Rorbua Aker Brygge — Restaurant in Oslo

While my girlfriend and I were on a short trip to Oslo, we stumbled upon this authentic Norwegian restaurant located right by the port. The exterior was beautifully decorated, creating a welcoming first impression. Once inside, the decor really stood out, filled with Norwegian-themed objects like spears, ropes, and boat-related items, which added a lot of character to the space.

We were seated at a comfortable table, and the staff was quick to recommend drinks. We opted for a cider and a beer, both of which were excellent choices. As for the food, we decided to try the grilled whale and reindeer. The waiter informed us that the portions were on the smaller side, but since we weren’t too hungry, we went for it.

The reindeer was the highlight of the meal—perfectly cooked and served at just the right temperature. It came with a generous portion of mushrooms, Brussels sprouts, bacon bits, and a flavorful sauce, as well as carrots and broccoli. We asked to swap the potato wedges for mashed potatoes, and that turned out to be a great choice. The mashed potatoes were creamy and delicious. The dish was also accompanied by the classic lingonberry jam, though we felt a larger portion of it would have been nice.

The whale, on the other hand, was a bit of a mixed experience. While I enjoyed it, I found it slightly overcooked, which made it tougher and more difficult to cut, especially with some of the nerves still present. The flavor was unique and worth trying, though my girlfriend wasn’t a fan, as she felt it had a strong taste similar to beef liver, which she doesn’t enjoy. It was served with a jam and a peppercorn sauce on the side, which complemented it well.

Overall, the meal was satisfying and just enough for the two of us. For one person, it would likely be the perfect portion. Throughout the meal, we were served by three different waiters. The first—a friendly blonde waitress—was very knowledgeable about the menu and dishes, which was super helpful. However, the second waiter wasn’t able to answer some of our questions, which was disappointing. The third waiter, who seemed to be the manager, really stood out. He was engaging, explained how the whale is sourced, and even cracked a few jokes, which added to the experience.

As for the pricing, it was definitely on the expensive side. We paid around €70-80 for two drinks and one meal, which felt a bit excessive.

Overall, I’d rate the experience a solid 4/5. The food was delicious, the location was perfect, and we’re glad we got to try traditional Norwegian cuisine. The only downsides were the price and the lack of knowledge from one of the waiters. As a Frenchman passionate about food, I can confidently say I’d recommend this place—just be prepared for...

Disappointing…

The service here really let them down. It’s a shame because the food was relatively good.

This place would be good to go to if you’d like to experience a traditional Norwegian meal. From grilled whale to reindeer and moose stew, there are good options. However the service is below par.

Our server was rude and not attentitive at all. Her attitude was not at any level of acceptance.

Throughout the night she paid little attention to us.

When we came to pay, we asked if we could use the Oslo pass for the discount. Only one of us had downloaded the pass, so we asked if that was ok. She stated that we all needed to download it, so we suggested that she come back in 5 mins so that we could all purchase the Oslo pass. She proceeded to say no and that the next booking is waiting for our table, (but had not previously given us a heads up that we needed to vacate the table) she then followed this saying that she cannot let us leave without paying, but no where had we ever mentioned that we were trying to leave without paying. Anyway, we proceeded to download the passes while she waited. After we had purchased them we showed her our pass on the app but she rudely told us to tap the pass to show the QR code, which made no difference in the situation. During this she also felt the need to mention that we were actually lucky because other places would call security on us. What an interesting statement.

I can also confirm that we ate at another restaurant and were not even asked to show our Oslo passes for...

At Aker Brygge, right on the waterfront, lies this restaurant that feels as though it has stepped out of a historical film. The atmosphere is striking: a bar counter crafted from a massive wooden boat, dried fish hanging overhead, a majestic stuffed polar bear, fishing nets draped along the walls, and tables fashioned from barrels, all softly illuminated to create a warm, almost magical ambience.

The kitchen pays homage to Norwegian tradition with dishes full of authenticity and character. For first-time visitors, the recommended choice is “Smaken av Norge” a skewer featuring whale, reindeer, and elk, served with potatoes and lingonberry jam. It offers a perfect introduction to the country’s most distinctive meats. For those already familiar with Norwegian flavors, “Rorbuas Viltgryte” a hearty stew of reindeer, elk, and venison with mashed potatoes is highly recommended. Seafood lovers, on the other hand, will appreciate the rich fish soup, generously filled with cod, salmon, shrimp, mussels, and occasionally lobster.

While the menu offers many other tempting options, these dishes stand out as the restaurant’s signatures. The meats are tender and succulent, and the pairing with purée and lingonberry jam highlights the very best of Norwegian...