Arakataka

This was our last meal in Oslo. The restaurant was very nice. It was during the Easter holiday and this is one of the only restaurants opened so we felt very grateful. The food was wonderful and apparently the wine selection is quite extensive in general. A very, very nice experience would recommend.

This restaurant feels like it is 4.5/5. The food is interesting, but not every meal is stellar. I have been to many fine dining restaurants and it feels slightly below others I visited. Service was good, but not outstanding. The vibe in the restaurant was positive. Worthy of a one time visit, but I wouldn’t return back again

Salty!!! As a non-Scandie, I appreciate that Scandinavians like 'well salted' however... We opted for the tasting, not quite sure what the other options were, and watched as well presented dishes were put in front of us. Full marks for presentation, however nothing wow and everything 'salty'! We commented to our server who basically said 'yes of course we like our food salty'. Apart from the obvious health issues, this did not enhance our dining experience! Billed as 'fine dining' the ambiance and general feeling of the restaurant was more 'bistro'. Even taking in to consideration the 'Norwegian' factor, this was a bit pricey for what it actually was (I think). Popular but not really for us.

Nice place - booked out on a Tuesday night - pleasant crowd in their late 20s to 40s; lucky we had reserved a table. Modern tastefully designed restaurant (lots of wood), the wine list excellent (strong in French wines). We had a fairly priced 4-course menu and were positively surprised by nordic-creative cuisine ! Starting with delicous oysters / halibut (?) the second course' green aspargus with a whey based slightly sour aroma sauce was top notch. The chicken course was crunchy (reminded me a bit of a nordicinterpretation of Beijing duck) and the caramelle aroma of the desert remakable. Yes service could be more warm ... but i always prefer professional cold over US style fake friendliness ... All in all: Very nice evening !!

It’s definitely one of my favorite spots in Oslo. Good wine food and good wine menu, professional sommeliers, friendly service. Just one thing that disappointed me is that once I didn’t have a reservation but was in restaurant on spot. First, the receptionist told me there could be a place. Then another female receptionist came up and told me impatiently that it’s full. Her attitude made me really uncomfortable. If it were not for that bottle of wine…

This is a fine cuisine but very congested. Dishes are salty and I didn’t like the way of service. High priced food with low taste. We were there on 14th February.

A must-visit for foodies visiting Oslo. We went for the 4-course meal with wine pairing and were amazed. The beef tartare was uniquely done with crunchy bits that were fantastic. This was followed by white asparagus in a rich shellfish cream sauce. The main course was chicken several ways with a butter sauce that was to die for. The meal ended with a perfectly crafted desert that mixed lemon, white chocolate, and cheese. Service was extremely attentive and the wine pairing was well done as well. You can’t miss this place while in the city!

This place is mid at best, I was so excited for this meal made reservations days in advanced. My oysters were outstanding and the free bread was very warm. Then my main came out cold and was very one dimensional. My mother’s main also came out cold. Coat rooms floors soaked no rug to brush off boots. The service was also slow maybe that was because we ordered á la carte but that was an option given so shouldn’t affect service. Only restaurant that has been on Michelin recommended list that I would NOT return to.

Came to this hidden gem featuring seasonal Nordic food. It's located around the corner from the Rockefeller Music Hall. We ordered their 6-course tasting menu along with some extra bites from their a la carte menu. Their warm sourdough bread with well-whipped butter was great start to this dinner experience. The fish taco was literally the best one I've ever had. The fish was breaded and fried perfectly, and the sauce was outstanding! Beef tartare was tender and well-seasoned. All the seafood dishes were so fresh that they spoke for themselves, needing only minimal seasoning to enhance their natural flavors. The whole meal was great, and we enjoyed the sophisticated and vibrant atmosphere as well~

Great "DC"scene 1st stop- (appetizer-drinks-then move to next place for meal and then on to dessert from street vendor). Perfect first stop! Wait staff attentive and knowledgeable and love the ambiance. Nice experience!

An outstanding casual-fine-dining restaurant that opened early enough for me to catch the track meet at Bislett Stadium. If you want to eat at a high-end restaurant where service is pared down and not constantly asking how things are, this is a great stop. The six-course tasting was, again, outstanding.

Part Wine bar and part gourmet Restaurant Arakataka has existed in its current form for over a decade, and although staff has changed over time the kitchen continues to challenge itself with bold plates based on local products combined with Nordic sensibilities plus global influences. Open 16h00 to 22h00 Monday through Saturday, an a la carte menu served alongside the NOK 895 six-course tasting, tiled floors and wood decorate the L-shaped space where bilingual service is unremarkable but friendly enough to get the job done. Bolstered by a fairly young crowd and extensive Wine list, each table starting with Malted Sourdough tinged in Fennel, Monday night's amuse consisted of young Broccoli with briny Cream and Horseradish before the requested addition of a luxurious Donut topped in quality Caviar and Cream. Served as six proper courses, several hiding the Protein such as in the case of Steak Tartare with unripe Strawberries, local Tomatoes were brightened by two types of Currants before proceeding to delicate Custard beneath Mussels and Beans. All properly cooked, each Ingredient contributing to the whole without excess, Monkfish showed well alongside a package of Zucchini, Nuts and Onions prior to the main course of juicy Chicken alongside bitter and earthy components. Glass-fronted but currently obscured by construction it was within 90-minutes that a Dessert of Raspberries and White Chocolate was served, the addition of florals and Caramel creating a beautiful composition before diners departed to home, a nearby concert venue or other nightlife.

