!), also some food and good selection of teas, also wines., great atmosphere, sometimes DJs. Humalistonkatu 17.

For weekday afternoons in Turku I can recommend the kahvila/teehuone Mansikkapaikka, http://mansikkapaikka.com/, open only until 5.30 pm but the elderly lady serves her own self-made excellent cakes, has a great range of teas and the atmosphere is rather unique, feels like in some granny's living room (in the good and cosy and cute sense
Another nice cafe is Cafe Art, by the river (Läntinen Rantakatu 5), and I also like the cafes attached to Aboa vetus museum (opposite cafe art on the other side of the river) and the Wäinö Aaltonen museum (Itäinen Rantakatu 38).

Well, hope you find something nice in Turku, would be interested to hear about your culinary (and other) experiences here!

[Karhunkoski]

Thanks Blaugrau! Very comprehensive programme there, will definitely be checking out the range of ales and ciders. The live jazz sounds good too, but we already have a gig to go to (will be looking out for you there Bubs ).

[Bubba Elvis XIV]

Ultravox???? Please, tell me it isn't true...

[Karhunkoski]

Ultravox???? Please, tell me it isn't true...

They were giving away free tickets until klo13 today! You didn't get one?

[Karhunkoski]

Bubs? You came? That you in the cut-off black T shirt?

[Karhunkoski]

would be interested to hear about your culinary (and other) experiences here!

Turku had changed in 17 years, that's for sure. In a good way, of course.

Indima - Beef Jalfrezi was on the menu, but when I asked for Chicken Jalfrezi, the waitress said she would have to "ask the chef" , perhaps she was new. My jalfrezi was a bit flat and the garlic naan was hard and crispy rather than soft and fluffy, but perhaps that's just personal preference. Oh, and it didn't taste of garlic either. Mrs KK's salmon curry got full marks though. Portion size was perfect and we left the table knowing we could have eaten a little bit more (the secret of staying slim IMO). There was an elderly gentleman in there, sipping a wine whilst waiting for his takeaway. He looked stereotypically English, maybe someone on the forum? Overall score 4/10.

Teerenpeli - Busy late evening, mid-week, always a good sign. Bar staff polite and quick, with proactive table service when the bar wasn't busy (much better than most bar staff in Jyväskylä who think their doing you a favour by putting down their mobile to take your drinks order). Excellent own ales, pleasant surroundings, etc. 9/10

Koulu - Interesting concept, especially with the "educational" material hanging on the walls. Service excellent. Their own ales and ciders were superb, of particular note are their puolukka cider and the Maisteri ale. They score 10/10 because of the Maisteri.

Late night food (Karvakäsi on Humalistonkatu) - OK pizza. Scores 7/10 because it was the only place in town that was still open.

We're now planning a longer trip to Turku.

Thanks for the recommendations forumers!

[sammy]

Turku is a fine old town - the only snag is the turkulaiset living there...

[blaugrau]

Glad to hear you enjoyed your time here, Karhunkoski!

[DC21]

You'll struggle to find a really nice one at least compared to what you can get in the UK.