elusive moose » Restaurants

Best in town?

admin — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:53:33 +0000

Where to eat: Kranbanen, Fredrikstad

admin — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:50:33 +0000

A restaurant with gourmet aspirations – and prices to match. We visited in December, when half of the dishes on the regular menu disappear to make room for traditional Norwegian Christmas specialities, and decibels in the busy dining room reach a dangerously high level. Possibly not the best time of year to get an idea of what Kranbanen is really about, but what did we make of it?

The cooking showed real flair and talent, if not in all the dishes we tried, at least in several of them. Starters, although verging on the small side, were stunning, be it the duck with Cumberland sauce, or the scallops in green pea cream. So were the desserts – my chocolate fondant with pear sorbet, for example, was a great way to round up the meal, and I wouldn’t rule out going back to Kranbanen just to have it again. It was that good.

Our mains, however, were not all quite in the same league – a dish of pinnekjøtt turned out to be slightly chewy, and the sauce accompanying my (otherwise delicious) venison was somehow dull. Likewise the lacklustre wine list was a disappointment, with no real exciting labels to speak of – here again there was room for improvement.

So the verdict? This is a restaurant showing real potential, and definitely one of the best in Fredrikstad, despite the slightly harsh review (well, when I fork out over 1,500Kr for a meal for two, my expectations go up a notch). I’ll have to revisit at a less busy time… but so far what I’ve seen, and tasted, has been rather promising.

Kråkerøyveien 2, Fredrikstad. Tel: 69 34 55 05, www.kranbanen.com. Dinner only. Expect to pay around 500Kr per person, excluding drinks.

A taste of Italy… in Fredrikstad

admin — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:30:13 +0000

Where to eat: da Luca, Fredrikstad

admin — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 17:25:39 +0000

Love pizza, but not too keen on the American-style offerings at Peppes or Pizzanini restaurants? Then head to da Luca, at the very end of Gågata, Fredrikstad’s main pedestrian street. This small informal restaurant serves what are arguably the best pizzas in town. The owner, the aptly named Luca Bonacucina (the name means ‘good cuisine’) is Italian, and it certainly shows. His thin crust, wood-fired oven pizzas taste of Italian sun and lively alfresco dinners with friends – even on a cold Norwegian winter day. Pasta dishes and salads also feature on the well-priced menu, with pizzas and pasta dishes around 110Kr and salads from 79Kr. A bargain! More of a lunch kind of place, although it’s open until 10pm (11pm at weekends). Mamma would approve

Nygaardsgata 50. Tel: 69 31 62 99, www.dalucalunchbar.com. Closed Sun.

Did you say ‘cake’?

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:26:12 +0000

Where to eat: Erlandsens, Halden

admin — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:18:58 +0000

Did you know that Norway’s oldest pâtisserie could be found in Halden? Located on the main pedestrian street, Erlandsens Conditori has been in business since 1865. The dark wood interior is a cosy place to chill out for an hour or two, catching up with friends, watching life go by through the big windows or reading the papers. There is even a piano, which is used for some of the weekly concert evenings that take place here. The original shop was run by Roy Nomell, who for 40 years delighted locals and visitors alike with his unique cakes. Today the shop sells bread and both hot and cold dishes in addition to the famous cakes, as well as offering a good selection of coffees and teas. And they have recently started their own production of home-made chocolates – now this is something I definitely will have to check out. Watch this space for an update very soon.

Storgata 10. Tel: 69 18 15 49; www.erlandsensconditori.no (Norwegian only). Open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat 9am-3pm. Concerts Sat at 9pm. Closed Sun.

A popular Chinese restaurant

admin — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:21:28 +0000

Where to eat: Chang Cheng, Fredrikstad

admin — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 19:18:24 +0000

Fredrikstad’s most popular Chinese restaurant, Chang Cheng, burned down in October 2008, but reopened, completely transformed a year later, on new premises on Storgata. The spacious restaurant is not exactly a gourmet haunt (it dishes out standard Chinese food rather watered down for Western palates), but it’s a decent option for a reasonably-priced dinner in pleasant, modern surrounds. Friendly service and affordable beer (about 60Kr for a pint). The Mongolian BBQ buffet is good value for money for big appetites. Expect to pay between 140-180Kr for a main course.

Storgata 15. Tel: 69 31 71 77, no website.

Alfresco lunch at Bakgården

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:06:42 +0000

Where to eat: Bakgården, Halden

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:03:03 +0000

This restaurant, in a side street just off Halden’s main pedestrian street, is a reliable option for both lunch and dinner. You can sit in the secluded patio in summer, and make the most of the sunshine, or opt to eat inside in winter. The main dining room is cosy, with its wooden interior, original art on the walls, table cloths and candle light, and there are a couple of additional smaller rooms, as well as a room reserved for private functions, should you want more privacy. The reasonably priced menu features brasserie-style food at lunchtime, including salads, sandwiches, omelette, tapas and even English breakfast and fish and chips (yes!), while in the evening slightly more elaborate dishes make their appearance (often featuring locally caught fish or meat from the grill) and prices go up a notch – but not as much as one would expect. Pleasant atmosphere and service, together with good food, make this a good all-round choice.

Storgate 22B. Tel: 69 18 82 90, http://bakgarden-halden.no. Expect to pay around 100-150Kr for a main course at lunchtime, and around 200Kr for dinner.