Scandinavia Guidebook
Best and worst restaurants:
Best: Frognerseteren (Oslo), Golden House cafe (Balestrand)
Why: The reindeer I had at Frognerseteren on my 21st birthday might have been my best meal ever, and what a cool setting! I ate several meals at the Golden House cafe, and they were all delicious. I think they must make everything from scratch.
Rachel Wisdom in St. Louis, MO USA 11/18/2011
Best: Restaurant Marrakech, Moroccan restaurant in Oslo
Why: It's down the narrow little street two short blocks east of the City Hall. It's a bit on the pricy side, but delicious and patronized by what looked like Moroccans. Hieronymus Heyerdahls gate 1. Also, the Rajissimo isbar, an ice cream stand on the Stroget in Copenhagen, Nygade 6. Absolutely yummy homemade ice cream.
Karen in Minneapolis, MN USA 11/04/2011
Best: Cafe Con Bar - Oslo
Why: Good service, delicious food, interesting neighborhood. I would have liked to have gone here daily for a meal.
Worst: Deli de Luca - Bergen
Why: While I liked the variety of food here, if you're eating inside the location with the dining area upstairs, you'll find it's quite dirty. So, come for the reasonably-priced food, but take it out with you and eat somewhere else.
Erin in Cottage Grove, MN USA 10/08/2011
Best: Kungshallen in Stockholm
Why: Good variety and portions at prices very low for this city, Nice young and energetic crowd, a real "scene"
Sam Pelligra, MD in Greensboro, NC USA 09/19/2011
Best: Deli De Luca. Pingvinen in Bergen.
Why: We loved the Deli De Luca hot dishes and found it truly more affordable than any other place. We split a cookie for dessert and got three raisin-cardamom rolls for breakfast and snacks. The Fish Soup and Fish Souffle at Pingvinen, were delicious...and as described, the place was less touristy and more affordable than other restaurants.
Roberta in McBride, WA USA 09/12/2011
Best: Pingvinen Pub, Bergen
Why: Our 2nd time in Bergen, our 2nd time eating here. Generous yummy portions, many choices. A small place but worth the wait for a table.
Nelda Eitreim in Garretson, SD USA 08/22/2011
Best: Vapiano, in Stockholm. Riz Raz in Copenhagen
Why: Vapiano: Cool scene, nice location next to Gamla Stan Metro station, good pizza, pastas, and salads, and not too expensive so long as you keep the beer or wine to a minimum.
Riz Raz: Good selection of veggie dishes in an all-you-can eat buffet. Dining in the courtyard was pleasant.
Worst: None.
Why: We knew that Scandinavia would be expensive and tailored our expectations accordingly.
Steve Macfarlane in Carmichael, CA USA 08/07/2011
Best: Smorrebrod at Cafe Nytorv in Copenhagen
Why: We went for smorrebrod/smorgasbord whenever we could. This was our favorite because of the atmosphere. And food was amazing! We started by sharing the City plate between the four of us, then went for seconds :)
Irena in Cleveland, USA 07/29/2011
Best: Riz-Raz in Copenhagen
Why: Good veggie buffet, and the meat kabobs ("sticks") are excellent.
Steve Macfarlane in Carmichael, CA USA 07/11/2011
Best: Restorant Aed, Tallin
Why: Good meals and value.
The Eat Dumpling and Doughnut Cafe was also good.
Greg Mansfield in Washington, NC USA 07/03/2011
Best: "Must Lammas" in Tallinn, Estonia is a "Must!"
Why: This was our 16th trip to Europe and this restaurant ties for the best restaurant we've ever dined at (the other is Cingale Bianco in Florence). Dine there and you'll see for yourself!
richard kruse in la jolla, ca USA 06/16/2011
Best: Grand Hotel - royal smorgasbord
Why: agree it is a splurge...but disagree that it is touristy and a bit tired....yes there were tourists but there were locals too...the decor, view, service, and 'spread' was worth the price...and how can you go to Sweden and not have a smorgasbord with swedish meatballs??
