A few years back, I told myself that if I ever find myself in Copenhagen, I was to make it to at…read moreleast one of Christian Puglisi's restaurants. Noma was almost entirely out of question (getting a reservation here is tougher than winning the lottery, or at least, seemingly so). Relæ was closed on Sunday's and Monday's. So, we went with Manfreds--sister restaurant of Relæ, opened everyday of the week from 12noon to 10p.
We had a reservation at 6p on a Sunday for a group of 6, and we opted to sit outside at the shared sidewalk tables. All of us went with the Chef's Choice (7 small dishes for sharing) and we split a Size M Manfreds Tartare.
Staying true to their motto: "Manfreds - (probably) the world's only veggie-focused restaurant famous for its raw meat," the Chef's Choice largely focused on seasonable vegetables and ingredients, with a few meat and fish dishes thrown in. Most of us are meat lovers, but each dish was a deeply satisfying collision of tastes and textures, and we only got more impressed with these veggie-based dishes as dinner went on. And while 7 dishes, 8 dishes if you include the Manfreds Tartare, doesn't sound or seem like a whole lot of food, we were stuffed by the end.
Benedict, our server, checked up on us promptly and regularly. At one point during our meal, she divulged that the chefs at Manfreds all have 'floor shifts' when they serve, rather than cook, once a week to gain a better perspective on their customers--and she happened to be doing hers that night.
I absolutely loved dinner at Manfreds. Benedict, sorry, if I got your name wrong, but you were absolutely delightful; super fun and informative. Manfreds is nestled in the cozy neighborhood of Jægersborggade in Nørrebro--just right outside the usual touristy areas of Copenhagen. The food was fresh, and often surprised us with unexpected flavors. This was a first time visit, but definitely not last for me!
