Culinary voyages into the past Whether you are looking for a quiet, romantic dinner or a big feast served on medieval swords and shields, Viking Restaurant Harald offers diners great Nordicinspired food in a quirky setting. Drawing inspiration from mystical Viking times, the restaurant allows diners a unique way to switch off and dive into the world of Vikings. By Ndéla Faye | Photos: Viking Restaurant Harald
Founded in 1997, the company has restaurants in Helsinki, Turku, Lahti, Jyväskylä, Tampere, Kuopio and Oulu. Inspired by Nordic forests, lakes, air and earth, Viking Restaurant Harald’s menu offers interesting taste combinations served in an inimitable way: from tar ice cream to a selection of meats skewered on a sword, the restaurant puts a new spin on everything it does.
and the team is constantly developing the menu to come up with new ideas. “We’ve created a selection of the best tastes northern forests and lakes can offer, and we use good-quality ingredients and try to source our produce from local producers as much as possible,” says Raine Verho, development director and partner at Viking Restaurant Harald.
Titled Voyages, Viking Restaurant Harald’s menu takes customers on a culinary journey through time. The menu draws inspiration from Nordic food, and puts a fascinating twist on many traditional Scandinavian dishes. The restaurant prides itself on using fresh, seasonal Scandinavian and Finnish produce,
A Viking theme is reflected throughout the restaurant’s décor and menu down to the very last detail: animal pelts and cave drawings adorn the walls and cover the ceiling and the interior of the restaurant has been designed to look like a Viking village. In Helsinki, customers can even dine in a Viking boat.
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Getting into character
A Viking feast would not be complete without the full Viking costume: all kinds of props are at hand for diners who wish to fully immerse themselves in the Viking world. Ranging from animal pelts to horn helmets, every minute detail has been carefully considered to add to this unforgettable dining experience – and humorous limericks and Viking puns on the menus create a playful atmosphere. The Nordic theme does not stop at the décor and props: waiters are also dressed in full Viking costume. “Our staff members choose their own Viking name and come up with a backstory to