Restaurang Kvarnen

I visited this restaurant and I must say, I was very satisfied with the overall experience. The meatballs were absolutely delicious – juicy and full of flavor, and the reindeer meat was a true culinary treat, tender and perfectly seasoned. The menu is incredibly extensive, so there's something for everyone, which is a big plus. The place has a very calm and peaceful atmosphere, making it perfect for a relaxing meal. The only downside is the prices – a bit on the high side, but the quality of the food and the overall experience make it worth a visit. Highly recommended for a special dinner!

I booked this restaurant 2 months ago in anticipation of my trip to Stockholm. It did not disappoint. I had the fried herring. It was 4 pieces of crispy fresh fish, served beside mash potatoes, lingonberries and a sprig of fennel. My companion had the fish stew with various seafood. I prefer the herring. The restaurant has a vibe that exudates confidence, that proclaims ‘this is an institution’.

Food was lovely, staff so friendly and willing to help. I would say there was only one veggie option and no vegan options, it would be great to at least see the veggie option able to be adapted for vegans. It is also pricey, but the atmosphere of the restaurant and the whole vibe and history of it is great.

This place is popular - and I can see why. Kvarnen's substantial menu of classic Swedish dishes is impressive, each prepared with great taste and care. The reindeer stew I ordered had a complex, rich and deep taste counterbalanced by the berries which pleasantly caught me by surprise. Service can get very busy during weekend evenings however, so do budget sufficient time to have an enjoyable, laid back experience. Do also book in advance to ensure you get a table. A recommend from me if you're in the neighbourhood!

The restaurant was very elegant, featuring a beautiful design. The service was polite, and the food was excellent. I had classic meatballs with a beer and two snaps, and the total came to about 538 SEK.

Went here for lunch and it was very good. The fish of the day was very good and came for a good price. The dish was not perfect, but still tasty. The atmosphere is very nice and the staff were friendly.

Superb traditional Swedish restaurant! Steak tartare and salmon were delicious and large enough portions too. Well worth the price.

A taste of Swedish classics in a local favorite neighborhood restaurant. Kvarnen means mill and the sign includes a picture of a mill. Food and service was great. I loved the Toast Skagen and Reindeer and game stew. This place on can be crowded on nights when the local soccer team has games. The basement area contains a night club that was closed when I visited.

Kvarnen has an old-world Swedish beer hall atmosphere but made for a surprisingly calm setting for a traditional Swedish meal. We started with a basket of complimentary flatbread with butter, as well as SOS, a platter of four different kinds of pickled herring (paired with pickled onions, sour cream, and two different mustards), Västerbotten cheese, spiced cheese, and boiled potatoes. But my favorite dish (and one of the most unique on the menu) was the Reindeer Stew, made of shaved reindeer meat and mushrooms in a hearty, sweet, savory cream sauce, topped with lingonberries and chunky mashed potatoes. The reindeer meat had a somewhat dry, jerky-like flavor that went nicely with the decadent cream sauce, while the lingonberries added a contrasting brightness. Overall, the food here was decent for what it was, though on the heavy side like many traditional Swedish dishes.

This was our first time trying official Swedish meatballs and they were delish. We arrived around 1pm and the restaurant wasn't very busy at all. We thought they were closed, but it could have been an off time. Regardless, if you happen to go here and its not busy don't let that deter you. The service was fantastic. Our waitress was very helpful, attentive and kind. The food itself was very good. The flavor on the meatball sauce was very flavorful and everything tasted wonderful together. I would highly recommend if you are wanting Swedish meatballs.

