If you've never been to Oslo and you have no idea where to have dinner, chances are pretty good you'll end up in Aker Brygge. It's basically the tourist hub where all the cruise ships dock, so you can envision all the waterfront restaurants and bars awaiting their ignorant prey. Centrally located amid the cacophony with a huge terrace dining area is this French-accented bistro targeted to relatively indiscriminate palates.
Jamie W. and I were led to an outdoor table with a panoramic viewpoint of the teeming masses. We needed cocktails, and since they offered martinis, Jamie went for the 148 NOK ($15,50) Peach, and I veered toward the 158 NOK ($16.50) Apple (photo: https://bit.ly/3dqJcla). I'm not sure why mine was a dollar more, but since it was priced the same as a pornstar martini, I figured it might be with the surcharge. All I know is that the libations mellowed us out a bit as we ordered the food.
We started with two appetizers. The first was the 135 NOK ($14.10) Fried Duck Wings, three of them, meaty though a bit greasy and not really enhanced by the truffle mayonnaise (photo: https://bit.ly/3zTfNYo). The second was the 115 NOK ($12) Fried Broccolini with chili mayonnaise, which followed the same concept as the duck wings but added walnuts as a garnish (photo: https://bit.ly/3zXBdDG). Neither was a culinary standout. Our entrees came next, and they were a study in contrasts.
Jamie ordered the 198 NOK ($20.60) Celery Root "Beef", an intriguing vegan dish which featured both sweet and savory elements like pumpkin cream, broccoli, baked red onion, and pumpkin seeds (photo: https://bit.ly/3AunfLj). It was a small dish but satisfying. By contrast, the 448 NOK ($46.80) Veal Entrecôte tasted a bit drab even in its bordelaise sauce. It was accompanied by more broccoli, pumpkin cream, and a wedge of a scalloped tart (photo: https://bit.ly/3zTu0V9). Of course it felt exorbitantly priced given the lackluster result.
FOOD - 3 stars...seemed more oriented toward bar bites than restaurant fare...and it was our first exposure to Norway's exorbitant dining prices
AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...fairly busy, the inside looked more elegant
SERVICE - 3.5 stars...pretty good though most of the attention happened at the beginning
TOTAL - 3 stars...probably could've researched the restaurant scene more
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