Their spaghetti with roe was really delicious and original, but everything else was very heavy handed with salt, so much so with the crab that I was unable to eat it. Most of the dishes were extremely rich so if you have a lighter palate, this place could be a challen go e. The ice cream was good but nothing out of the ordinary. I do want to give a thumbs up for their service, which is very good and overall the place has a good vibe, but the food is not for everyone.

Menu changes every 2-3 weeks and they explore unique ingredients our dessert had ants as protein! Something refreshing and new. Service was great. Portions are quite small though

Pricey? Slightly yes even for oslo. Delicious? absolutely! However, service was quite slow when we were there. Had to wait quite a bit for our last two dishes to be served.

Food was ok, however I rally expected more. The prices are very high, even to be in Norway. I visited with a small group and the others had a pre set menu. I chose a couple of single dishes. My dishes were the same as the ones in the pre set, however the size was supposed to be adjusted since I had fewer dishes... and the prices were higher. The waiter insisted that I had a third dish, even though I told them I wasn't so hungry. To my disappointment my dishes were exactly the same size as the rest of the party's food even though it said different in the menu. Also, after my original order of two dishes, I wasn't hungry anymore. So the third dish that I was talked into buying was absolutely not necessary. To sum it all up: over priced!

I had extremely high expectations for my dining experience at Arakataka, and it didn't let me down - this is now definitely one of my top three favourites in Oslo, especially as the value for money is unparalleled. I ate at there with a friend on a Wednesday night, and we decided to go with 5 courses each (as the price of each course is reduced to 199kr if you select 5 or more per person - bargain!). Firstly, the service was excellent - the waiters were attentive and were well informed about the courses and ingredients. I started the meal off with an oyster (just the one, as I wanted to try as many dishes as possible), which was really good and fresh-tasting. We were also served piping hot sourdough bread with whipped butter to eat alongside the rest of the meal - SO GOOD! All of the dishes we were served were small works of art - they really know how to present their food at Arakataka. Our dishes were as follows: Dry-aged beef with mustard sauce and cucumber pickle salad - this was perhaps the dish I liked the least, as the meat had a somewhat too subtle taste. The signature dish of spaghetti with Kalix caviar (løyrom) and a buttery sauce sounds like an outlandish combination, but it works so well it might just be my new favourite pasta dish (which is saying something...). We had each ordered this dish, which was fortunate, as I would have been reluctant to share :P The pepper crab was a quite messy affair - luckily, you are given a towel alongside to wipe your greasy hands after wrestling with the crab claws ;) The crab meat was delicious, and went well with the pleasantly spicy sauce/marinade. The white asparagus dish came with a smoky-tasting sauce which worked very well, although it was slightly difficult to appreciate the subtle asparagus taste after the fiery crab. The best savoury dish of the night was the skate fish with green asparagus and mussels. The fish was SO tender and buttery tasting, and the sauce it was served with was sublime! We both laughed out loud after taking the first bite (yes, really), out of sheer excitement over how good it was. Our last savoury course was halibut with seaweed, which was also delicious, if not quite as stellar as the skate. I was impressed with the way the seaweed flavours were prominent, but wel-balanced in the dish, and every component worked very well with the rest, with the sauce bringing it all together. There were two desserts on the menu, so naturally, we had both to share. Sometimes I find that restauarants seem to put less effort into the seet dishes in favour of savoury - definitely not so at Arakataka! If anything, the desserts were even more complex and inspiring than the savoury courses. I really don't know the English term for granskudd (spruce shoots?), but my previous encounters with it have been in jellies and syrup's at farmers markets around Oslo, and it has failed to charm me. However, at Arakataka, they have managed to capture the flavour and turn it into an an insanely moreish sorbet that I refuse to believe could be disliked by anyone. My friend and I joked that if they had put a grunskudd popsicle on the market, it would outsell everything else - it was that good. The dessert also had a lovely Nyr ice cream which worked well with the sorbet. The goat's sour cream, white chocolate and rhubarb dessert seemed less interesting than the other dessert, but this was only because we only encountered the goat's sour cream and rhubarb on the first taste. When we discovered the white chocolate underneath, the flavours married perfectly. 5 course per person + an oyster, a bottle of Burgundy white, coffee, tea and an excellent glass of Alsace dessert wine came at just over 1000kr per person, which I think is simply the best gastronomic value for money you can get in Oslo. Faultless.

Love love love the food. Is so delicious. Everything was so good and prepare right in front of you. The service and ambiance is also very easy, not like I am eating in Michelin star restaurant. Will definitely comeback again.

What an amazing experience. Every dish was meticulously crafted to bring out the flavor of every ingredient. If this is what Nordic cuisine is, please, can we have more? Waitstaff paired wines perfectly and had wonderful recommendations for courses.

