Vaaghals

We were there for Saturday brunch. Let me tell you, this was such a great experience from the food to the lovely people behind the service. The staff was always so kind and attentive and every dish was presented and explained in such an elegant yet unpretentious way. They have a lovely selection of wine, cozy outdoor terrace and lovely interior design. We can't wait to go back for dinner too.

We came here for the last night of our two week Norwegian trip. The restaurant had a very nice outside patio facing the river. The staff was warm. I have to be somewhat critical about the food because they were all very photogenic but the taste and texture could all be improved. The first course is kale soup. The portion was small but I think it is the right size so we don’t get filled up right away. However it was too too salty. It was really not suitable for the first course. The second one is the home made ham. It tasted fine but nothing special. The halibut was chewy. This was the second time I had halibut in Norway. Both of them were disappointing. I would recommend to get it in Anchorage. The side dish is cauliflower. The chef managed to add a lot of color to this pale vegetable. Unfortunately it tasted too soft and still boring. The final dish is steak. It was the best dish for the night. It was placed in a warm dish. Overall I liked the deco and sitting of the restaurant. The design of the dining table and Riedel wine glasses. The chefs seemed put a lot of emphasis on plating the food but forgot about the taste and texture. The wait staff were nice but need more knowledge.

Great dining experience! We enjoyed their 5-course menu, each dish was very good and expertly crafted. The service was outstanding, our waiter was knowledgeable of both the menu and wines. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a special culinary experience.

Their Saturday Brunch is so delicious, full of novel and exotic flavours and ingredients. Every bite of it was an explosion of new flavours in my mouth. I absolutely enjoyed dining here, and highly recommend it for locals and tourists.

Definitely one of the places to visit if you are in Oslo and maybe even make a trip if you are not. Service was nigh impeccable and the atmosphere was intimate and lively. Food was fantastic - from the flavorful brioche to the firm and tasty skrei. The staff member - Vivian - was just incredible when it came to explaining each individual dish and being attentive to every need. Bravo! I would definitely visit again if I were in the same area - highly recommended.

Posh dining spot very close to the heart of Oslo. Walked in during off-peak hours past lunchtime and was able to score seats. Might still be best to book in advance if you can.

It is very ok. We had a brunch, that is reasonably priced considering the experience and location. The service is also good.

A very good restaurant in an excellent location near the Opera House and close to the train station. We opted for the 4-course tasting menu, which was very good. The wine pairing was excellent, but it was very expensive for 4 courses. The wine list was also very expensive, so we did dead the wine pairing. The courses got larger as the menu progressed. By the end we were too full to eat the last course. The entrecôte was so big that it was difficult for 4 people to share. The first course of soup and house-made ham was wonderful. I wish I had just ordered it as my whole meal. Service was friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant. I simply feel the portion sizes were a bit weird and the meal took almost 3 hours for four courses. If I were to go back, I would order off the menu instead of doing the tasting menu.

Now this is what I expect from a Michelin guide restaurant!! We were lucky to get last minute table here as reservations are needed and can be made on line. Our last night in Oslo and this was the perfect way to end the trip. Entering the restaurant, to a bright and open floor plan. There are 2 levels of dining and an outdoor patio open when the weather is nice. I loved our table location by a corner with light coming in all around us. Service was some of the best we've had anywhere in the world. Not only was our server working hard our entire dining experience (about 2 1/2 hours), but he checked on us frequently and made sure all dishes were served in a timely, yet spaced out fashion. Coming to a restaurant like this, we had to go with the 8 course meal to try everything. This is what they are most known for. It was exceptional. Every dish seems to get better and better. Each course was brought out by either our server or a food runner, explained in detail what was in it, where each ingredient was from (local farms, etc), and if applicable, how long the process to marinate or prepare it was. Instead of wine paring, we choose the elderberry beverage which is popular in this part of the world and actually paired fantastic with each an every dish. Some plates were served warm which was a nice touch. Something I wasn't expecting, but was perfect in keeping hot/warm foods at the right temperature. This was hands down one of the most memorable dining experience for overall quality, flavor variety, service and ambiance. Also, for an 8-course meal, this was affordable and most importantly satisfying! With a rotational, seasonal menu, this is a place to return to. A 5+ star experience which I highly recommend.

Despite being a Michelin guide restaraunt, Vaaghals elevates common farm fare to the level of fine dining without seeming pompous. Its appeal revolves around the deliberate attempt to create a shared sensory experience and dialogue around the dinner table. The personalities of each ingredient is allowed to shine, unadultered, through a combination of technique and artistry. The highlights of the meal were the chicken liver paté and the roasted celeraic with leek aoli. The paté stole the show away from the house-made cured ham and assortment of breads. The paté's silky smoothness, airy mouthfeel, and delicate celeraic-infused flavor felt refreshing and playful rather than gamey and stilted. The celeraic, admittedly felt overly rich with both the aoli and hazelnuts. The celeraic itself was exceedingly well-executed, with a glutinous mouthfeel that I never knew vegetables could possess. Althought something bright and citrusy was left to be desired, this dish transformed something as mundane as a roasted vegetable into something to be explored and savored. --- First course was smoked ham and chicken liver paté with homemade breads/crackers. The paté was rich, so smooth, and refreshing from the hint of celeraic. Second course was roasted celeraic with leek cream, leek ash, and roasted hazelnuts. The celeraic was sooo soft and 糯. The leek cream was a little too rich, but overall, loved the earthy flavors here. Third course was seared hake with lobster sauce. The fish was a little overcooked, but the lobster sauce was on point. Fourth course was dry aged steak with roasted turnip, red wine reduction, and bone marrow. By this point I was stuffed, but everything paired very well and was so decadent. Dessert was okay, it was a little too sweet for my liking, but I liked the yoghurt ice cream.

