Around Christmas, the Arctic cod swims down from the Barents Sea to spawn, and this fresh cod ("skrei"), served with its own liver and roe, is a rustic speciality drawing huge crowds of locals to all the seafood restaurants in town. Shrimps, shellfish and king crabs also rate as mouthwatering delicacies.
Freshly caught coalfish, followed by sweet secrets from the world’s northernmost strawberry fields or Arctic cloudberries, is a summer delicacy.
Reindeer meat is a healthy and tasty alternative for carnivores. Goat, long frowned upon, makes a return to dinner plates, and mutton from fjord-side pastures tastes of heather and birch. Grouse and moose are available in the autumn hunting season.
Numerous ambitious quality restaurants in Tromsø make use of the unique raw ingredients of the Arctic, but search for inspiration from the great French tradition or from the latest trends in international cooking. Tromsø's multi-cultural community, featuring more than 100 nationalities, does its very best to whet local palates, and there is no shortage of steak houses and pizza restaurants.
Budget travellers should shun the word restaurant and head straight for the numerous cafés that serve cheaper food. Out of town, simple cafés and taverns feature a menu of both local, rustic specialities and international standard fare.