Friendly, unassuming service. Recommended drink was a hit for both of us. We had the 5 course tasting menu. Starting course was refreshing and herby. What followed seemed to get better and better. My husbands favorite dish was the white asparagus with fish roe. Mine was the duck with cabbage. It was our favorite stop in Oslo. Very happy and would come back next time in town.

Really delicious and thoughtful small plates. Both regional biodiverse and European foods, wines, and beer. The beef tartare with roe and crispy barley was exquisitely fresh and entertaining to the palette. The oysters (French, they said) had the sensual recognition of a fresh burst of sea air. I especially loved how attentive, quietly enthusiastic, and observant the staff was. Even the things I didn't love-love (mackerel with pickled pine, which was overall too bright for me) were still intriguing and good. A soothing environment with great glassware and acoustics seals the deal.

I was impressed with Arakataka. The menu is creative and the staff is friendly. There are a lot of fish and a few meat options all presented nicely. I'm always excited to have fennel or cauliflower pureé with a dish. The plates are small so you'll more than likely order 2-3 dishes. I found the sauces to be rich so two were plenty. They are very allergy friendly. I was served the most amazing gluten free bread with whipped butter which I think they make there. They made a special gluten free chocolate mouse that the chef came up with on the spot as there weren't any other gf chocolate options. It never hurts to ask for chocolate! I will definately return!

An amazing experience, from food to service to decor. We took the daily 4 course menu consisting of a combination of different dishes; one cold, one warm fish dish, one duck and one dessert. Each one was prepared with extreme care in both visual appeal and taste, combining carefully selected flavors. All served on beautiful heavy ceramic crockery. And I almost forgot to mention the warm wholegrain bread at arrival. Another bonus were our Swedish waitresses; sweet, happy and helpful. Coming from Stockholm I have not experienced a service level that was so genuinely sincere and bubbly as these two girls gave us tonight. Thank you! I would recommend this place if you're a foodie and looking for something different.

On a recent weekend trip to Oslo, I searched for one of its top restaurants in order to get a taste of true Norwegian cuisine. Arakataka was well-rated, so I made a quick reservation online. The reservation grew from 3 to 4, then from 4 to 5 people. The staff was very accommodating and we ended up sitting at a quiet table in the corner. I was expecting to order à la carte, but when we got there, we were told we had to do the four-course menu in order to make it easier on the chef. I wish we had been told that when making reservations, especially since I called twice in order to change the party size. The food itself was very good. The first course was a tuna ceviche with some mayo sauce. I personally was not a fan of that because I do not like creamy dishes. The fish was quite fresh though which is a stark difference than many restaurants we see in the US. The second dish escapes me, but I remember it being quite taste as well. The third course was a duck with mashed potatoes/algae, it was quite good. My friend, who is a chef, did not like it though b/c it was prepared with a sous-vide method, which, according to him, made it unnecessarily chewy. The last dish was dessert and it was a twist of an original norwegian rice pudding. It was the best dish of the night, the most memorable. I really liked the service, the server was very attentive to our needs and even insisted on bringing us a substitute dish when one of my friends complained that his dish was too salty. It was an interesting experience. I would probably come again.

Small menu but good variety, friendly service, very good wine list! Dishes are both modern and traditional. Enjoyed very much!

Wow. The 4 course menu was the perfect amount of food. Creative flavor profiles and excellent use of local resources. Will definitely return when in Oslo next!

Horrible service. The lady who served us was rude. I did not like her, it took us 50 mins to get our late entree. Horrible place

This is a nice place to have dinner. I felt it was pretty cheap compared to other places in Oslo and it had great quality food. The servers were very friendly. The Greek girl was very nice.

Absolutely wonderful!! Nytimes recommended this place and it did not disappoint. Beautiful interior, delicious small plates and great service! It is not cheap (comparable to nyc) at 80-100$ per person. Loved the halibut and white asparagus dishes, and the marzipan dessert.

One of the most imaginative restaurants I have dined in anywhere in the world. The food was delicious and was so authenticity Norwegian. Our first course was halibut with fish roe, cucumber crunch, some fennel and black bread with a zesty citrus sauce. Norwegian cerviche! Course two was a skate wing in a skate broth with beans and a garlic aoli sauce. The final dish was lamb with beets. For dessert a vanilla ice cream with parsley sauce and a cherry sauce. Delicate and complex flavors. The wine pairings were spot on. The service outstanding. Any foodie would love this place.

A fortunate find! Was just around the neighborhood and decided to give it a try. Delicious foods with great attention to detail.

Excellent set dinner menu. I was impressed with the taste of the food and the service. The dishes seems to be very thoughtful use of local ingredients with very fancy preparation. While the prices are a bit high, I find the the experience well worth it.

We had a wonderful time at Arakataka and could not have higher regard for it. We had a great trip through Norway from a culinary standpoint and it all started here. Our wonderful server helped us come up with a list of places to eat in Norway that would be in line with Arakataka. Great suggestions and they had a hard time living up to our experience at Arakataka. Go and enjoy.

Recommended by the hotel, we were very satisfied with this meal. Service was great and the food was great!