Authentic Swedish meatballs and seafood. Phenomenal food and gorgeous interior. Definitely worth the visit for good local food.

Steak tartare, reindeer, meatballs. Can't go wrong. This location I believe is almost 120 years old and has the vibe and acoustics to match. Loud, a little rough, but like a time machine. The menu is excellent as is the aquavit list. If you want classic old school Swedish in Stockholm this is a great choice. read more

I came here for my last meal in Stockholm after reading about it in my Lonely Planet guide book. I was able to secure a reservation online and I was glad as i had done so because it was pretty packed when I had gone there. Swedish/Scandinavian food is not exactly vegetarian friendly, so all the suggestions to try their various herrings were lost on me. However, they did offer a couple of a things: a delicious cream of asparagus soup starter and a lovely potato and mushroom dumpling dish. The presentation of the dish was beautiful and the texture was unlike any other kind of dumpling I've had, at least from any other dish from any other European cuisine. If anything, the texture of the dumplings reminded me of Korean songpyeon (a type of rice cake). As for the soup, it was absolutely delicious: light, rich, and very creamy. This place was not cheap, but the service was prompt, the atmosphere beautiful and traditional, and the food good. I'd say this place is worth a visit. read more

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Restaurant has been in service since 1700s and it hasn't changed it's attitude towards minorities since then it seems. Our server was plain racist. Flat out DISGUSTING behavior, as we watched him serve another table quite happily and when he served us he was short, disgruntled that we wanted tap water (the other table ordered tap as well), and generally unwelcoming. He happily served other tables and put down the tabs on their tables and came back for them, but when it came to another table of a colored person he stood behind the guest and waited for him to sign and pass it back. We were mortified. We thought it may have been just a coincidence but then he did the same thing to us. Hey Pelikan, your establish represents a whole Scandinavian culture, along with representing a native cuisine for the whole country. Your behavior should reflect this and I'm sure the rest of Sweden looks poorly on racism so let's not hinder humanity and wake up to 2016, okay? P.S. our waiter also disappeared for 10 minutes going out to smoke and then coming back in and smelling like cigarettes. read more

If you are looking for a traditional Swedish meal with a great old time feel, this is the place. It was absolutely delicious! The bacon with the onion sauce was beyond scrumptious. It's a great place to eat and feel welcomed by the Swedes! read more

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I booked a table for 3 online weeks ago to secure the seat. My expectation on this restaurant was high. Had steak tartare as starter and roasted reindeer for the main course. I would give 4 stars for the food, taste amazing! But the service is bad. Three of us sit there, wait for a glass of water for 20mins and the dish for another 30mins. The waitress looks quite unhappy and showed no care to us. I even heard her complain during the service. We asked for another glass of water during the meal and it seemed she totally forgot that happened. We wait for the bill for another 15mins and surprisingly, she asked for a tip when we pay the bill regardless the poor service and bad attitude. I rarely give a tough comments on yelp but I sincerely hope the service can be improved to match the food there. read more

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Wonderful traditional Swedish food in a classic setting. Service was over the top. Went with my daughter's Swedish boyfriend's family and got seal of approval from them so I'm guessing it's authentic enough and not touristy. One way or another it was a great meal with great service in a setting that seemed 50 years old (in a very good way). read more

Amazing. Don't even debate it. I spent the next few hours worried that tomorrow's dinner wouldn't compare. The meatballs were a 9/10. The char was so fresh. The service was amazing. Great old fashion and aquavit recommendations . You can tell the staff knew their menu. read more

The perfect spot to get your Swedish meatball fix here in Stockholm! The inside of the restaurant is beautiful and very on theme, it's nearly 300 year history certainly lends itself to authenticity. Complimentary bread and wasa was a pleasant touch and a good snack to get us to our meatballs. These were MASSIVE and came with a generous helping of mashed potatoes on the side. The potatoes were super creamy and not at all dry and only got better once you added it to the meatball sauce. Could've used more lingonberry on the side but by the end of the meal we were absolutely stuffed. The meatballs were super tender, mildly sweet, and had the right level of crispness and bite to the outside. The menu is pretty extensive with Swedish classics so if meatballs aren't your speed or you want to branch out to other things, you'll be set. read more

Pelikan - Meatballs all around - Scandinavian Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

