In making a last-minute visit to Sweden, I didn't do my usual anal research in trying to find the must-eat places in Stockholm, so when we got to our hotel, it was up to the Yelp app to help us identify a nice place for a late lunch. As it turned out, we were just a quick stroll away from the bustling Stockholm Central Station. Right next to the Burger King kiosk was this unusually refined dining destination amid the hubbub of commuters going back and forth from the train platforms. It turned out to be a Michelin-starred French brasserie run by executive chef David Gard, where our main goal was avoiding a sprained ankle from all the hard-case roller luggage European travelers seem to favor.
You know you're in a fancy place when most of your complimentary bread basket is filled with buttery croissants (photo: http://bit.ly/1Y9TT8P). Jamie W. and I were kinda starving because we didn't have anything to eat since our buffet breakfast back at the hotel. We exhausted ourselves by overdoing our karaoke performances at ABBA The Museum and then making our way back to the city center. That was our flimsy excuse to order big, and we did. Jamie had the 225 KR French Half Chicken (Majskyckling) with vegetables, a buttery foie gras sauce and fried potatoes (photo: http://bit.ly/1X9Lwfc). It was downright decadent with the chicken slathered in butter and foie gras quite plentiful.
The fries were a bit disappointing as they were slightly burnt (photo: http://bit.ly/1SQeZp0). I splurged even more by ordering the 315 KR Ribeye Steak (Entrecôte), a particularly thick cut in a rich bernaise sauce (photo: http://bit.ly/1X9LCmX) accompanied by a hearty tomato salad, hand-cut fries and gravy (photo: http://bit.ly/1TL7vGc). The steak was delicious, perfectly cooked medium-rare but awfully big for just one person. The tomatoes provided a nice, fresh contrast. We decided to share the 195 KR White Asparagus (Vit Sparris) covered in Hollandaise sauce, roe, crispy rye bread and herbs (photo: http://bit.ly/1SOeorB). It was an unusual combination of flavors but probably quite Swedish in appeal and taste. No dessert for the wicked as we had a boat to Helsinki to catch.
FOOD - 4 stars...top-drawer French cuisine, hearty portions, moderate prices
AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...as elegant as a train station can afford though a bit crowded especially with luggage strewn about
SERVICE - 4 stars...genuinely friendly staff who speak impeccable English
TOTAL - 4 stars...first-class brasserie amid the harried train passengers read more