The Michelin Tour
Mackerel with Kohlrabi & Pumpkin Juice from AOC
Just before my study abroad semester began, my father and I dined at three famous Michelin restaurants in Copenhagen. While we couldn’t secure a table at Copenhagen’s Michelin 3 Star restaurants, we did manage to dine at some truly spectacular spots. I hope you enjoy my brief food reviews and poorly lit photos :)
Coconut “3-ways” dessert from Kiin Kiin
Stop #1 | Kiin Kiin | Michelin 1 Star
The first stop on our “Michelin Tour” was Kiin Kiin, a contemporary Thai restaurant featuring an inventive 8-course menu. Highlights of the meal included making our own noodles from a syringe filled with liquid tofu as well as a delicious coconut dessert, pictured on the right.
As expected of a Michelin restaurant, the service was incredible; you practically got a show accompanied by a meal. But the menu was not exactly to my taste, and I found it difficult to finish a few dishes that seemed to be oversalted. My final rating was a 3.5/5. While it was certainly an wonderful dining experience, there are more Thai restaurants to explore in the city that won’t put as much of a dent in your wallet as Kiin Kiin.
Razor Clam & Rossini Baerii Caviar from The Samuel
Stop #2 | The Samuel | Michelin 1 Star
Our second stop was The Samuel, a restaurant housed in a beautiful villa in Hellerup. It was named after the owner’s first-born son and features a modern take on French and Italian cuisine. While the menu was not as “creative” as one may anticipate from a Michelin restaurant, the flavors were exquisite and the dishes were expertly crafted on both a visual and experiential level.
During the 9-course meal, we also got to try an array of cheeses from their personal collection; the unlimited, gourmet bread basket was also a nice touch to this peaceful dining experience, which lasted around 3 hours.
My favorite dish of the night had to be the Goose Liver Parfait with Yuzu & Roasted Black Pepper, as both its flavor profile and presentation were impeccable. Ultimately, while the food and service were both top-notch, I felt that many of the flavors were too subtle, or perhaps I should say muted, which left us wanting a little more at the end of the night. Thus, I gave The Samuel a final rating of 4/5. It’s certainly still worth a visit, but I wouldn’t worry about booking months in advance.
Gooseberries & Oscietra Caviar from AOC
Stop #3 | AOC | Michelin 2 Stars
Our last stop was Restaurant AOC, a modern restaurant situated in the basement of a 17th-century mansion. This upscale dining spot features a 10-course tasting menu with an additional round of “snacks” before and after the main courses. And Restaurant AOC is truly one of the finest examples of haute cuisine.
The meal lasted over 3 hours, and the service was on an entirely different level; the head server even noticed I was left-handed and broke traditional table-setting rules to give me a more enjoyable dining experience. As each dish was presented, you could see the level of craftsmanship that went into plating each element as well as the care the chefs put into picking ingredients.
While the entire meal cost over $300 per person, I can definitively say that Restaurant AOC is well worth the hefty price tag. This was a dining experience like no other, with dishes ranging from Beetroot with 100-year-old Balsamico to Langoustine from Læsø with Ponzu to Picked Pine Cones. If you choose only one restaurant to treat yourself, and the family, to, I highly recommend you go for Restaurant AOC. Ultimately, I had no choice but to afford the restaurant a 5/5 rating.
