Under kastanjen - Stockholm, Sweden

[Sooh]

Under kastanjen (Under the chestnut tree) is a charming restaurant in the middle of Old Town in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.

Address: Kindstugatan 1, Gamla Stan, Stockholm

Price: €€€

Parking: None

Service: Poor

Location:

 

I went there on Friday night with a party of 50, so we were not exactly the easiest of guests, but they knew we were coming and had agreed to serve us all. 

 

To start with we were guided downstairs into the basement, to a couple of rooms that were very charming with low arches and an almost medieval atmosphere. 

 

There was a bar in the other room, and as we arrived it was "happy hour", so everyone lined up to get a cheap first drink before the meal. Alas the poor chap behind the bar had no idea what he was doing, and he spent about 3 minutes serving one glass of beer, so happy hour was done long before he managed to finish our line. Did they do the cool thing and say that everyone who was in line by the time happy hour was finished would get cheap drinks? No, they didn't. 

 

Everyone settled at their tables, and we were waiting for our food. We had been given a choice of two set menus to choose from since we were so many.

 

Menu 1:

Starter

Confit duck with pepper emulsion, roasted chestnuts and pickled onions

Main course

Blackened tuna with tomatoes and potatoes tossed in butter

Dessert

Saffron poached pears with a raspberry sauce

 

Menu 2:

Starter

Garlic bread with mozzarella

Main course

Lamb sirloin and merguez, served with a sage- and garlic crème, baked parsley root, red wine sauce and pommes frites

Dessert

Floating meringue egg on crème anglais, served with chocolate and roasted hazelnuts

 

I chose menu 2, because I am not so fond of tuna.

 

It took an hour before the first starters came out. By that time we had been told not to go to the bar to order drinks, but rather to order from the table. Too bad there were no waiters around. 

 

The garlic bread with mozzarella was a slice of toast that had been donned with a sprinkle of mozzarella on top. The garlic was nowhere to be found, and the bread was dried to a crisp in the oven.

 

Another half an hour passed, and the mains were coming out. 

The lamb was really good, so I was very pleased with that. It was a very enjoyable dish overall. 

 

By the time the desserts were coming out the waiting staff were visibly annoyed and frustrated with us. They were shouty and disorganized, and ran around one another like headless chickens.  The marengue eggs in creme anglais were icky at best. The creme anglais was a very thin custard, and the chocolate and roasted hazelnuts were tossed on top. 

 

I have been told from other tables that they were refused service from the waiting staff because they were so annoyed with having to deal with such a big party. Overall it was a poor experience.

 

1/5

 

[Thane Vakarian]

that does sound like poor service. And i think everybody who'd read this wouldn't be willing to go there.... if you can't wait all the tables, you're either understaffed or incompetent.

[Daruya]

It looks like a charming place but to maintain that charm requires a level of service which it sounds was lacking during your visit.  Maybe they'd be better with small parties . . . but they did, after all, agree to serve your large party so there's no excuse for their poor service.

[Sooh]

Well we think they were probably seriously understaffed, which is strange, because if you agree to accept a party of 50 you would naturally get more people to come in that night, wouldn't you?

 

Or at least be a bit more organized.. the three waiters we had were running all over the place. It didn't seem like they split the tables between them at all. 

[Sooh]

It looks like a charming place but to maintain that charm requires a level of service which it sounds was lacking during your visit.  Maybe they'd be better with small parties . . . but they did, after all, agree to serve your large party so there's no excuse for their poor service.

Haha ninjad!

 

Yes.. very true!

[Sooh]

I found a picture of the dessert I had there.. Thought I should share..

 

Looks lovely, huh?

[BridMorgan]

Sooh - 2

Thane - 1

Dar - 1