This Norwegian Restaurant In Utah Is Magical!

Josiah and I have a bucket list goal to try foods from as many different cultures as we possibly can. Fortunately, we don't have to travel to a country to enjoy unique cuisine. We have sampled dishes from nearly a dozen countries right here in the Salt Lake Valley!

But right now, I want to share with you the coolest restaurant we have been to in Utah. 

It's called The Viking Yurt and it is only open in the winter. 

A dinner at the Viking Yurt is pricey and you have to pay when you book your reservation, but the tip is included in the cost.

The menu is set, except in the case of dietary restrictions. There are only 40 seats available every night and the whole experience lasts four hours! Reservations fill up fast so book your dinner before winter is upon us!

The restaurant, located atop a mountain, is so remote that the food has to be brought up by snowmobile!

On our night out we enjoyed a six course Norwegian dinner and live piano music.

(Be sure to bring cash to tip the pianist. He is amazing and has played at The Viking Yurt for twenty years!)

Now, here is a recap of our fancy Norwegian dinner:

Even getting to the restaurant was an adventure 

On a stormy January night in Park City, a sleigh drawn by a snowcat took us up 1,800 feet to a cozy little yurt high in the snowy mountains. It was the biggest snowstorm of the season and we barely made it in time from Salt Lake City. If we had missed the dinner, we wouldn't have been able to get our money back. So, thank goodness we got there at 6:00 pm. Barely.

The sleigh ride was refreshing to say the least. Warm blankets covered our laps as we ascended the mountain amid sparkling white flakes. (You can opt for a seat in the cab of the snowcat if you would rather not brave the elements.)

When we came in from the cold, we each found a mug of hot glogg at our seat. It was a hot, berry cider spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg.  Oh, it was so good!

We had a little time to get to know the two other couples at our table and then the chef came out to introduce himself. He addressed us as each course was served to give us the details of the amazing food before us. 

We were served the best lobster and salmon bisque ever! It had just the right balance of spice and creaminess. 

The third course was a salad comprised of arugula, pears, watermelon radishes, and tomatoes. The salad was drizzled with a honey and lemon vinegraitte. The honey came from local hives!

Course number four was a palette cleanser: a lemon and tarragon sorbet served in carved rocks from Norway. Each rock dish had a number on the bottom that indicated which region it was from. We learned more about each rock and it's region on a map at our table. 

The main dish ties with the lobster bisque as my favorite course of the night. We had braised beef that fell apart like pot roast and jarlsberg mashed potatoes. The vegetables on the side included delicious white mushrooms, sweet heritage carrots, julienned and pickled beets, and romanesco broccoli. 

While we waited for the fifth course, servers brought out viking helmets for everyone to try on and take pictures.

Next we enjoyed a cheese plate served on an Aspen slab right from the mountains in Utah. There were several kinds of cheese including Irish porter cheddar, a traditional Norwegian goat cheese, and one that reminded me of parmesan but much better. 

And for dessert we had marzipan and valrhona chocolate cake with cardamom ice cream!

Not only was the food phenomenal, but the relaxed atmosphere was incredible too! It was so nice to sit back and tell stories between courses. There was no rush. The portions were perfect. The timing was perfect. That evening was one we won't ever forget!

It was the most unique dining experience of my life and an amazing winter adventure!

Which course at The Viking Yurt sounds most appetizing to you? Share in the comment section below!

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