Den Glade Gris - Oslo, No
Summary
Den Glade Gris is a Norwegian restaurant near the royal palace in Oslo, Norway. Den Glade Gris translates to “The Happy Pig” and it is a pig themed restaurant. It sports a large drink menu and unusual meat offerings including whale and pork neck. They have large servings, beautiful presentation, and rich flavors. It is a bit expensive, but you can get a 20% discount with the Oslo Pass. It has a comfortable, casual pub atmosphere.
Food Overall
Service
Atmosphere
Location
Value for Money
Overall
What I Ordered
Lettrøkt hval fra Norskehavet
169NOK / $16.19
This is an appetizer dish of smoked whale with onions, lingonberry dressing, and crackers. The smoked whale reminded me of smoked salmon in flavor though a bit different. The lingonberry dressing was both sharp and creamy and added some moisture to the dish. The crackers were bland but served as a vessel for the whale and sauce. Overall, it was a fun, adventurous dish to try and not bad, but I wasn’t impressed enough to get it again. The presentation was beautiful.
Langgrillet svineknoke
359NOK / $34.38
This entrée dish is a grilled pork knuckle with mashed potatoes and a mustard sauce. This massive pork knuckle has a very dramatic presentation with a knife stabbing into it. It had a lot of fatty bits but also hard charred parts. It was challenging to eat but tasty. The potatoes were good. I was not a big fan of the mustard sauce. It was a bit overpowering.
Langtidsstekt nakke av gris
326NOK / $31.22
This entrée dish is a steak of pork neck with vegetables and a red wine sauce. The pork neck was very rich and tender, delicious, and paired very well with the sauce The serving size was large. I found the pork neck was so rich it was hard to eat the whole serving. The vegetables were fantastic. The vegetables included carrots, cabbage, and potatoes that were all very fresh and cooked perfectly. I would recommend this dish.
Overall Food
The food at Den Glade Gris includes many interesting cuts of meat prepared in delicious ways. They have a focus on pork and cook Norwegian style food. The food was overall quite good and had wonderful presentation. A bottle of water with tiny glasses is provided to the table. It was a bit tedious to constantly refill the shot glass sized glasses. It would have been nicer to just have full sized glasses of water. There is an extensive alcoholic drink menu, though I did not try any drinks on this visit.
Service
The staff at Den Glade Gris were very friendly and attentive. They periodically stopped by to ask if anyone needed anything. The food was brought out quickly and accurately. The waitress easily switched to English and was polite. Additionally, they were easy to work with in inputting the Oslo Pass discount to our bills.
Atmosphere
Size
Den Glade Gris is a medium size restaurant with about thirty tables. The tables are a bit tightly spaced put not too close to cause problems.
Who Goes Here?
Tourists wanting to try Norwegian cuisine. People with the Oslo Pass that get a discount. Anyone looking for a hearty, high quality meal.
Overall Atmosphere
Den Glade Gris has a comfortable pub atmosphere where pig themed décor abounds. It is quirky and cozy. There are windows along one wall with some natural light coming in. Considering how elegantly the food is presented and the price range, the restaurant design is causal. The restaurant is clean and well maintained, though the amount of décor adds some visual clutter. But I found the décor charming. The bathrooms are easily accessible but the seating is a bit congested.
Location
Den Glade Gris is located in downtown Oslo, not far from the royal palace. It is a prime central location and close to a lot of public transportation. Parking is not readily available. I would recommend walking.
Interested in other restaurants Norway?
Value for money
Den Glade Gris is on the expensive end. However, they have huge portion sizes, unusual offerings, and high-quality food. Additionally, they are located right downtown and have a comfortable atmosphere. If you are a tourist and get the Oslo Pass you get a 20% discount on your meal. With that discount I thing Den Glade Gris is a great value and a must visit for tourists looking for a taste of Norway. Without the discount my rating would lower to a seven, but it is still a great destination.
Overall
Den Glade Gris is a cozy Norwegian restaurant in the heart of Oslo. They offer unique dishes including whale and unusual pork cuts. They have large servings and great presentation. The staff is very polite and efficient. The menu is on the expensive side, but if you are a tourist with an Oslo Pass the 20% discount helps a lot! I think this restaurant is a must visit if you are visiting Oslo and looking for some top-notch Norwegian food.
