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Alouette is a remarkable Michelin-starred restaurant that offers a unique dining experience. Unlike other fine-dining establishments, Alouette keeps its tasting menu concise at just five courses. The restaurant is known for its friendly and lively waiting staff, as well as its exceptional use of seasonal Danish ingredients.
The highlight of Alouette is undoubtedly the sauces. These deep and flavorful sauces are a true delight and should be savored until the very last drop.
The journey begins with an unconventional entrance to the restaurant. Located in a grungy courtyard, you’ll be greeted by the staff, who may playfully tease you before guiding you through a graffiti-lined corridor and lift. As the doors open, you’ll find yourself in a surprisingly elegant and minimalist Scandinavian dining room. This juxtaposition perfectly reflects Alouette’s fun yet thoughtful nature. The waitstaff are attentive, entertaining, and before you know it, you’ll have a glass of champagne in hand and engaging in friendly banter.
The ever-changing menu typically starts with a trio of snacks, including caviar, oysters, and a flavorful spear of beetroots. The pain au lait is accompanied by a delicious apple bacon butter that surpasses expectations.
The sensational sauces take center stage with the first proper course: potato, lumpfish roe, and pineapple weed in a subtle champagne, mussel, and smoked fresh-cheese sauce. The monkfish is another standout dish, delicately grilled, smoked with seaweed, and glazed, served with a chicken stock and lemongrass oil sauce that will leave you wanting more.
Responsible for Alouette’s culinary creations is chef Nick Curtin, who combines Danish produce and cooking techniques from various cuisines to produce soulful dishes. Keeping the menu limited allows Alouette to adapt to the seasons and tell meaningful stories through their food.
Another noteworthy dish is the hogget saddle, aged between lamb and mutton, marinated in miso, repeatedly grilled, glazed, and rested to perfection. It is accompanied by a complex sauce of black walnut, lamb stock, and bone marrow, resulting in a caramelized and evenly cooked meat that fulfills every carnivorous desire.
The drink pairings complement the dishes beautifully, offering both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Unusual choices such as dry Tokaji and red dessert wine are balanced by intriguing non-alcoholic beverages like beetroot, hibiscus, and raspberry, and jasmine tea with fennel.
Dessert at Alouette is elegant and delicious, with fresh cheese mousse topped with plum sauce and milk chips shaped like petals. A subtle poppy-seed tahini sauce and rose oil complete the dish. To conclude this exceptional fine-dining experience, indulge in filled chocolates.
Despite Alouette’s humble exterior, the dining space is surprisingly elegant. With a menu price of DKr1,395 (about £204/£161) and a drinks pairing option for DKr945 (about $138/£109), Alouette offers a reasonably priced experience compared to other fine-dining establishments in Copenhagen. It is an underrated gem that combines a playful atmosphere with genuine culinary excellence.
Important Information:
– Good for: Those seeking a true fine dining experience without the stuffy atmosphere and overwhelming number of courses.
– Not so good for: Individuals who prefer a more formal and rigid dining experience.
– The restaurant is located in a less-visited neighborhood and may be easily missed.
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