5 rating because of experience (greeting, service, kitchen tours, etc).and because I can understand what they are trying to do, which makes their dishes fresh, surprising and like nothing I have tried before.
That being said, it was not my favourite restaurant in the world in terms of food..just wasn’t my cup of tea.
But, kudos for the entire experience which will be memorable.
Epic meal experience. From the moment you walk in you are greeted by the super friendly wait staff and kitchen staff all the way through to the most amazing meal experience we've ever had! There is so much detail in all the dishes each with its own story of what it is trying to represent. The paired wines go wonderfully with each dish and even the juice pairings match well.
Noma, currently at number 5 on the list of the best restaurants in the world. I tried not to get my hopes up or have any expectations, but it was hard not to
All the serving and kitchen staff came out to greet as as we arrived. There were a couple of steps at the entrance and I was carried down like a queen on her throne. The chefs coming out to go through each course was a nice and personal touch. You have to really come here with an open mind and be willing to try anything. Some dishes were interesting with flavours unlike anything that's ever touched my lips. The only course I couldn't do was the sea urchin which you were supposed to do in three bites. I'd never had it before and could just about chew and swallow the first, let alone three. I suppose it's an acquired taste?
Some dishes were like you scooped a pile of leaves from the ground, and if you look closely, you'll notice something edible which resembled a twig of leaves full of ants! That was a bit tangy.
There was no doubt in the quality of the ingredients. I wasn't very impressed with the wine pairing though, as I didn't feel they complimented the dishes as well as they could have. Service was impeccable. They replaced your napkin with a clean fresh one each time you left the table to use the facilities. In terms of wheelchair access, there were a couple of steps to get in, as previously mentioned, and toilets were spacious, but there were no grab handles.
It was an unforgettable experience. The tour of the kitchen and behind the scenes at the end was a nice touch. This however, was the most expensive meal I've had to date, if you consider the cost of getting to and staying in Copenhagen for it too. I'm glad I managed to do it and can now cross it off my list :)
The food was amazing of course. A real delightful sensory experience, one of a kind. The missing stars are due to service. No drink in the lounge. A completely rushed meal. They even took a plate while I was visibly eating; they asked me to hold the food item in my hand instead! At the end I was hurried out the door. I put my gloves and hat on at the bench outside. We were not the last table by far, no one was waiting for our spot. There were tables still eating. The hurried pace was uncomfortable.
Noma is not a traditional restaurant it's an experience. Upon arrival we where greeted by the owner and staff. We shared a table in a seperate room with 10 other guests from all over the world. Noma is a culinary journey you take with the other guests. Our journey was greatley enhanced having the possibility to share the experience with the other guest. I have never met such dedicated, knowledgeable and proud staff. I can highly recommend a visit to Noma.
Eating at Noma was a wonderful experience. It really can't be explained, it must be experienced. Nina serves interesting and delicious food, has a pleasant and welcoming environment and amazingly kind and attentive staff. Just wonderful in every way.