For a weekend trip to Stockholm, we selected to eat our small number of meals at restaurants that highlighted modern Swedish cuisine, and Oaxen Slip's bistro-style Swedish fare definitely didn't disappoint. As we walked in for our reservation, the hostess asked whether we would prefer to sit inside or outside. Based on how gorgeous of a day it was, coupled with the dining area's view of the water, the easy choice was outside. However, the indoor area was open and modern, with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that gave it a light and airy feel.
The outdoor dining area had a bistro feel to it, which we both loved. There was a separate area around the corner that had an even better view of the water (and a bit more privacy), but when we asked about it, we were informed that it was reserved for the restaurant Krog. Oaxen is actually two separate restaurants under one roof: Krog and Slip. Open for both lunch and dinner, Slip is the more casual bistro-type establishment, where the menu is comprised of a la carte offerings. Krog only opens for dinner and offers tasting menus. Shortly after settling in, we were presented with the menu, which changes based on what is in season.
The menu had variety without being overwhelming. Adam started with a Swedish beer, the Stenstrand Sommar ale 35cl (85 SEK = $12.50). I decided to start with a housemade ginger lemonade and gin (125 SEK = $18.25). The cocktail was incredibly refreshing on this warm day, with a bite of spiciness from the ginger to give it a twist.
We were presented with a basket of warm bread and butter; the bread was soft with a crisp exterior and went well with the butter. Soon, the Oaxen dried pork neck (45 SEK = $6.50), presented as lightly folded sheets atop a small wooden block, was presented. The Nordic take at Oaxen was quite similar to the popular Swiss version of dried beef, Bündnerfleisch, and we all-too-quickly enjoyed every piece. Oaxen Slip had both a smoked and pickled version of herring on their menu; Adam opted for the pickled one, which came accompanied by onion and mustard, boiled new potatoes, Västerbotten cheese & Dahlberg's crisp bread (115 SEK = $17). The herring was the perfect balance of sweet and sour and those strong flavors were mellowed out by the potatoes and salty cheese. Building a bit of all of the ingredients on a piece of the crisp bread was perfect. We both just wished the portion was a bit bigger! For my main, I decided to order the grilled char from Piteå (170 SEK = $25). I'm so glad I did! While the presentation might look simple or boring, the flavor was anything but. This was one of the best pieces of grilled fish I had ever eaten. The char had a slight smokiness and was grilled just to the point of being cooked, leaving the fish on the rarer side. The skin was perfectly crisp, with a light sprinkling of salt, which was a great counterpoint to the delicate, sweet fish. A squirt of lemon added an overall brightness to the fish and really brought out the essence of the char. Sometimes the simplest dishes impress me the most and this was definitely one of those times. Adam and I quickly devoured this dish. Adam decided to order the beer and vinegar boiled cheek of veal with almond potato purée, pickled cucumber and tarragon (185 SEK = $27). The veal was incredibly tender and went well with the creamy and smooth potato purée, though we didn't taste a ton of almond. The grilled onions and pickled cucumber lent an element of sweetness to the dish. I found the pickled cucumbers too sweet, while Adam found that it was a nice addition to the dish.We also selected two side dishes: the potato salad and broccoli. The potato salad with spinach, grilled zucchini and capers (45 SEK = $6.50) is not what Americans would think of when they picture potato salad. While it didn't look like what Adam and I had envisioned, it did taste quite good overall! However, it was a bit too oily at times, as many of the items were sitting in a pool of oil. The zucchini and potatoes were able to stand up to the oil but the spinach wilted quite quickly. I had read good things about the grilled broccoli with onion vinaigrette & roasted, grated Dura cheese (50 SEK = $7.25) and it did not disappoint. A large head of broccoli, grilled and then covered in a vinaigrette and cheese. It was nice and refreshing and something that I would have welcomed a second order of. Overall, we really enjoyed our meal at Oaxen Slip. Looking at the prices, it seems exorbitant ($12.50 for a beer?!?) for what we had, but it really is all relative, as Sweden is incredibly expensive. Some of the dishes were definitely quite memorable (grilled char, broccoli) while also giving us a great introduction to modern Nordic food. Plus, if it's a nice day, the outdoor seating is in a beautiful setting. If you're in Stockholm you should definitely make a trip out to Oaxen Slip! read more