After my sixth visit to Maaemo in Oslo – Norway’s only three-Michelin-starred restaurant – all I could think was: “Damn it, how could it be even better than my previous meals here?” I always tell people they have to go to Maaemo at least once in their life. Yes, it’s expensive, but most people can afford the experience if they really want to. I promise you – it’s worth every buck. Skip that weekend in London, or postpone purchasing some expensive commodity you don’t really need. Or just save the money from two or three other mediocre restaurant meals you would have instead.
Esben Holmboe Bang is Only Getting Better
This time, I won’t bore you with a long essay on how fantastic a meal at Maaemo is. I’ll mainly let the pictures speak for themselves. If you want to read more details about the restaurant, you can check my spring visit to Maaemo in 2015, my winter lunch in 2016 (just before they got the third star), and my autumn dinner the same year. This was my first summertime visit to Maaemo. That’s not even supposed to be a good season for seafood and a lot of other Norwegian produce. Yet, it was mind-blowingly amazing once again. What I love about Maaemo, is that you always get the classics – the dishes you crave – like the oyster, the sour cream porridge, and the brown butter ice cream. But you’re always surprised by the latest creations: a crispy duck foot, a perfected chicken breast, or a pure delight of a strawberry dessert. Did I mention the dry-aged beef fat waffles?
When it comes to food experiences, Maaemo is the pride of Norway. Esben has received the maximum number of Michelin stars, and, as far as I am concerned, they are not going anywhere anytime soon. In one way, you could say that Maaemo has reached the pinnacle of the culinary world. Yet, the quality on the plate keeps developing and improving year after year. Climbing on the World’s 50th Best Restaurants-list is one of the few ways ahead in terms of international accolades. Such an achievement would require visits from chefs and foodies from all over the world. Maaemo is definitely on the right path. Judging from how many of my fellow foodies who have been here lately, I would say Maaemo should expect an advancement next year. In order to really get a boost, though, more people need to understand that Oslo is a culinary destination worth visiting not only for Maaemo, but also for restaurants like Kontrast, Bokbacka, Pjoltergeist, Omakase by Alex Cabiao, and À L’aise.
Have you not been to Maaemo yet? I’d like to hear whether or not you are considering going, and why. Drop me a line in the comments below.
I´m going there next saturday, reading this is getting me even more excited than I though was possible.
Brace yourself for heaven! A bit jealous on you, despite that I was there last week ?
Haha! This will be my first visit to Maaemo, you have been there six times. I think I have the right to claim the title as the jealous one 🙂
Ok, then ;D
Enjoy!
Having enjoyed an utterly remarkable lunch at Maaemo last week I am hoping to return in the not too distant future. My meal was extraordinary, as I had expected. It also had an added dimension which made it even more special: As a Norwegian the experience was very evocative of both my national heritage and of personal memories and emotions. For a foreigner with an interest in Norwegian culture and the Norwegian “soul”, so to speak, a meal at Maaemo could be really instructive as well as astonishingly delicious. Decidedly one of the greatest food experiences of my life.
Thanks for sharing your impression. I am happy to hear that Maaemo evoked the same emotions in you as it did for me.