Kvarnen's been around since the early 1900's (more on their history can be found here: http://www.kvarnen.com/index.php/en/about-kvarnen) and was a former beer hall--and as most of the guys on our trip are huge beer drinkers, we thought we'd kill two birds with one stone: traditional Swedish bites and local beer. We originally had a reservation for 5 people, at 7p on a Thursday, but two other friends joined us at the last minute and Kvarnen was more than accommodating, happily updating our reservation to a party of 7. Most of us were visiting Sweden for the first time, and we wanted to try a bit of everything traditional Kvarnen had to offer, so almost everyone ordered a different dish: Fried Herring, Swedish Smoked Sausage from Vaggeryd, Pytt i Panna, Kvarnens Meatballs, Reindeer Stew, and Beef Rydberg. Of all the dishes we had ordered and tried, the Reindeer Stew was my least favorite--I didn't enjoy the gamey taste, especially not in combination with the lingonberries. The Fried Herring was a bit too oily, otherwise crunchy and flavorful. The Swedish Smoked Sausage from Vaggeryd was okay; it tasted like any other sausage, and I actually preferred the ones we bought from the vendors on the streets. The Kvarnens Meatballs were mouthwatering and 100x better than the ones at IKEA in the states. I would definitely order the Pytt i Panna and Beef Rydberg again (these two dishes have yet to disappoint or fail us at any of the restaurants we've visited on this trip). I didn't enjoy most of the food, and especially not the Reindeer Stew, but with that being said, I'm still very glad we made a stop at Kvarnen because we got a taste of authentic Swedish foods.

A classic Swedish delicacies If you wanna taste the real Swedish restaurant experience, this place is one of the best. I ordered Isterband, but I think you should get another one, haha. It's okay, but it's just sausage with potatoes. The staffs were friendly and helpful. Don't hesitate to ask them for recommendation

Delicious and fun! My new favorite place for a traditional Swedish meal. I went with a few friends, we had the vegetarian kroppkakor ("body cakes", stuffed potato dumplings) and the meatballs. Generous portions of delicious and beautifully prepared food. The restaurant has restaurant and pub seating, providing a more traditional versus a more casual vibe. Both nice seating options, but we opted for the pub with fun, eclectic decor. At about 200-300 SEK per main, this place is pretty average for Stockholm price wise, but the portions make it much more affordable than most restaurants.

This is an old beer hall that was featured in the book "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." The food is decent but overpriced and service is quite terrible. They do have a a very good beer selection though! And there is a club in the back in case you want to extend the dinner into a party. Food: 3/5 This is a good place for traditional Swedish food such as reindeer, meatballs, etc. I found the food to be too salty but overall decent (though overall, Swedish food tends to be too salty to me). Service: 2/5 We waited almost an hour for our food and when we asked one of the waitresses about it, she said "it will get here when it gets here". Seriously?!?! Talk about having a bad attitude. However, when we asked another waitress, she kindly checked on it for us and turns out there was a mistake in the kitchen. She gave us free desserts as compensation. Lesson learned: avoid old lady waitresses, they are mean! Also there is a mandatory coat check in the front where they force you to pay them to store your coats. If you refuse, you cannot enter (very strange...) Atmosphere: 5/5 It is a really cool looking beer hall. The interiors is all wood and very rustic. Plus it has a club in the back - food and clubbing without having to go out in the Swedish cold, what is there not to love? Value: 3/5 Food was normally priced, around 200kr/person.

I think the reason we ended up at this traditional beer hall is that someone in our group remembered it was featured in the book "The girl with the Dragon tattoo ". True? I have no idea but it was enough to get us here. This place feels old from the moment you walk in the door. We were seated in the front section and ordered simply- three kinds of herring to start and then Swedish meatballs. Pretty standard fare. The herring came with cheese and was okay. The meatballs were a good sized portion (I think there were 8 on my plate) served with lingonberries and pickles along with some new potatoes. It was good, solid food. If you drink stick to the beer as my dirty martini was really small (about 2 sips worth), didn't taste like a dirty martini, and cost me about $20 US dollars. Oh well. . . Live and learn. Service was pleasant and quick and we were in and out and on our way. As for being in the book - we never did verify that it was.

Kvarnen is a name you hear during the day but also at night. It is known by its center-european food and decor which then turns into a bar/pub and a small sized club, open until 3am on fridays/saturdays. The best I have to recommend is the brunch buffe during weekends, for 250kr. Fine variety of food (continental breakfast, main courses and desserts) of decent quality which is very well attended by the staff who keeps it constantly clean and restocked. There are two sittings, one at 12:00 and other at 14:30. Can also recommend the lunch on weekdays if you crave a good sized meal!

