Grodan Kungliga Operan — Restaurant in Stockholm

Terrible experience that I have to give my first sincere long comment on Google map. We chose this fine dining place to celebrate my boyfriend’s graduation with his family. Service has a good start, things worked out, one waiter who speaks Spanish showed up and appeared to be friendly in the beginning. HOWEVER, drama starts with the food that I ordered — blue mussels, severed with a beautiful black pot. But the first bite was disaster, I tasted only the flavor of the sea and it felt like raw mussels, if you understand what I mean… well… if you may argue that’s very fresh then please. Then I wasn’t sure so I dug sth in the bottom, wishing it’s more cooked, then my boyfriend’s family noticed and asked to try. They immediately asked to stop eating and argued that it’s definitely not well-cooked ( they’re from a sea region seriously). One waitress came, offered to change the dish for me, until now it’s ok maybe it’s just I don’t like the dish or even the dish is not ok I was not blaming anyone. THEN, the Spanish speaking guy showed up again to clarify that it’s my problem not liking the dish instead of the dish itself ??? And claimed that the mussels are supposed to be half-cooked??? ( I wish I had a photo before the evidence was gone, the mussels were seriously raw and without any sauce) EVEN when they changed to a fish for me, my goodness, that guy emphasized again that “ our chef is so kind so he cooked again the dish for you”. I was really uncomfortable to be treated like a problematic person and to be blamed for eating the raw mussels. The waiter was so arrogant that this restaurant could trigger me to write a such long review. Overall, you deserve better food and better service somewhere else if you’ve decided to spend money. My first sincere review and I hope I’ll never have such experience again, not...

Folks, this is a terrific place! It's a shame that is not rated higher than this stars average suggest.

The interior is a most elegant design, as it is part of the Royal Opera House. It used to be an exclusive lounge for the performing opera singers, musicians and other artists. Not anymore. For the past several years it is open to the public as a restaurant. Large terracotta-framed mirrors, gilded columns and pilasters, beautiful ceiling fixtures dominate the interior.

We had to sit inside because the weather was a bit chilly but there is outside seating in front, and a terrace above, overlooking the Parliament island and the Royal Palace in Gamla Stan across the water. A grand view.

The food, contemporary Swedish/Nordic fare, is from a compact menu. All four dishes we had (one appetizer, one fish and one meat entree, and a dessert) tasted great, each built with multiple layers of flavor. Beautiful presentation too (to mach the restaurant decor). The wine list is not extensive but is well curated. After a satisfying Swedish IPA we shared an Australian bottle.

Solid 5 stars...

The interrior of the bar section is interesting but not very comfortable. Prices are high. Coldcuts are basically regular food store items and drinks are not all that good. Table service is slack with bartender and serving staff socializing with friends. Worst of all, music volume is too high for a small bar. There should be music, but here (80's funk on tinny speakers) the volume is gross and maintaining any form of conversation is impossible. This is not a club, it's a social bar where you mingle after going to the opera. Why the volume that had most guests leaving after a single drink? Not the first time. As a result, the bar tends to be half-empty. If you visit Stockholm, go on and have a look inside but I do not suggest you stay and pay. It deserves a single star but gets 2 merely because of the proximity to the opera house. I suspect most five star reviews are posted by freinds of the establishment. Not...