The Tarv is a steak house that serves traditional Faroese cuisine together with en eclectic selection of barbecued specialties. It is newly established in the former premises of Poul Hansens Heilsøla in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands. The white façades, to the left in the row.
Text & Photo © JE Nilsson & CM Cordeiro 2019
Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, 2019
Some of best restaurants in the Faroe Islands are clustered around its oldest center, the Tinganes, which has served as the governing center of the islands as long as written history can tell. Around this peninsula are the two harbours of Tórshavn. If given the opportunity to return to the Faroe Islands, I will definitely revisit The Tarv.
The Tarv is located at the corner of the larger of the two harbours of Tórshavn. It´s a restaurant that serves some of the best of Faroese raw produce, fish and meat, in one of my preferred methods of cooking, grilled. The essential list of side dishes that accompanied grilled meats included Béarnaise sauce and pepper sauce were enough to make my evening.
The wood log interiors of the restaurant complemented with warm candle lights give the place a cozy and inviting ambience. Service was friendly and efficient. We asked to sit by the window so that we could have a view of the harbour. That wish was granted in under five minutes, after rearranging the seating plans to prior bookings. The Tarv is renowned for its comprehensive wine selection, where pairings can be recommended. Recommended too, are their house beers such as the Tarv Pils and the Tarv Pale Ale.
View of the harbour from inside The Tarv.
Maritime interiors show casing dried aged meats and a comprehensive selection of wine.
By the bar, dry aged meat.
Having the evening´s recommendations, and wine pairing suggestions to main courses.
Grilled Argentine shrimps on chili avocado.
Grilled Faroese salmon and Spanish Ibérico pork. On the side, grilled potatoes.
Grilled Faroese salmonn. Salmon from the Faroe Islands is renowned for its high quality and taste, much due to the geographical location of the Faroe Islands in between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The waters of the Faroe Islands are pristine, with steady sea temperatures. These conditions are ideal for the aquaculture of salmon.
Grilled beef with a side of sweet potatoes.
The interior of The Tarv is distinctly maritime, reflecting the current and historical economic activities of the Faroe Islands.
Harbour scene by night, outside of The Tarv.
Around the corner from The Tarv, the oldest quarters of Tórshavn has a compact constellation of good restaurants.
