The Old Noma Space Will Be Home to Casual Restaurant Barr

Barr, a restaurant from German-born Danish chef Thorsten Schmidt, is set to open in the former Noma Copenhagen space on July 5, Schmidt and the Barr team announced on the Noma website. Schmidt, known for the acclaimed Malling & Schmidt in Aarhus, Denmark, signed a partnership agreement with Noma chef René Redzepi 18 months ago and has kept the plans under wraps until now, the Wall Street Journal reports.

According to the Barr team’s announcement, the restaurant will “draw from the eating and drinking traditions of the North Sea; an area that spans Scandinavia, Benelux, and the British Isles.” Barr, which means “barley” in Old Norse, will launch with a 17-item a la carte menu. Unlike the space’s predecessor, Noma, Barr will serve homier fare, like meatballs and schnitzel, and a carefully selected beer list. Although the menu focuses on comfort foods, Schmidt tells the Wall Street Journal, “Eighty percent of a dish will be something you know. Twenty percent will be a new discovery.”

Redzepi shuttered his world famous restaurant in February, with plans to reopen Noma Cophenhagen in a space with an urban farm. He has since embarked on worldwide pop-up tour, most recently popping up in Tulum, Mexico. Redzepi, who has long known Schmidt, gave his stamp of approval to the chef’s new venture, telling the Wall Street Journal, “He’s approached it like you would any fine-dining tasting menu, even though it’s a meatball.”

The iconic space was redesigned to accommodate 64 guests, compared to Noma’s 40, with room for 30 at the bar. Barr is now accepting reservations, though walk-ins will be welcome in the newly casual restaurant space.

• The New Restaurant Opening in Noma’s Old Space [WSJ]
• Introducing Restaurant Barr [Noma]
• Shocker: René Redzepi Will Shutter Noma, Plans to Reopen It With an Urban Farm [E]