Ekstedt at The Yard — Restaurant in London

Went last night for dinner, and I was very excited as my boyfriend had been to the one in Stockholm and had loved it.

I don’t eat meat, and the tasting menu online only shows meat options for a main, so we called them a few days before, and they said they also offered an à la carte menu so that I could choose a different main, so sounded all good.

When we get there, the maître greets us and shows us to our table, and tells us we can only choose between a 3 courses tasting menu or a 7 courses one. We pick the 3 courses one with wine pairing as we were meant to go to the pub afterwards with some friends, and my bf who had previously done the 7 courses one said that one took over 2.5hrs.

As soon as we announce that we’ll go for the 3 courses meal, waiters start treating us differently. They were going around explaining concepts of the dishes and asking questions to the other guests (we were seated in between two tables who chose the 7 courses menu), refilling their wine glasses, with the head chef going over to chat with them, while we were being ignored. They even asked the other 2 tables whether they’d like to see the kitchen and give them a tour, but they don’t ask us. My boyfriend had seen it in Stockholm and had talked about it, so we decide to ask ourselves, but we get told that “they’re cleaning so they’re not sure if we can see it” and then they just don’t let us know anything about it anymore.

When we get our mains, my boyfriend gets the meat, and I get… 3 leaves of cabbage with parsnip purée. It was delicious, but it was literally just cabbage (even if I had said that I ate fish).

By the end of the meal, we’re not very impressed and we kind of just want to leave, so we ask for the bill. Yet again, we were treated as B class customers and get left there waiting for the bill for over 30 minutes, to the point that we had to ask twice more. We ended up finishing at the same time as the tables next to us, even if they were doing the 7 courses meal. Needless to say, we also missed our appointment with our friends afterwards cause we were too late.

Overall, the restaurant is really pretty and the food is nice, but the customer service is so poor that it really ruins the whole experience. Shame considering how impressed my boyfriend had been of their Stockholm restaurant. I found it very impolite being treated different just cause we chose a different menu: in my opinion a customer should receive the same experience whether they’re spending £5 or £500, but that’s clearly not the case at...

Review: Ekstedt at The Yard – Festive Journey & Volcanic Wine Pairing

Ekstedt delivers an experience that revives primitive open-fire cooking traditions, blending them with modern techniques and flavorful ingredients. The Festive Journey menu is an ambitious attempt to introduce Nordic flavors to an international audience, and there’s much to appreciate in this creative approach. However, some dishes seem to try a bit too hard without fully succeeding.

The starters were solid, with the tartare standing out as a favorite – a perfect balance of texture and flavor. The experience of being brought into the kitchen for the preparation of the oysters was a delightful touch, setting the tone for the meal. Still, not all the flavors were harmonious; some combinations surprised more than they impressed.

The main courses were flavorful but fell short of being instant hits. The wine pairing, however, was spectacular and worth the visit on its own. The selection included an elegant Wagner-Stempel Riesling from Germany and a deep Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi from Italy – each wine perfectly matched to the dishes. The wines elevated the meal, showcasing a refined understanding of how food and drink can complement each other.

Dessert was the highlight of the evening. A cep mushroom soufflé with a subtle aroma of mushrooms that teased the senses without overpowering the flavor – a brilliant touch that made for a memorable conclusion.

Overall, Ekstedt delivered an experience that was both exciting and educational. While not every dish hit the mark, it was clear what they were aiming for: a journey through Nordic flavors with an international audience in mind. They deserve praise for their ambition, and the wine pairing alone makes this a visit worth considering.

Conclusion: A solid experience with some standout moments, particularly the wine pairing and dessert. A place that challenges the palate and offers new perspectives – even if it doesn’t always reach...

A wonderful experience at Ekstedt at The Yard. We went for the six course midsummer tasting menu with the wine pairing and additional oysters.

I went here with my partner as they had been previously and loved it. I am a great seafood lover and fan of trying new flavours so they thought I would love it as well. It did not disappoint.

The first this I would say is this experience is not cheap so if you are thinking of going be prepared for the cost.

The atmosphere was very warm and relaxed, the room had a fragrant calming perfume mixed with a light smokey aroma of the open fire.

Every course was accompanied with the perfect wine pairing and I was amazed to try herring that I found delicious, something I've had before and never enjoyed!

I would definitely recommend to add the oysters as I've had these before and, on occasion, have been underwhelmed but these were perfect. If all oysters tasted like this I would get them every time.

The waiters were attentive and gave thorough descriptions of each course, they even brought back bottles of wine for us to take note of so we could purchase at home.

There wasn't a single course that I wouldn't recommend, although I did get food envy looking at the couple next to us. They had a dessert that was set alight that they said was fantastic so I think I will have to go back and try that at some point. I would have ordered it as extra but I was so full I don't think I could have eaten another thing.

That was the other thing with the tasting menu, although it looks like it might not fill you up because some of the portions are small, that is not the case. I was just glad that the final few desserts were smaller so I could fit them in.

Overall I would highly recommended for those who love seafood, wine, trying new things and luxury experiences that feel warm and inviting. It would be perfect for a birthday or anniversary treat to make someone feel special or an excellent place to impress work...