Review: Katla Chef Atli Mar Yngvason Returns to Oslo's Food Scene

Let’s just get one thing straight right away. You can’t talk about the new restaurant Katla without mentioning Pjoltergeist. In my opinion, the greatest casual restaurant in Norway, which closed its doors for good on June 2nd this year. Already before the last meal was served, however, it was clear that the head chef, Atli Mar Yngvason, would open a new restaurant later the same year. That restaurant is Katla and it officially opened on Tuesday the 28th of August. Finally, Atli is back doing what he does best – cooking damn fine food. This time, he has a much larger space at his disposal, with an open-fire kitchen that makes out the heart of the restaurant. The wait is over. Osloites can now rejoice over the return of the Atli! If you are visiting from abroad, this should be your no. 1 casual eatery to consider in Oslo.

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Restaurant Katla in Oslo

KATLA

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Universitetsgata 12, Oslo, Norway
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When Pjoltergeist opened in 2013, Atli’s food was described by many, myself included, as a fusion of Icelandic and Korean cuisine. Whether that was correct or not, Atli’s food has changed a lot since then. His influences at Katla still come from Asia to some degree, but now more from Japan. Iceland is not so evident on the plate anymore. The biggest change, however, is all the Mexican elements which were added already after Yngvason’s visit to Noma Mexico last year and continues to dominate the new menu at Katla as well. Ironically, Atli makes better Mexican food than most Mexican restaurants in this city. Now, the question everyone is wondering, of course: Is the food as good as before? Luckily, the answer is yes, perhaps even better.

Atli Mar Yngvason returns to the Oslo dining scene
Atli Mar Yngvason returns to the Oslo dining scene

Restaurant Katla in Oslo

But does the place feel the same way as Pjoltergeist? No, absolutely not. The ambiance is completely different. You can’t replicate the bar vibe from that dark and dirty basement on Rosteds gate. Thankfully, Atli and his new partner, the Lava restaurant group, haven’t tried to do that either. Where Pjoltergeist was gloomy and almost claustrophobic, Katla is open and light with lots of space.

Immediately as you enter the room, you are faced with two options. On the left side, past the awesome-looking sculpture on the wall by Jim Darbu, is the bar area where you can drop by at any time for a snack and drinks. The bar menu features classics like chicharrón (pork cracklings with bacon mayo), pimientos de padrón, takoyaki, chicken wings, and steam bun burger, but also some new items, including Côte de Boeuf (NOK 1000 per kilo), lamb shawarma, and crab tostada. I can’t wait to hit the bar and try all these. This evening, however, we took a right turn towards our pre-booked table.

Restaurant Katla in Oslo

Restaurant Katla in Oslo

Front of house Stefanie Schneider, restaurant manager Natalie Fryxell, and head sommelier Petter Svanæs
Front of house Stefanie Schneider, restaurant manager Natalie Fryxell, and head sommelier Petter Svanæs

Atli has left his old Pjoltergeist partners Sverre Bøyum and Susanne Martens Låstad and reunited with his old boss Even Ramsvik (from Ylajali where Mar Yngvason served as sous chef). Considering that Ramsvik is not cooking anymore, I think it’s safe to say that the student has become the master. By his side, Atli has the former Maaemo sommelier Petter Svanæs as head of beverages, Natalie Fryxell as the restaurant manager, and another Maaemo alumni, Stefanie Schneider, in the front of house. In the kitchen, I noticed some familiar faces, too, including Martin Guin Troset.

Team Katla
Team Katla
Chicharrónes – pork cracklings with bacon mayo
Chicharrónes – pork cracklings with bacon mayo
Spicy, classic & hibiscus margarita
Spicy, classic & hibiscus margarita

If you book a table, which is now possible through an actual booking system (unlike Pjoltergeist’s odd SMS policy), you automatically sign up for the restaurant’s eight-course menu (NOK 850). Shortly after finding our seats, a recognizable snack serving was placed on the table. Chicharrónes – the same pork cracklings with bacon mayo that I could not live without at Pjoltergeist. How they get them that crispy and airy is beyond me.

