Sneak Peek: Katla Erupts in August Pjoltergeist-Atli's New Restaurant

This Saturday, the 2nd of June 2018, Norway’s best casual restaurant to date closed its doors for good. It was a hot and humid evening, with 30°C outside, 40°C inside, and more than 50°C in the kitchen. Yet, it seemed like half of Oslo defied the heat to get one last taste of the superb dishes in the legendary venue on Rosteds gate 15 B. People were having bets on whether I would show up. They did not lose. I sat in the bar with my dad (flown in for the historic day, of course) and sweated for three hours, but it was worth it. Now – Pjoltergeist is dead. Long live Pjoltergeist! At least, the food of head chef Atli Mar Yngvason will live on. If everything goes as planned, restaurant Katla erupts in August already.

Update: Reservations are now open from August 28th. Click here to book!

Pjoltergeist is dead
Pjoltergeist is dead

If you are a regular reader of my restaurant rumors, most details apart from the name should be old news. Atli has teamed up with the Oslo restaurant group Lava Oslo and is looking to create a casual space that will serve many of Atli’s signature dishes, as well as new creations. Named after the Icelandic volcano, Katla will have an open kitchen with a wood-fired grill that will be the heart of the eatery. Another section with large mortars will allow chefs to make fresh guacamole and ceviche à la minute. You can expect the place to be like a Pjoltergeist 2.0 meets Burnt Ends in Singapore.

The open kitchen with a wood-fired grill being constructed
The open kitchen with a wood-fired grill being constructed

Nordic ingredients mixed with flavors and techniques from Asia and Latin-America. Steam bun burgers, takoyaki, tacos – have no fear, all the classics will most likely be there. Enjoy a full set menu, or drop by for simpler bar snacks until 1 AM on weekdays and 3 AM on weekends. Also, just like Pjoltergeist, there will be a heavy focus on natural wines – the light, refreshing and juicy kind – with some conventional ones added to the mix.

The restaurant will be situated at the crossroads of Kristian Augusts gate and Universitetsgata in Oslo. Specifically, on Kristian Augusts gate 9. There will be a large community table and bar stools in a drop-in area, as well as regular tables and a big chambre séparée on a mezzanine (the room has a really high ceiling). Even Ramsvik from the Lava restaurant group expects the place to open mid- to late August if everything goes as planned.

The restaurant will be located on Kristian Augusts gate 9
The restaurant will be located on Kristian Augusts gate 9
The high ceiling allows for a mezzanine
The high ceiling allows for a mezzanine
Atli in his glory days at Pjoltergeist
Atli in his glory days at Pjoltergeist

How much are you looking forward to restaurant Katla opening? Drop a comment below.

Feature image by Pete Johnson from Pexels.

Anders Husa

Anders Husa and Kaitlin Orr are food & travel bloggers and creative content creators. From their base in Copenhagen, they operate the largest and most influential restaurant-focused travel blog in Scandinavia.

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