I recently dined at Smag & Behag AS with a group of 6 friends, and unfortunately, the experience left much to be desired. Upon our arrival, we were met with a sense of disarray. Our reserved table felt rushed and poorly set up, with lumped-together cutlery and mismatched chairs. The staff mentioned that the downstairs restaurant was fully occupied, which might have contributed to the initial disorganization.
The most significant letdown of the evening was the pacing of the meal. We had opted for the 5-course meal, but the timing between courses was notably off. We found ourselves waiting for a concerning 25 to 35 minutes between each course. While we were anticipating a leisurely dining experience, the excessive waiting times made the meal feel excessively prolonged. In the end, we spent around 3 and a half hours at the restaurant, which was far longer than we had anticipated or hoped for.
Compounding our dissatisfaction was a major oversight in catering to dietary restrictions. One of our party members had a nut allergy, which was explicitly communicated to our server. Unfortunately, this crucial detail was overlooked, and the individual ended up with nuts in their dessert. The blame was placed on the kitchen, which was disappointing considering the importance of such allergy-related requests.
Turning to the culinary aspect, the dishes left a mixed impression. Regrettably, some of the offerings lacked proper seasoning, which significantly impacted the overall enjoyment. However, it wasn't all disappointing. The ceviche and monkfish stood out as beacons of flavor and skillful preparation. These dishes managed to salvage some of the dining experience, showcasing the kitchen's potential.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
kr 1,000+
Food: 3
Service: 2
Atmosphere: 4
What a gem! We were travelling from Australia and stumbled onto the town of Grimstad and the Smag & Behag. With no reservation for dinner they quickly found a table for us. The wait staff were professional and attentive. We got to talking with the owner and his enthusiasm and passion for the restaurant and town was infectious. We only wish we could have stayed longer to enjoy another meal there. Thoroughly enjoyed the fish soup and local beer, watching the snow fall outside through the floor to ceiling windows. Highly recommend stopping in if you get a chance.
The best restaurant in Grimstad. Serves smaller plates so you can design your own meal, but also burgers and pizza. The food is made from local produce. Reserve a table for the more busy times of year.
This is a restaurant specialising in small “tapas” styled dishes of excellent taste and presentation, however a bit pricey. The friendly and knowledgeable waiters did a great presentation of the dishes but maybe the concept of “slow food” is misunderstood as we waited a long time between each dish.
Super quality food for a low price. A wide selection of wine to pick from and very polite and service minded staff. Strongly recommend.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
kr 800–900
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4
Lovely little place, that I would highly recommend for lunch or dinner if you are in the area. We tried the shrimp on sourdough. And it was really good, they also have a nice drinks menu. And the staff was welcoming.
Really delicious thin crust pizza, gave me a distinct Mediterranean feeling. Highly recommended!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
kr 300–400
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
My dinner experience was excellent. I would definitely say Merete is the best server there. Ask for her! She makes it a lovely fine dining experience and stays on top of all the courses and pairings. I have been a few times for lunch and it was OK, service wasn’t that great. The restaurant is totally transformed at night.
