Scan Magazine | Restaurant of the Month | Norway
Restaurant of the Month, Norway
Arctic Circle cuisine In the town of Mo i Rana, just south of the Arctic Circle – where the summer sun never sets, but merely sweeps the horizon, before dipping back up for another day – sits No3 restaurant and cocktail bar. By Lisa Maria Berg | Photos: Vegar Bergli and Robin Myren
The restaurant is situated in a wooden house dating from 1907, which has the tradition of good food as part of its very foundation – the very first lady of the house, Levie Trønsdal, was alleged to be such a good cook, that the neighbours regularly left their Sunday roasts to come over and taste hers. Nowadays, people pilgrimage from further afield to get a taste of the locally sourced, Nordic based, down-to-earth menu at No3. Whether you are visiting Mo i Rana itself, are on your way to Lofoton or the coast of Helgeland – Lofoten’s less-heard-of pearl of a little brother – or perhaps on 86 | Issue 114 | July 2018
your way up to the North Cape, No3 is the ideal place to stop for a meal and a drink. “Our focus is on quality, locally-sourced produce and a great atmosphere,” says manager Vegar Bergli, who wants just one thing for the guests – for them to have a good time. With a menu that offers the ultimate combination of tradition and innovation, beers from microbreweries from across the country and, if you book a weekend table, live entertainment, they do just that.
London lost Let us linger with the drinks for a moment. Yes, you did read correctly earlier –
it is a cocktail bar. Nestled just below the polar circle sits a little piece of New York and London, in a heavenly position beneath the midnight sun. Even better, you can sip away at the mixologists’ creations without the Shoreditch hipsters and the yummy Harlem mummies. Simply come as you are, with walking boots or without, and you will be served. And if the hike, the boat trip, the dog-sleigh trek or the grotto expedition have worn you out, worry not! Order an Aquavit-infused cocktail and recharge your batteries.
A seasonal menu The north of Norway is ever-changing, becoming two completely different countries in winter and summer. And, just as the season changes, so must the menu. Three times a year, something new happens in the kitchen, depending on whatever nature is providing at that time. Crayfish are