It is not always easy to judge a restaurant, especially when the various sectors that contribute to establish the level and value of a local's performance are very different. But let's go step by step. In the last days of our vacation in Tallinn, we wanted to try this Italian restaurant, on the one hand because of its beautiful name "controvento" (against the wind), on the other hand because it is located in one of the historical passages of the old city within the walls, St. Catherine's Passage. After a nice afternoon strolling on the beautiful beaches of Tallinn, we phoned to reserve 2 places. On the phone we were told that the place would be closed soon (19:30) for an unspecified technical problem. Since we would have gone into town anyway, we decided to go to the restaurant to see for ourselves if it was true because the reason given seemed unusual. When we arrived at 8 o'clock the restaurant was open and with a free table right in the beautiful St. Catherine's Passage. We asked to eat and the same person who had spoken on the phone saying that they would close in a few minutes, gave us the free table. When she brought out the menus, she informed us that due to technical problems in the kitchen (unspecified) they would be able to serve only pizza, pasta and cold appetizers. Good for us because that's exactly what we wanted to try tonight. But then why not say so on the phone that we could eat in the restaurant? Why lie? This is a very serious matter in my opinion, and it would be enough to disqualify the restaurant and rate it only one star. We dined with a pizza with truffle and honey (very good), rigatoni cacio e pepe (average, too much cream, too much pepper and the flavors are messy) and a Burrata with fresh tomatoes and basil (very good, fresh and also fresh basil and tomatoes). We drank two beers typical of the area, served at a perfect temperature (it was still 25 degrees at 8pm) very good. It was 8:20 and still people were asking to sit down and eat. But the staff (3 waiters) kept trying to send away customers who wanted to eat. At least 8 People, that calculating 20 euros per person, would have spent at least 160 euros. If I were the owner of this restaurant I would go crazy. At one point a couple sat at a free table next to our table. All the staff simply ignored them for almost 10 minutes, not even given them a look. I was almost in physical pain and could not accept this treatment. As soon as our waitress asked us if we wanted dessert I asked her "this couple has been sitting for 10 minutes, why are you ignoring them?" The waitress looked at me holding her breath but internally panicking, babbling "I didn't see them". After a minute she came up with the menu at the table of the couple ignored so far explaining that they had a problem in the kitchen and could not offer either fish or meat. The couple perhaps for the little offer, but perhaps also for the treatment suffered got up and left. I asked for the bill and when the waitress brought the bill, I asked her if she was the owner, (she was no, the owner is an old Estonian lady she said), I asked her who founded the place, its history and she lit up with a new light in he face and explain with aliveness and smile the story of this restaurant, included that since 30 years they have the same recepy. She was like oneother person. As mentioned the location of the place is great, the food (what we tried was not bad) but the mind set of the three waiters is impossible to accept. There is a bad atmosphere, that I had already noticed this in the previous days passing by the place. It seems that the staff is disturbed by every customer who comes. Maybe it depends on the days (today they had so many problems) or maybe no one has ever told them. Maybe the problem is that this place does not have a manager. In any case for their attitude tonight, even one star would be to much, but I want to give an encouraging evaluation, with the hope that the staff will read this review and will benefit from it.

An Italian restaurant in a gorgeous valley in heart of old town. The filet mignon steak was exceptional, one of the best steaks I even had! So tender and delicious. The Italian pizza followed the original Italian recipes, crispy and delicious, with not too much cheese. The prices are on the high side but not too much, the place also gets a little crowded so you might have to wait for a few minutes for a table. The only bad thing was that the waiter was not friendly or professional. You expect a trained waiter in such restaurant joints.

Good old Controvento - it could possibly be the oldest Italian restoran in Tallinn? I remember going there in 2000s, and now we've sort of rediscovered it. Their new/summer menu has risotto with stewed turnip stems and prawns, which is a delicate, mild, fresh-tasting affair, rec from me, for sure.

Restoran Controvento is a wonderful Italian restaurant located inside the Old City of Tallinn, Estonia. I visited here a little while ago and I am happy I did…Estonian-Italian food is really good! They definitely do a really nice job, much better than most Italian restaurants in the US, and it’s much more authentic to what you’d expect in Italy here. This place is located off a quiet alley away from the main areas of the Old Town, so if you’re looking for a more peaceful place to have your meal, this is perfect. When I went, I had great service and the food came out pretty quickly - I got the beef carpaccio appetizer, liguria pizza (basically a seafood pizza), and a tiramisu for dessert. The beef carpaccio was fresh, flavorful, and very good, seafood pizza was also very nice, and tiramisu was excellent! You could tell it was a homemade tiramisu, unlike other places which might take the easy way out and just get it from a supplier. All in all, very nice Italian restaurant, and we will be back next time we visit Tallinn!

