Bonnatösens Saloon

I'd heard about Bonnatösen's burgers for a long time, and sooner or later curiosity had to win out over convenience. One day this autumn, the time had come. I added a half-hour detour to finally try it. That sounds more heroic than it was, but for a hamburger, thirty minutes is still a bit of a commitment.

Bonnatösen comes in two versions in Nora. Bonnatösens Burgare is only open in summer, while Bonnatösens Saloon is the indoor restaurant, and it's the one that keeps going once the season has turned. If you come here in autumn like I did, the saloon is the one for you. The name isn't an exaggeration: the place has a great Western feel, and country music comes out of the speakers. The setup is simple: you order at the counter and sit down. At lunch there's a deal where a double burger with small fries costs 195 kronor, while a single with fries is 155.

I was there as early as half past ten and the first one in the place, which probably says more about how much I was longing for this burger than anything else. A cheerful girl at the counter took the order. I went for the double and added a portion of cornribs for 59 kronor.

It took about ten minutes before the food arrived. This early in the morning, that's no wait worth getting hung up on. The burger was very good. The sear was right, the meat had good flavor on its own, and someone in the kitchen isn't afraid of the pepper mill. I appreciate that kind of peppery kick, because it shows the seasoning is a choice and not something someone remembered at the last minute. The fries were crispy, as they should be. Don't skip the cornribs; the seasoning on them was really good.

If you're passing through Nora outside the summer season and fancy a burger with some character, the saloon is the place to look for. Get the double from the lunch menu and add the cornribs, and you'll get the best thing I ate. Check the opening hours before you go, since which Bonnatösen is open depends on the time of year. This is a burger that deserves people turning off the road for it.