EST: Kuldse Notsu Korts

Does elk meat taste different from reindeer meat?

A day trip to Tallinn, Estonia from Helsinki, Finland proved to be rewarding. For lunch, we'd wanted to dine at the highly popular Rataskaevu 16. However, since it was way too crowded, we decided to head to another famous restaurant that serves Estonian cuisine called Kuldse Notsu Korts (lit. Golden Piglet Inn).

It seems like Estonian cuisine is pretty closely related to its Scandinavian counterpart.

Crispy Pig's Ears €6.00 (~S$9.45)

Taste: 8.5/10

That was the second time I had those ears outside Asia, the first instance being doused in cream at Kamyanitsa in Minsk, Belarus. The deep-fried ears were mildly seasoned with salt without being oily. They were served with a sour cream dip flavoured with minced garlic.

Salted Herring €6.00 (~S$9.45)

Taste: 8/10

As we only had a few days left before we flew back home, we just had to have as much pickled herring as we could. Accompanied by boiled potatoes and egg slices, the fish had been marinated well. It was a delight to dip each piece in sour cream that was given generously.

Stewed Elk €24.00 (~S$37.75)

Taste: 7/10

Besides trying reindeer meat at Ravintola Kuu Kuu in Helsinki, we had a virgin experience with elk meat stewed with dark beer and mushrooms. The gravy could use slightly less salt. I wouldn't say that the meat chunks were tender, but certainly not tough. They were served with stir-fried vegetables and milky mashed potatoes.

Traditional Kama with Berries €4.00 (~S$6.30)

Taste: 8/10

Kama is a mixture of roasted barley, rye, oat and pea flour. Served in a mug bearing the logo of the restaurant, it was mixed with milk and came with berry compote that was adequately sweet and thick. It had a distinctive taste, being a tad sour and nicely fragrant due to the presence of roasted barley.

Dark Cherry Beer €5.00 (~S$7.85)

I don't usually drink beer, but I'm always tempted to try anything and everything that has got to do with cherries. Though I've got no idea of the brand, I really enjoyed the chilled dark cherry beer that came in a tall glass.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 8/10

Ambience: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Overall: 8/10

Frankly speaking, I was rather disappointed for not being able to dine at Rataskaevu 16 at first, but I left Kuldse Notsu Korts happy and satisfied. Pika's advice: The restaurant is famous for its Estonian Sausage Feast that includes the quintessential blood sausages among others. It's priced at €29.00 (~S$45.60).

Kuldse Notsu Korts

Dunkri 8

Tallinn

Estonia

(Mon-Fri: 7.30am - 10.00am, 12 noon - 11.00pm;

Sat-Sun: 12 noon - 11.00pm)

*Prices quoted are nett prices.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y)