Sentralen Restaurant

It’s not often that a restaurant opens and immediately hits its stride. But Sentralen Restaurant (part of the Sentralen complex, a multipurpose space that is housed in two former bank buildings and home to concert halls and food and beverage outlets), was an Oslo hot spot—and an instant classic—upon opening in early 2016. If Maaemo put Oslo on the culinary map, Sentralen is responsible for popularizing it as a real foodie city, and one that is as much about both high quality cuisine as it is informal, social dining environments. The spacious, high-ceilinged dining room features exposed brick walls, graffiti-inspired drawings, an open-kitchen and an atmosphere that feels like a gathering place for friends to enjoy some of the best food in the city (all of which is meant to be shared). The restaurant is buzzing at both lunch and dinner, when diners can enjoy such flavor-packed dishes as 24-month-old Comté shaved into elegant curls and generously sprinkled over a sourdough crisp with sherry honey, or duck confit with pickled cabbage, brown butter, dill and fried shallots, served on a roll-it-yourself wrap.