In addition to a great wine list, Katla has a dedicated Margarita menu. We decided to order a selection of three different ones – classic, spicy (with habanero) and hibiscus. They arrived at the same time as the second snack – blue corn tostadas with freshly-made guacamole. Again, I was surprised by the texture of the tostadas. Incredibly crispy, flaking like burnt paper, and with no trace of any frying fat. The trick, it turned out, is to leave them in the heating cabinet after deep-frying to let the oil run off. Unparallel flavor balance and freshness is the best way I can describe the guacamole which Katla’s chefs make à la minute for all guests in a large mortar that, apparently, has been primed with a paste of chili and garlic which is burnt into the stone.

Blue corn tostadas with freshly-made guacamole
Blue corn tostadas with freshly-made guacamole
Incredibly crispy tostada and a super fresh avocado mix
Incredibly crispy tostada and a super fresh avocado mix
Atli Mar Yngvason
Atli Mar Yngvason
Grilled flatbreads with mackerel salad
Grilled flatbreads with mackerel salad
The same dish used to come with chicken liver at Pjoltergeist
The same dish used to come with chicken liver at Pjoltergeist

At Pjoltergeist, Atli used to serve grilled flatbreads with a chicken liver mousse. The first course at Katla was a version of this, but now with a mackerel salad instead. A great way to enjoy this seasonal fish. Two different cuts of bluefin tuna were served tataki-style (only slightly seared). Toro, the fatty part of the belly, melted in our mouths. No need to chew at all. Akami, the leaner back meat was not as creamy, but still soft and full of flavor. Considering the generous serving sizes, I could already tell we were not going to starve this evening.

Scallops, gently cooked, came with an intensely flavored XO sauce made from dried scallops. The complexity of this sauce is amazing, with an almost meaty texture and a rich and spicy taste. A highlight of a dish, but perhaps would it have been even better if the scallops were slightly more caramelized on the outside. At least, that’s my personal preference.

Fatty toro and lean akami tuna
Fatty toro and lean akami tuna
Scallops with XO sauce
Scallops with XO sauce
Atli and his grill
Atli and his grill
Marianne found herself
Marianne found herself
Takoyaki is back!
Takoyaki is back!

Takoyaki, just as you will remember the dish from Pjoltergeist, was next. Delicious, greasy, balls of batter-fried octopus, topped with takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, and sprinkled with spring onions and shavings of dried bonito (that are so thin that they look like they are moving when placed on something hot). How could you go to Pjoltergeist without ordering these? The same can now be said about Katla.

A grilled turbot came with a creamy sauce, finely sliced lettuce, onions and herbs, and a good dollop of caviar on top. Just lovely. I hope this is a sign that Atli won’t be using the cheap avruga caviar substitute anymore, which I cannot stand. Fake fish roe is almost as bad as crab sticks. Building up towards the main course, we got a serving of roasted small potatoes in a rich oxtail broth with bone marrow. The potatoes had a marvelous texture and almost popped in the mouth. Looking for pungent flavors? Atli delivers. This was one of the top dishes!

Pork head taco came on the table, sadly already cleaned off the pig’s face (I was hoping for a show and a nice photo!), but it didn’t affect the taste, of course. Atli is really nailing these authentic Mexican flavors now. The meal ended with a simple dessert, again, in the typical style of the head chef. Milk ice cream with crumble and plum was decent enough, but I imagine it probably worked better with the blueberries that were on the menu the first week. The plums were not acidic enough and the pieces too large, in my opinion. A slight anti-climax, but not big enough to take anything away from the marvelous feeling of having Atli back cooking in the kitchen. Oslo is not the same without his masterful flavor combinations and unique dishes. Pjoltergeist’s food is back. It’s just called Katla now.

Greasy octopus balls
Greasy octopus balls
Natalie making sure we stay hydrated
Natalie making sure we stay hydrated
2017 Yann Bertrand Pure Oh!Rigine
2017 Yann Bertrand Pure Oh!Rigine
Grilled turbot, creamy sauce, chopped salad & caviar
Grilled turbot, creamy sauce, chopped salad & caviar
Head sommelier Petter Svanæs
Head sommelier Petter Svanæs
This dish of tiny roasted potatoes in a broth of ox tail and bone marrow was amazing
This dish of tiny roasted potatoes in a broth of ox tail and bone marrow was amazing
Pork head taco
Pork head taco
Try eating a taco and not looking like this
Try eating a taco and not looking like this
Milk ice cream, crumble & plums
Milk ice cream, crumble & plums

Restaurant Katla in Oslo

We ended with this lovely orange wine – Liquid Skin by Mother Rock
We ended with this lovely orange wine – Liquid Skin by Mother Rock
Sculpture by Jim Darbu – https://www.jimdarbu.com/
Sculpture by Jim Darbu – https://www.jimdarbu.com/

Did Katla live up to your expectations? Please share in a comment below.

