After a long day of driving from Kiruna in Sweden, we were hungry and wanted traditional Finnish cuisine that was close to the property at where we were staying. When we checked in, I asked the person at the front desk for a recommendation on where to dine; and she recommended Ravintola Ämmilä in Levi in Finland.
Ravintola Ämmilä in Levi in Finland. Restaurant Review.
Ravintola Ämmilä has offered traditional local food with a modern twist since 2007. The á la carte menu is based on guaranteed clean and excellent raw goods from producers in the nearby areas.
The interior of the ravintola — which is the Finnish word for restaurant — was quite rustic, warm, and cozy as the Arctic weather outside was rather cold; but I was not sure of what my dining experience would be like in this establishment.
The restaurant also has a bar with a selection of no fewer than 34 wines from which to choose. We placed our orders for food.
The Poronkäristys is sautéed reindeer that is served with mashed potatoes, pickles, and lingonberries — and it is considered the most traditional dish in the Laplands of Finland. I do not usually particularly care for stew or slow roasted beef; but this reindeer was absolutely excellent in terms of flavor, texture, consistency, and tenderness. The mashed potatoes were the perfect consistency. The lingonberries added a nice sweet tartness to the meal. Get this: the pickles were reminiscent of the full sour pickles at a Kosher delicatessen in New York, which blew me away, as I did not expect that at all. I ate every drop that was on this plate. What a meal! 32.00 Euros
Paistettua taimenta consisted of trout that was fried in a pan; carrots, cauliflower, and other vegetables; carrot purée; Lappish potato and garlic mash; and butter and white wine sauce made with fermentation. The trout was cooked to perfection — complete with a crispy skin. The garlic added a dimension to the mash that propelled it to the next level of flavor. Not a drop was left of this excellent dish either. 30.00 Euros
The perfect finishing touch to the meal was a Finnish chocolate that was manufactured by Karl Fazer — which reminded me of when a dish of these chocolates were included in the room in which I stayed at the Hilton Helsinki Strand hotel property.
Final Boarding Call
I absolutely recommend dining at Ravintola Ämmilä in Levi as a great place to dine on traditional Finnish dishes. The food was fresh and excellent and of a high quality; the service was very good; and the ambiance was quaint and clean. The prices were somewhat reasonable for the quantity and quality of food that was provided. The total for the entire meal was $67.41 in United States dollars.
Ravintola Ämmilä is located in the Arctic in Finland near a popular ski resort in Levi.
Ravintola Ämmilä
Rakkavaarantie 3
FIN-99130 Levi
Finland
+358407148894
Operating Hours
Lunch Monday through Saturday from 11.00 in the morning through 3:00 in the afternoon
Lappish buffet on Sundays from in the morning through 3:00 in the afternoon
À la carte seven days per week from 3:00 in the afternoon through 11:00 in the evening
Credit cards are accepted. Free parking is available on site.
All photographs ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
