Kristina K.
Yelp
What a gem of a place in the heart of Bergen, Norway! We decided to come here on our first night in the city, eager for some comfort rustic food and a great ambiance to catch up with some friends.
I would describe the experience as an excellent meal at home (which is a totally good thing). The restaurant itself reminded me of being at my grandmother's house: wooden accents, warm, soaked in natural light pouring from the windows, and filled with positive and welcoming energy.
First off, the bread basket with creamy thyme butter was so fresh! I must note that all of baked goods and breads in Norway were incredible but this had to be one of my favorites. For the main course, we went with the side of baked Norwegian potatoes with thyme and butter, goat cheese and pear salad, white fish with lentils, mushroom, barley, and spinach salad, and braised ox cheek. I am not entirely sure where to begin since the food was ahhmazing. If I had to be completely honest, my stomach was performing a happy dance when I first tasted the ox cheek. The meat was so deliciously prepared and tender, and I would have been perfectly happy eating the whole portion on my own, but sadly, we had to share with others at our table. Still, my gold star and a "must-try" vote goes to the ox cheek. I have got to say that thyme potatoes will also get an honorable mention from me because it is hard to make a simple dish taste good, but Marg & Bein perfectly captured the classic no frills taste. I am Russian, so eating a lot of potatoes with bread and butter is pretty much in our blood, and these were beautifully baked and seasoned.
I did not get to try the fish or the pear and goat cheese salad, but my friend swore that it was the freshest cheese she has ever tasted, and of course, to no surprise, the fish was too, simply outstanding.
I cannot write this review without mentioning our wonderful server. Sadly, we did not catch his name, but I wish we had so I could give him a proper shout out for making our first dining experience in Norway a smooth success. He was a caring and attentive lad and he made us feel really comfortable and welcome. He also wrote down a list of all of the fun wine and beer bars in Bergen, giving us a fun itinerary for the night.
Did we get dessert? Certainly! It was a delicate dark bitter chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries that had us floating in the clouds. I believe the menu does change, however, so a play on dishes, textures, and new plates is to be expected.
Overall, extremely pleased and impressed, thanks for making our first night in Norway an unforgettable one!