Feature image: Sculpture by Jim Darbu

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.

7 comments

  • “Did Katla live up to your expectations?” you ask. Here is my right off the bat response to that:

    My expectations were high! I agree very much with your opening statement that when talking about Katla it is impossible not to talk about, and compare with, Pjoltergeist. It is also worth noting that comparing the entire Pjoltergeist legacy with the very first experience of Katla during opening week is obviously not fair.

    But anyways, I had a great evening at Katla last Friday with a group of friends. The first impression when entering Katla is very different from Pjoltergeist, and I must say I preferred the darker, more intimate venue of Pjoltergeist. However, I cannot count how many times I have wanted to grab a snack and a drink at Pjoltergeist without a reservation and being disappointed when they haven’t got a single seat to spare. I hope and believe it will be easier to drop-in at Katla. Despite the big open room and high ceiling. Katla did not feel cold or minimalistic. The loud music and round tables made for a very good and relaxed atmosphere.

    I absolutely love the chicharon starter and was glad to find out they have kept this from Pjoltergeist.
    Our waiter asked us what we wanted to drink and we told her we would like to trust her recommendations for the entire meal. I was surprised that she replied this was not an option, we were meant to choose our own drinks this evening. In my experience the best restaurant meals are the ones with good and thoughtful pairing of wine (or other drinks), and especially when you are having an 8-course set menu. For me, this will probably mean I will be less likely to make a reservation and having the set menu at Katla in the future, but rather have more drop-in visits.

    Most of the dishes were good, but very uneven in my opinion. To be honest I think the Kamskjell XO dish was terrible, the scallops had rubber texture and the taste of the sauce was not really helping. We could have been unlucky, I don’t know. I was also a bit disappointed with the potato dish, I think it tasted too little, it was too thin and bland. The last disappointment was when we got the dessert and realized it was not with Norwegian bilberries, but with plums. Like you said, I think the pieces were too large, and it would probably have worked better with the original idea, but I loved the taste! All the other dished not mentioned here were pretty good, and some of them amazing (takoyaki, grillet piggvar, pigs head taco).

    Most importantly, we had a great evening with lots of fun and laughter in a cool and relaxed atmosphere. The bill was actually lower than we expected, which is a rare and pleasant surprise considering we lost track of the amount of bottles we had.

    Our clothes smelled of fire/smoke the day after. That’s a cool reminder you spent the previous night inside a volcano, but someone might not like that, I’m guessing.

    I hope and believe Katla will grow to become better and better in the future and I hope it will be a place where you can drop-in any time of the week, and still expect a few seats to be available in the bar. I also hope they will consider to offer wine pairing for the set menu. And are they going to close at 0300 like I read somewhere, or 0100 like their website says? I’m hoping 0300 eventually.

    It will not be long before my first drop-in visit!

    • Wow, Mats, you basically wrote a review of your own! 😀 Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I think we agree on the most part, but it also looks like we had some slight differences to our dishes. If anything, our scallops were cooked too little. The potato dish, on the other hand, was flawless. Complex, rich, and very unique.

      I’m surprised by the answer you got about wine pairings. They didn’t offer us a pairing either, but they were certainly willing (and able) to offer recommendations either for the entire meal or each individual dish.

      They will have to sort the smoke issues, I agree.

  • We just visited Katla yesterday. Amazing experience. The scallops were perfect. Most of the dishes flawless. Just too much spices in the taco sauce which stole a bit the great taste of the Ibérico pork. And as you pointed out a slight anti-climax with the dessert, but not enough to ruin the overall experience. The best part…mhmm that smoked smell. I loved it! Thanks for the recommendation! A visit we will repeat for sure ?

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