I love Pelikan! It has this great big German beer hall feeling to it, which means it's easy to book for larger groups. (But be aware that makes your food options less flexible as they require everyone to order the same in a big group.) Eat your classics here. Meatballs, herring, potato dumplings like kroppkakor, it's all phenomenal. There are also really delicious vegetarian options, so something for most people. read more

This place was amazing!!! Came here with my boyfriend for the first time. Not only was the food delicious, but the service was incredible!!! Our waiter gave us advice on food to try (first timers in Sweden), and told us about places we should see before leaving. Overall fantastic experience-- would definitely go back!! read more

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I wanted to go to this restaurant when I first came to Stockholm. I never had the chance until this time. I ordered "biff rydberg med senapsgräde", which literally translates to "diced and fried tenderloin, potatoes, onion, mustard cream & egg yolk". It tastes good, but I don't like the mustard :(. My friend had "friterad aborre", and I think I'll try that next time. It's really Swedish vibe here. One of the legendary restaurants in Stockholm. Must try. read more

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I am writing this review after I had meatballs at fjäderholmarna körg - but I will pretend as if I didn't. ( if you are curious why I am saying this please read my review of the meatballs at fjäderholmarna körg) Pelikan! Finally I made it here. I called to make reservations but was asked to walk in as it was only for one person. TBH, I was a bit nervous because I hate waiting for food - so when i arrived there I was disappointed when I was told that there wasn't a table available for one person ... That said, the lead host was great took me to the bar/parlour next door and offered me drinks ( not free) I waited for 10-15 mins tops and was seated at the main dining hall. The meatballs arrived and looked and tasted delicious. It lived up to the reviews I had read online. Overall I would recommend this place who is visiting Stockholm and would like to taste meatballs. For someone who doesn't mind taking a boat out to the archipelagos... I would say try the meatballs at fjäderholmarna körg . read more

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Grilled reindeer was cooked to perfection. Sauce was good. Sauce had fried mushrooms and lingonberries. Assortment of herring was tasty esp. if you like smoked fish. "$$= $11-$30" is very misleading restaurant is somewhat posh and expensive. read more

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Of course I liked Pelikan. They have cloud berries! They also have good craft beer. My friend and I sat in the pub area which was casual and nice. It still had a good ambiance, very laid back, beautiful dark wood, mood lighting, tons of sexy Swedish men. The beers were good, served in tall glasses. The cloudberry jam with WHO CARES IT IS CLOUDBERRIES was very good. Came with a sort of crème fraiche. Maybe there was a cheesecake too? read more

Pelikan - Cheesecake with cloudberries - Scandinavian Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

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I was searching for a traditional Swedish restaurant and game across this gem on yelp. The ambience was great and the restaurant has been there for years. My friend and I stuck with the traditional Swedish meatballs which were excellent. I loved the mashed potatoes as well! We had the shrimp on toast for an appetizer which was perfect to share. If you are looking for a traditional meal. read more

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Sometimes you are lucky on your travels to hit a homerun to find a place that serves quality local food with a slight twist and have the honour of being served by someone with a great sense of humor. This place first of all is big but popular, so reservation could be advised. It is a bit expensive, but then why are you in Stockholm if you are concerned with costs. We were offered some great seafood delicacies and recommended some of the specials of the day. The waiter did not wait to ask our permission and directly brought the vodka bottle to offer us a couple shots while having our salted fish. During the meal, he knew when to come and check on us if we needed refills on our drinks and if we were enjoying our meal. You could tell we had the luck of being served by an experienced waiter. Our meals hit jackpot and we enjoyed an excellent meal. If I was to be in Stockholm again, I would make it a principle to go back to this place to challenge the place to match my expectations of this place now. read more

Swedish food at its best. Pelikan gives a new name to elegant simplicity. The high ceilings and classical interior gives you a feeling that your eating where tradition happens, and that's exactly the way the food will meet you palette. Some might consider this place overpriced, but considering the lengthy and labor intensive cooking method of much of Swedish 'husmanskost', I think pricing is perfectly in line with the dishes served. Just avoid trying to eat there during or directly after a football match, unless you're looking for a proper piss up :)) Chow down. read more

This place is severely understaffed. The dining room is quite large, and on the night we came it was a full house, but there were only two servers for the whole restaurant, and it was a struggle to get our server's attention. We waited an excruciatingly long time for water and our bill. Food is nothing special, but portions are huge. I could only finish half of my shrimp salad. read more

