Motel Marine

The food was so good when my family and I stopped in for a quick dinner with the kids this summer that we came back. We then stayed at the motel for two nights. The hostess at reception and the bar, dark-haired and apparently working now, is amazing at looking after all kinds of guests. Please take good care of her. Thank you!

Whenever I visit Ekenäs, this is where I stay. The rooms have a vintage feel and cover the basics, and the food is 6/5. I’d pick it over any restaurant in Helsinki!

The location is good, and the staff are very friendly. But the beds are tiny, and the towels were really rough. Mine wasn’t changed in four days, even after I left it in a corner on the floor. Breakfast needs more options too.

The staff were great, and my bill was about 54 euro for two courses and tea. I’m only reviewing the food at Restaurant Marine here, since hotel reviews seem to be dragging down the restaurant’s rating. The food’s taste and quality were outstanding, so five stars. I tried the ox tenderloin steak too. It was one of the five most tender cuts of bovine I’ve had, with an exceptional bell pepper sauce on top. For my main, I had the pan-fried salmon. I cook salmon at home often, and this was probably the best I’ve had. The flesh was soft and juicy, though I’d have liked the skin a little crispier. The lime served alongside it took away from the perfectly cooked fish. The plate was generous, packed with vegetables and a baked potato stuffed with shrimp. The vegetables were full of flavor, and the shrimp in the potato was a great extra with the salmon. I started with ox tataki, seared ox tenderloin, rare inside, a bit like ahi tuna with a quick sear. It had a unique flavor I’d never had from bovine before. There were several sauces; mustard mayo and balsamic vinegar were my favorites. I did wish there’d been more meat, as I got two thin slices while my colleague got three, but it was still worth it. I thought about going back for a second meal over the next few days, but work got in the way and I missed the chance. If you’ve only got time for one restaurant, I’d recommend this one.