The Dining Hook — Restaurant in Bergen

Wine Pairing Menu Price = $46 USD ($500 NOK) Value (retail) = $13-$18 Markup = 250% - 360%

This has been a trickier one to analyze because the markup on alcohol in Norway is so high. Usually I base the price on what it would cost for me to recreate the experience at home in San Francisco (w/ obviously much simpler food). As it's grown, the goal changed to bringing more transparency to wine pairings menus. This makes me want to make it less centered around me and more about anyone, from any country, who might visit the restaurant. If this is the case, taking into account the markup of alcohol in Norway is key.

This was a 3 course pairing. The first two glasses were 4.5 ounces of a local dry cider that's $17 a bottle retail. The second glass was a South African Pinot Noir that was $30 locally. The last was a half class of French sauterne that ranged in locally (hence the range).

In pricing this out, at one point the Sauterne was $84 a bottle in Norway, but you could get it in California or France for $30. FWIW, 2 months later, I'm able to find it for $36 at the Vinomonopolet in Norway (yes, it's the full 75cL).

We had a friend go by the glass and it was a much better value. He also got higher quality wine (IMHO).

They were able to find us room for a last minute reservation for a party of 4 which I truly appreciate.

Generally the service was a little slow. We had almost finished the cider by the time the first course came. The food was good, but not remarkable. I wouldn't go out of my way for this place, but you won't be disappointed if you...

We chose this restaurant to our only one dinner in Bergen based on Google reviews. My husband ordered the "dagens fisk" (fish of the day) and I ordered Geitekilling (braised goatling). The fish was great, well seasoned and the sides were well executed. As for the goatling, I have to say that I've never seen a meat so dry and tough: simply impossible to chew (that's no exaggeration). Although the sides to my dish were well made and tasty, the main part - the meat - I couldn't even cut with a knife. I had to inform this to our server when she asked if everything was ok with our orders. She, very helpfully, said she was sorry, and offered me to replace the goatling with a piece of veal - which I said would not be necessary, and that my complaint was not intended to change my order, but to record my dissatisfaction. Even so, 5 minutes later, she brought some sliced ​​meat (I don't know exactly what it was), extremely tender. The point is that, at that point, all the excitement for a good meal had already been gone. My husband was already finishing eating, and I had already "dined" my mashed potatoes. Other than that, although the meat she brought was very tender, it had almost no seasoning and had a very subtle flavor - which absolutely did not matched the goatling accompaniments. Anyway, the dessert, a kind of chocolate mousse cake with vanilla sorbet (not a very good idea) and blueberry cream, very well decorated, sounded more interesting than it actually was... I recognize the helpfulness of the server, but for me, the experience as a whole was very...

First, if you're in the tourist season, you definitely have to make reservations. They had to turn down two or three groups the evening we were there. We reserved a day in advance, so you don't have to plan very far in advance.

Then, over to the food. It is reasonably priced, if compared to other restaurants in comparison. It is not a white table cloth place, although they might try to seem like one. The food is not quite there, although it is very nice. They offer a wine menu as well, which was not very impressing, as the wines were merely okay to the courses, and not fabulous. No refills, by the way.. And the aperitif goes with the starter. Not to seem too negative here, the food is good and worth a visit. They serve food based on Norwegian culture and tradition.

The surroundings are okay, kind of plain. I would like it though, if they had moved the large trash container away from the window. The view otherwise is over a small road in a nice part of Bergen, and on to a stone wall.

Poor wheelchair accessibility, and absolutely no way to use the bathroom.

Kids are allowed, they make smaller portions and adjust the tastes, but for the sake of other diners, the child should be able to behave as there is no room for anyone to do anything else than sitting. It's on the verge of being a too crowded place, especially when all tables are full.

All in all: good, traditionally based food for a...