The Cock

Food was good, service was not as attentionate as one could hope. We endded up extracting ourselves from the packed table to go get our drinks directly at the bar after failling to get someone to pay attention to us.
We were a fairly large group (with reservation) the table was so small the chairs so close to one another that we could hardly move. Music was very loud.

Found ‘The Cock’ through a food blogger. Was hoping to get their breakfast, but arrived a little too late. Ended up getting the lunch buffet, which was unlimited food including salad, protein, and soup. Food was good, but not blow your socks off. Local place filled with people on their lunch break.

VIsited over a windy late Fall weekend with a reservation. We were happy with the quality of food (rotisserie chicken and something else) but everything else was from intolerable to bad. The score is slightly weighted for the price.
The issues:
— Ambient noise in street level is horrible. Couldn’t converse with out yelling, making a contest with the table next, which we unfortunately lost.
— Cold and windy as in Siberia.
— Slow service (but friendly)

Overall our experience at this place was nice, but not overwhelming.
Atmosphere & style: ok, but not very special. Mix of different styles with some very nice elements, but overall somewhat impersonal.
Menu & Food: interesting range of dishes, huge portions, very fresh, tasty — probably 4 stars out of 5
Wines: great list of wines, but too expensive
Prices: Well, that’s Helsinki I guess.
Service: ok, but not impressive

Face it, just the name will attract a certain clientele! They didn’t name it Le Coq, as the French would but had the rooster on it and called it like it is.
Friends were in here the day before and had a good time, so a few of us headed there the next day. It was very crowded so we couldn’t get a table, although we only wanted drinks and this place is also a full fledged restaurant. The prices for drinks were the same as just about every other Helsinki watering hole, so no problem there. The bar staff were also very friendly.
There is a downstairs as well with a bar there but when we went down there as directte3d by the bartender upstairs, and after we found some seats, the waiter downstairs said that if we were just drinking then we couldn’t stay down there but had to go upstairs. Sounded pretty stupid. There was a bar there. We found seats. So that meant we couldn’t get served. Instead, we could go upstairs and not have a place to sit down and drink. Finnish logic?!
But on the way downstairs there are «cocks» painted on the wall and I think the Kelloggs company should have a look because he is the spitting image of the one on my Corn Flakes!

Had lunch upstairs and it was enjoyable. I had the lunch buffet and service was near over so the waitress told me to hurry and make a plate! I didn’t know how much it was but I felt 22 E for the lunch was a bit pricey. The soup was great but the other items were just fine, the chicken was tough.
The vibe is a weird mix of coffee shop and farmhouse pub. Worth a try.

Got there two weeks ago on a busy Friday night. Party of 8 with no reservation but got seated after 30 minutes. The décor was vibrant, their famous hot wings and jerk chicken were not overwhelmingly spicy but offered down home authenticity, comfort and there’s depth with every bite. Portions were big, accompanied by plentiful very fresh veggies. The ping pong table desserts were the best bang for the buck, offering variety but retained individual character and best that they are not sickeningly sweet. Great service completed the best dinner experience in Helsinki and sent us critical New Yorkers home very happy

We had the last meal of our Scandinavia trip here and it’s true what they say — save the best for last. We believe that the meal is only as good as the staff and boy was it impeccable! It was unforgettable experience from the food to the quirky décor and even made new friends! Menu highlights were the cock wings, flat bread, rotisserie chicken and leave some room for the dessert ping pong! This is place is a must!

A cool place in terms of atmosphere and design. The food was good, unfortunately the otherwise friendly staff wasn’t up to par. We had to ask for more drinks twice and sat with finished plates in front of us for half an hour, getting the check also took quite some time. Hope this gets sorted out as the place is otherwise really nice!