My local friends told me this is the oldest Italian restaurant around Tallinn. Their Burrata was excellent! Service was very good. Pizza I took was also good, but I leave one star off as I’ve experienced better ones elsewhere (outside Estonia though). Well worth a visit in this beautiful part of the city.

Over long long time, I revisited the legendary spot of little Italy in Tallinn and it did not disappoint. We were not the easiest group to handle and it wasn't our first rodeo. However in the end, when all Italian heat was relieved and fresh drinks in our hands delivered - we got excellent services and all requests fulfilled. Food - I may even claim that it has gone to better - authentic and pure taste, no hocus-pocus, honest food from good produce, the way you should want it and the way I definitely like it most 👌🏻 All courses we had were very tasty, long menu, even longer wine-list, which we much appreciate. If l’d become regular in some place, Controvento would it be! Really good experience 🤩 👌🏻

Great lunch spot. Delicious food and fun to watch tour groups go by speaking different languages.

The burrata and fillet mignon were good, the seafood pizza and tiramisu were ok. They also offer a good wine selection. I found the dishes to be somewhat overpriced, given the portion sizes. Otherwise, not bad at all.

Deitti-ilta italialaisessa ravintolassa. Tunnelmaan vaikutti oman mokan vuoksi huono pöytä. Varatessa mies ei älynnyt pyytää pöytää yläkerrasta, joten jouduimme WC käytävälle. Hölömö ukko. Söimme siis kolme ruokalajia. Alkupalat jättiravut ja bruchetta olivat erittäin hyvät. Pääruoat perinteisiä lasagne ja caccio y Pepe, eli pastaa molemmilla. Viiniä tilatessamme tarjoilija ei lähtenyt esittämään kalleimpia viinejä vaan kuunteli toiveita ja ehdotti hänen mielestään ruokaan sopivia toiveidemme mukaisia viinejä ISO PLUSSA! Tärkeä tieto teille ystävät annoskoot ovat vähintään riittävät. Caccio y pepe melkein kuin kotona Roomassa ja lasagne oli tähän tylsään suomalaiseen makuuni hitusen outo (ei valkokastiketta) mutta todella hyvän makuinen. Jälkkärit eivät meinanneet mahtua enää farkkuihin, söimme ne silti. :) Palvelusta sen verran, että tällaista ammattitaitoa saat etsiä. Controvento pitää pintansa vuodesta toiseen. Iso kiitos heille!

Great restaurant, hidden and quiet alley of an old Town. Tasty food. Pricing is good 91 euros for 5 people for lunch + 3 drinks and water. Great value and the vibe. Gonna be back.

We searched the city for Italian food since my son loves pasta. We chose Restoran Controvento because the reviews were great and it’s on one of the coolest historical streets in the city. WOW was this place great. The place itself is so cute inside, with centuries old beams in the ceiling, cute tiled tables, etc. Service was great and as for the food, it was some of the best Italian food we’ve had in a very long time. The carpaccio was fantastic, as was the burrata. And the pasta and gnocchi were truly amazing. This place clearly knows what they are doing when it comes to great Italian eats. 2 thumbs way up and 5 BIG stars!

The placement is nice and the servers are well-dressed which is a thing you appreciate in a restaurant. I wanted to order the truffle pasta but it was not available, which upset me a bit. We had the truffle tortelloni and carbonara. The tortelloni are served on a huge plate and it looks a bit empty? To me it felt like you don't get a full meal. The carbonara looked more appetizing in the way it was served. The food was good, but nothing special. Still, it is a good portion of food. We also ordered two cappuccinos which were tasty. To me the bathroom was a bit to small and dark. It didn't match the vibe of the place, and queues formed quite fast. In general, it is not a bad place for eating out.

have always loved this place and it is amazing how all through the years they manage to keep the high level of food as well as a cosy and friendly atmosphere and good service. The summer terrace is especially nice.

We are coming to Tallinn just because of this restaurant. It became a tradition for us. Food and service 10/10. Worth every penny!

