The Unicorn Fish Restaurant — Restaurant in Bergen

Homey, Comforting Norwegian Fish Restaurant – Authentic Experience

My long-time friend, Per, who has lived in Bergen for most of his life recommended that we eat at Enhjørningen Fiskerestaurant, his favorite fish restaurant in his hometown. Well, it always pays to trust the native’s recommendation!

Enhjørningen on the Bryggen esplanade along the harbor, in one of the iconic old converted warehouses that have been brightly painted and converted into stores, restaurants, and museums. The warehouses date from the 1700s, so the structures tend to lean or settle in a bit. So, walk up the askew staircase the second floor to the warm, rustic dining room of Enhjørningen (“unicorn,” in English).

My friend Per is a “regular” at the Enhjørningen, so we were greeted enthusiastically by the servers and with teasing jokes between the owner and Per. But, I watched when other people – regular tourists – came in, and they, too, were greet with warm hospitality.

At Per’s suggestion, I tried hval, which is smoked whale ham. The minke whale is in abundance in the North Sea, and Norwegian fishermen are allowed a specific number of those fish that they can bring in each year (and they bring in only about half the allotment), so I could put aside my worries of eating an endangered species. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was surprised that the meat was quite dark. Served thinly sliced with an onion, lingonberry, and herb sauce, the hval was absolutely delicious.

For our main course, we both had oven-baked cod, served with chorizo and pomegranate vinaigrette, over a bed of the creamiest mashed potatoes I’ve had in years.

With all that filling food, we had no room for dessert. We did have a bottle of white wine with our meal, and the total cost, including gratuity, was about $90 USD per person.

If you like fish and want to try “Norwegian home cooking,” definitely make a reservation at Enhjørningen Fiskerestaurant for your...

I have travelled the world extensively over 40 years. I ate at all restaurants ranging from pop & mom’s to Michelin three stars. This is my honest review of the « Unicorn Fish Restaurant) in Bergen, Norway.

This restaurant is quite famous online and on social media, mainly because of the historic building and the unicorn imagery that decorates the entrance. The dining room is upstairs (not to be confused with the sister restaurant on the ground floor, likely run by the same owner). Inside, you’ll also find a unicorn on display, and the space is spread across several adjoining rooms with old wooden paneling, giving it a slightly charming, old-fashioned atmosphere.

As for the food, the fundamentals are good with quality ingredients, though the style felt a little dated and heavy, with sauces perhaps relying too much on butter. We ordered mussels, a fish dish with vegetables and potatoes, and a blueberry-based dessert. Everything was good overall – the tart was probably the highlight – but the dishes could benefit from being a little lighter.

The service was polite but somewhat impersonal; a warmer touch and closer attention to the tables would have made the experience more enjoyable. We were lucky to have a table by the window overlooking the busy walkway along the Bergen harbor, which added to the charm.

Overall, this restaurant might be for those who want to experience the historic setting and its online fame. For travelers primarily seeking a standout gastronomic experience, however, it may be worth exploring other options in...

My husband and I came here while visiting Bergen. I wanted to try an authentic Norwegian restaurant and not the typical tourist trap. I'm Mexican so hospitality is priority but I'm guessing that is not the Norwegian way as we showed up and asked if we had a reservation. We did not, and that would of been fine if we were turned away for lack of one, but we were not turned away and seated. The waiter seemed annoyed. We waited for 20 minutes and were ignored blatantly. I saw a table of four older people be seated near us after we arrived and they were served bread and wine but we still had not been visited by anyone to take our order. The restaurant was not even busy, there were plenty of empty tables around us, so I don't understand what happened. We just got up and left. To think, I was willing to drop 4,000 NOK for my meal but they didn't even want my money or patronage. Yes, I know that seems like a lot but I was on vacation and I love trying new cuisine so I was willing to spend for authentic and I already spend that kind of money with my husband when we go to fancy steakhouses in the U.S. so this wasn't that different. I was really looking forward to it since I on vacation. I don't think our attire was inappropriate either as I recall wearing a nice blouse and sweater. This really ruined my experience in Bergen. I'm noticing a trend after seeing reviews, that this surly...