Sven Streich
Google
We recently visited HOOV in Tallinn and chose their 5-course degustation menu (70€), which offered a carefully curated journey through creative and modern flavors. Here's how each course landed for me:
1. Beef Tartare - 10/10
An absolute standout. The beef was beautifully balanced with spicy salsa, marinated mustard seeds, shimeji mushrooms, leek aioli, pickled pearl onions, capers, trout roe, and toasted bread. The textures and flavor combinations were spot on. Easily one of the best tartares I’ve had.
2. Salmon Ceviche - 4/10
This one wasn’t quite my thing. I tend to be picky with fish, and it has to be something exceptional for me to enjoy it. While the components were fresh and well-balanced - radish, fennel, carrot, blood orange, cucumber juice, trout roe, coriander, and olive oil - it just didn’t do it for me. Fish lovers might feel differently.
3. Halibut - 5/10
Same story here. Nicely cooked and plated with thoughtful ingredients like potato cream, apple, cone cabbage, calamansi sauce, trout roe, nori crumble, and leek oil. But as someone who’s lukewarm on seafood, it didn’t win me over. Still, it’s clear a lot of care went into the dish.
4. Beef - 8/10
Rich, flavorful, and satisfying. The beef was paired with fondant potato, a blackcurrant and red wine sauce, wild garlic, and spicy pak choi. A solid main with great balance.
5. Strawberries and Pepper - 10/10
This dessert was a showstopper. Sichuan pepper, vanilla cream, peppermint, sesame, and hazelnut praline came together in a bold but harmonious way. Sweet, spicy, creamy, and crunchy - a perfect finish.
Overall:
HOOV offers a stylish and thoughtful tasting menu that clearly reflects skill and creativity in the kitchen. While the seafood courses didn’t quite match my personal taste (fish just isn’t my go-to), the quality and attention to detail were obvious throughout. If you're into modern Estonian cuisine with a twist, this place is well worth a visit.
