Southern Norway - Norway - page 232

within a color scheme of white, dark wooden paneling, and touches of apple
green, a uniformed and cheerfully hardworking waitstaff manages to be simul-
taneously informal, unpretentious, and chic. Menu items derive from the culi-
nary canon of two of Norway's preeminent chefs and restaurant entrepreneurs,
Trond Moi and Toralf Bølgen, and change at the beginning of every month,
according to the season. Worthy examples include breast of duck with red-cur-
rant sauce; creamy lobster stew served with lobster-stuffed ravioli; fried salmon
steaks with Asian spices; and roasted venison served with a forest mushroom
sauce.
Sjølystveien 1A. & 38-17-83-00. AE, DC, MC, V. Reservations recommended. Main courses
210NOK-250NOK ($30-$36); 3-course set-price menu 390NOK ($55). AE, DC, MC, V. Tues-Sun 5-10pm (last
order); Mon 5-10pm May to early Sept.
Sjøhuset (Sea House) NORWEGIAN Set directly on the harborfront in
the center of town, this restaurant is housed in a century-old former salt ware-
house whose oxblood-red walls are very distinctive. Inside, you'll see the massive
structural beams of the restaurant's original construction and a blazing stone-
sided fireplace. In summer guests prefer the waterfront terrace. Specialties
include an assorted platter of fish, including anglerfish and salmon. The fish is
poached in white wine and served with a sauce made from Noilly Prat (a famous
French Vermouth) along with shrimp, asparagus, and rice. You can also order a
dish of salmon, cod, and monkfish with a savory saffron sauce served with per-
fectly baked potatoes. The meat specialty is chateaubriand with a béarnaise
sauce.
Østre Strangate 12. & 38-02-62-60. Reservations required in summer. Main courses 170NOK-280NOK
($24-$40). AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 11:30am-11pm.
KRISTIANSAND AFTER DARK
There is cultural life here—the acclaimed Kristiansand Symfoniorkester
(Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra) performs year-round at Kongensgate 6
( & 38-02-24-40 ). Musical concerts are also presented year-round at
Musikkens Hus, Kongensgate 54 ( & 38-14-87-30 ). If you're interested, check
with the tourism office (p. 229) to see if any performances are scheduled at the
time of your visit. Telfords Pub & Tartan Room, Vestre Strandgate 7 ( & 38-
11-21-00 ), is a pub with an authentic Scottish interior and atmosphere, attract-
ing a heavy-drinking crowd (20s-40s). If you'd like to dance all night, try the
amusingly named Dr. Fjeld, in the Clarion Hotel Ernst, Rådhusgata 2 ( & 38-
12-86-00 ). Many young people come here, mixing with guests of all ages from
the hotel itself. The best piano bar is Lobbybaren, Vestre Strandgate 7 ( & 38-
11-21-00 ), in the Radisson SAS Caledonian Hotel, attracting an older crowd.
Rock music is played by a DJ all night long at the CD Night Club, Vestre
Strandgate 7 ( & 38-11-21-00 ), which is also the location of Telfords (see
above). Patrons in their 20s and 30s head here.