Lynn Porterfield in Ridgewood, NJ USA 04/11/2011
Best: Carlton Brasserie
Why: upscale but mellow, a bit classier than the other joints on the river strip; more authentic (no English menu was immediately on hand) but the staff was very helpful
Worst: basically anything on the Aboulevarden
Why: Exactly as described on p124 -- overpriced, all about the "scene" with mostly-lousy service
Jason Sherron in Seattle, WA USA 10/13/2010
Best: Den Gamle By cafe!
Why: Interesting setting, simple yet great breakfast
Jason Sherron in Seattle, WA USA 10/11/2010
Worst: Kobenhavner Cafeen -- Copenhagen
Why: We picked this restaurant based on Rick's recommendation (page 106). We wanted a traditional atmosphere and meal. We did not know that tourists in this restaurant are treated as lepers. We went for a Saturday lunch. There was a small group of locals in the main dining area, but several tables were empty. We were immediately whisked away to a upstairs dining room and seated behind a wall. There was no one else seated in this area. Several other tourists arrived later, but were smart enough to leave immediately. There is a hint of racism in this (my wife is Japanese), but we never get this treatment in Europe generally. Avoid this place.
Jon Nelson in State College, PA USA 09/23/2010
Best: Vapiano Pasta Pizza Bar
Why: Recommended in Snapshot Stockholm 2010. What a great concept place. We liked the food, and the way you are able to time your own order. We ate here twice. If you are not a BIG pasta eater believe Rick when he says the portions are splittable.
Sharron Stevens in Oberstaufenbach, Germany 09/04/2010
Best: Bryggeloftet & Stuene Restaurant (Bergen)
Why: Very well presented meals. There was something on the menu for everyone.
Ashley Parker in Tampa, FL USA 08/30/2010
Best: Hermitage in Stockholm, Lagkagehuset in Copenhagen
Why: Hermitage: tasty vegetarian buffet, such a welcome feast after the token cucumber being the only green thing in your diet! Lagkagehuset: they really do have the best strawberry tart in the history of the world. good sandwiches and salads too.
Liz in Tucson, AZ USA 07/26/2010
Best: Riz Raz in Copenhagen
Why: Reasonable, delicious food. The vegetarian buffet and skewers of meat were superb. We ate a lunch and a dinner there and recommended the restaurant to other travelers.
Mary Paquet in San Jose, CA USA 07/11/2010
Best: Fram restaurants in town
Why: Very good food.
Mary Azevedo in Walnut Creek, CA USA 10/15/2009
Best: Helsinki and Copenhagen
Why: Copenhagen: Had a wonderful meal at the Cafe Norden along the main shopping street. In Tivoli we loved the Groften(sp)Resturant.(not in his book) Helsinki:We ate at Rick's favorite Northern Europe cafe,Cafe Kappeli.
Judy in Alexandria, MN USA 10/06/2009
Best: Vanaema Juures, Tallinn
Why: Good local cuisine, very pleasant surroundings and not touristy.
Ash Morris in Tulsa, OK USA 10/03/2009
Best: Café Satir in the Nobel Museum (Stockholm, Sweden). Smörgåsbord at Kvinke's Hotel (Balestrand, Norway).
Why: Café Satir - no admission to get into this café. Every chair is signed underneath by Nobel laureates. Calm, feels miles away from the ice cream and tour bus bustle that is going on 30 feet away.
Smörgåsbord at Kvinke's Hotel (Balestrand, Norway) - a great place for dinner with a view. We hadn't eaten all day so it was a great idea to try this for dinner.
Worst: Wagamama in Tivoli (Copenhagen, Denmark
Why: We were continually ignored and it took forever to take our order and get our food.
Dave in Seattle, WA USA 08/31/2009
Best: Riz Raz
Why: Food was good and inexpensive for Copenhagen. You could eat all you wanted for one price.
J. Perschbacher in Atlanta, GA USA 08/02/2009
Best: Kryp In (Gamla Stan) - I think that's the name, I always mess it up
Why: I have eaten at a ton of really nice highly rated restaurants in the states and the food at this little gem was nothing short of amazing. We ate outside and loved the old world ambiance.
Lori K in Chicago, IL USA 06/02/2009