The West Coast Fjord Country - Norway - page 335

War II. Today, following renovations in 2001, it's one of the more up-to-date
choices in town. Painted as gray as a Norwegian November afternoon, it is a pri-
vately owned and family-run establishment. Rooms are merely functional but
well kept and comfortably furnished with wooden floors and small bathrooms
(with showers). The on-site restaurant, The Red, is a more popular venue than
the hotel itself (see below).
Storgata 19, N-6413 Molde. & 71-21-58-88. Fax [phone] units. May 1-Sept 3 550NOK-790NOK
($78-$112) double; Sept 4-Apr 790NOK-980NOK ($112-$139) double. Children under 3 stay free in parent's
room. Rates include continental breakfast. AE, DC, MC. Free parking. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; laundry
service/dry cleaning. In room: TV, minibar.
WHERE TO DINE
Amalie SEAFOOD/NORWEGIAN We always like to drop in here on a
rainy day, using it as a shelter from the storm. It has a cozy ambience—rustic,
but with a classic elegance—and the walls contain original art from some well-
known Norwegian as well as international artists. That it serves some of the best
food in town is another compelling reason to visit. Its seafood is fresh, all of it
caught off the western coast of Norway. For an appetizer, sample a standard fish
soup or one made from shellfish, or maybe fresh mussels in white-wine sauce.
For an entree, try the “fish symphony,” which lured us by its melody: two pieces
of whitefish, the best of the catch of the day, with crayfish and lobster sauce. The
pepper steak was also tender, juicy, and well flavored, as was the lamb filet fla-
vored with mustard and served with a cheese gratinée.
Amtmann Kroghsgaten 5. & 71-21-30-50. Reservations recommended. Main courses 150NOK-265NOK
($21-$38). AE, DC, MC, V. July daily 4-11pm; Aug-June Tues-Sat 4-11pm. Closed Jan.
Lubbenes NORWEGIAN This 1860s alpine-like chalet, 2km (1 1 ⁄ 4 miles)
from the town center, is one of the town's best restaurants. Its chefs put a mod-
ern spin on classical Norwegian food. For a starter, we recommend the lobster
soup, the town's finest, or the fish soup of the day. Scampi flavored with sautéed
onions is another good appetizer. Generous entrees include plates of perfectly
executed dishes such as sautéed filet of reindeer in a velvety smooth cream sauce,
fried catfish in another savory sauce, or beef cooked in a tangy onion sauce.
Sanestrandsvn 117. & 71-21-12-86. Reservations recommended. Main courses 180NOK-250NOK ($26-$36).
AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 4-9pm. Closed Jan.
The Red SOUTHWESTERN On the street level of the Hotel Molde (see
above), this restaurant serves a medley of food that has won it many admirers
locally and abroad. Many fjord dwellers like to come here for a change of pace
from the usual offerings in the area. The chefs roam the world for inspiration,
stopping off, perhaps, at Louisiana before heading on to Mexico. You might be
served quesadillas with chicken or Cajun-blackened catfish. We've delighted in
their seafood pasta and their barbecued scampi.
In the Hotel Molde, Storgata 19. & 71-21-58-88. Reservations recommended. Main courses
100NOK-200NOK ($14-$28). AE, DC, MC, V. Daily 11am-10pm.
Vartshusaet NORWEGIAN This well-patronized restaurant, located in the
Quality Hotel Alexandra Molde (see above), a short walk from Town Hall, has
known various incarnations. It's decked out in Norwegian-tavern style with
antiques and massive ceiling timbers. This is the busiest restaurant in town if
you visit at the time of the jazz festival. If you've traveled Norway the menu is
all too familiar, but fine regional products are used even if the recipes are pretty
much the same as many other establishments. The inevitable fish soup appears