I was super excited for this spot. I hadn't treid much traditional food in Scandinavia and I…read morefigured this was the best spot to do it. Food was incredible. Although, my Lapskaus was a bit unevenly heated. Reindeer was fun to try. Had a chat with a couple from England next to me at the bar. Service was good. They seem like they're usually booked but you can walk in and sit at the bar. Which is what I did.

Pingvinen was interesting, somewhere between seaside pub and upscale dining, with some elements of…read moreeach. I got the fish soup, following advice from Yelp, and was very happy with the meal. Simple, straightforward, and very well cooked. It was a hearty bowl of soup, loaded with large chunks of white fish, a delicious creamy base, and some buttered bread on the side. The soup was robust without feeling oily or heavy. The portion was a bit small for me, but I still enjoyed the flavors and was glad to have come here for a delicious lunch!

This is a tiny cozy restaurant in Bergen! We dined here for dinner and started with an appetizer…read morealong with catch of the day which was cod. I really enjoyed the cod here, it came with some great combinations - did not expect crispy potatoes to be a part of it. Very flavorful and fresh. Dessert was alright! It was particularly warm and stuffy in the restaurant which made it a bit uneasy in the beginning but we got used to it with time.

Mind blowing, every course from start to finish was fantastic. Service was also very nice. Nothing…read morebut good things to say

What a lovely place! It's not a traditional pub at all. Instead, it's a small fine dining…read moreestablishment that is locally owned and run. In fact I think our server was the owner, and he let us know that his wife was the cook (after we complimented our meals). Prices are very reasonable and there is a nice selection of fish and meat dishes. My husband and I shared the pork belly taco (appetizer) and the fish and chips plate. Our friend ordered the last available flank steak. Everything came out timely and was delicious! There was enough food to go around and no one left hungry. I'm really glad that our friend stumbled upon this restaurant. It was not crowded and had a lovely evening atmosphere for our last evening in town. It was walkable from our Airbnb and in a cute neighborhood. I would definitely recommend this place to others.

As many have recommended I will echo their sentiment and say, be polite, say "Hei" and then head…read moredown the stairs. A few helpful hints: Ask the bartender for a menu, take a seat and then head back up to the bar to place your order. They have a pitcher of water at the end of the bar with glasses so no need to add an extra expense for bottled water. Remember on Sunday a bar or restaurant is the only spot you will get alcohol so don't think you can grab some beer at the Kiwi or Rema and drink at home/hotel. I got the herring with lingonberries which sounded weird to me but after the first bite I was sold!! I cleaned the whole plate with ease because it was so good. The prices are affordable compared to other spots in Norway so assure you go downstairs because the menu and prices are different.

Great restaurant recommended by a friend of a friend. Be sure to make a reservation- you can do…read moreonline- so you are not disappointed! We ate on the first level. Nice dining room with painted murals and a homey atmosphere. We had great service and the food came out quickly. They are known for the reindeer entree and the Fiskesuppe (fish soup). I had a salad (huge; with a very good mustard dressing) and the Fiskesuppe. The fish soup was creamy and flavorful. My husband had the lamb shank with root vegetables and mashed potatoes. He said it was very good. We shared their caramel flan - it was delicious and the flan itself was perfectly smooth. Highly recommend!