Underwhelming Food. Interesting Place and historic restaurant as it's been here for a very long time. Understated turn of century pub/café/bistro feel. Food was OK, Service was attentive and good. My sausage was not very good and it was the first time I have experienced a sausage crumbling when I sliced into it. I'm not sure how the sausage was suppose to be eaten as it was more minced meat. I managed to scrape the meat out of the casing. The mashed potatoes were good. the most disappointing meal we've had in Stockholm.

I liked the food quite a bit. I got the breaded veal with a slice of lemon and some anchovies, husband got the meatballs (köttbullar). Tasty. Decent wine. Nice atmosphere. Also has the interesting feature that it was a location in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Times visited: 1

Entering "Hospodské Dvere" is through the 'Kvarnen' restaurant and you're forced to pay a wardrobe fee of 20 SEK, immediately imposing on you the sensation of being at a cheap disco or nightclub. The starter, meat platter, is a jungle mix of mushrooms, pickles, dry ham (like in really dry!) and goat cheese. It says "pate" but that's not on there. Main course is a ham and cheese schnitzel which resembles something from the frozen food section of a supermarket. Beer is good though...

This was a great dinner place. The lighting was great, and had a very pub/active beer hall feel to it. We came in during a rainy day, and it was a joy to be inside. The place was packed though, but the service was very prompt and we did not need to wait long for a table of our own. The staff service is fantastic. Our waiter gave us the rundown of the local beers and also made a lot of recommendations for what would constitute a Swedish meal, along with the beer pairings and the way you should eat the food. The pickled herring was great, and great with the vodka shots; as was the reindeer stew. I am blanking on what my wife got, but its was a fish based dish which was also very good. Good food, good beer, and good ambience of course comes at a Scandinavian cost. Around 125 USDs for a meal. But well worth it if you are visiting Stockholm.

The shrimp and toast appetizer was amazing. Horseradish and dill surrounded the plump shrimp along with a light binder of sweet mayonnaise. Fried herring was delicious and a generous portion . I make a point to order it when I come to Stockholm. Fried to perfection and seasoned perfectly. The whipped potatoes were heavenly. I've got one more restaurant to add to my favorites in Sweden.

I am a huge lover of breakfast so although it was already mid-day I insisted on something resembling a hearty breakfast and not lunch. We discovered this place after a short walk and were really impressed by the welcome we received. The lady who greeted us was super friendly and talked to us for a good amount of time. The place does all you can eat brunch which consisted of a bit of everything. I got waffles with bacon and sausage and then went for seconds in there salad bar section, and finished with a sweet treat. I really wish I had had a bigger appetite though cuz there was a great selection of meats and fish that I couldn't get to. However this experience was spoiled by the expense. It cost us 650k for two all you can eat brunch which we hadn't expected at all! This is defiantly more than we would like to spend on a brunch, a dinner is a nice restaurant at home in Dublin but perhaps that's the difference is cost here. Still finding our feet with prices for things but for me this was too expensive despite the fab service and good selection of food. -1 for price and small selection of breakfast food (had more of a lunch feel)

Having enjoyed an excellent Charlatans gig at the nearby Debaser Medis concert hall, I was in no mood to go home, so I followed the guide book to a nearby beer hall, Kvarnen. On entry, I was immediately reassured by the old style feel of the place and the wide array of beer choices, as well as the friendliness of the bar staff. I settled down with a large beer and soon ended up in conversation with some locals who were keen to talk about English football and a wide array of other topics, so it was two more beers before I tore myself away to return to my hotel. An excellent place to cool your heels and have a chinwag with the locals, based on this experience.

Charming Scandinavian restaurant! The food is very tasty and the interior really authentic. It reminds me a bit of a French "Brasserie". If you're traveling with a small child, try to go there after 2pm to avoid rush hour - otherelse it could be too loud and you will have to let the pushchair at the entrance.

A friend recommended we check this place out. She insisted it was on of the oldest beer halls in Sodermalm and very traditional as far as the food goes. The interior is all wood, smells of age and has a massive, impressive bar. We sat to eat amongst a much older crowd than we've seen so far in Stockholm. I think it's perhaps a little more upper class than the casual wear we wore, not that anyone really cared. As per usual, local beers, traditional hard breads and a traditional sill plate to start. I then had the meatballs with boiled potatoes and lingonberries. It was all very delicious and I enjoyed this place thoroughly. Easily my favorite neighbourhood in the city.

