Restaurant Substans was opened 15 years ago by Chef/owner René Mammen together with his wife Louise. The restaurant gained its first Michelin star in 2015.

Substans restaurant is located in the old part of Arhus, the main city of Jutland, Denmark. Aarhus is the second largest city of Denmark and the largest city of Jutland. Aarhus is seen as a combination of youthful energy and the best from the past. A very cosy city where everything is to be found within walking distance.

The restaurant has 35 seats and the interior is mainly hand made by one of Renés oldest friends. It is a warm, cosy mix where wood is the star. The tables are a mix between ‘naked’ wooden tables and some tables covered with linen.

Renè Mammen, 37 years old, is the head chef and has previously worked at Noma and Ensamble in Copenhagen – just to name a few. He has been running his own restaurant for almost 15 years. Five chefs are working in his kitchen brigade.

At Substans, you can choose from two different tasting menus. A full tasting or a lighter version. It is very important for René to work with organic products that follow the different seasons. The style of cooking is ‘Scandinavian casual fine dining’. Good examples here include dishes like “Turbot with semi-dried carrots, roasted hazelnuts with buttermilk and browned butter sauce” or “Fermented blueberries with sun chokes, burnt cream and thyme”.

Wines are also an important part of the Aarhus experience. The focus from sommelier Rasmus Kristensen are organic and biodynamic from mainly smaller producers. But you will also find great classics on their wine list.

Substans is a very casual restaurant with a relax atmosphere where the past and the present are combined into a Nordic eating experience. The food here is great example of the Scandinavian casual fine dining where refined flavoured, artisanship and organic produce from local farmers and manufacturers are combined into delicious dishes. If you want to visit the restaurant on its current location, make sure to hurry up as they will close down and reopen at a new location in Aarhus, May 2019 for their chapter 2.

Gastronomy

The Team

Interior

Written by Alexander