The cock at least has a memorable name and perhaps they see themselves more as a fun place to go to rather than a good one. It think they are aiming for a relaxed feel and the type of place that serves good food and wine at reasonable prices and that should be fun to visit. They only make it partly there.
First off the service is perhaps friendly but slow and knowledge does not impress. We had to wait 15 minutes for menus despite making it clear to staff we were looking for some attention. The lack of attention and speed was there all night. One person in the group also got their starter 10 minutes later without any explanation or excuse.
I have seen one other mention of the wine glasses and I can only agree but also add to it. The champagne is served in tiny (my estimate 7 – 8 cl glasses) that are thick and clunky. First off not nice glasses to drink from and second I would feel ripped off if ordering a glass (and not a bottle). The red wine was served from tumbler glasses (same as the water), we complained and then actually got proper (still bad ones though) wine glasses and an explanation that it is their concept to have fun and quirky glasses — problem here is that the glasses are not at all fun or quirky they are just not fit for purpose. The staff also seemed to lack all knowledge and/​or interest to provide any information on the wines. That said the champagnes are good (Mathieu and Rodez at good prices) and the other wines are at least affordable (think I saw one bottle over € 100 and most glasses around € 7).
Food was a bit of a mixed bag, the starters were large. In some cases more like mid-​sized dishes than starters but not very impressive. The tartar lacked all flavor (does not need to be spiced but then meat should have some flavor), the arancini the same while the flat bread was good. The mains we’re substantially better, chicken was very nice and fresh spices. The steak frites was well made and prepared as requested. Enough food and decent prices. The dessert set-​up is stranger as they only offer a buffet and being a buffet hater I passed on that.
So for this does perhaps not sound like a good place but to balance it they have created a nice atmosphere and it is rather casual and at good prices. Many will probably appreciate the uncomplicated cuisine and the large portions so if going there with the right expectations (and patience with the slow service) then it should not disappoint terribly.

Yes — a great new spot in Helsinki.
Demonstrates that casual top quality dining culture has arrived.
Serving wholesome handmade food with an eye to freshness and relaxed eating.
Nice corner location. Excellent friendly staff. And a menu that has enough variety for every meal.
Had the wings and solid salmon flatbread salad.
Only criticism is both were a bit overly sweet and sauced for my taste.
Returned to have the experienced upped. Cock service is subtle. There’s no hovering but there is a definite level of attentiveness that demonstrates they are on their game.
Excellent oysters, fried broccoli (tad oily), tartare is firm not fatty (perhaps a bit too cold) but save room for dessert. basically a table where it’s a buffet with a tasty selection of cakes and other baked goods. Take your pick, as much as you like, beat that!
Whatever channel they get the music from is spot on.
Patrons are not tourists but lively locals that live well.
Whatever your persuasion, its likely that you will enjoy some Cock.

I do love the ambiance here (except for the LOUD music downstairs), but the food wasn’t very good.
I had the Caesar starter salad. The menu mentioned it would be made with kale and quinoa, as well as avocado and Parmesan cheese. Instead of kale and quinoa, it was regular romaine lettuce. Overall the salad was okay, but I was disappointed by the change of ingredients.
I ordered the «cock wings» as my main, which is listed as a «board» on the menu. I still don’t know what a «board» is.
The wings were hot and crispy on the outside, with a slight sweet and sour taste! They were served on top of the accompanied yogurt-​based sauce, which I didn’t like because some wings were drenched and others didn’t get any sauce at all. The sauce could be improved upon — perhaps with some blue cheese?
Lastly, wine is served in short tumbler-​esque glasses, which is totally not appropriate.

Still sitting here… Unfortunately my first and last time. Had high hopes ’cause I love Richard’s (the Guy behind this place and Sandro etc.) food but I was really disappointed. ³⁄₆ of my oysters had broken shell bits in the, so I was still rinsing my mouth when our mains came.
I had jerked chicken with chimichurri. Chimichurri was finished with just one frie, and I was left with a dry half of a poulet.
I love Sandro. I’ve eaten there almost too much, so I’m almos crying now ’cause of my expectations came crashing down. At least the young waitress realized what happened and offered the dessert cake table. But I don’t like cake. Thank heavens she forgot we had shampagne ;)
In conclusion, I really can’t recommend this place for anything else than the occasional pasta.
I prob won’t come again, but you’ll find me next door: from Hodari ja Hummeri («Hot Dog and Lobster»).

Excellent dinner and breakfast. A huge plus that they open already at 7.30 on weekdays. I recommend Steak Frites and Kale Caesar salad for dinner and the avocado toast and chia-​coconut porridge for breakfast.