Okayyyyyyyyyy ...thought long and deep on this one, because it's not easy for me to give a place 1 star, particularly when one of the staff treated me great ...while the other... well allow me to explain: I'm spending the weekend in Stockholm... ton of work to do but I've got to get out and destress with some wine and chow. When in Rome - well then, find something standard Swedish that has a diverse age range etc - kill 3 birds with one stone ...finish my work, wine, food. So I look up this place and it seemed to have it all - "Let's do this..." I get there, and there's a blonde haired younger bartender with glasses (standard Swedish kid from central casting) start off with a glass of prosecco and open up to finish my work. He doesn't seem to say much but people are coming in - maybe he's just busy. Got a hankering for some red and ask him "I know nothing about what's good in Sweden - is there a Swedish red?" laughing a bit as the Swedes aren't known for wine - but maybe there's something that might be out there ...and he (in a deadpan indifferent voice) says "there are no Swedish reds". I'm a bit taken aback by his attitude because everybody has a red in some form - but heyyy... what do I know? I'm just like "Ohhh okay hey no worries - I'll stick with my prosecco." So...another bartender comes in - African guy (not sure - I may be wrong) ...who was really helpful about everything - making suggestions on the menu - was honest about the herring (it's not for everyone) and just overall good guy. Not overly "hey I'm your best friend" b.s. - just good solid neighborhood kinda' dude. After a bit I'm thinking - okay I really want a red so I'll just go with whatever they have ...I ask the Swedish kid "When you get a chance - can I get a glass of red - do you have merlot or whatever?" He just ignores me and goes to the other side of the bar setting up high-ball glasses etc. At that point, I realize this kid is literally trying to act like a douche. Whatever problem he's got with me - who knows - but we all run into people like this so whatever... still not worth getting upset over because everything else is great... ...so after a bit he starts setting up making drinks right within a hair of my laptop ... I don't take any issue at this - because I am at the bar - and besides - I'm sure he'll be careful ... right? Yeah ...you guessed it - he starts splashing alcohol, mixer etc all over the place ...a couple drops get on my computer and I'm "whoa whoa ...careful dude" ...and he just ignores what he did - FULLY cogniscent that he did it (mind you - the bar is huge - he's got more than a number of places to mix the drinks - and further let's say he didn't - he doesn't even try and ask me something decent like "hey man - I need this spot to mix because blah blah -would you mind sliding over" or anything - but of course not) ...so...it gets worse...about 10 minutes later ...same thing - but more liquid splashes on to my screen AND me...at that point I raised my voice and am like "What the EF are you doing?? Will you watch it!" ...and this is where it went ridiculous... his response? "You have your work....I have mine." At that point I wanted to leap over the bar and pummel this kid - but the last thing I want to do is spend the weekend in a Swedish jail - furthermore I have a very ethnic look and given how things have been in Sweden the last 2 years, I'm guessing my side of the story might not be taken seriously...regardless my response: "Well you're one hell of a Swedish ambassador kid... let's see if it happens again - be my guest." giving the little dork the look we all know ends in nothing good (yeah I still didn't want to go to jail... but there's a point you can't let treatment like this go unanswered.) He seemed to figure out I was serious and was being given fair warning. Not a drop of anything came my way and he kept his distance. Folks...this isn't supposed to be a #@$!*~! story ...this is supposed to have been a review of a decent place with a decent "other" bartender (who I thanked and tipped well) ... but in the end a simple visit to a place practically ruined my day. Aside from that the food was good and it's a neat place - your experience may differ - just avoid this kid ...let's hope the management realizes what he's about and will get rid of him sooner rather than later. read more

For some reasons I really really liked traditional Swedish food I had there. Well, this is the first traditional Swedish meal I ever had, so I have nothing to compare this place against to, but as a world traveler and passionate home cook, I can only say that I like the food there a lot. Herring is surprisingly delicious and REFINED, yes, extremely tasty, and please make sure that you order a shot of burned wine (I had Lemon and dill infused one) to go with it, they blend beautifully in your mouth. I also had pork knuckle, which melted in my mouth. It's not fancy French/Italian stuff, but you will definitely taste the culture in your food, and it tastes good! The service was a bit slow and the drinks are overpriced (I don't think the food is). We had an excellent waitress, very friendly. read more

Pelikan - Pork knuckle - Scandinavian Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