This is a seriously good looking and feeling restaurant inside and out. We came for lunch and it was almost empty and sat on the super comfortable and shady patio. You can also sit in the expansive interior with a wide open kitchen too. The food was solid. The Turbot was really the best piece of fish we had in Norway. The Chicken confit was a bit salty but I think in Norway in general, seasoning tends to favor a saltier palate, we were just really excited to have a salad of all things because vegetables heavy dishes seemed hard to come by. It came with some nice potatoes with chips and despite us forgetting to mention a lactose problem when we ordered, they made a lactose free version for us even though we didn't ask them to and said it wasn't necessary, both were pretty tasty. The people are very friendly and the service was good. This is great spot to come chill, relax and enjoy some good weather and food in a fantastic atmosphere.

Food was good but front of house and service was a complete let down. The portion recommended was way too much and when we asked for takeaway of the leftovers, everything was dumped into a single paper bag by the Manager. When we asked for the food to be separated, the waiter said, "I would need to use my hands and it would take 5-10mins". Upon giving feedback to the waiting staff and Manager, we were paid lip service and given an ungenuine apology. This is a disappointing (and unacceptable) service level and an appalling response. Not a restaurant we would recommend.

This is quite a swanky restaurant. My friend and I came in on a Thursday without a reservation. They had a table for two available until a specific time and it was perfect. We selected the meat tasting menu. Every course in the meal contained meat (except dessert). I can't even remember how many courses there were! The menu did not describe the courses, but the staff did when the food came out. The food was mostly good and somewhat inventive. The staff was mostly professional. If you come to this restaurant and choose this meal option, be sure you like meat! It's a lot of meat! We chose the dessert course menu after the main meal. The server actually forgot and we had to remind him. The dessert consisted of unique sorbets and small pastries. I recommend coming here if you want a fancy, meat-filled, filling meal.

Amazing bartender and drinks, also really enjoyed the introduction to norwegian cuisine!

Restaurant: 4 * Where did I hear about the restaurant: Friends and media * Booking: Online * Location: Oslo Center, Barcode * Exterior: New and elegant * Interior: Very nice and good vibes and warm. * Type of restaurant: Traditional The food: 4 * Appearance: Very good * Texture: Very Good * Spices: Good * Complexity: Good, some new things I have never tried, like the brown goat cheese icecream :-) * Taste: Very Good Wine / Drinks: 4 * Wine selection: Very good * Beer / Drinks: Ok, smal selection, local * Coffee / Other : Ok Atmosphere: 4,5 * The restaurant: Good Atmosphere, warm and cosy, it was nice to be here when it was -20 outside. * Waitor / Waitress: Helpfull and friendly staff. Price: 3 * Price level: Average / High * Value: OK value Summary: Average score 3,7 I like the concept clean and traditional food with a twist, I like the way that they present the food on a big plate in the middel of the table and share. Best thing : The main course ( Skrei) COD and that the restaurant is warm and inviting. Negative: Not much, maybe the dessert ( Svele) it was a Little bit dry. Recommed for business dinners and dates :-)

Vaaghal is a restaurant at the waterfront of Oslo. It's just opposite the opera house and is on a newly structured area where all buildings are quite modern. Vaaghal is also under the roof of a modern building and has two floors, both with full glass facades. Regarding the food we ordered almost the whole menu to share and this is the style there. You have these wooden boards on the table, where the food is set and the idea is sharing. The food was good and the dishes were fancily set. I usually am not the fancy dish type of person. I just like to have a good portion and good quality but must say the food was good. Each dish was made with some kind of special centre taste. I even tried the beef tartar which was good (at least from a beginners point of view) with a lemony taste. It will sound funny but one of my favourites was the bread they brought in the beginning! But apart from that I loved the salmon. It was so juicy and tasty. I also liked a lot the main dish of meet. I have pictures of all. And last but def not least the desert!!! Oh my! You need to order it! It was just exceptional! So as a sum up I will say that the food was food, the price was worth it when looking at the quality, the atmosphere was cosy and the service (which didn't mention earlier) was great! Very friendly waiters with humor and good eye to fill the water glasses or to take the plates away etc. Enjoy!

Went here as a group of around 30 people yesterday and had an already made menu. The meals are brought to the table and you need to serve yourself the food you want. Almost like you are sitting at home on the Sunday dinner with the family. What I will remember best of this dinner was the dessert. An apple cake that was out of this world! The food holds a high quality and the service is top class! I would highly recommend this restaurant for a more fancy dinner.

This is a top notch restaurant. Seated inside you can watch the chef's team retrieving fresh ingredients and make a perfect meal to your satisfaction.