I saw Estonia at Komeet

There was a café in Tallinn which still sets an example for others. People remember only good things about it, but there is one problem. This café named Kultas does not exist for a long time already. So, what are the good things remembered of that café? It was a nice place where everybody loved to go, so it was always full of people. Life there was bubbling in a way never seen again in any other eatery.

Komeet (a strange name for a cafe, isn’t it?) is not Kultas. Similarly, life in the present-day Estonia should not be compared to the Estonia of the Kultas era. But it is also lively here. As lively as it can be. Because quite often you must queue up to get a free table.

What is here so especially good? Putting it quite frankly saying, nothing! What is there to complain about? Again, nothing comes to mind! Thus, this place does not deserve any attention at all? Far from it! Tallinn seems to have again one café that everybody likes. Starting from infants to those who walk less and less every day. The latter ones are especially picky about where they go.

Komeet is known as the café of Anni Arro. Anni herself (in the photo) can be seen in the café quite often. If you should use one word to describe her, the most appropriate word would be... natural!

Hop! The whole secret of the success of Komeet can be communicated with this one word.
All the rest of the staff is always natural. No matter if Anni herself is there or not. There is nothing special about the interior of the café, but it’s natural. And so forth.

Today every new eatery is planned based on the concept. When it’s ready and you walk in the door, you will face the concept. Rather, Komeet has no concept. And thank God!

When I have finished the portion seen in the photo, I quickly make a determined decision: I also like it here! And I will come back quite soon. The menu is not a long one, but all the portions are bigger than the ones we are used to today. One dish makes the whole lunch. In order to try everything, I must come here quite many times.

But then I close my eyes and imagine that I have been invited to a test. There are no visitors around me. This place has not been opened yet but is planned to be. And they are going to serve such food here. What would be my opinion?

Honestly, I would have suggested using that money in a more practical way. For something else than making this café. I would have told Anni Arro the same. Good she did not ask me.

At the moment, all eateries have very tough times. Estonians have always prepared very good food themselves at home. The reason for and the wish to eat out must be much stronger than Europeans on average have. Running an eatery is no longer a business, but a lifestyle. And one’s own style is one’s own style. You don’t usually ask advice on this as then it is no longer your own style.

Café Komeet is full of people. Here one can taste and see the present-day Estonia in its purest form. While walking in the door, you don’t see the concept and the menu does not show the business plan. But for enjoying that naturalness, you must be natural yourself. Otherwise the concept does not work.