Places to Eat in Joensuu
Finland is a place of gastronomic delights only rivaled by chippers in Essex or Yemenite cuisine. Finnish food is arrogant looking and most Finn's don't know shit about cooking. Well, actually this (like many things I say on here) is an out and out lie. Finland has some fabulous food sometimes. Most of the time though they just can't cut the mustard with what other countries serve. Finns do great approximations of different cuisines, but a copy is still just a copy and loses something in the translation. The other problem is that it's fucking expensive to eat out! All the same, lets go out and price be damned! Welcome to Joensuu!
Rosso
Rosso is Finland's answer to Italian cooking.Positives: Clean and friendly interior. Summer time brings the tables out and astreet terrace is created. A welcome change from eating inside. Negatives: The pizzas taste stale and pasta is no better. The free salad bar is free for a reason: because it sucks! Wilted lettuce and olives that taste like they came from a metal can lined with lead. Bland, barely tolerable food that might be made by blind people who just dumped in a bunch of stuff into tomato sauce. Owned by the evil 'S Group'.
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Amarillo
Mexican/Texan food done by Finns. Half kilo burger and nice steaks in a Southwest theme! What is not to like? Negatives: Beer selection at my house is better then the one here. Also, prawn and beef fajitas is not a good combo with jalapenos. Owned by the evil 'S Group'.
Bar Play
American sports bar food done by Finns. Awesome fries and a garlic mayo dip that is the bomb! Best jalapeno poppers in town. Ur, actually, they are the only ones in town now that I think about it. Negatives: Appetizers are all heavily deep fried and taste seriously greasy. No English menu. Owned by the evil 'S Group'.
Torero
Spanish tapas made by Finns. Nice atmosphere and the have San Miguel on tap. For some seriously weird fun head up to the bathroom and just keep walking straight out the nondescript wood door in front of you and....poof! Welcome to the back of the Shoe aisle of Sokos department store. It's like being wisked away to Narnia! Negatives: Small portions. Sausages taste like horse meat. Owned by the evil 'S Group'.
Ravintola Kerubin
If you want to have decent meal, this is your best bet. Awesome sandwiches and a really cool bar staff. The wood interior mixed with the river flowing outside gives the place a open natural feeling. 1 liter of beer for 9 euros. Yes please! DJ spins tunes during the evening. Negatives: The place fills up quickly on weekends. Limited seating. Closed on some weeknights. No English menu yet.
Pizza/Kebab Restaurants
Some these can be quite good (Gaude and Aurinko being the best) and some are ok (Pizza express on Siltakatu has its moments, as does Pizza Pojat) while other have a rotating list of owners and seem to close down every couple of months or so only to open up somewhere else. Negatives: No beer usually. Daddy like beer. Pizzas can be a bit dry and most topping come from a can (you can taste it).
Ravintola Kreeta
Greek food made by (surprise surprise) ACTUAL GREEK PEOPLE! This restaurant is a gem. Great atmosphere that helps you forget that you live in freezing cold Joensuu. Negatives: No Greek beer. Small portions.
While the above list is not exhaustive, it should give you some ideas on what it available. For a town of 60,000 people, Joensuu has a lot to offer.Still, most of the food is mediocre at best or just down right weird (Bar Play's wing offer is a good example-60 wings for 60 euros?) .
Rosso
Rosso is Finland's answer to Italian cooking.Positives: Clean and friendly interior. Summer time brings the tables out and astreet terrace is created. A welcome change from eating inside. Negatives: The pizzas taste stale and pasta is no better. The free salad bar is free for a reason: because it sucks! Wilted lettuce and olives that taste like they came from a metal can lined with lead. Bland, barely tolerable food that might be made by blind people who just dumped in a bunch of stuff into tomato sauce. Owned by the evil 'S Group'.
Breaking news!!!!!!!!! Ugliest pants ever have been found to be for sale in Finland! Only 27 euros!
Amarillo
Mexican/Texan food done by Finns. Half kilo burger and nice steaks in a Southwest theme! What is not to like? Negatives: Beer selection at my house is better then the one here. Also, prawn and beef fajitas is not a good combo with jalapenos. Owned by the evil 'S Group'.
Bar Play
American sports bar food done by Finns. Awesome fries and a garlic mayo dip that is the bomb! Best jalapeno poppers in town. Ur, actually, they are the only ones in town now that I think about it. Negatives: Appetizers are all heavily deep fried and taste seriously greasy. No English menu. Owned by the evil 'S Group'.
Torero
Spanish tapas made by Finns. Nice atmosphere and the have San Miguel on tap. For some seriously weird fun head up to the bathroom and just keep walking straight out the nondescript wood door in front of you and....poof! Welcome to the back of the Shoe aisle of Sokos department store. It's like being wisked away to Narnia! Negatives: Small portions. Sausages taste like horse meat. Owned by the evil 'S Group'.
Ravintola Kerubin
If you want to have decent meal, this is your best bet. Awesome sandwiches and a really cool bar staff. The wood interior mixed with the river flowing outside gives the place a open natural feeling. 1 liter of beer for 9 euros. Yes please! DJ spins tunes during the evening. Negatives: The place fills up quickly on weekends. Limited seating. Closed on some weeknights. No English menu yet.
Pizza/Kebab Restaurants
Some these can be quite good (Gaude and Aurinko being the best) and some are ok (Pizza express on Siltakatu has its moments, as does Pizza Pojat) while other have a rotating list of owners and seem to close down every couple of months or so only to open up somewhere else. Negatives: No beer usually. Daddy like beer. Pizzas can be a bit dry and most topping come from a can (you can taste it).
Ravintola Kreeta
Greek food made by (surprise surprise) ACTUAL GREEK PEOPLE! This restaurant is a gem. Great atmosphere that helps you forget that you live in freezing cold Joensuu. Negatives: No Greek beer. Small portions.
While the above list is not exhaustive, it should give you some ideas on what it available. For a town of 60,000 people, Joensuu has a lot to offer.Still, most of the food is mediocre at best or just down right weird (Bar Play's wing offer is a good example-60 wings for 60 euros?) .
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