First dinner in a new country should say something about the place. In Nuuk, that meant ordering musk ox — the shaggy Arctic animal that roams Greenland's tundra — and one traveller found it at a steakhouse inside a hotel, of all spots.

A Hereford Beefstouw sits inside the Hotel Hans Egede in central Nuuk. The name might sound purely Danish, and that's because it is: the chain dates back to 1971, when a shirt manufacturer named Aage Damgaard and his wife Bitten opened Denmark's first steakhouse near Herning, apparently because Herning had nowhere decent to take business guests. The brand has since spread beyond Denmark, with outposts in Greenland and even Australia.

The Nuuk branch follows the standard steakhouse playbook but folds in local Greenlandic dishes. The pick of the menu: a 225-gram cut of Greenlandic musk ox for 435 Danish kroner, roughly $68, served with French fries and herb butter. The verdict? Tender, flavourful and cooked just right — the herb butter adds richness without burying the meat's distinctive taste. Musk ox, despite the name and the imposing shaggy coat, is more closely related to sheep and goats than to cattle, and the meat reflects that: richer and more gamey than beef, but approachable.

There's a salad bar add-on for 94 DKK (about $15) if you want greens, though after a large portion of meat and fries most diners won't need it. Service is friendly, the room is casual and comfortable, and — a nice bonus — the dining room has views over Nuuk, as does The Skyline Bar across the hall, where a Moscow Mule will set you back about $25.

Is $68 for meat and potatoes steep? Yes. But almost everything in Nuuk is expensive, and this dish was described as one of the most memorable of the whole trip. For travellers chasing something genuinely Greenlandic rather than another imported steak, it's an easy recommendation.

Why it matters: Greenland's food scene is small and heavily import-dependent, so local ingredients like musk ox, reindeer, lamb and seafood are the dishes worth seeking out. A hotel steakhouse might not sound adventurous, but it offers a polished, low-risk introduction to Arctic game meat — useful if you're visiting Nuuk for a few days on the way to or from the fjords, and want a proper sit-down meal without hunting down a popup or a private kitchen.

Who's it for: food-curious travellers on a Nuuk stopover, anyone nervous about trying game meat for the first time, and visitors staying at or near the Hotel Hans Egede who want a reliable dinner with a view. Come hungry, budget accordingly, and consider skipping the cocktail beforehand unless $25 drinks don't faze you.