Scarpetta (by Ingrosso) — Restaurant in Stockholm

I'm a crazy fan of pasta. I ask for business trips to Rome every year, and went to their local cuisinary school to learn pasta. I had never thought pasta could go wrong, esp. gamba tomato linguine, until I tried Scarpetta. The restaurant looks very fancy, very delicate southern Asian style, which actually looks a bit odd for an Italian restaurant. I started to feel alert when I found a rice-big salt in the starter leaves... And I googled the ratings immediately. There ARE comments about the food being too salty. So I asked the serving lady to tell the kitchen: please try to prepare my dish less salty. She's very friendly, smiling and assuring me the food would be fine. After a long wait, my dish came with the bread (yes, the bread was only served at this time, after the starter's finished). To start with, the linguine is "bien cuit" even for an Asian. It's obviously left in the boiling water for too long, and started to go soft... Then, it IS too salty, almost bitterish. And, I had never experienced this before in all those pasta I had eatten: the tomatoes are sour... (I didn't bother to check if was cherry tomatoes.) So, salty and sour... my gamba linguine... Oh lala. I was too hungry after a long day without lunch. (This was a Sunday dinner.) At last, I had to pour my sparkling water into my dish to "wash" my linguine, and the pasta ended up literally a soup. Do Swidish ppl really have such a "salty" tooth? I was also looking at the well-commented Carbonara. But I really don't have the gut to revisit it. Please, Italian pasta deserves much better than this. If the chef can't put his/her heart in the food, maybe it's better to change it into a Spanish tapas cafe (that's what the starter tasted like). Asked for the bill immediately after the pasta. No photo...

Even when you remove the domestic hype around the Ingrosso family this is still a very nice restaurant with semi costly prices (around 300-400 SEK per person with no alcohol but an average of two dishes included in that) but food, service and a location that match them. Their pasta is really, really good as well as their entrees and desserts. Not a lot to choose from on the menu but that also means everything is fresh from the kitchen and they do those dishes very well (finding a favorite also means they will still have it the year after). It also seems to be high quality produce because the results are thereafter.

But none of these things would matter if the service wasn't great. We tried the restaurant the first time with our three-year-old accompanying us. Even though very well behaved we were still surprised with how well welcomed we were (this is NOT a kids restaurant). They have a cut-off time when young children are no longer welcome (I think around 19.00) and for some reason or another we ended up staying 30 min longer. There were no issues. Two years and about four visits later and we almost feel like regulars even though we are not. This all thanks to the staff that treat us kindly and respectfully without being over-the-top or intrusive.

The atmosphere is likely the best possible considering the cramped space on the busiest street in Stockholm. It's not a restaurant I would travel to from far away just to check off my bucket list but it takes us 45 minutes and every visit persuades us to come back for even more special occasions.

I rarely write these reviews and even rarer that I give top remarks. I hope that helps...

Thanks for the chef, the team and mainly Rovena.. I recently had the pleasure of dining at your restaurant, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. The evening began with a selection of vegetarian starters that were nothing short of delightful. Each dish was a harmonious blend of fresh, high-quality ingredients, bursting with vibrant flavors.

For the main course, I opted for the pasta, which was cooked to al dente perfection. The sauce was rich and flavorful, coating each strand of pasta beautifully. It was clear that a lot of care and tradition went into its preparation, making it a truly authentic Italian experience.

The highlight of the meal, however, was the shrimp risotto. The risotto was creamy and luscious, with just the right amount of bite. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, tender and succulent, adding a wonderful depth of flavor to the dish. It was a masterful combination that left a lasting impression.

The service was impeccable, with attentive and knowledgeable staff who made excellent recommendations and ensured that our dining experience was enjoyable. The ambiance of the restaurant was warm and inviting, perfect for a relaxed and enjoyable meal.

Overall, the restaurant exceeded all my expectations. It is a gem of an Italian restaurant that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an authentic and delicious dining experience. I can't wait to return and try more of their...