People convinced ‘UFO’ restaurant in middle of nowhere is like a horror film

The Norwegian fjords have been attracting tourists for a long time as the dramatic scenery looks other-wordly. Mountains, valleys and snow-capped peaks surround the bright blue waters of the Scandinavian waterways.

Plus, many Brits hope to spot the Northern Lights while enjoying a cruise down the fjords. If you do spot the glimmering colours in the sky they’re likely to catch your breath.

Well, now, holidaymakers looking to enhance the alien-like feel of the impressive landscape can dine in a restaurant that’s reminiscent of a UFO. With all the talk of aliens being real this year it’s sure to be popular.

READ MORE: UK's first UFO tour to launch in forest where 1980s troops saw glowing lights

Looking just like a cracked spacecraft, Restaurant Iris is inside a huge silver orb. Located in Hardangerfjord – the fifth largest fjord in the world – it sits in the middle of the glittering water with cliffs stretching up on either side.

The four-storey building is actually designed to look like a fish eye and is named the Salmon Eye accordingly. But, personally we think it looks like martians took an ill-fated trip down to Norway.

The floating art installation and restaurant opened in 2022 and serves food based on learning about sustainable seafood. The fish eye is covered in 9,000 steel plates that look like scales and it weighs an impressive 1,256 tonnes.

It’s UFO-like structure even has one floor under the water! Restaurant Iris opened in the centre of the building in spring and has quickly gone viral on social media.

You have to access the spaceship by boat where you’re then treated to an "exclusive expedition dining-journey" which turns out to be an impressive 18-course meal. You’ll dine on the more than a dozen dishes while staring out at the fjord, mountains and glaciers of the Norway coast.

On TikTok, holidaymakers have compared the fish eye to the spacecraft from sci-film Arrival. Others have noted that it feels a bit like the horror film The Menu, where guests travel to a remote restaurant for a gourmet experience that goes very wrong.

"I'm pretty sure this is what the screenwriters talked about going to that inspired the movie," one person commented, while another added that the whole place gave them "big 'the menu' vibes".

Luckily, you’re completely safe in the Norwegian restaurant. Chef Anika Madsen will treat you to the meal which includes interesting and sustainable foods from the ocean.

Just 24 people can dine at the restaurant at a time so it’s pretty exclusive. If you do bag a booking you’ll be picked up by an electric boat from Rosendal – a town on the shore surrounded by fields and pretty mountains.

You’re then treated to a welcome snack at the nearby island of Snilstveitoy before heading to the fish eye. Once you arrive you’ll experience a "multisensory experience" including a film about food waste.

Plus, you get to pick a "cracker" which hangs from a thread from the ceiling. Which will you get? Let’s hope it’s delicious!

Then you’ll dine on the chosen courses which use local ingredients and are designed in creative ways. This sometimes includes reindeer hearts served lo look raw.

Plus, there’s a breaded salmon dish served as a whole dish on a plate that seems to be the ocean floor. Ceviche-style white salmon with birch sap and elderflower is dubbed "colourblind" on the menu too.

Cuttlefish, kelp, unripe strawberries, beach crabs, rocked, mussels, juniper and other lesser known ingredients are all served in bonkers ways to guests. The experimental menu doesn’t come cheap at £246 per person plus an additional £192 if you want the wine pairing.

Those who want to visit the spaceship-like building can visit for two hours for £27. But, that doesn’t come with any food.

The Salmon Eye website states: "Iris is a unique restaurant located at Salmon Eye. The restaurant offers an expedition dining, where you as a guest are taken on a culinary and scenic expedition."

While a statement about the restaurant said: "The experience blends gastronomy and activism on a global scale… the menu at Iris reads like a story. A story about the challenges and threats to the global food system, but also with ideas and suggestions for future innovations, that can help bring us closer to solving them."

Unfortunately, due to the always changing menu, restaurant Irish cannot provide meals for vegans, vegetarians or anyone with a seafood allergy. You can book a visit at restaurantiris.no.

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