The food scene in Ålesund changed drastically when Bro Kystgastronomi opened three years ago in the city center. Ronny Kolvik (former head chef of Arakataka) and Joakim Hoff (wine expert and front of house) opened Bro together in June 2018. Bro instantly became Ålesund’s best restaurant, and, in our opinion, the only Michelin star candidate in town. Kolvik describes their cuisine as kystgastronomi (coastal gastronomy) since they use ingredients from the coast of Norway to craft their menu. Watch our video below to see the full chef’s tasting menu at Bro.
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BRO KYSTGASTRONOMI Address & Contact Information Notenesgata 1, Ålesund, Norway Website Instagram Facebook
At Bro, diners can choose from a three- or four-course set tasting menu, à la carte options, or the chef’s counter tasting menu. The latter option is only available to four guests per evening, and invites the lucky eaters to saddle up to the kitchen counter and watch the chefs at work. Kolvik described this tasting menu as the chef’s playground, where they can really show off their skills in an extended menu of fifteen to twenty small bites. The dishes change seasonally depending on what ingredients are available. They use mostly local food from their region to craft their menu, but they also use produce from the entire coast of Norway – like scallops from Frøya, for example. The menu primarily features Scandinavian seafood, and finishes with some local lamb and dairy cow.
For all traveling oenophiles, this is one of the best places to drink in Ålesund. Hoff’s small but mighty wine list has won several awards from Star Wine List. The list leans classical, but has a few of our favorite natural producers on it as well, like Heinrich, Occhipinti, Loimer, and Denavolo.
Bro was one of our favorite meals so far in 2021. The restaurant is at a really high level in the Scandinavian food scene, and is lifting Ålesund up as an interesting culinary destination. In our opinion, Ronny Kolvik’s chef’s counter tasting menu at Bro in Ålesund is worthy of a Michelin star, but since this menu is only available for four people per night and not the sole concept of the restaurant, the inspectors probably won’t consider it. Stars aside, Bro should be your must-visit restaurant when in Ålesund – regardless of if you feel like enjoying a multi-course tasting menu or going à la carte.
The dining room at Bro is gorgeous, and very Nordic in its design – it reminded us a lot of restaurant Barr. On the top floor of restaurant Bro, you’ll find Kolvik’s casual tapas restaurant, Bryt, which opened in October 2020. We only got to try a few cocktails here after our meal, but hope to come for a full dinner on our next visit in Ålesund.
Have you been to Bro Kystgastronomi yet? Let us know how your experience was in a comment below.