After dropping off our luggage at our hotel in Bergen around 7:00P, we came straight over to…read moreBryggeloftet & Stuene, the oldest restaurant in the city. As anticipated, it was completely full, but surprisingly, we only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. I had read that the fish soup (appetizer) is a must-try, though the mussels and their burger were super popular that night and looked delicious too. + FISH SOUP: The four of us ordered just one bowl to share as a starter and it was creamy, almost like a chowder! There wasn't a ton of seafood, just a few fish balls and small shrimp, but we still enjoyed the flavor. It came with paper-thin crackers and butter on the side. + PAN-FRIED WOLFFISH: Two thick, moist pieces of wolffish were served in a pool of creamy white wine sauce alongside broccolini and small shrimp. All fish and meat dishes include a choice of potatoes. I selected the dauphinoise (sliced potatoes with heavy cream and garlic) which was so rich and buttery! My sister ordered the slow-cooked LEG OF DEER with baked root vegetables, mashed potatoes, and port wine sauce. The deer was so tender and a sizable portion. She selected the mashed potatoes which were creamy and smooth. My mom got the filet of NORWEGIAN LAMB with seasonal vegetables, mushrooms, baked cherry tomatoes and red wine herb sauce. Of the main courses we all ordered, I considered this my favorite plate. Normally I am not a huge fan of lamb, but it was cooked to a perfect medium and didn't have much gaminess at all. Also super tender! The service was very friendly, but after we received our soup, we waited almost one hour for our main courses. Since the soup was a starter, our waitress asked if we wanted to eat it first or with our meal, so had we known there would be such a large gap between courses, we would have opted to just have everything together. The timing is really my only critique. This was a terrific hearty meal after a full day of travel. Beginning our trip with dinner at such a renowned local spot set our vacation off on the right foot!

We came here on our tour manager's recommendation. The service was meh as it took over 20 minutes…read morefor our foods to come, while we are seeing foods from other tables with similar items come quick quicker than ours!!! Also, when the water jugs ran out of water, the server would quickly replenish the jugs without asking while leaving our water jugs empty when we had finished our water!! Now, onto the food ... we both ordered open-faced sandwiches (Skagen and Fjords). Both sandwiches have bread that takes a strong muscle to cut through and the seafood was swimming in mayo!!! Overall, the experience was not that great plus it is not easy to climb up several steep steps of stairway to get to a restaurant! We can tell that this is a popular restaurant around the locals as it was filling up after 20 minutes, but will we come back here again? Not really!!

We just arrived in Bergen and wanted a place for late breakfast and this place showed up on my…read moresearch as they have egg / omelettes. We were surprised that the omelette was part of a "Lunch Board" which was like a flight of different food options including: Omelette with cheddar, avocado toast, chicken toast, smoothie, salad and croissants. It sounded like a lot of food but in reality it serves one person as each item is a small portion, but everything was delicious. The service was great and attentive, and we enjoyed the decor in the upstairs with plenty of windows with views of the harbor. They also had free WiFi which helped us plan our next day. Only note is it is fairly pricey.

Colonialen Litteraturhuset is one of three elegant upscale Colonialen menus near Old Bergen…read more The room is beautiful with great decorating and a fantastic triptych painting on one wall. The food is arranged artfully. How is the food? * * * * * * * Well, the buttered toast that came with my steak tartare was excellent ... * * * * * * * My wife liked her gnocchi because they had no cheese. * * * * * * * I think I have run out of good things to say. * * * * * * * We had other stuff besides buttered toast garnishes and gnocchi. Nothing was terrible. I have had better pea soups in Swedish sports bars. I have had better steak tartare in American Korean restaurants. Everything looked nice but was undistinguished ... except for the price. * * * One of their sister restaurants offers a tasting menu at a price far higher than what we paid at the Litteraturhuset branch. Given the ho hum nature of what we had ... That tasting menu looks like a bad gamble.

Location: In the heart of Bergen and easily walkable if you're staying in the center…read more The place: It reminds me of a super modern, partially hipster-y cafeteria. Great decor - semi minimal but warm and cozy. I dig it. The goods: After eating random Icelandic cuisine for a few days, I was really looking for something light. I order the chicken salad and it was delicious! The greens were fresh, the check was tender, and the whole damn thing was full of flavour. The dressing was similar to a Caesar dressing, which appealed to me less but it was good nonetheless. I got some raspberry juice and that was a lovely treat. Great little spot to check out if you're in Bergen. Service: OK. Price point: All I know is that shit is expensive in Norway. Especially if, like me, you're coming from Canada. Our dollar generally sucks! That said, this didn't break the bank (I don't think... ).