On our recent trip to Stockholm I was on a search for the best Swedish meatballs. These did not disappoint! Came in early (no reservations) before heading to a concert. The space is beautiful! The meatballs were huge! Almost too big. They were pretty good, and the gravy was thick and rich. Overall a good option. read more

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I am not an expert on traditional Swedish food, but this place really rocks. First of all, you really want to sit inside the main hall so you can be part of the casual atmosphere. If you make a reservation then you would end up in a side room which looks more of an upscale restaurant - tablecloth included. Just make sure you get to sit inside the main hall. The food was awesome. We had the herring plate for 2 to start, and it came with 5 different types of marinated herring. My favorite was the mustard. Pair it with some crackers and cheese and you're set. Then came the main dishes, the meatballs and the Doppsko Swedish hash with beets. Both are yummy. Just remember, you really need to bring a BIG appetite as the portions are HUGE, even by American standards! The service was impeccable. Our waiter checked on us often to make sure things are good, and dishes came promptly. I will be back again when I return to Stockholm (but with a bigger appetite 'cause I couldn't finish the hash)! read more

Until a year or so ago, my total knowledge of Swedish cuisine (like most Canadians of a non Scandinavian decent) came entirely from my trips through the food section at IKEA. So when I had to travel to Stockholm for work, one thing I wanted to do was try a restaurant that served actual Swedish dishes. I found exactly what I was looking for at the Pelikan. It was suggested to me by one of the employees at the customer site and luck for me it was a short walk from my hotel (really lucky because I sprained my ankle getting out of a cab the day before). My waiter was very pleasant, and spoke english very well. He was able to suggest a couple of very nice drafts. I decided that I hand to try the herring three ways, if I was going to have Swedish food, I was going all out. I was about to order the Swedish meat balls for an entree when I read the next item on the menu that I had to have. FRIED SALTED BACON IN AN CREAMY ONION SAUCE! I ordered the bacon. I was very apprehensive about the herring, because normally the idea of pickled fish hold no appeal to me, but I must say it was wonderful. The herring pickled in mustard was my favourite. Then the Bacon came. At small mound of thickly sliced salty bacon, in the center of a bowl, surrounded by an onion cream sauce. I had to make a conscious effort not moan when I ate, as to not scare the locals. I so enjoyed this dinner that I returned to the Pelikan for dinner the day before I left. This time I had the Swedish Meatballs with lingonberries. Fantastic. My waiter from the first night saw that I had returned and can by my table to talk. I would dearly love to go back to Stockholm, this time on vacation and not work. If I do, I will be going back to the Pelikan. read more

I was fairly disappointed by Pelikan. It is partially my fault because I had built it up for a long time as I have been wanting to visit for several years. For a restaurant that has such a good reputation, the food does not live up to it. The Food The meatballs were really average if not below average. Fairly boring. The kroppkakor (body cakes) were fairly good actually. Great flavor, well prepared. Atmosphere Really open, not very "cozy". Felt slightly cold. The Service Fairly typical for Sweden - not customer focused, but more indifferent. Overall, "ok," but there are much better options for those who are in Stockholm for a short period of time and want to have traditional Swedish food - just search Yelp. read more

The food was five stars, hands down. The maître d' was hilarious, calling us for our table from the bar with the joke name my husband gave him, totally in on the joke. Our waiter, however, left a little to be desired. We had to flag him down to get any service and he took no initiative whatsoever. The meatballs were absolutely fantastic and my husband had the special fish dish that night--he loved his too! I know this isn't specific to the restaurant, but I had elderflower cider and MAN that stuff was good. The atmosphere was awesome, worth the short wait for sure! Make sure to eat in the large dining room--much more fun than the more formal dining room for people who made reservations. We'll return when we get back to Stockholm! read more

Nice food, crappy and slow service Really sloppy, slow and generally bad attitude among the servers. No tips - will not visit again read more

We had been looking forward to visiting this place but were a bit underwhelmed. We were four people and had the kroppkakor (dumplings), meatballs and two fish dishes. It was all good but not great, and the service was slow and unenthusiastic (likely due to understaffing). For the price, it didn't feel worth it. I'd recommend Tradition over Pelikan for a traditional Swedish meal at about 200 SEK per main. read more

