We had dinner here on our last night in Lapland before heading to Kitilla airport, it was fantastic.
Prices were ok for the area (nothing is cheap this far north) and the food was exceptional. We had the wild boar buns and pasta aurora with reindeer fillet, both dishes were great.
Friendly staff and a beautiful location enhanced by lovely decor.
Really enjoyed our stay at Aurora Estate. The two owners were so friendly and eager to please guests. Rooms were modern with chic design. Restaurant served excellent quality food and yet was relaxed. Transfers arranged to the airport were brilliant. Owners gave us lots of excellent advice about the ski resort and organised ski hire for us. Loads of cross country skiing, including on an amazing frozen lake! Children really loved Atlas the owners dog! Highly recommended.
I booked a new years eve meal for 7 people, 10 weeks in advance. It looked really nice and boasted of its luxuriousness and quality.
It was a huge disappointment.
Although it was a beautiful building and nicely decorated, the tables and chairs were so closely packed together that the guests and servers had to climb over people's legs, chairs and tables all night.
The menu was given out on just a blank piece of a4 paper as a list. This would've been ok, but they didn't have one of the only four main courses on offer. They only told us this after we had tried to order this dish.
Next, we ordered 3 of the same starters. When it was served, an hour later, they only brought 2. They said they'd run out of ingrediants and gave us an alternative starter without consulting us.
At this point, a guest brought a very beautiful husky puppy into the restaurant, sat it on his lap and fed him from his plate. The servers constantly petted and played with this puppy and then returned directly to handling our food. No hand washing involved.
Perhaps this is just something I don't understand as a Brit?
Another hour and twenty minutes before the main course arrived...
We ordered 4 steaks and 3 other main meals. The three other meals came out together, and one of the steaks 5 minutes later. That steak dish was freezing cold; the steak, herb butter, pea purée, parsnip purée and potato rosti, everything was cold. I sent it back and it was reheated, which I of cotrse refused again and ended up not eating at all.
The other 3 steaks came another 10 minutes later and were all missing the parsnip purée as they'd again, run out. And again, they were cold and left uneaten.
We had to leave at this point as it was now 11.40 and we were attending fireworks at midnight. So no desert or coffee.
Despite our complaints throughout the night the manager still wanted to charge us just under 400euros (albeit a 100euro bottle of champagne was included)
Verve was the only champagne they sold at the restaurant but it was quite funny to see this wasn't the champagne being served as part of the new years eve menu.
The chef did say that a member of the kitchen staff had phoned in sick, but they were being replaced with her boyfriend...so not to worry.
Needless to say, we won't be going back. Nor did we pay for any of the food, but still ended up paying 160euros for the drinks.
It's a shame this restaurant was not able to live up to its own hype.
We came and visited the Estate in December with friends and the experience was mindblowing!
First of all, the hotel was luxorious in a practical way: the nordic design was beautiful and practical and even the smallest details were taken into consideration. The beautiful and clean rooms are designed from a customer's point of view - and it really works!
Second , the location was superb ! Even as a regular traveller to the north it felt magical to see the Northern Lights from my window. So cool.
Third, the craftmanship includes everything from the food to customer service. Food was amazing and the girls (owners) seem to know all the right people - husky rides, snowmobile rides or cross country skiiing, they will make it work. I really enjoyed the time spent with Atlas the Malamute.
For me, the warm atmosphere and the Lappish hospitality was the thing that made my stay extraordinary! It is rare to feel like this in a hotel - the small size makes you feel welcomed and you get the best and most customized service in town with the best accessorizes! Me likes !
The restaurant is using local indegriedents with some personal twist. The food is best in town! The staff, location and athmosphere were all friendly. We had even live music on. I can highly recommend Aurora Estate both for food and accomodation!
