Although located about 60 kms from Tallinn (a good 45 minutes drive), Ööbiku Gastronoomiatalu is definitely worth the time and effort of getting there. A pop-up restaurant, opened on 2013, is operating in a rustic farm and has swiftly earned their place in Estonian TOP50 restaurant list.
Chef Ants Uustalu is serving modern Estonian food, that pleases all your senses. A fine 5-course dinner, based on the locally grown ingredients, is served from Wed to Sat at 19.00 and Sun at 15.00. Booking is strongly recommended.
We had a pre-booked private birthday party there with about 20 people attending. We arrived around 15.00 and took some time to look around and get acquainted. Kids run around the farm and were delighed to discover the domesticated 6-head wild boar gang living some 50 meters from the restaurant.
We started with smoked carp with cucumber and edible flowers. The entree was followed by a mix of grilled vegetables and home-made lamb cheese. The third course was a 8-hour chicken consommé with dried tomatoes and pesto. The fourth course was a 12-hour slow cooked wild boar (from the same gang) with oven-cooked carrots and potatoes. The dessert consisted of home made duck-egg ice cream with blueberries and rye foam. The feast was nailed with some fresh coffee and home made plum liquor.
The meals were served by the chef himself and accompanied with the details about ingredients and cooking techniques.
If your are looking for authentic modern Estonian food, then forget about the Old Town tourist traps and visit Ööbiku Gastronoomiatalu.