The Monthly Bite: Best New Openings in Copenhagen Vol. 2

Hola! Hope everyone is in the mood to enjoy the last days of Copenhagen summer with the latest Copenhagen restaurant openings. One of the things I love the most about this city at this time of year is that you can explore the culinary scene while sitting outside into the late hours.

It isn’t always easy to find out what are the latest hotspots, so it’s chef Dany to rescue! This month I will highlight one of my favorite eateries ever: Aster (formerly known as Acacia), the king of vegan cafés in Scandinavia. I’ll also share Yellow, one of the coolest gastro bars in Nørrebro, and Sasaa, a pan-African restaurant bringing delicious food and cosy vibes to the city.

Visit these spots and keep on enjoying the summer, while you still can!

Here are the best new restaurant, bar, and cafe openings in Copenhagen:

Aster

The king of vegan cafes and eateries in Copenhagen, period! A big statement, I know. If you have ever eaten there, you know that’s the truth. 
Aster is the rebirth of Acacia, a plant-based café that made its appearance in Copenhagen’s food scene two years ago and revolutionized the way the city interacts with vegan food.

Now called Aster, the cafe reopened in July 2019. Chef and co-owner Alice and her team pay the utmost respect to the food. Alice, half-British and half-Danish, is a vegan herself and loves to cook. Alice is incredibly creative, whipping up flavor combinations that astonish me and the rest of her loyal customers.

“Smashed lemony Danish peas, homemade pro biotic cashew spread, fresh mint, chervil and bronze fennel from their garden, almond parmesan, sunflower butter dressing on sourdough bread,” reads the menu. It’s music to my ears!


What’s so unique about Alice is that, at age 22, her food is so accomplished and confident. She has cracked the code, so to speak, to achieve such delicious flavors that even the most ardent meat-eater wouldn’t dare to add anything. Of course, she works with the best of what’s in season and does research to obtain the optimal products from her purveyors. Every time I visit, the food, presentation, drinks, and service have been spot-on. Lemme tell ya’ll, achieving that in the restaurant business is as rare as finding a Dane that does not like bacon.


I encourage each and every one of you to visit Aster. Aside from the taste of the food, vegan food as a category is important, and should be given its rightful place among any other kind of food. I cannot wait to go back to Aster and try out the entire menu; it’s one of those places where you will never get tired of visiting. My deepest respect and admiration to the whole team at Aster: you are unique in Scandinavia and we are so lucky to have you in Copenhagen!



Aster

Gammel Kongevej 171
2000 Frederiksberg


Opening Hours:
Mon & Tues Closed
Weds – Sun 9:00 am – 4:00
 pm

Sasaa


Sasaa is “a pan African restaurant that celebrates Africa, their culture, traditions and their people through food, art and music.” It’s one of those restaurants that is truly unique and pays respect to the founders’ roots, imparting culture, good vibes, and great food in Nørrebro.


With a big smile and hearty handshake, owner Mahamed welcomed me and my friends when we stopped by Sasaa. I was hooked right off the bat; such kindness and genuine excitement towards customers is rare in Copenhagen. The customer service is top-notch.

And the food doesn’t disappoint; it felt like a gift to us. Heck, to all the happy diners on Blågårdsgade! We were all smiling, insanely happy, sharing the food, eating with our hands, laughing out loud. The power that food has to unite people is evident in their dishes, which span a continent. It was one of the best food experiences I’ve ever had.
Different types of rice, plantains, chili sauces, chicken, beef, lime, fried bread, and even a banana made their way to our table. A symphony of every possible flavor and texture.

Speaking from a chef’s standpoint, when your palate tastes all the flavors (salty, sweet, sour, acidic, and spicy), it’s like its having a culinary orgasm. You can’t get enough. That may sound wild, but I know my shit. And if you don’t believe me, go to Sasaa and order a bit of everything: you and your palate will be converted.

Sasaa is more than a restaurant; it truly celebrates the beautiful cuisines and cultures of Africa, with dishes you can’t find anywhere else in the city.

Sasaa

Blågårdsgade 2A
2200 København N

Opening Hours:
Every day 4:00 – 10:00
 pm

Yellow


Yellow is an all day bar and eatery located in one of Nørrebro’s most bustling, yet still quiet corners. A modern gastro bar right by the intersection of the always-pulsating Nørrebrogade and Kapelvej, the place is unpretentious, cool, and eclectic.

With both Danish and international staff – both in the kitchen and service team – Yellow represents where Copenhagen restaurant scene stands nowadays: ambitious and creative chefs, great bartenders, attentive yet not overly friendly service, magnificent bottles of natural wine, and the love of food.
 They take care to work with local partners, including beers from To Øl and wine from the folks at Melin and Rosforth.

I tasted the entire evening menu. Some dishes were more pleasing than others, but there is one that surprised me the most due to its simplicity, creative approach, execution, and presentation. It takes a great chef to make an amazing dish with just a few ingredients – that’s something I always keep in mind when visiting a new restaurant. And this dish proved me right, wow! (Like I need to be proven right!).


The dish is lightly pickled egg in beetroot juice, egg yolk mayo, horseradish, wild rice and spring onions. Please look at the photo (below left) and tell me it is not a beauty. I hate horseradish. But in this dish, it enhances and balances the egg in a way that I never thought possible. Hats off to the chefs at Yellow.


Julian, the restaurant manager, and his team play a key role to the experience as well. They are all friendly and really take care of their guests. During my meal I asked Julian what he thought I should drink next and he suggested the orange natural wine they carry. I became addicted; it complimented my food, my mood, and even the weather that day (it was hot AF) perfectly. It was bittersweet, strong, and cold (need I state the obvious? Go and get drunk on it). It takes experience to know your customers better than they know themselves.

Yellow is currently flying low in Copenhagen’s culinary radar so be smart and book a table right now: you do not wanna miss their food and atmosphere.
 Thank me later…

Yellow

Kapelvej 1

2200 København

 N

Opening hours:
Wed 12-24 (Kitchen 12-16:30 / 18-22)

Thur 12-01 (Kitchen 12-16:30 / 18-22)

Fri & Sat 12-03 (Kitchen 12-16:30 / 18-22)

Sun 12-18 (Kitchen 12-17:30)



Pro tip

After dinner on a Friday, stay and get funky because they have a DJ and awesome cocktails until 3am!


 

Best new restaurant, bar, and café openings in Copenhagen 2019:

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