Helsinki Cafe

Nothing says the hippy 60's like Great Barrington and the Helsinki Cafe. It's is a small "tea room" that serves diverse teas during the day and a FINNISH (that's Finland, the country!) menu at night. It also has a small night club that features an eclectic collection of generally unknown rock, blues and folk performers.

We had been to the Club previously to see a show but had never been for dinner. We decided to try the restaurant for an early dinner - before the show. The menu has a very different look to it (although, this may be standard fare in Finland).

I started with vegetable "piroghki" which were interesting but undistinguished. Chris had a green salad with grilled goat cheese that was quite excellent.

I followed that with the SWEDISH SAILOR'S SALMON (a house specialty) its horseradish-rubbed seared Atlantic salmon with a Gunpowder tea & Swedish dill sauce, potato strudel & Finnish caramelized cabbage. The salmon was adequate but the potato strudel and cabbage were out of this world - and I'm not usually a cooked vegetable eater. Chris had the daily special, a vegetable stir-fry with tofu that she thought was quite good (I'm not so sure).

The bottom line is the place is a "hippy" classic. The staff (mostly women) all have long hair and tattoos and were dressed accordingly (mostly in black). The food may be unreliable but the ambience is special. We can't be back to eat this year but will probably be back for the show.

Helsinki Cafe
284 Main St.(Railroad St.)
Great Barrington, MA 01230
413-528-3394

Zagats says:
Need “a nice reminder of Finland”? – “get the potato pancakes” slathered in gravlax, sour cream and caviar and served with wild blueberry compote at this “quirky” Scandinavian-Eclectic across from the Triplex in Great Barrington; though the “funky” interior and “borscht-and-dill” Nordic “home cooking” are “not for everyone”, the place sure is “interesting”, especially as it’s attached to the “hippest” “venue for music” “north of Chelsea.”