The Italian restaurant Olivia opened at Helsinki Central Station

Behind the bar counter is an ornate arch and original clock. There are also a few nearly hundred-year-old chairs from the original flag hall. Anniina Nissinen

Today, one of Finland ‘s most protected buildings, ie Eliel Saarisen The Italian restaurant Olivia opens at Helsinki Central Station, designed by Helsinki. More specifically, the restaurant is in the old ticket office.

The renovation has been done together with the National Board of Antiquities.

Originally, the space was designed for restaurant use, as it housed a waiting and dining hall for 2nd and 3rd class passengers. In 1958, ticket sales began in the space and at the same time restaurant operations ceased.

Olivia is part of a Norwegian restaurant chain that has restaurants in Sweden in addition to Norway. Olivia is now opening her first restaurant in Finland, but the next restaurant is already under construction and coming to Kluuvikatu in Helsinki.

CEO of Olivia Restaurants Fredrik Remmen according to it, delicious Italian food is served without punching. He emphasizes the freshness of the ingredients many times, nothing is done about frozen foods.

The food is prepared from the start itself, and the idea is for staff to travel to Italy regularly to learn. Restaurants also import raw materials directly from Italy, such as Murgella’s award-winning burrata and Finocchiona salami.

Of course, pizza is also available, but Helsinki will no longer have a new place to offer Neapolitan pizza, and Olivia’s oven will bake Roman pizza. Its base is thinner and more crisp than the Neapolitan.

The pizzas are baked on the side of the restaurant hall in a 14-pizza stone oven imported from Italy.

Olivia Railway Station is inspired by Milan in northern Italy. The city appears in both the interior and the menu.

There are several classic Milanese dishes available, such as Antipasto Lombardo with Lombardy appetizers, Ossobuco con risotto Milanese with saffron risotto, slow-cooked veal and gremola, and Gelato alla stracciatella with bergamot vanilla ice cream.

Remme states that although the menu is traditional Italian with antipasto, Primi with pies and seconde (starter, pasta & risotto and main course), there is no need to follow it. The portion size is so large that the diner only eats pasta and is still full.

Prices for pastas are between 15-29 euros, the average price for pizzas is 16-17 euros. Main courses cost 22-32 euros.

Loyalty to Italian ingredients is also evident in the drinks, as the wines are from Italy and the cocktail selection is booty classics.