Friday, December 11, 2009

Proviant - Stockholm


Planning to have a nice romantic evening in the swedish capital, you booked some tickets to the opera and are now looking for a nice restaurant - and why not recommended by one of the most famous restaurant guide, Proviant could be a good place. But even if you will probably spend a nice evening, the place is maybe a bit over rated.
Located just few blocks away from the centre of Stockholm you have the feeling when you enter in the Proviant restaurant that you arrive in a good place: a modern styled restaurant with a red white and black color code inspired by french brasseries and their white and red table clothes.

The friendly and professional staff will guide you to the bar if your table is not ready yet - we don't need to mention that it is recommended to book ahead for this place. While waiting at the bar, why don't you order a glass of Champagne. Proviant is well known in Stockholm to serve Champagne per glass, and their selection is good. Glass served were a bit small, but the friendly staff might offer you an extra glass if you happen to be there for a late service.


Once you reached your table starts the delicate part of ordering. the helpful staff will guide you if you need, and for vegetarian I may recommend it as the restaurant Menu is more dedicated to meat eaters. After completing you order, your waiter will welcome you with a small appetizer: Parma's ham and tapenade served on a spoon. Very good combinaison but not really suitable for vegetarians. Luckily Proviant staff is very helpfull and might also suggest you to try some fresh olive oil. Very good and tasty indeed but this part reveal a weakness of the restaurant: its bread! Small things can make difference and in that case proviant white bread did not meet at all the requierement for such a place.


Starters were ok, but again below expectation for a place quote in the Michelin. The toast Skagen was good but maybe too basic, and the portion of the Salmon tartare was maybe a bit too tiny.




Main course will make you realize you choose a good place. The veal entrecôte was excellent, the sauce and the veges served with it very well cooked. It fit perfectly with my glass of Bourgogne red. The halibut and and mussels plate was also delicious and the staff put extra effort by cooking it without any bacon.


An why not finish your meal with a dessert? The Menu surprise - name of the menu of the day -included it, so I went for it. But I was a bit disappointed, thinking of the range of restaurant I was in. A banana with some ice cream balls, meringue and a nice sauce tasted really good but seemed a bit too cheap or simple for the place.


Proviant is a nice place with a very nice atmosphere and staff where you will definitly spend a nice evening. On the other hand, for a place recommended by Michelin you may expect a bit more on the food.

Recommended, for the very good wine and champagne carte, the staff, and the main courses, but a bit over rated.


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