TAVOLO — Restaurant in Göteborgs Stad

A table was booked at 1700 hours at this establishment 'Tavolo'. Considering the name 'Tavolo' one would expect to be seated at the table at 1700. That was not the case. The grim doors were SHUT on arrival. No one came to greet us. Outside it was stiffling cold, people queued for many meters. Already, the tone was set. The impression started to form. This was no ethereal venue of opulance and magnitude. I huddled, outside, rubbing my hands together for warmth like a pauper.

Eventually when my good self finally was able to enter through the large wooden but drab doors, I realised the huge faux pas had been made, an absolute dereliction of forward planning and investigation on my part. People were huddled, waiting to be 'processed' by this sweaty, greasy unshaven penpusher standing and shouting at the desk with a grimace. Hordes were turned away, for they had no booking (yet allowed to waste the time of others who had booked). A loud thumping could be heard from here, a sure sign of bad things to come.

So, then, we entered. A horrible amber red glow bathed the warehouse reducing my acuity immediately. The music was absolutely vile, obnoxious, loud and pounding. The memory of nightclubs of years past came to surface - except the music was much more despicable. My face fell. I had indeed made a terrible mistake. The music was so loud I could not hear my companion. Alas, this was even worse when it transpired that our table was to be underneath the loudspeaker. We complained and were moved next to the bar which was only a little better - We asked the wretched fellow to turn down the music, even a little - but they did not abide by our request. As the music blared, the people shouted louder and louder to be heard over it. What kind of eatery has such tackyness ? Tavolo. This was not a place of grandeur, splendour nor luxury. It was tacky, verily and wholly unrefined. I examined my surroundings. The walls looked dirty, grubby, filthy, stained and pocked with muck - like a barn. There was unequivocally no resolution to make the venue look attractive, not that you could even appreciate closely in the disgusting veil of crimson that soaked the place. The center piece of this complete and utter disaster of a wretched destitute crater was a horses head. It was disgraceful, tasteless, one might say actually quite vulgar, a rotten mould of poured concrete, without any kind of definition or finesse applied to its structural detailing, plonked in the middle for the gawping pretentious, hollow and gaudy patrons. Who would be impressed by that ? The decor was definitely lacking. The tavolo, was most undesirable.

Anyhow. Moving onto the food... strange, the waitress was telling us that at 'tavolo' they encourage people to order food together.. infact this was put as a normality. What kind of 'upscale' place does that ? Surely shoddy and I do wonder if this had more to do with logistics than 'culture'. I vehemently disagreed with this. I ordered my food.. alas, I was told some of the ingredients were - unavailable. The food was of average quality. Far too much oil was applied to the ciabatta, drenched and soaking it was, gushing out. Unconditionally repulsive, had I been an Italian I might actually have died of shame. The cocktails were of decent standard I suppose, but served without sophistication, not exactly grotesque but 'not much to look at'. The poor waitress was clearly overworked, with so many people to deal with. At the same time gormless toads were shouting over one another and screaming. This is definitely NOT the place to take someone to talk to.

Overall, I cannot recommend this restaurant. It is overpriced, without culture, without class. Only a moron will be impressed with the shoddy and ugly architecture/decor. The owners of this wretched hive of waste should be ashamed. I regret stepping foot in there. I warn all of you, pay no attention to the ridiculous hype around this hovel. They do not...

Nice interior, but there is a risk of getting bad seating which we did and I had to look at a wall which wasn’t that nice. We asked if we could get seated somewhere els which they said wasn’t possible. Volume inside the restaurant was very loud, we had a hard time talking to each other, the music was not nice either and very loud. Every now and then they would start playing stereotypical Italian music at full volume and clap to it (I’m guessing they do this when it’s someone’s birthday), did not enjoy it and it ruined the mood.

The staff weren’t that attentive, the service was slow and took time for the food to come out.

The food was very bland and the portions were small considering the price. The ingredients didn’t seem to be of quality and the food came out cold. Wished they have salt and pepper on the table, that could have helped adding something to the food.

ARANCINI, I don’t have much to say about it since it wasn’t anything special. Wished it came out warm and not lukewarm.

POLPO did not enjoy, the octopus was rubbery which wasn’t that pleasant, it had some flavour but the dish wasn’t executed well. Paying 245kr for this was not worth it, especially considering the amount of octopus we got.

POLPETTE AL FORNO this was flavourless, so bland. Nothing special about it and anyone could probably whip something similar at home tasting better then what we got. It had me reaching for salt, only for us to find out that they didn’t have salt on the tables.

VEDURE, had a nice crust, unfortunately the center was very soggy and floppy, didn’t enjoy the consistency of the pizza. But I have to give it to them, the flavour was there and it was a good pizza. But I wouldn’t say it was worth the 195kr price.

PANNA COTTA ALLA VANIGLIA this was vile, I did not enjoy it at all… I have no comment, honestly took one spoon and had enough of it.

I wouldn’t go back to the restaurant, my first experience was meh and didn’t enjoy it to much. It did not live up...

During a recent family visit, TAVOLO's enchanting interior immediately captivated us.

The restaurant, housed within a beautifully restored 18th-century stable, centers around a majestic horse sculpture, while a soaring glass ceiling, adorned with intricate mosaics, creates an airy and luminous atmosphere. The warm glow of the subtly lit tables provided the perfect counterpoint. My children were particularly delighted by the whimsical lion head fountains in the restrooms.

The menu offered a tantalizing array of Italian specialties. We began with a selection of starters: the delicate tartar, the flavorful ricotta di pecora, and the creamy burrata cheese. Each dish received enthusiastic approval from everyone. For our main courses, we shared several pasta and risotto dishes, each praised for their delightful and playful flavor combinations.

The service was efficient and attentive, ensuring our needs were met without being intrusive. While a warmer, more welcoming demeanor from the staff would have elevated the experience, their professionalism and promptness were perfectly adequate for a pleasant dining experience.

Overall, I highly recommend TAVOLO for families seeking a memorable meal in Gothenburg. The inviting atmosphere, delicious food, and thoughtful touches make it an ideal choice for creating lasting memories.

Additional Tips: Reservations are highly recommended, especially during peak hours. A weekday visit often provides a quieter dining experience. Sharing a selection of dishes enhances the social and fun aspect of the meal. Be sure to soak in the unique atmosphere. TAVOLO adds a special touch to birthdays by playing festive Italian music and presenting the birthday celebrant with sparklers, creating a fun and surprising experience...