Geranium, a mostly meat-free eatery in Copenhagen, Denmark, earned the top spot on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list. The U.K.’s William Reed Business Media compiles the list yearly based on a survey of international chefs, critics, and restaurant owners. The eatery made the list in 2021 also, earning second place. The public can’t seem to get enough of the unique, flavorful dishes at the popular pescatarian and plant-based restaurant.
“Geranium invites guests to taste nature while simultaneously observing it around them,” World’s 50 Best described the esteemed eatery.
“The locally-inspired, seasonally-changing ‘Universe’ tasting menu takes place over a minimum of three hours with around 20 courses split evenly between appetizers, savory dishes and sweets,” it continued.
The eatery didn’t always serve primarily plant-based items, but its owners wanted to take the restaurant in a new direction. They began offering more meat-free options in January 2022, which set them apart from competing restaurants.
Geranium already had a history of excellence, winning three Michelin stars in 2016. But the creative pescatarian menu took its dishes to new heights, making them the world’s best restaurant.
The meat-free eatery won after 1,000 international restaurant experts voted for it. The awards ceremony took place on July 18, 2022, in London, making it the tenth time co-owners Rasmus Kofoed and Søren Ledet received an invitation to the celebration. It marked a huge turning point in their careers.
Now that Geranium won the World’s Best Restaurant title, it cannot win again in the future. However, the eatery could still earn a spot in the “Best of the Best” category.
Among the top 10 restaurants on the list, Geranium stands out as the only one with a meatless menu.
Meat-Free Eatery in Denmark Named World’s Best Restaurant
Before the pandemic, Geranium served many hearty dishes with meat as the main course. The restaurant offers only seafood, fish, eggs, dairy, and vegetables today. The decision to serve more meat-free options stemmed from the growing popularity of vegetarian diets.
Also, the owners wanted to serve dishes made from ingredients in their backyard. They decided to reinvent the menu, including only seasonal produce and local seafood in meals. Not only did this make the food taste fresher, but it also reduced the restaurant’s environmental impact.
“The last year, especially after the lockdown when we reopened Geranium, we changed the menu completely, and it was very difficult to change everything. Said goodbye to the signature dishes… but I felt a lot of freedom,” co-owner and head chef Rasmus Kofoed told GMA in an interview. “It has been a great journey together with the team so we could all have a great experience.”
Kofoed adopted a vegan diet in 2017, influencing his decision to create meat-free options for the restaurant. The sophisticated dishes are Danish-inspired with a unique twist on traditional offerings.
“In 2022, Kofoed made Geranium a meat-free zone, focusing solely on local seafood and vegetables from organic and biodynamic farms in Denmark and Scandinavia. Artful creations on the ‘Spring Universe’ menu include lightly smoked lumpfish roe with milk, kale, and apple, and forest mushrooms with beer, smoked egg yolk, pickled hops, and rye bread. Each dish is an intricate work of art served on nature-inspired crockery,” World’s 50 Best said of the new menu.
The upscale restaurant also serves salted herring in crispy algae with dill stems, paired with aquavit (a Scandinavian spirit). Other popular items include boiled beetroots, birkemosegård(biodynamic vegetables), dried blueberries and horseradish, cloudberry, pumpkin, and white chocolate.
Meat-Free Options and Shorter Workweeks Gain Popularity
Kofoed says he opens Geranium only four days a week to give employees a break. Co-owner Søren Ledet backed his decision wholeheartedly since it offers workers more flexibility. The four-day workweek also aligns with Kofoed’s ideals of being creative with the least amount of resources.
In a Facebook post about the new meat-free menu, he said: “I see it as a challenge to create new dishes which celebrate seafood from the pristine waters & vegetables from local, organic/biodynamic farms which thrive here in Denmark & Scandinavia.”
While Kofoed follows a vegan diet, he gave his vegetarian mother credit for inspiring the new menu. After hosting a meat-free event at Geranium in 2020, he started brainstorming plant-based dishes.
Many other restaurants have begun serving meat-free options as vegan diets become popular. For example, upscale New York restaurant Eleven Madison Park adopted a primarily plant-based menu in 2021.
As supply chain disruptions mounted during the pandemic, head chef Daniel Humm focused on sustainable menu options. Now, EMP utilizes preparation methods such as fermentation to enhance flavors in dishes.
The same year, the London restaurant Gauthier Soho began offering an entirely vegan menu.
Even restaurants in Texas, a state known for its love of meat, saw the benefits of plant-based dishes. When Marcy and Carlos Madrid took over ownership of Brew St. in Midland, Texas, they opted to reinvent the menu.
As vegans for nearly five years, they noticed their health improve dramatically and wanted the same for their community. It seemed like a risky move in small-town Texas, but customers raved about their vegan street tacos! The couple makes them with Beyond Meat’s beef product blended with spices and veggies. Other popular items include cinnamon rolls and other pastries.
Final Thoughts on World’s Best Meat-Free Restaurant, a Plant-Based Eatery in Denmark
Geranium, a mostly meat-free eatery in Denmark, topped the list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. The upscale restaurant didn’t always serve plant-based options but changed the menu during the pandemic. The owners wanted to offer more sustainable, local foods for personal and environmental reasons.
That decision seemed to work in their favor, as judges raved about the unique, delicious dishes. Diners couldn’t get enough of the upgraded menu and enjoyed all the new options. If you ever find yourself in Denmark, hopefully, you can try the award-winning Geranium!
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