Persona — Restaurant in Stockholm

This was very interesting. The guys that own this restaurant are very ambitious I must say. But the food is not developed yet. From start, when you arrive it's very exciting and very familiar, warm and nice atmosphere, the service is excellent from start to end. They welcome you and you feel very close to the whole staff. It's very personal. It's unusual in Stockholm. We got a total serving of 14 small courses, or it's almost small like a bite. It's smaller than the usual tasting menues I've tried. It took some time though to get through them all, we were there for 3,5 hours. The wine we tried (we didn't have the wine pairing, only a couple of glasses of a riesling), was heavenly great! But the food.. I'm so disappointed. The food was served like a little show, it was very fun and exciting to see what they served. But we got disappointed almost every time, the salt wasn't there, the balance wasn't there. They try so hard to impress so they forget about the flavors. You will be impressed by the handcrafted food and the way they serve it and how it looks, it's like art. But the flavors are just not balanced at all. The ice cream desert was very manly, and I couldn't even eat it. It was too much smokey whiskey that took over the whole dish. I think if they just focus more on the food and less on the hip presentations, and keep practicing the Flavors, then it can be really good. Also, please turn the volume of the music down a little, its a fine dining restaurant, it's not an after work place, it...

Loved our evening at Persona! We did the A La Carte option, which still is a generous 3+ hours long and feels as special as a tasting menu; in no way is this option less of an experience ambience wise (just a little less food). The interior of Persona is intimate and very tastefully done, in that carefully curated, intuitively stylish and well balanced way that Swedes do so well (not too Swedish of me to brag, but I just must). The staff is genuinely nothing short of wonderful. You feel special and deeply welcome. Everyone we interacted with are super cool people to boot, highly knowledgeable and warm. Head Chef also gets involved in the dining room and spends time with you, which is a lovely bonus. His main creation for us, created bespoke based on your personal taste and that evening's ingredients that you select along with the wine in their cellar, was superbly delicious, elegant and fresh. Probably the best Turbot dish we have ever eaten, anywhere in the world. The Hamachi appetizers - 2 versions, based on our individual wine selection - were also outstanding. The canapes to start the evening, and dessert (French pastries) to end it were also good, but not in the same class as the appetizer and main course. Only thing slightly less fantastic are the bar stools (where you sit for A La Carte). They are very handsome, but without a proper back rest and solely made of hard wood, sitting in them for an extended period of time eventually becomes uncomfortable. We will...

How often does the owner of a wildly popular restaurant make the effort to meet you at the door to welcome you personally?

At Persona, you feel like you’ve entered the home of your eccentric and cool old friend, the one who loves art and design and has curated every single detail of their space into perfection. The evening starts at the gorgeous lounge area, where you are served drinks and snacks - introduced one by one by several, equally friendly and talkative, members of the staff. Including the second owner, the French chef, who insists on carrying your bags to give you a private tour of the wine cellar before you are seated in the dining area.

I'll stop there. But visiting Persona was an amazing experience throughout, and I took particular pleasure in the attention to detail, the fun cutlery, and of course the glass of Krug Champagne on the menu.

Pricey but definitely not unreasonable, and this place finds its well deserved spot very much up there with the best fine dining spots in Stockholm for its food - but in addition offering a unique and interesting experience that extends well beyond the food.

Including a personal send-off at the door, featuring a hug from the chef. Making you feel welcome to come back anytime, maybe even already next weekend - provided of course that you sign up for the waitlist where these hot tables are grabbed in a matter of minutes.

Warmly recommended!...