We knew how to prepare for “surprises”, but we were still surprised when we encountered Linnanmäki’s Hurlumhei, writes Iltalehti’s food editor Eeva Paljakka.
The roller coaster and carousels are Linnanmäki’s iconic devices. PEKKA KARHUNEN
We went to Linnanmäki. Everyone had a good time at the amusement park, and none of our group of two adults and four children fussed.
But then we got hungry and decided to eat at Hurlumhei.
A buffet table is available at Hurlumhei (Note those who have been on a cruise, this is something else you are used to at sea). The red thread of the food is the hamburger. And specifically pink or green or orange thread, because someone in their fun has invented that unnaturally colored food is eaten in the amusement park.
I still understand the dyed bun and the aioli. It’s my own boredom if I prefer plain colored food.
A bag of rolls has just been brought to the table. Eeva Paljakka
If only there was enough food. Even though the restaurant was only half full, there was always a line in front of the takeout table. A line that was going nowhere because there was food waiting. First I ran out of watermelons, then I took the last roll from the child who was queuing behind me, there were still enough steaks, but when it came to fried potatoes, the trip was boring again.
In between, you have to wonder about the order of the dishes. Why are the ingredients that go between the Burger first, and not the bun? What are rice and chicken doing in the middle of hamburger toppings? The buffet was a little bit of everything, and not really anything.
Tofu on the left, ground beef patties on the right. Eeva Paljakka
We sat close enough to the buffet table that I could follow the situation. No one got through the takeout table without waiting. Food was brought – eventually.
I don’t want to know what the restaurant looks like during rush hour.
How is it possible that the offers are always at the end? Why doesn’t the staff anticipate? Instead, the empty container is taken away and it takes a while before a full one is brought in instead. This is repeated all the time for each dish. The queue is not moving, but growing.
Why can’t you put several packages of food in the warming cabinet at a time? The amateur thinks that the problem would be easily solved.
The situation could be understood if there was only one waiter or if the activity had just started, but no.
It’s the end of July and there are plenty of staff.
It would be easiest to blame young workers. But I don’t think the Hurlumhei restaurant tripped over its seasonal employees. So why does it work in fast food restaurants, even though most of the employees are young?
Could the reason be rather in the organization? In the instructions? In management?
Linnanmäki’s restaurants have the same situation as airports: the customer chooses from a small and overpriced selection.
The color theme continued in the sauces. Eeva Paljakka
It seems to mean that you don’t have to try your best when even a bad guy does his business. Is this what you want to offer in one of Helsinki’s most popular tourist destinations? There are plenty of tourists on Linnanmäki.
I was very happy when I noticed that at Hurlumhei, customers do not clean their own dirty plates in the serving carts, but the staff collects them from the tables. On the way to the bathroom, I noticed that almost all free tables had dirty dishes uncollected.
A big thank you for the staff being friendly and smiling. And to the customers who were friendly and smiling. Maybe Linnanmäki has some magic, because it seems to allow things that are complained about elsewhere.
At home, I read how Linnanmäki’s bulletin describes the concept of the restaurant: “In a crazy restaurant, many things are just a weak gig, starting with the amusement park treat offering”.