Life imitates art – or vice versa in this case.
Following the announcement of the closure of popular high-end restaurant Noma, many have started sharing their own experiences at the fine-dining restaurant.
One woman shared her experience of a meal at Noma, which many say resembles the movie The Menu.
The video was shared by TikTok user @mrsmedrios, who highlighted her own experience eating at Noma.
The world-famous restaurant announced it would close its doors in 2024, as reported by The New York Times, and while it’s known as “the best restaurant in the world,” customers might not agree!
“If you’re wondering how to get into one of the most prestigious restaurants in the world, the answer is quite simple: get on a waiting list,” explains Medrios.
She guides us through her culinary experience, which began with a tour of the greenhouse Noma uses in its dishes.
Then came the varying selection of delicious unconventional food including a drink that you have to put your face in to enjoy the ‘full experience’.
Many call the movie The Menu a parody of Noma.
After watching TikTok, users in the comments noticed striking similarities to ‘The Menu’ – a 2022 thriller set in an exclusive fine-dining restaurant.
The film follows a group of people who travel to a remote island in search of the most expensive gourmet experience of their lives, with a slight twist, of course. It pokes fun at the restaurant industry and foodie culture.
Just like Noma, “The Menu” features different parts of the restaurant such as a greenhouse, farmhouse and state-of-the-art equipment, all used for the experience.
While many noted the parallels between the fictional restaurant and the all-too-real, screenwriters Will Tracy and Seth Reiss explained that there was more to it.
Sitting down with Bon Appetit, Tracy explained that the inspiration actually came from a restaurant he frequented on a remote Norwegian island.
“There’s something unrelenting about all these tasting menus,” he said. “You can’t go. They are held captive by a story that they tell for hours.”
Now many are speculating that the film’s success was Noma’s downfall.
While it’s mostly just speculation (and jokes), people are wondering if the film helped fuel Noma’s closure.
“Noma is closing because its labor practices are unsustainable and now I’m in a hole furiously researching whether The Menu went into production before or after this incident,” one user tweeted.
People also use this news to point out Noma’s unfair practices towards her employees (much like in the film), including underpaying her employees, unethical harvesting practices, and inflicting massive trauma on her chefs.
So if you have over $1,000 to spare and want to try Noma’s food before it closes, take a note from Anya Taylor-Joy’s character in the film: Ask for a burger to go.
Victoria Soliz is a writer at YourTango covering news and entertainment content. Her work covers trends in pop culture, film and television, and celebrity news