These days, with so much competition out there, the criteria for a good restaurant includes the ambiance and interior design as much as the food. And, when it comes to interior design, the Nordic countries often seem to come out on top. Check out this new restaurant in Bergen, the Netherlands, designed by Dutch design studio Tjep. The restaurant is Fabbrica, part of a chain of Fabbrica restaurants (they also have one in Rotterdam I believe).

I don't know much about the food but I do like the design. It's stylish and slightly kooky but not overbearing. Sometimes very fancy, highly stylized restaurants are actually a little uncomfortable to eat in because you don't feel completely relaxed and the aesthetics are overwhelming, or at least that's how I feel. My favorite feature of this place is the tables that were inspired by train cabins. Each is its own compartment and you have to climb up a ladder to sit down. I also love the very industrial containers set against the wall that hold the wood to fuel the traditional pizza oven and the electricity plugs that power the lights.There's a really cool mosiac tile design on the actual oven too.

According to designers Tjep:

“As for the general looks we decided to take a more earthly and less gloss and shine approach as compared to Fabbrica Rotterdam. In Bergen we show materials instead of using painted surfaces. We did this to be more in touch with the economic context of the moment. It's not time for Bling Bling anymore, people want more authenticity and less entertainment."

Couldn't agree more. The use of natural earthy tones and materials over a lot of paint and color is refreshing.






Now I wanna know what the pizza tastes like.

Unfortunately the website is only in Dutch which isn't much help but here is the link to it anyway: http://www.fabbrica-bergen.nl/info/