Europe\'s first underwater restaurant opens in Norway

Europe's first underwater restaurant has opened in Norway, With more than 7000 customers already booked to eat beneath the sea.

The restaurant is on the southern tip of Norway, And looks like a concrete tube partly submerged beneath the North Sea The complex structure was designed by the Norwegian firm Snohetta - who also designed the September 11 Memorial Museum in New York.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) FOUNDER OF SNOHATTA ARCHITECTURE FIRM, KJETIL TRAEDAL THORSEN, SAYING: "The biggest challenge I think from a structural point of view and from a technical point of view was to get the foundations right and actually manage to tie the building down because the volume of this building wants it to float back up." The restaurant is called 'Under', which also means 'Wonder' in Norwegian.

And visitors are treated to a wondrous, fantasy-like venue.

It's designed to look like a sauna when customers walk in, with wooden planks covering the upper section.

A large window looms over the main dining room, giving a view out to the ocean.

The head chef says people will be drawn by the unusual design of the venue, But hopes cooking will become a big attraction too.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD CHEF AT "UNDER", NICOLAI ELLITSGAARD, SAYING: "Over time I think that the food will, I hope, that people will come just because of the food as well." The architects say the building can withstand very harsh weather, Though the bills customers get might make a few waves.... As a full 18-course meal - based on local ingredients - can cost up to 430 dollars.