Gubalari — Restaurant in Trondheim

We had our 17-guest wedding dinner at Gubalari, with a private/rented gallery room at KUK as the actual venue (rather than the public part of the restaurant), including a tour of the exhibit and some drinks on the roof.

The experience was impeccable. Everything was perfect.

We have visited Gubalari before, both for couples dinners and for a larger gathering, and they've always delivered. So, we reached out to them to see if it was possible to have our wedding dinner there. They gave us some general info about prices and how we could integrate the dinner experience with a tour of the KUK art exhibit, and we booked a time, and agreed to have a meeting with the staff a couple of weeks before the wedding to finalize the plan for the evening. Now, we were never really apprehensive, but it felt to us a little out of the norm to have the wedding dinner in a gallery room, and we were a little unsure about the level of privacy we'd have. But through some email exchanges (with prompt response time), we were assured the room would be closed off and it'd be possible to give speeches and all the other stuff that comes with a wedding dinner.

Alright. We get to the meeting with the staff - general manager, Lars, plus Daniel, the guy that would be in charge on the day itself. These guys know exactly what they're doing. From the second we sat down, their experience and professionalism was obvious. They had the perfect combination of great ideas themselves and concern for our stated needs and thoughts. We did a little tour of the various rooms at the gallery where we could choose to host the dinner, and they described different ways to set things up. They started with the "normal" room - perfect size for a smaller dinner like ours, good acoustics for speeches and a calm atmosphere. Then we had a look at the work space, with some printing tools and such - also good for a smaller party, windows with natural light and a good vibe. Then we had a look at the Bingohallen room, which technically seats up to 250, or well over ten times as many as our party.

There was a shift in mood with Lars and, in particular, Daniel, when we got to the huge room that you wouldn't normally choose for such a small dinner (also considering the acoustics being much too oppressive for an evening of speeches). Daniel had a vision of a small square table where all the guests would face each other, essentially in the middle of the giant space, and he immediately got us excited about this vision. They assured us that with some carpets and other minor tweaks, they'd be able to ensure a calm soundscape in the space and they were certain this unconventional and slightly risky choice would pan out.

Professionals will always deliver what you pay for. But professionals that are particularly excited about something will go above and beyond. And, boy, did they deliver!

This review is getting pretty rambling; we're just really happy with the service and the venue, and their gutsy call to present a vision of something out of the ordinary. Just let them cook! They know what they're about.

Oh, and the food was amazing, as we've come to expect from prior visits. Not only that, but we have some odd allergies and preferences in the group, which they handled flawlessly. In fact, they experimented their way into making a delicious sugar-free desert that I have never experienced any restaurant ever sorting out before. But for Gubalari, delivering the best possible experience they are able to is their...

A Perfect Blend of Art and Fine Dining in the Heart of Trondheim Located just steps from the center of Trondheim, this restaurant enjoys a symbiotic relationship with the Kjøpmannsgata Ung Kunst (KUK) art gallery, with which it shares the building. Art is not just a backdrop but the true unifying theme of the experience: the space, flooded with natural light from large windows, is decorated with exquisite taste, creating an elegant and welcoming atmosphere. The culinary philosophy is a tribute to the region. The menu celebrates excellent local ingredients, elevated in creative meat, fish, and salad dishes that are striking for their harmony and presentation. While the dinner menu is more extensive, the lunch selection also stands out for its quality and variety. The desserts deserve a special mention for being original and inventive creations, as does the meticulous tea service. The service is impeccable: the staff is not only efficient and professional but also shows a rare empathy, making guests feel completely at ease from the very first moment. Finally, the restaurant's complete accessibility, free of any architectural barriers, is also noteworthy. An experience not to be missed. Last but not least, the prices are not high in relation to the quality offered and also compared to those of other lower...

I'm probably a harsher critic than most but if Gubalari is making themselves out as a fancy restaurant then I'm going to judge them as one.

The art in the dining room was very cool though loud and table setting/service throughout was immaculate. Servers were accommodating and courses came out at a good pace. I was full at the end of my 5 course meal.

However the food was not at the same excellent level in my opinion. Dishes were inconsistent and components often did not complement each other. The fish was cooked beautifully but the lamb was tough and unevenly salted. The broccolini was half raw. My fish main came with a butter glaze and a cold cream crab side which was both confusing and very unbalanced. The venison tartar had moments of genius with the picked chanterelle but also came with a milky foam that clashed with the whole dish. While some of these things could be the norm for norwegian cuisine others are likely from the care of the chef. I think there's massive potential if they spent a little more time on the dish development and cooking.

Overall the price was fair for the food and excellent service. Would have rated 3.5 but given I personally would not go back for another meal I will go...