KGBKitchen

I can understand why other reviewers might compare Café Cabriole to Helsinki's Engel. The atmosphere of Cabriole would make one think that it has been around a lot longer than it actually has. Cabriole has a timeless feel that summons the sense of being in an Aki Kaurismaki feature if only for a moment. There is a lovely bright case of cakes and pastries and the lunch crowd is a mix of everyone from academic types, to carpenters, to “ladies-who-lunch.” The only element that belies the age of the institution is the large vault in the basement – either they're that serious about the soup recipes, or this used to be a bank. I'd go back here anytime.

The salad was good. The smoothies were a plus. The setting leaves a bit to be desired in that it hovers between cafeteria and cafe, but doesn't really become either.

Had a delightfully formal, tasty, tasty lunch here. The setting (historic chemist shop/apteekki transformed into a restaurant) is intriguing and tends to warp/skew time towards some other, perhaps more appealing age. The lunch was very traditional Finnish food with a well paired glass of wine. The only complaint: they need to back off on the free chocolates that came at least twice with the bill.

How can you resist Tin Tin Tango. It's practically a requirement, even if you don't have an appropriate trenchcoat. The music is lovely - from time to time you actually look around for the gramophone. Many a morning on many a dreary day has been past here. At times it's crowded, but not in an obnoxious way. The breakfasts are good, the coffee so-so, the soup quite nice. In any case, it's a requirement so go.

The overall experience was one of intense and delightful detail centered upon the bliss of eating excellent food itself. The suggested (organic) wine/food pairings were complex and articulate. A high degree of thought marked every part of the meal from the incredible breads, through the main course, and the multi-part desert. There are only twenty seats in the restaurant though the level of attention and the quality of the food is so high that it might suggest that there are four. This is one of the very best places I've had the pleasure of eating in Helsinki.