Le Benjamin bar & bistro

One of the BEST meals I've ever had! Deliciousness langoustine appetizer, followed by perfect ribeye AND salad, plus thick potato (chips) cooked in duck fat - just ridiculous. Best meal of our entire trip to Norway!

My go to place in Oslo when in doubt and if I can get a place. I always dine alone, but if you're more than one, try to book in advance. The service is excellent, probably the best I had in Oslo. The food is always on point, just never disappoints regardless of the menu changes. Do take the staff advise on the wine pairing, it never failed me.

We had a great time at this restaurant. The food is excellent, especially when you order seafood. But we definitely love Norway. They have very different styles of making the fish special. I do recommend also to taste the White and the red wine from the list. They have quite a nice variation of different nice italian and spanische vines. Reservation is definitely recommended, especially during special dinner times like holidays or during the weekend. If you are lucky, we'll maybe get the table during the week if it's not so busy with a short waiting time if you're just stopping by.

I’ve tried this place just recently and I can that it’s one of my favorite restaurants in Oslo! All the food we had was tasty, seasoned well and cook til perfection. Nothing was boring and the wine suggested by the waiter was also pretty good. Service was very friendly and the whole experience was amazing. The bill was on the expensive side, but overall it was totally worth it. I suggest to try the crayfish, the crispy ravioli with chevre And the ice cream with crunchy almonds and salted caramel. Be sure to reserve weeks (or more) in advance because it seems they’re always fully booked.

Le Benjamin is a true classic that’s been around for years — and for good reason! They’ve recently extended their outdoor seating, which makes it even easier to drop in for a spontaneous bite. Perfect spot if you’re in the mood for oysters and a cheese plate, or just a relaxed glass of wine. The staff are always friendly and welcoming. A great mix of casual charm and French bistro quality.

My favorite restaurant in Oslo. I’d recommend sitting at the bar if you’re a tourist. Great staff, they hooked me up with some other great restaurants and just incredibly cordial. Wonderful halibut dinner.

Had a desire for fondue in the cold winter weather and Google brought us to my namesake restaurant Le Benjamin. Seemingly solidly booked for the next week we called on the off chance they could fit us in and they found us a perfect table for two in the window for a limited time until the next guests arrived. Just can't think of a single way to improve this restaurant! A perfectly warm welcome and pre dinner drinks brought promptly by attentive staff. They provided great menu advice and good wine list knowledge to help support our fondue choice, whilst also drawing us to a perfectly light lemon pavlova dessert du jour. We enjoyed every minute there and wouldn't hesitate to return

We are food lowers and this French gem is one of the best restaurants in Oslo! Absolutely must book in advance and you definitely will be pleased by impeccable service, eyes, nose and taste receptors will enjoy the sensation of high class and comfort food ;)

Highly regarded by local Chefs and traveled gourmands Le Benjamin Bar & Bistro fills an important niche in Oslo thanks to not only its hearty French fare but opening hours inclusive of Sunday from 16h00 to 21h30. Family owned since its inception, a location amidst homes and businesses in Grünerløkka finding the space mostly full of locals, it is outdoors at the bar or seated at tables that guests are treated to top notch service plus a menu that changes at least monthly. Dimly lit with candles on wood tables, leather banquets offering a comfortable seat regardless of weather, diners may choose a la carte or a daily prix-fixe consisting of three courses. Known for a terroir-driven Wine list, mostly French with several offered by the glass, Sunday found Riesling with moderate sweetness well matched to good Bread and a torn Tarte Flambée topped in melted Comté plus roasted Cepes. Hard to pass up Beef Tartare or Norwegian Langoustines, the latter a daily special, suffice it to say there are no regrets when it comes to Turbot roasted until the collagen melts slightly and paired to Chanterelle Mushrooms plus Dill Butter and Leeks the plate more than justified its 465 NOK. Casual and English friendly, though service is gracious and professional, it was only after finishing several creamy Pommes Dauphine that Dessert arrived as dueling Homemade Nougatine Ice Cream and flawless French Toast caramelized over a Custard center with Raspberries and Pistachio Ice Cream.

From what I can tell, this is the place that everyone goes for a more discreet, high level dinner experience. We sat at the bar--which is very usual for us. The staff was excellent. we ordered the olives...great, but just olives in olive oil..simple is sometimes the best. Then we did the sardines, which come in a tin that is halfway rolled open. Super tasty and reminded me that this is available in most places around the world and I needed to be eating it like this more often. Sardines are great nutrient rich food, especially for those of you looking for choline. This followed by one of the stars of the evening--white asparagus In a buttery creamy, maybe a bit of light cheese as well...delicious. We ended the night with two fish dishes, the hake--very good and the poached turbot, which was off the charts exceptional. This is a must try when you visit Oslo...try to make a resy. And then if possible, try to find a spot at the bar.

Le Benjamin portrays itself as a French bistro, but it also makes some experimental dishes. We had an extensive sampling with a 5-course menu. My advice: Stick to the classics. The more classic French it is, the better they are at it. The 5-course rates as follows: eccentric grilled tuna and papaya [Rating: 5*], skate on Hollandaise [4*], confit duck on a bed of couscous with a green pea sauce. Good duck, but in combination it was a touch too heavy [3*]... You can't complete a French meal without LE FROMAGE! (comte, langre and a sharp blue cheese) [5*]. Vanilla cream with raspberries [4*], macarons (some of the best in town?) and surprisingly indulging coconut ice cream [5*].. I don't normally think much about the service, but the server was very attentive in spite of a busy afternoon. [5*] Summary: Reasonably priced French corner in Oslo for a nice outing, good wine and cheese, pushed by its trendy clientele to be a little too edgy away from a perfected old-fashioned French menu. Overall a strong 4 stars.

If you're visiting or living in Oslo and looking for a great French restaurant with a nice ambiance, fabulous wine selection, good food and great service I recommend coming to Grünerløkka and eating at Le Banjamin. This is a family owned and operated business and it shows by the way they treat their straff and customers. A lot of dishes have gluten or dairy however they can easily accomodate your needs. You can't go wrong with the fish of the day. This is a great place for parties, families or just a quiet evening out. And did i mention they have the best French Pinot in town?

Omg, so good. Came here with my work on my first day and absolutely loved our three course meal. (Menu of the day) We had open faced ravioli, duck for the main course and some berry-ish dish for dessert, all of which were fantastic. I also had their white wine recommendation and it was delicious. (Not sure about prices, but it's definitely worth it!)

This is a really lovely bistro. Free wifi. Fantastic ambience and location overlooking the river. Would certainly go back. I'd give it higher points but the prices are too high. The toastie was lovely but I'd want a little more than just cheese and capsicum for the price. Wine is pretty much on par with the rest of Oslo and the selection is acceptable. Good service. Menus in English for those uncomfortable with Norwegian but the staff are also perfectly fluent in English.

If you never had French before then maybe you're think it's great. Dishes lacked balance and were over salted. Really over priced but for the amount and quality. But very good service. Serious lacked the extra something that justifies the price. Would of given it 2 1/2 stars but that's not possible.

Really good food - good atmosphere - kitchen open late - creative, but firmly rooted cooking - highest quality ingredients. A Grünerløkka favorite.