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Hjerta Restaurant, Stockholm. A Hidden Gem With Romantic Atmosphere

We arrived at Hjerta Restaurant just in time to see the sunset over the Stockholm's canals. As we approached, we instantly new that booking in advance was a very smart move from our part. The large terrace was packed with chatty groups of friends and everybody seemed to have a good time. Our table was right in the front row, with nothing obstructing our views of the canal and the beautiful old boats docked right in front of us. Following the clumsy dance of the boats while listening to their squeaky song was the leitmotiv of the evening. Even more interesting was seeing the owners of these fishing boats coming and going, as apparently they are actually inhabited year round.

Hjerta Restaurant is situated on the Island of Skeppsholmen, pretty close to the heart of Stockholm, though somehow hidden, which is absolutely great in terms of privacy and quietness, though maybe a bit difficult to find for the first time traveler to the Swedish capital.

The maritime surroundings are just perfect for a romantic dinner, which happens to be our favorite kind of dinner. So we let ourselves go and before we knew it, we were enjoying some absolutely delicious dishes while watching the sun setting over the city.

The dishes served at Hjerta are classical Swedish with French influences, which might end up in plates with unexpected combinations, but with a great presentation. I loved how they seemed to have different plate designs for each dish, which made the dinner even more exciting.

We started by ordering Rose Lemonade and Curiosity Cola, some very interesting soft drinks we haven't seen anywhere else before, and from there on the dishes that made their way to our table were just one yummy surprise after another.

White bait roe, hash brown, poched egg

Lardon Frissé

Though the menu isn't very extensive, only one page really, it is divided in 3 categories - starters, skipper's bread and main courses. We have to admit we were a bit greedy and couldn't resist ordering both starters and one skipper's bread to share, apart from some fantastic main dishes.

At first glance, the skipper's bread looked like some sorts of oval shaped pizza. Baked in a stone oven with sour cream and grated cheese, we went for the confit pork, fennel, roasted onion and mustard one, and the end result was definitely something we've never tried before. It was yummy and pretty big, and by the time we had the last bite, we already knew we were in trouble and finishing the main course would be a challenge.

Skipper's bread - stone oven baked

We spent a good couple of hours at Hjerta Restaurant and by the time the main course was served to us by one of the friendly waiters, the sun was already gone and a chilly breeze took over. It surprised us nevertheless to see the staff handing blankets to the cold sensitive guests and this was definitely a big plus this restaurant had, as it was obvious they cared about their guests' well-being and wanted everybody to enjoy themselves to the max. Even more so as the huge indoor dining was almost empty, and for good reason - the water front terrace had spectacular views over the harbor and the shores, and we have to admit it, Stockholm looks at its best after night fall.

Homemade ox sausage, pecorino cheese, cabbage, carrots and truffle mayonnaise

Well, I guess at one point or another we needed to stop underestimating the size of our stomachs in front of good food. My husband ordered the ox sausage and I ordered the cod. We both were left with the feeling that we made excellent choices. The dishes were normal sized by European standards and though we were already full, the food was so delightful that we couldn't leave anything on the plate.

Cod, beets, fennel, clam chowder foam

Potato side dish - delicious!

We always ask for the dessert carte, though this time we definitely thought we weren't going to order anything extra. But then we saw the homemade ice creams and sorbets and the offer was quite irresistible. We were blown by what seemed to be too many delicious choices and we decided to go with our waiter's recommendations. When the desserts landed on our table a few minutes later and we grabbed the first bite, boy we were smitten. I mean, yeah, we've all had ice cream before, right? But this was by far the best ice cream we've ever had, just the perfect ending to a romantic dinner.

Almond cake, creme anglais and vanilla ice cream

Sour cream pudding, rhubarb sherbet, summer berries, elderberry foam

We 100% recommend Hjerta Restaurant for the amazing views and the great food. They change the menu on a monthly basis though, therefore you might not find on the menu carte the same plates we had.

Indoor dining

Indoor dinning

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