Restaurant Review: Pantry Vallila
The one and only lunch from now on
It is going to be difficult to do restaurant reviews in the future. I have found the perfect lunch place and the only reason to go elsewhere is if I miss the time window for their lunch time. Ever since I started working full time, I have had lunch benefit. I have tried countless lunch places, but none of them come close to the price-to-quality ratio that you get from the Pantry Vallila. Their other location in Ruoholahti is slightly inferior to Vallila's one too. But enough blind glazing. It is time to go over the actual reasons why this place is so great!
1. The Food
The main thing that you go to get from a restaurant is obviously the food. Pantry has only three options per day, but they are enough to satisfy most palates. They have one of each:
- Vegan,
- Fish of the day
- Meat of the day.
If you have no limitations or prejudice, you are bound to find one of the three suitable. If the meat of the day is not to your liking, you can try the fish or vegan option. I have found myself picking the fish of the day a few times, as I don't cook it myself that often at home.
2. The Salad table is straight from the garden of Eden
The Salad table is the best I have seen. If not for the lack of heavy protein sources, one could likely fill those shelves just from the salad table alone every day. Pantry has perfected the variety of their salad table so well, that I always take a full bowl. I feel reluctant to go wait in line for the meal if the time is busy, as I just want to eat the salad. It is also pleasing to the eye as the colorful array jumps to you from the bowl.
3. Three option system with solid preparation keeps the cost low
Pantry keeps the price of lunch at 14€, which is the limit that Finnish lunch benefit has per purchase. This more or less puts a soft cap on lunch pricing, although some premium places might try to differentiate themselves with higher pricing. Pantry does this by planning the meals in such way that they can prepare large part of the meals in advance, and finish them off when ordered. This is the likely reason for the three option system. I don't mind the "lack" of options at all, as it makes choosing easier and keeps the cost low. One might think that the food is lower quality, if it is prepared to a degree before you even order, but the dishes are chosen with this in mind.
4. Coffee, bread and candy???
It would not be a Finnish lunch place without coffee and bread included. The bread is soft, fluffy and has the perfect amount of salt. There are a few options to put on top, like hummus and butter, but I like it as it is too!
One surprising thing I found out on a Friday was that there was trays full of pick & mix candy on the coffee counter. Usually there is some baked goods. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one.
Ratings
Food: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Tip of the day:
Try the fish!