Troll Restaurant — Restaurant in Trondheim

Strange experience at Troll the other day. I made a reservation several weeks in advance, excited by the idea of a seasonal menu.

Once I arrived in Trondheim, I started looking at Google reviews and saw a few recent ones where guests were served whale. In one case, the guest sent it back due to ethical objection and in the other, the guest mentioned that they weren’t aware it was whale until after they consumed it. It stuck me as a bit strange that neither were aware of what was being served. Like even if the menu changes daily, shouldn’t they tell you what is being served when you are seated?

We sit down and the menu is very vague. Essentially a choice of 3 or 5 courses, and a note that the server could provide more detail about today’s selections. So I asked the server if they could share what the dishes were for both the 3 and 5 course options and they essentially refused to tell me. They said “that would take the fun out of it, so all I need to know is if you have any allergies”. No asking of other dietary restrictions, just allergies. When pressed for more detail, they relented that it would be a combination of meat and fish or “something from the sea” and then dessert. Still not specific enough for my liking but I don’t have any allergies or strict restrictions (although I do have preferences), and I didn’t want to argue with this person so I just ordered the 3 course menu.

Sure enough, the first course was whale. Based on the limited research I had done about the whaling industry, I would have preferred something else but didn’t feel like I had another option so I tried it. It was fine.

We did however really enjoy our main course which was another fish dish. Cod I think, but could have been halibut (a bit of a language barrier). It was very good and the highlight of the meal

Dessert was a brownie, which was pretty good but I’m of the belief that the best brownies come out of a Duncan Hines box mix. For the price we paid, I would have liked something more sophisticated. The peach applesauce it was served with was too tart and not enjoyable.

So all in all, while I loved my main, everything else fell short and I feel like I was ripped off. And more importantly, I would encourage the servers and management staff of Troll to be more transparent about what you are serving your guests. Everyone has a right to know what they are eating, whether that is for health/safety reasons or religious reasons or ethical reasons, especially if they make a point to ask. I’ve been to other restaurants at all price points with daily changing menus and have never experienced this evasiveness...

Wholly unimpressed with dining here. I was very excited to eat here as they describe their tasting menu as traditional Norwegian food with a modern twist, but what was served to me felt bland, uninspired, and at times, pre-packaged from a grocery store. Service was fine, though the servers weren’t necessarily the warmest.

With the five-course meal, the dishes were spaced appropriately in between except the dessert, which came thirty minutes after the fourth dish and had to be asked for. The first course was a shrimp salad, bland and the shrimp were rubbery. Second course was a small slice of filet with a sauce that seemed to taste like French dressing, maybe a paprika mayonnaise/dressing that is popular in Norway for take away foods from a convenience store? The filet was fine but bland, it was on a spoonful of coleslaw which was also bland. The best part of the dish was the pickled onions but maybe not what I would want remembered about a filet dish. Third course was probably the best, a whitefish that was cooked well over a carrot purée, fennel fronds, and caramelized onions. Fourth course was a braised pork cheek, the meat was tender but the whole dish was sloppy and too sweet, like there was a hoisin sauce accident in the kitchen. Fifth course was a sad version of a crepe with berries, and a melted dollop of some sort of chocolate sauce. I had one taste of the crepe and ate the berries and gave up.

I’ve eaten all over the world, from street vendors to Michelin Star restaurants, and know that you can get great food for cheap and great food for a ton of money. This place was neither, and i spent a ton of money coming to that conclusion. Best part about this restaurant was its atmosphere, which was low lit and moody, with interesting light fixtures and edgy pictures on the walls. My home has those things too though and i can experience it for free. Maybe it was an off day because i see a lot of people who have given the restaurant high ratings, but i wasn’t feeling it and i don’t think it was worth...

A simply fantastic location for this restaurant overlooking the Trondheim canal. The venue offers both elegant indoor dining rooms and a magnificent outdoor area. The latter is cleverly divided into a restaurant section, shielded by glass panels to enjoy the view in any weather, and a more casual area for drinks. From here, you can admire an unparalleled view of the picturesque, colorful houses lining the canal, creating a truly unique atmosphere. The culinary offering is remarkable for its variety and quality, with the option to choose between tasting menus and a wide à la carte selection. The menu strikes a fine balance between fish, meat, and vegetarian/vegan dishes. I particularly appreciated the meticulous attention to allergens, which are clearly listed on the menu and proactively mentioned by the attentive and well-prepared staff. The mussel dish was unforgettable: incredibly fresh, served with a delicate sauce and perfumed with local herbs that enhanced their flavor. The selection of sparkling wines was also excellent, featuring several labels of Crémant and Prosecco. A special mention goes to the details, such as the tea served in a French press, prepared and presented impeccably. The service was efficient, professional, and consistently friendly. Finally, it's worth noting the complete absence of architectural barriers, making the restaurant accessible to everyone. An experience I would...