Post date: Sep 11, 2012 11:35:58 AM
The world's first 'pop-down' restaurant opens in a mine 80 metres below ground.
LOHJA, FINLAND (SEPTEMBER 10, 2012)(REUTERS) - Guests literally descended on a newly opened restaurant near Helsinki where the meal - prepared by an award-winning Finnish chef - is served 80 metres below ground.
The restaurant - 'Muru Pops Down in Tytyri' - is located in a limestone mine.
During the evening guests can go as far down as 350 metres to an underground cave by using elevator manufacturer Kone's test laboratory lifts.
Ritva Seppanen, head of Kone branding, said the mine restaurant turns the 'pop-up' trend in the restaurant world upside down.
"For the last couple of years pop-up restaurants have been really popular, so kind of restaurants that literally pop up for a week or month or so in an unusual place, and we Finnish people like to things a little bit differently, so we thought 'hey we have to call it pop down restaurant' because we are literally coming down under ground, so it's a play on words," she said.
Timo 'Lintsi' Linnamaki, an award-winning Finnish chef who normally runs Muru, a restaurant in Helsinki, has been put in charge of the menu, which he says was inspired by its location.
"The main theme with the menu was actually element earth, because we are here 80 metres under the ground and how we started to plan was like I came here down to the mine and sat down and stared to think what inspires me with the element earth," he said.
The guests were attracted both by the mining experience and Muru's reputation.
"My first thought was that I have to be part of this experience of course, I had never heard of something like this and of course this is a really unique thing, maybe a once in a lifetime experience," said Anna Konsti, who came to try the new restaurant experience with her friends.
Timo Karhapaa had planned the visit as a surprise for his wife, who is a big fan of Muru.
"I know that she is very fond of Restaurant Muru in Helsinki but never visited that, and once I heard this opportunity, this great opportunity 'pop-down' restaurant I wanted to surprise her yes, but I revealed this surprise before we came here," he said.
An evening at 'Muru Pops Down in Tytyri' will set you back 128 euros per person. The price includes a four-course meal, drinks and also bus transportation to and from Helsinki city centre.
Guests will have the opportunity to dine in the 64-seat restaurant until September 24.