Restaurant Jordnær — Restaurant in Gentofte Municipality

We had a terribly disappointing meal here. The 3 stars is not deserved. I hope my detailed critique helps diners, the Michelin committee if not the owners.

The dining room is basic and overlit with poor music choices that do not match the feel that restaurant is going for. They play on a phonograph and forget to change when the record is over so there were many weird silent stretches.

Food: Some dishes were tasty and interesting while other were lacking flavor, mouthfeel or presentation. Basically all savory courses were exactly the same. Small seafood bites that were laden with similar sauces and heavy with caviar (and that was the good part). They were all decorated with flora and all looked essentially, exactly the same. They almost all tasted the same too. There was little variation and the mouthfeel of all was too soft. There was a distinct lack of salinity and acidity as a theme. My langoustine and one crab dish was overcooked and rubbery. Inedible. The temperature of many dishes was wrong too, all too cold or warm (melted ice cream). Bland and flavorless non-alcoholic beverage pairing.

Service: The cadence was off. The servers were all friendly but we were not well attended to as we should have been at a 3*. Some tables were offered hot towels while others were not. The table was never cleared of crumbs. Napkins were taken and not returned automatically. We were prompted to offer feedback as to the speed of our service and after 4+ hours and a 45 minute wait in between courses we asked for the next course to be brought out, the wife/hostess of the chef got offended and had no problem letting us know that she did not like it. She made snippy comments accompanied by eye rolls when we ask for a napkin because ours were taken away and never refreshed.

They skipped the petit fours course for us. We were not offered any liquors after the meal. Upon departure the wife acccused me of being “jet lagged” seemingly to excuse the restaurant of slow service and my party wanting to leave after 4.5 hours. Not once did we complain but Due to her rudeness my husband politely explained the service was lacking today versus previous days he had dined and she lost it!!!! She turned into a villain. She got defense and did not apologize or care to hear feedback. Mind you we did not complain during our service.

This was NOT a Michelin star experience. They’ll lose at least one start within a year for sure. Zero humility or kindness was shown.

Absolute failure on the part....

Jordnaer- Køpenhavn May 2022

We are not exactly in Køpenhavn*. We are north of KH in the small city of Gentofte where lies a nice hotel, where Karin and Eric created a restaurant in 2017. After only ten months of opening, the first Michelin Star came and they have been full for each service ever since. In 2020 the second star arrived and then covid arrived so they could capitalise on that honor right away. But now they do !

And they deserve it because a meal at Jordnaer is nothing usual, nothing ordinary, nothing expected. It is, on the contrary, unusual, extraordinary and unexpectable ! From the beginning to the end it was absolute excellence.

First the letter arriving to the table, sealed with wax with a beautiful metal seal opener and your choice of reading the menu, and be surprised. Then the encounter with so many cooks and chefs coming to the table to bring each dish, with all the explanations of the ingredients and preparations, getting you to connect with the kitchen. And what surprises. We tasted I think six or seven varieties of caviar, plus truffles, morels, tarbot, langoustines, lobster, oysters, scallops that were alive before the service etc etc. In total 18 courses arrived at the table with equal amazement on our part.

The sommelier accompagné par la patronne Tina sélectionnent de superbes vins, nous avons bu Thomas Pico, Tissier, Jo Pithon (nouveau domaine Belargus), Agrapart, etc. Évidemment une sélection aussi pointue a un prix (pour éviter toute surprise, négociez en arrivant). Ooops I don’t know why I switched to french. Sorry. Oh well so the wine selection was amazing with all the above names and many surprises. Wayyyy better than Geranium !

Tina is a marvellous hosts, she is very present in the restraints, appearing at your table between almost every course. Chef Eric also comes a few times so you get many chances to connect and compliment him. Both are masters at organising the perfect experience for food and wine lovers. Quite pro !

This meal was definitely 3-Stars and I believe that this restaurant will be higher and higher on the world list, possibly on the top I’m sure. It would now be my nr1 priority if I return to Køpenhavn!

(*) : I do believe we should write and pronounce the name of cities and lands in the local language / or phonetical at least. Antwerpen. Mons. Liège. London. Deurschland. Hellas. Etc. Try...

Our experience at Restaurant Jordnær was the definition of perfect. I will describe point by point its qualities based on my personal point of view as a cuest and as a chef:

Cuisine: The restaurant focuses mainly on Seafood and Vegetables. It emphasizes high-quality seafood and seasonal vegetables, crafted into bold and creative dishes. The very Creative and Technically Skillful Chef Eric Kragh Vildgaard showcases remarkable technical skills and a precise approach to cooking, with dishes offering layered flavors and beautiful presentations inspired in Nordic, Asian, and French Influences. The cuisine harmoniously blends Nordic traditions with Asian and French elements, resulting in a unique and intense flavor profile.

I loved particulary the use of exclusive ingredients like caviar, truffles, and the best quality seafood, often sourced locally or selected with utmost care. The Standout Dishes and definmitely our favorites were; the fjord shrimp waffle with caviar, tuna tartlet with caviar, and grilled langoustine with yuzu kosho and sea buckthorn. The Hamachi with ponzu and wasabi, and the Chawanmushi, all were exsecuted with precision and complexity respectively.

Service: Very warm and attentive: Especially Mrs. Tina Kragh Vildgaard, Chef Eric's wife; her service is consistent and very personal, warm, and attentive, yet relaxed. We very much appreciated that the owners greeted us personally, the chefs also explained the dishes, and an overall level of service that exceeds expectations. In a nutshell; the service was impeccable, professional, and knowledgeable, with staff expertly handling us from arrival to departure.

Last but not least; Atmosphere: We describe it as sophisticated, yet comfortable and welcoming.The atmosphere is subtle and elegant, creating a pleasurable dining experience. Despite the luxurious ingredients and meticulous execution, the restaurant maintains a "down-to-earth" philosophy, making us and all the guests feel at ease. We cannot stop recommending this wonderful place. Hopefully we will come back soon and enjoy their wonders ove rna dover again.

Thank you very much Jordnær for the wonderful experience.

Warmest Culinary Regards, Chefs. Gianfranco & Anna Chiarini Dieci...