Take a Nordic Vacation at Mikko

If you ever dined with the Finnish Ambassador prior to 2013, chances are you’ve already gotten to enjoy some of Chef Mikko’s creations. For those of you not so lucky, you’re now in luck with the recent opening of Mikko – an authentic Nordic eatery on 16th and R. It’s still in soft open mode until they get their liquor license approved and their outdoor seating finalized. But even without those perks, Mikko is something special.

The menu has a little something for everyone – and for any time of day. You can start your day off with a coffee and an authentic Finnish cinnamon roll or cardamom bun, ease into lunch with some Danish smørrebrød (open faced sandwiches with any number of toppings), and cruise into dinner with some heartier entree options. We got to go for lunch and chat with Chef Mikko himself. A sampling of our Nordic culinary journey is below:

The soup of the day was a chilled tomato-based soup that had hints of cantaloupe and dill. Perfect for those hot, DC summers.

Then we began our smørrebrød adventure, starting with the herring which came with egg, tomato, and a sweet mustard sauce on a whole grain round bread

The smoked salmon smørrebrød, which was smoked in house by Chef Mikko himself

Roast beef smørrebrød on a whole wheat bread with a dill potato salad as the base

Last but not least the three cheese smørrebrød with two types of cheddar, brie, and whipped bleu on a sourdough slice

It’s important to note that Chef Mikko makes all of his breads and pastries in house (the whole place has the smells to prove it). We had probably the best rye bread we’ve ever had. There are also a number of imported Nordic treats and other homemade goods (like crackers, etc.) from Chef Mikko.