Bistro Lupa
If you are reading this blog, you most likely love food. And if you love food, I really want to encourage you to stretch your boundaries and try vegan cuisine. Most of us carnivores picture a salad or boring plate of vegetables. But I'm here to tell you, vegan cuisine can be truly special, deeply flavorful and very filling. Dirt Candy in NYC blew me and my friends away.
Bistro Lupa in Copenhagen is no different.
I decided to come here to try a few dishes following a decent but ultimately disappointing meal at The Pescatarian. (I did not add a review of that restaurant, but you can read about it in my review of their sister restaurant Marv & Ben.)
Walking in, I thought "Man...THIS is how a restaurant should feel." Upbeat, happy with the buzz around the room that I can imagine every restauranteur longs to hear. Step through the door and you will want to eat here. Staff is just what you would expect - young, a cross of hip and hippie, uber-friendly and seemingly truly happy in their work.
The gentleman that took care of me (I hesitate to call him a server...he was more like an instant friend that wanted you to have a terrific experience) was disarmingly easy-going and seemed to just want to be sure I had a good experience. I told him that I loved mushrooms and planned to order both mushroom dishes. He said "One second!!" and dashed into the kitchen. He returned to tell me that one of those dishes was almost sold out and he wanted to urge the kitchen to save the final portion for me. It gives you an idea of the place and how they make you feel.
In addition, they are doggedly committed to sustainability. They have their own farm and here is what their website states:
"Our projects showcase that businesses can create concepts that ease the environmental pressure on our planet, and we believe that sustainability isn’t simply an option but a must in our business model now and in the future. As a company we do not preach, nor are we perfect - but we are honest, inquisitive and determined."
As I turned my first plate in with my fork on it, they requested I keep my fork for the rest of the meal for sustainability reasons. Lots of times, this would feel like a ploy. Like hotels avoiding fresh linens or making up your room. But here, it felt smart and genuine. I thought for a while the amount of water saved by a small decision like this.
The food here was not light on flavor. The salad had terrific flavor and textures with incredible product. While the mushroom dishes each had some flaws, they were interesting and diverse and flavorful. Dishes I would gladly order again and tell a friend "You need to try this!"
If I'm in Copenhagen, I will return here. Or potentially shoot for their flagship restaurant: Restaurant Ark.
I visited a number of restaurants in Copenhagen this week that didn't warrant a writeup. But Bistro Lupa definitely did. I strongly recommend a visit.