It started
with a dream
A dream of serving fresh seafood, right by the sea. A dream of creating a place where nature, food, and human encounters merge. A place away from the hustle and bustle of the city, yet close enough to reach after work.
In 2003, Cornelius Seafood Restaurant was established on the small island we call Holmen. Behind it were two men with different backgrounds but a shared passion for seafood: Alf Roald Sætre, shellfish entrepreneur, known to many as Oyster Dundee, and Odd Einar Tufteland, a renowned chef and master at transforming local ingredients into taste experiences.
A legacy from the sea,
shaped by weather and will
The road here has been anything but easy. The first few years were without running water and with limited electricity. Raw materials and people were transported in small open boats, and the buildings were erected in all weathers. But with determination, creativity, and a good dose of community spirit, the dream grew, bit by bit.
Today, Cornelius Seafood Restaurant is considered an icon along the west coast of Norway. The restaurant has grown, but its values remain the same: authentic ingredients, warm encounters, and a dining experience in harmony with the elements. We serve meteorological menus, inspired by the weather and the availability of ingredients. Whether it's a calm fjord, the wind rustling the boathouse walls, or rain drumming on the windows, we let nature influence both the menu and the atmosphere.
Cornelius Seafood Restaurant is a place for celebrations, everyday meals, and adventures. Weddings, bachelor parties, small and large celebrations, and many spontaneous lunches in the sun have been held here for boaters who dock here.