Frances Vin Bar, Oslo, Norway

This is a happening place. I was glad we had a reservation, because otherwise we would not have gotten a table, and this is a place where people linger. There is a very long bar and it was possible to get a seat there, so never fear if you are in the neighborhood and want to drop in. There is also a lot of outdoor seating, but the time of year was not optimal to exercise that option.

This is one of three eateries housed in the previous visa section of the former US Embassy in Oslo, right by Henrik Ibsens gate and the Palace Garden. It’s now been transformed into a café in the morning, wine bar and restaurant in the afternoon, serving a selection of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired sharing plates. The generous dishes catch the eye with their vibrant appearance, then satisfy the palate with their fabulous flavours; confit cauliflower with the colourful trio of tomato coulis, cashew cream and coriander oil is a prime example. Our favorite was a hamachi with avocado over it--so flavorful and unique at the same time. It is a Michelin Bib Gourmand, which is characterized by good food at a good value--we still had sticker shock here, as food and wine are pricy in Norway.