Ciao tutti✨🫶🏻✨All here is outstanding exellent. Returing always time after time. Heaven ✨👌🏻✨ Been in Italy manyyyyyyy times and this food just brings me there in no time! ❤️

The pasta was very good - only one way to find out. Go visit them!

Really nice restaurant with blazing fast service. A real Italian restaurant with Italian service. The pizza Alba and the spaghetti Bolognese were good balanced in flavour.

Tunnelmallinen sisustus mutta tilat sen verran pienet, että muiden pöytien äänet kantautuvat omaan pöytään. Kun saavuimme, meitä ei ohjattu suoraan pöytään vaan osoitettiin sormella, että ”tuolla se on”. Pöytämme sijaitsi suoraan wc-tilojen vieressä ja oli inhottavaa kun moni jätti wc:n oven auki. Ruoka oli melko tavallista, ei suurempia makuelämyksiä mutta hyvää. Talon viini omaan makuun liian makeaa vaikka tilasin kuivan viinin.

Olimme illallisella viiden hengen porukalla. Söimme pitkän kaavan mukaan, alkupalat, pääruoka + jälkiruoka. Tilasimme useampia erilaisia antipasto-annoksia jotka jaoimme porukan kesken, ja ne olivat todella maistuvia. Pääruuaksi valitsin pinaatti-gorgonzola risottoa, joka oli omaan makuuni aivan liian suolaista. Muut söivät mm. pizzaa, jotka olivat ilmeisesti oikein hyvät. Jälkiruoka gelato oli oikein hyvää. Tunnelma ravintolassa oli miellyttävä ja palvelu toimivaa.

Nopea ja hyvä palvelu jälleen kerran. Ruokakin oli erittäin maistuvaa. Helppo suositella kaikille ja itse palaan varmasti seuraavilla reissuilla.

Mentiin aika myöhään eikä ollut pöytävarausta, mutta ravintolassa oli kyllä tilaa. Pöytiin ohjaamisen jälkeen jouduttiin odottamaan kauan ruokalistoja ja tarjoilijat vaikuttivat epäystävällisiltä. Lopulta meitä palvellut tarjoilija oli ihan ok. Bruchetat ja pitsat ihan hyviä, mutta kovin suolaisia ja parempiakin saa monista paikoista. En menisi uudestaan.

An Italian restaurant in Tallinn that hasn't lost its quality over the years. Very tasty food, great wine selection and good service.

Excellent food! We visited Controvento for our second time and are still amazed by how good the food is! Just so you know, we came to celebrate new years eve in Tallinn just because it meant that we could eat at Controvento again. Our waitress Christi (hope I spelled her name correctly), did an amazing job! :)

Very good pizza & pasta, low prices and large portions. This and also the cosy atmosphere would definitely make you want to come back.

Polite and good service, excellent cocktails and the food was soooo tasty. Definitely recommending this place!

Service and food are exceptionally good but you definitely need a booking to get a table.

One of the best pizzas in Tallinn ( there is only Gianni who is doing super pizza as well). Super pasta and more in this lovely restoraunt. Controvento? Yes!

An Italian pearl in the heart of Old Tallinn. If you enjoy authentic Italian food and wine from the sunny fields in Italy, you won't be disappointed here. A five-star experience, to say the least.

Probably the best italian restaurant in Tallinn. Beautifull atmosphere by a small walking passage, amazing staff and the food is italian cuisine as it's best. Especially the appetizers and pasta was phenomenal.

This restaurant is known to be the oldest Italian one in Tallinn and it is located in a small street between old town ruins, making it very aesthetic and cozy. The staff is very welcoming and respectful towards the Covid-regulations. Also they are super attentive to their clients. We had bruschetta in the beginning, then pizza, and it was really tasty and done in an actual pizza oven! Also the drinks were amazing!

All I can say is WOW!! The best tasting pasta I've had outside Italy. An amazing restaurant. Staff were professional and polite, the decor is stunning and don't get me started on the wine menu which is great. Amazing value for some great food. I highly recommend 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

We decided to try this place because it was so cozy, and we didn’t regret. Nice service and value.

Very cozy and nice place! The freshest bread, tasty salad with prawns!

Highly recommended! Cozy place with delicious food and excellent staff!

Amazing Italian restaurant with great pizzas and a fantastic wine list. Very polite and helpful servers. The desserts were amazing and the prices were very reasonable. Will definitely return!!