Kontrast - Oslo

Born in Skåne Mikael Svensson began his career in Oslo before stints with 3* Spaniards Quique Dacosta and Martin Berasategui, a focus on organic and ethically s... read more Born in Skåne Mikael Svensson began his career in Oslo before stints with 3* Spaniards Quique Dacosta and Martin Berasategui, a focus on organic and ethically sourced Ingredients from within Norway seeing Restaurant Kontrast show off local producers and the Animals they raise. Stating “the end result is never better than the quality of the Product you start with,” a fact frequently overlooked in today’s low-cost and convenience driven market, it is through temperatures and textures frequently found in juxtaposition that Svensson builds layered bites tied together through the use of acid, fermentation and Herbs. A fifteen-course tasting that begins in the lounge, cement floors and exposed ceilings creating an industrial feel that magnifies noise from other tables, opening bites consist of bold flavors such as Scallops with bitter Vegetables and Shrimp with Horseradish before moving on to a delicate Donut followed by a Pork Blood Croustade topped in Vinegar-splashed Cheese. Going down the street for a Sunchoke and Tim Wendelboe Coffee before taking a seat in front of the open kitchen, just five Chefs running three seatings simultaneously, a vibrant White Wine from Hungary proved adept to handling first Turnips and Sea Snails with Caviar then poignant Crab Curry imbued with Garum atop Carrots and Sour Cream. Refusing to outsource Sauces, Mikael’s XO a three-year process made on-site, Crucifers spung to life before Wild Halibut and Chicken with Mushrooms, Soy and a complex reduction featuring Yellow Wine with Sweet Corn. Slowing as the room filled up, lengthy waits between courses seeing the final four items take longer than the first eight, aged Lamb brought plenty of flavor to match Cherries plus Coffee before frozen Kraftkar Bleu Cheese and Sunflower Seed Ice Cream shocked the palate in preparation for elegantly arranged Plums followed by Mignardises.

Kontrast is an excellent restaurant, really really good. We had a number of courses each better than the previous one! (Actually, they all were A+ excellent. Th... read more Kontrast is an excellent restaurant, really really good. We had a number of courses each better than the previous one! (Actually, they all were A+ excellent. The service and the ambience both were excellent. We highly recommend this restaurant.

The whole experience was so nice and original! It's all about feeling unique and the food was great! I spent a very nice evening at this place and would go back... read more The whole experience was so nice and original! It's all about feeling unique and the food was great! I spent a very nice evening at this place and would go back with pleasure!

This is an amazing restaurant. Laid back athmosphere. A distinct and unique take on local product, without trying to copy the endlessly copied nordic cuisine. G... read more This is an amazing restaurant. Laid back athmosphere. A distinct and unique take on local product, without trying to copy the endlessly copied nordic cuisine. Great people. Every dish was spotless and perfectly seasoned. Being spoiled eaters, we believe this place is underrated with just one Michelin star.

We had a medium kontrast menu. Food and wine-pairing were outstanding. The service was excellent. They had no problems adapting the menu to allergens. All in al... read more We had a medium kontrast menu. Food and wine-pairing were outstanding. The service was excellent. They had no problems adapting the menu to allergens. All in all, we had an excellent evening here. If there is anything that we would have liked differently, it would be the food presentation. The staff come from different countries and speak different levels of English, so when you try to pronounce difficult Norwegian names and ingredients, it can be difficult to understand it well. The other thing that would have been nice would be to receive a copy of the menu to take home.