After exploring the University of Bergen, we walked a short distance to Marg & Bein for an early…read moredinner around 3:00P. Because we dined during an off-time, we had the whole restaurant to ourselves, though I imagine it gets busier during peak hours. Our waitress sat us by the window and recommended sharing a few plates family-style. (Note: The menu may rotate.) For anyone who wants their own meal, they do have a main dish that is meant for a single serving. That day, it was the Persetorsk fish with pea purée, cider butter sauce and trout roe. My dad ordered it and thought the fish was good, but found the sauce quite salty (and not just from the roe). + BRAISED OX CHEEK: Super tender, lean, succulent. It fell apart with just a touch of a fork! Served on top of smooth mashed potatoes and a flavorful demi-glace. + STEAK w/ PEPPER SAUCE: My favorite dish! The steak was cooked to a perfect medium and the pepper sauce was subtle, allowing the quality of the beef to shine. I enjoyed alternating bites of it alone and with the baked onion. The broccolini had a great crunch and the celery purée added a fresh, earthy balance. + BAKED CAULIFLOWER: The most flavorful cauliflower that I've ever had! Roasted sections came topped with finely chopped kale chimichurri (mixed with onion, spices & pepitas), all sitting on a cauliflower purée. So good and a perfect vegetarian dish! + CIDER STEAMED MUSSELS: Plump, sweet mussels served in a velvety, slightly briny cider sauce. I couldn't help but drink a couple spoonfuls of the sauce by itself after we finished the mussels. Our waitress was very friendly and we appreciated her help with navigating the menu. The dishes were served at a comfortable pace with the mussels first as a starter, followed by the rest of the dishes. I would consider the pricing to be on the elevated side since it's considered an upscale modern bistro, however it's definitely worth splurging for their creative and well-executed plates. We found Marg & Bein on a whim, and it ended up being one of our top meals in Bergen! 4.75 stars.

Excellent Norwegian food! I had the white fish, which was the wish (and delish), and Norwegian…read morecheeses and cured meats. The chicken pate was delicious, but the bread it was served with was the real highlight of the dish. I can't wait to go back when I'm in Bergen! Hopefully, next time it will be raining!

Who would've known that Norway, along with other Scandinavian countries, is known for its hot dogs…read more At this particular establishment, a reindeer hotdog, or more aptly noted, reindeer sausage. Reindeer in these countries are very prevalent which makes their meat a source of food. So I like trying the local food in places that I travel, Norway is no exception. There is literally no service other than order your food, pay for your food, they hand you the food. What is likely to be seen are really long lines during a typical lunch and dinner time. If in Norway, don't be grossed out, try it. It really tastes like a bratwurst and it is venison after all. Many of us eat venison.

Fun experience, especially if your never had a reindeer dog! Line took about 20 min and was worth…read morethe wait. Many options of what type of hotdog you can get and toppings.

Excellent restaurant in the heart of downtown Bergen! I went with cider to drink and several of…read moretheir tapas style dishes. The carrot dish was beautiful and delish. So flavorful. The herring dish was also great - definitely got a punch of that umami. I enjoyed the halibut tartar next. To finish, I had a deconstructed pumpkin pie. This dish is very visually stunning, and just as stunning on the taste buds! Overall, service was excellent. Our server was friendly, competent, and spoke great English (visiting from Houston, TX, USA). Highly recommend!

The plukkfeisk is amazing! As is everything else…read more Who knew there was such a thing as Norwegian tapas? The apple dessert wine is spectacular!

Historic setting in UNESCO recognized Bryggen. Serves traditional Norwegian fare like whale…read morereindeer and aquavit. Great a little history with your meal.

This is a traditional Scandinavian restaurant located in the heart of Bryggen. Even though we dined…read moreduring the week and during the wintertime, they fill up fast so it may be best to make a reservation. I was excited they were offering their Norwegian tapas style Julemeny. This allowed for sampling of a variety of traditional items. We chose the beetroot salad, lamb meat balls, lutefisk, and rakfisk. The beetroot salad seemed to include about three types of beets, juicy orange, raisins, hazelnuts and lettuce. The meatballs were tender, flavorful and the plum compote complimented the rich flavor of the lamb. If you find yourself in Norway and want to taste traditional foods, lutefisk and rakfisk are a couple to try. The lutefisk, cod preserved in lye that has been rehydrated, was delicious though much saltier than I've ever had. The rakfisk which is fermented trout, was tasty, creamy and well complimented by the onion and sour cream. The decor is gorgeous and the dining area was comfortable.