We went to Kvarnen for lunch while visiting Stockholm and we are glad we did! This was our only time spent in Sodermalm and we wish we could've had more time in this area. It seems very hip and has a local feel. Kvarnen had lunch outside and the weather was perfect. Food was pricey but I think it was "normal" for Stockholm. We ordered (American interpretation of the dishes, sorry if incorrect) the Swedish meatballs, Caesar salad, fish stew type dish, and the special of the day- shrimp sandwich. Everything was very tasty and service was good as well. The waiter was patient enough to explain each item on the menu in English for us.

Beautiful old beer hall, great traditional Swedish food (go for the SOS plate) and friendly staff. When we arrived to the main dining hall the place was pretty empty and later got filled up with a larger group of tourists. Nice vibe, great food, will be back for sure. Go early on a weekday to avoid the crowds.. all the noisiness bounces off the stone floor so it can get pretty loud in there.

Great hipster Swedish buffet breakfast. Not cheap, but a great variety. Fun place - been there a while.

First, the good: Our food was excellent. We (naturally, as tourists) ordered the Swedish meatballs. Very, very good. I highly recommend going here for that dish alone. Drinks were good. Nothing to boast about. The atmosphere was nice. We sat outside, so it was nice to people watch and get some sunshine. The bad: Bathrooms were small and waiting area was cramped. Service was terrible! In their defense, it was a busy Sunday afternoon before a fotball game, but I still expect to get what I order! I went to the bar to get a drink, when our waiter came up to me and said he would serve us. So, I sat down. He dropped off menus and didn't return. I finally went up to the bar (again) and got some drinks. After he finally came back, it took a bit to get our meals (they were busy, no prob), but my side salad never came. We also ordered two more drinks...which never came. When we got the bill, those items were still on there! At first he said he could not take them off the bill. Instead he could get us more drinks. I told him we never got the drinks we ordered in the first place! After I kept insisting that I wouldn't pay, he went back and took it off. Not very polite, not prompt. I've heard the service is better on a slower day, so maybe you'll have better luck than I.

Traditional Swedish food in a nice environment. We got to try the famous meatballs and the reindeer, they were both delicious but the reindeer meat was a little limited in quantity...

Weird and annoying crowd shoving their baby trollers all over the place with weird smells. Overly expensive egg based meals on dirty tables. But the eggs are good and the food is healthy and plenty of options.

I would probably rate this 3 1/2 stars if I could for my dish alone. I ordered the meatballs with potatoes and lingonberry sauce and it was absolutely delicious. However, I tried to order a beer that they were out of (can't remember the name), and as a substitution the bartender recommended another that happened to be the most expensive on the menu, which I didn't realize until the bill came. To top it off it wasn't very good. My husband had the potatoes and mash which was good but not amazing. The tipping point from 4 stars to 3 was the surliness of the wait staff. I don't require, or even like, syrupy sweetness but I actually felt as though we were an inconvenience. It's good traditional food but I can imagine there are better restaurants for that in Stockholm where you'll feel more welcome.

Pretty decent brunch buffet, all you can eat for 250sek. The deserts are delicious and the hot food is great, not that big of a selection, but me myself prefer few dishes of high quality then a lot of shitty ones.

If you're looking for typical swedish dinner you should go to the Kvarnen. There you'll get real Kötbullar or reindeer meat and a great range of different crispbread with delicious butter. As a vegetarian you can only take one dish. It's no swedish food but it's great! The atmosphere is very nice. There are a lot of people (most of them are tourists) so it's better to book a table. The service is nice and fast even if there are too many people who want to be served.

Kvarnen has a Czech beer cellar type of bar at the back. Last time I was there they served an excellent schnitzel as their signature dish. I don't know what has happened in the kitchen since my last visit but this time the schnitzel was terrible. It was dry, tasteless, obviously cooked hours (or days) before and served with a disgusting potato salad or overcooked fried potatoes. At a ripoff 205 kr. If you go to Kvarnen, go for the great beer and the pleasant staff, but leave the food alone.