The positive reviews for this restaurant on tripadvisor are a joke. Awkwardly worded reviews make me wonder if the reviews are from restaurant management. Small portions for a fairly high price. Mediocre food. Slow service and staff not very friendly. It's way overrated. Rick Steves recommended it. As honest and forthright as he is, his restaurant reviews consistently miss the mark.

Just as a general opinion, restaurant reviews or recommendations are always extremely subjective and usually overrated. TripAdvisor is notorious for false reviews. Any restaurant can change quickly with a new chef, financial strains (small portions) or just the viewpoint of the individual reviewer. People's tastes are so different on what is very good or what is meh.
I believe most restaurants in Europe are reviewed higher by Americans than locals because of the lack of experience in the local or regional cuisines. This is why it is great if a hotel or other local source will offer up a favorite of their own.
When RS goes to a restaurant he is treated like the travel celebrity he is because his review or recommendation means a lot to a restaurant owner. The restaurant puts its best foot forward for him. Other patrons will usually not get the same service or special touch awarded to a person like RS normally. There are exceptions, but few and far between.
Comments on Tripadvisor can be so misleading sometimes :(
I rarely have a bad experience at a restaurant. This was one of them, however. So much so that I felt compelled to submit this review. By way of example, the cheese appetizer for 230 NOK (about $23) was startling skimpy (3 small pieces of cheese, some flatbread, a few walnuts, and a small portion of homemade jam). This is not the first restaurant where Rick Steves' guide books were way off. And a I'm a big fan of RicK Steves' advice in general. I fully understand that Oslo is expensive, but this place was ridiculous in so many respects. Cramped, poor service and lack of friendliness, too. I was somewhat stunned that this place was even included in the RS Scandinavian travel guide. Maybe it is under new management.
