20.12.2018

SpaceTime: ToriGrilli, downtown Turku, 13:30 late lunch
Atmosphere: Downstairs kitchen is cramped, with cheap looking food porn shots plastered everywhere. Upstairs, a small dining room with simple brown tables and chairs, TV tuned to Yle playing black and white Finnish classics, annoying hum of air conditioning.
Food: Royal Sausage-Fries, tapwater
Price: 9,90€
Thoughts: Portion is large, and very much heartburn-inducing, with its "all" selection of condiments. The person behind the counter was helpful, but seemed frustrated. The flavors are typical of my grill food experience so far: fatty, salty, sour in a huge messy pile. The dining space is peaceful enough except for the loud AC hum. I can't imagine eating this type of food every day, but it does appeal to the baser instincts. Other, cheaper portions probably make this establishment quite competitive in the heart of the city.

16.12.2018

SpaceTime: Bun 2 Bun, shopping center Redi food court, Helsinki, around 2pm
Atmosphere: Not too busy, open, varied
Food: Beyond meat cheese burger (vegan), fries
Price: 19€
Thoughts: I like the idea of being able to eat a good vegetable burger option. This one was not bad at all, save for one thing: vegan blue cheese substitute. I loathe the stuff. It tastes nothing like the real thing! It's like a chemical attack on your taste buds. Fries were good and plentiful. Quite an expensive meal, too, considering there's no drink except tap water. I can only recommend this place if you skip the "blue cheese" option.

13.12.2018

Location: Sushi Panda, downtown Turku
Atmosphere: Modern black and white interior, large windows on busy street level, downtempo music
Food: Miso soup with salmon, sushi collection
Price: 10€

Thoughts: Miso soup was standard. Sushi was edible and looked delicious. Sushi rice was a bit raw which took away from the otherwise nice experience

12.12.2018

Place: Naughty BRGR, in Turku city center

Occasion: Lunch

Atmosphere: Edgy, with rap music even in the toilet

Food: Turku Burger with Aura cheese, Aura mustard and marinated onion, fries, chunky curry dip extra

Price: 14,40€

Thoughts: Good burger, not the cheapest one though. I regret the extra curry dip, it was hideous to my taste, so I left it.

Place: Bassi, sea food specialist in Turku

Occasion: Dinner

Atmosphere: Sophisticated, but noisy

Food: Creamy mushroom soup, fried pollock with potato and sauce, cranberry juice

Price: ~50€

Thoughts: Food was ok but not well worth the price, atmosphere was too loud and pub-like for my taste.

11.12.2018

Place: Ludu

Occasion: Lunch

Atmosphere: Stylish

Food: Potato-Rutabaga soup, Salmon with dill-potato, cucumber, foam sauce

Price: 16€

Thoughts: Food was nice, the most expensive lunch I've had so far though.

10.12.2018

SpaceTime: Kawaii Sushi, downtown Turku, 1pm lunch

Atmosphere: Large dining hall, mostly empty, sushi buffet table near the back

Food: Sushi buffet

Price: 11,50€ 

Thoughts: The offerings are nice, you can eat your fill, price is reasonable.

7.12.2018

SpaceTime: Blanko, downtown Turku, lunchtime
Atmosphere: Close quarters, warm, busy
Food: Pulled pork burger, fries, mayo, tiny salad, blueberry pie dessert
Price: 13€
Thoughts: Burger was alright with plenty of flavor. Not the cheapest of burgers, but worth the price in my opinion.

5.12.2018

SpaceTime: Taco Nito, downtown Turku, 1pm lunch
Atmosphere: Small, bare, friendly
Food: Chicken burrito, nachos, Sprite
Price: 10€
Thoughts: Best Mexican food I know of in the city. Consistent quality, good flavors. Recommended.

4.12.2018

SpaceTime: Hesburger, downtown Turku
Atmosphere: Large, bright, sparse
Food: Club burger, fries, cucumber mayo, sprite, toffee sundae
Price: ~10€
Thoughts: Hesburger is probably the biggest fast food chain in Finland. The food is typical, greasy and filling. I mostly prefer it over McDonalds because they have mayo that I find to my liking.

3.12.2018

SpaceTime: Naantalin Aurinkoinen, downtown Turku, lunchtime
Atmosphere: Few old-timers loitering about, bakery-ish.
Food: Creamy salmon soup, bread, salad, yesterday's stale doughnut
Price: 6.9€
Thoughts: For such a reasonable price, the offering is pretty good! If I want a light lunch, I might come back here often. Cheapest full meal I've found so far.