Fet-Fisk falls short of James Beard award
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An island of meringue floats in brown butter sauce dotted with lingonberries at Fet-Fisk. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios
Pittsburgh's Scandinavian-inspired eatery Fet-Fisk missed out on winning a national award for best new restaurant, but it's still one of the hottest restaurants in the country.
Why it matters: Despite losing to Bûcheron in Minneapolis for the James Beard award for Best New Restaurant, Fet-Fisk has earned accolades from the New York Times and Eater as one of the top 50 restaurants in the nation last year.
Driving the news: The James Beard award ceremony was held Monday evening in Chicago, and Fet-Fisk was competing against nine restaurants from across the country.
Zoom in: The Bloomfield restaurant specializes in seafood dishes inspired by Nordic culture.
- Chef/owner Nik Forsberg's passion project, which started as a pop-up business, has paid off with national recognition and reservations fully booked over a month out.
What they're saying: "We never imagined we could take it this far, and it's all thanks to the undying support of our lovely community," Forsberg told Axios in April when his restaurant was nominated.
State of play: Pittsburgh has never won a James Beard Foundation Award. Dozens of local restaurants have been nominees and semifinalists over the years since the ceremony began in 1990.
- Primanti Bros. and its former owner, Demetrios Patrinos, won a James Beard American Classics Award in 2007.
Yes, but: Chad Houser, founder CEO of Cafe Momentum, won the 2025 James Beard Humanitarian of the Year award.
- The national restaurant chain with a branch in Pittsburgh serves teens who have been impacted by the juvenile justice system, giving them a chance to work in the restaurant through a 12-month paid internship.
The details: Fet-Fisk took over the space from Lombardozzi — an old-school Italian staple that closed during the pandemic — and added some modern flourishes while maintaining the cozy charm reminiscent of a mobster's favorite red sauce joint, but with a nautical theme.
Best bites: Try the grilled cabbage Caesar salad ($15), whole grilled branzino ($42) and sourdough spaetzle ($12).
- Its cocktails feature Scandinavian flavors, and many are made with aquavit, the region's signature spirit.
Go deeper: Read our review