Stora Karlsoe Restaurangen - Gotland

We visited a restaurant on Stora Karlsö one night and were delighted with the island, the natural surroundings, and the room we stayed in. The overall experience was worth recommending, as we were extremely happy with it. We had made a reservation for a 3-course meal and were scheduled for 8pm. When we arrived, we were able to help ourselves to a cold buffet with pickled and smoked fish for starters. Unfortunately, the buffet was infested with flies, with flies crawling on the fish and even a dead one in the pickled herring. The salads were not replenished, and one-third of the items were already gone. For the main course, we were expecting paella with fish, clams, and squid, but what we received was cooked wheat berries, the same fish from the starter buffet, and no squid. A saffron aioli attempted to mimic the paella flavor, and the clams seemed to be canned. This was not what we had anticipated. The dessert was decent, but the floor behind us was covered in dead flies. The overall hygiene of the food was questionable, and the ingredients seemed cheap for the high price we paid. We left the restaurant feeling very disappointed.

If you're visiting Gotland, you absolutely must check out this restaurant. It offers a one-of-a-kind wildlife setting that you can't find anywhere else, along with top-notch food and friendly service. The restaurant is run by a young and talented crew who put a modern spin on classic Swedish dishes. If you can, spend the night in one of their rooms to fall asleep to the calming sounds of the unique birds that inhabit the steep cliffs surrounding the island.

Everything was excellent and the waiter had a well groomed mustasch. Loved the cod! And the dessert!

The lunch was cantina class at a price tag just under 100 sek. For this Price they offered a small vegetarian or meat dish in Uncle Ben sauce and I cant help associating it to hiking with the scouts in the forrest. We tried both the vegetarian and the meat dish and were very disapointed but we were saved by the sallad served with it. Since this restaurant is isolated on the nature reserve Island with small resources I guess it could be ok...... but I guess they have larger ambitions based on the presentation on the homepage. The staff is however very nice and friendly.

The restaurant is beautifully situated near the ferry harbor. We pre-ordered our lunch and went on an excellent 2.5 hours guided tour around the island. Returning with good appetite we picked up a starter from the plain but generous salad table, added crisp bread, and collected our main course from a window to the kitchen. The salmon and the mackerel were particularly tasty dishes. There was also a vegetarian option. Beer, wine and soft drinks could be purchased from the separate lobby kiosk, which also displayed pastries and ice cream. For an island monopoly in Sweden, the prices are very reasonable.