24.1.2019

SpaceTime: Lounasravintola Arvonen, Puutori, Turku, 12:30 lunch
Atmosphere: Small, not too bright, cozy, no music, hum of air conditioning
Food: Lunch buffet (sausage stroganoff potato mash, pea soup, pancakes, small salad table)
Price: 8.50€

Thoughts: Arvonen offers simple home cooking in a small dining space with less than 20 seats. The lunch offer changes daily. For the same price, take-away from the buffet is possible.

I thought the food was simple and tasty. The foods and salads tasted like you'd expect. The pancake was a bit tough for my taste, but definitely edible. The relatively low price point places this establishment reasonably high on my list of places to return to on a regular basis.

I learned that today was the last day in a while that the restaurant is open, since the owner, Mr. Arvonen will undergo hand surgery and will be closing the kitchen for at least a month. Recommended, for those looking to get as much lunch-value for as cheap as possible.

17.1.2019

SpaceTime: Golden Grill, Hansa food court, Turku, 12:30 lunch
Atmosphere: Open, bright, empty-ish, excellent view to the market square construction yard
Food: Pulled pork lunch burger with fries, extra cucumber mayo, pancake with jam and whipped cream
Price: 11.40€
Thoughts: I'm not sure if Golden Grill is somehow related to the Golden Rax pizza buffet or not, but the two restaurants are side by side, with a walkway between, they have Golden in the name and after eating the lunch burger, I believe the quality of food is equally mediocre.

The place has many customer seats in two stories overlooking the market square that is the heart of Turku. The place had very few customers to the space available.

The burger consisted of store-bought dry hamburger bun, generic pulled pork, non-descript mayo and vegetables. The fries were cooked right but had too much salt in them for my taste. The extra mayo I ordered and paid 1€ for was forgettable and came in a small shot glass, making it very hard to dip with a fork. They also served dessert coffee (which I skipped) and pieces of pancake with strawberry jam and very stiff industrial whipped cream.

I ate the entire dish, but was not especially impressed by it. If I want to nurse my soul with sinful food that blocks my arteries if over-consumed, I want the pleasure I derive from such a portion be much higher than what I experienced here. For a lunch burger, one of the weaker ones.

16.1.2019

SpaceTime: Mami, Turku, 13pm lunch
Atmosphere: Lively, stylish, friendly
Food: BBQ ribs (boneless) with potato, mayo-sauce, vinegary mini-salad, basket of bread with cream cheese spread
Price: 10.50
Thoughts: Mami is down by the river and offers a splendid view for diners facing the windows. They offer several lunch options with coffee and separate dessert on the menu.

The staff was quick to serve and friendly. The food was tasty. The roasted potatoes had a mild herb seasoning and a nice floury texture. The meat was overcooked to super-juicy and coated in a barbecue sauce. The mayo fit well with the other flavors. The mini-salad was a fresh and zingy balance to the greasy meat. This was how you'd expect bbq ribs with mayo and taters to taste like, nothing annoying about it. The presentation was not the most amazing, but definitely not hideous. The extra basket of bread was an unusual touch, but the bread was also fresh and yummy.

Based on this experience, I would go back again for lunch with a similar price point and equally nice serving experience.

15.1.2019

SpaceTime: Pikku-Torre, Turku, 14:00 lunch
Atmosphere: Dim, bar-like, sports playing on a huge tv
Food: Steak with garlic creamy potatoes and veggies, salad buffet
Price: 13.30€

Thoughts: Torre is a kind of sports-pub, offering a variety of foods and drinks. A giant bar counter dominates the middle of the dining space. The daily lunch menu offers pasta, steak, fish and more, with a small-ish salad buffet table or optionally a soup.

I can't say the food felt truly worth the asking price.The steak was cooked well, but a bit chewy anyway. The potatoes were garlic-infused and quite greasy. The veggies were also greasy and a bit burnt. The bread was a bit on the tough side. The salad was ordinary. Consuming this dish certainly did not feel like a fine-dining experience presentation- or flavor-wise.

The food was certainly edible, save for the giant strips of raw onion I mistakenly grabbed from the salad buffet. However, the quality was not to my liking, especially at this price.

10.1.2019

SpaceTime: Herkkunuotta, Kauppahalli, 12:30 lunch
Atmosphere: Busy, street-ish, plain
Food: Breaded flounder with potato pure, roe sauce, pickled red onion, steamed vegetables
Price: 13.90€

Thoughts: I was able to find a relatively peaceful corner spot at the counter of Herkkunuotta, offering over-the-counter fish products as well as sparkly street food, much like Deli Verde (S Wallin) close by. It's almost as if these two fish vendors are in competition!

The dish was gorgeous! The roe sauce, the fish and the potato puree created a colorful display to whet my appetite. The flounder was cooked nice and crispy, the potato pure was nice but not exactly warm, the sauces and pickled onions were yummy and the steamed veggies were finely cooked and tasted as you'd expect.

The price was a bit steep, and I can't decide if it was worth it or not. The flounder had a very mild taste to it, and in junction with the breading and grilling, tasted mostly salty and oily. I'm not a big fan of strong oceanic tastes, and in that regard the dish was definitely not overwhelming. However, I kept pondering if the somewhat simpler salmon dish I ate yesterday had worked better, or if I just prefer salmon to flounder. It could be that some of the culinary artistry is simply lost on this unsophisticated brute. All in all, the dish was yummy and I wouldn't mind eating here another time.

I also ate my portion before paying, but this time didn't attempt to leave before paying. Progress!

9.1.2019

SpaceTime: Deli Verde (S Wallin Oy), Kauppahalli, Turku, 12:30 lunch
Atmosphere: Packed, busy, street-ish
Food: Freshly grilled salmon with deep-fried potatoes, small salad, dill aioli, pickled veggies
Price: 12,90€

Thoughts: Kauppahalli is quite busy during lunchtime. There are many small kitchens that offer a few customer spots at a counter with bar stools and people walking by behind your back. Deli Verde is part of a fresh fish vendor's booth, serving fish in various forms, with around 10 customer seats.

While I prefer a more relaxed dining experience, I am kind of starting to like the fresh honest street kitchen food this food court has to offer. The fish is straight from the grill to a plate near you. You pay, you eat, you get out.

I enjoyed this meal. The salmon was grilled perfectly, the flavors of the dish were simple yet distinct. The portion was not huge, and the price is not the cheapest, but the quality of the food was spot-on. The only real downside is the busy atmosphere which might make you walk past the place if all the seats are taken. Still, recommended.

8.1.2019

SpaceTime: Le Bistrot Francais, Kauppahalli, Turku, 1pm lunch
Atmosphere: Not too busy, stylish, street-ish, sociable
Food: Chicken with crayfish sauce, veggie flan
Price: 11:50€

Thoughts: The small 8-seat kitchen in Kauppahalli offers a few daily choices for those after french cuisine. The chairs are set high on the counter and the chef works right in your view, which some may enjoy, but I prefer something less intense personally. 

The food was alright, with a few comparatively mild complementing tastes. The chicken was cooked well, the potato pure was ordinary, the sauce yummy and the veggie flan tasted like seasoned veggies in a fancy form factor. The side piece of bread was very dry.

So, the price range was about the same as some other places in the same food court, and there was nothing wrong with the food. It didn't blow me away, but it was certainly tasty. 

Being used to paying for the meal first and then leaving right after eating, I almost faded without paying. Luckily the waitress caught me in time to correct my mistake. Oops!