I was initially really excited to come here due to the history of the restaurant--their advertisement of traditional Swedish food--the beer hall look--you get the picture. But I was kind of underwhelmed. I didn't necessarily enjoy the "beer hall" (look as much a I thought I was going to. And the food didn't live up to my expectations either. The bread was not impressive. Cold, unappetizing. Butter-cold. I came here for Swedish meatballs, and compared to all other places I tried during my stay--they were probably my least favourite. The serving of kottbullar was four, extremely large pieces of meatballs. Due to their size, they were not as juicy and even a bit dry on the inside. The lingonberries were slammed on the plate, and there was no pickled gherkin either, but just a plain slice of pickle. The mashed potatoes were actually pretty good. We also ordered the SOS Herring & Cheese plate, and our waiter totally forgot about it and brought out our mains right away. We witnessed the same aforementioned waiter behaving obnoxiously and imposing a tip on some tourists beside us. Save your kroners. read more

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I came with a group of 6, and we ordered the boiled knee and the meatballs. We are college students traveling on a budget, and this was our splurge night. We did not order drinks (only water!), so our waitress did not treat us especially well. Overall, the food was good, but the service could have been better. The mashed carrot that comes with the boiled knuckle was very good though. read more

Pelikan - Boiled knuckle - it's huge! - Scandinavian Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

This place is clearly an institution. But the food and the service are just ok or less then ok. I had the meatballs - they were not bad - as in they were better than IKEA. But they were not good either. Salty and boring The Skagen Toast - which is not very big for the price was completely and utterly devoid of smell and taste It was just salty with shrimp texture. It was kind of amazing how tasteless and smell-less it actually was The best part was the beer - and the beer that I had was not on the menus?? Anyway. I feel like there are better places to go This place is average and the kitchen - as well as service effort feels predominantly stale and lazy. read more

Other Yelpers were right about the funky smell about this place! Food on the other hand...not so much. Let's just say I will not be recommending it. Even to my worst enemy!! read more

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A friend suggested Pelikan as a great place to get traditional Swedish food. It did not disappoint. Great atmosphere, and super tasty food. We got the reindeer and Swedish meatballs both of which were delightful. The pickled herring sampler was also quite tasty. Service was not really fast, but this leaves lots of time to talk with your companions. read more

Spent 10mins standing at the front by the hostess and was ignored. I guess dont bother going unless you're white?

The perfect ending to the trip of a lifetime! I visited Stockholm in May during a field study program for my MBA and I cannot wait to go back. My group enjoyed a "family" dinner at Pelikan on our last night in Stockholm, and it was the best meal I had the entire trip. The infamous Swedish Meatballs were delectable and perfect, and the atmosphere encompassed everything I learned about Sweden - warm, friendly and relaxed, and the service was incredible. I hope to find myself back in Stockholm in the near future, and Pelikan will definitely be my stop along my way. read more

Wow, huge portions. My friend & I were stuffed. We did not make any reservations and were seated right away with a view of a "Joker" card on top of the ceiling. We were so curious about the random card on the ceiling .. so we asked the waiter. I had the Swedish meatballs and weren't salty! I was expecting salty since most Scandinavian places we tried, everything was super salty. My friend had Doppsko Swedish hash with beets and could not finish her portion. Haha! As for Swedish Beer! ... I wanted to try Sitting Bulldog IPA, but that night it had sold out! So I'm assuming it tastes amazing!? The server recommended the next best thing: Wisby Sleepy Bulldog Pale Ale -- was indeed tasty. Clear, Amber, and Crisp! Oh, yes and as for the myth of the joker card... just go here and ask the waiter directly! It's a cute story (: p.s. free wifi read more

This was another restaurant listed on Where Chefs Eat, and we were pleased with the overall experience. We walked in to a packed crowd and put our name on the list. The host told us that he would find us in the bar, and that we would have a 25 minute wait. We grabbed drinks and sat at a table, and within 15 minutes the host found out and led us to a table. We tried the SOS appetizer that my husband absolutely adored. He had salmon that was ok and I had the meatballs which were also ok. This restaurant was noisy, filled with energy, with a fun atmosphere and a neat interior. Our waiter was attentive, and the place had an air of comfort which we enjoyed. Although the food was not spectacular, we liked the atmosphere so much that we're giving it 4 stars. Felt like it was a real neighborhood restaurant where the locals frequent, which we loved. read more

yummy dinner! We tried: S.O.S. app (herring cheeses) pork w/ 3 mustards meatballs lemon meringue everything was superb service was fine, we were in no hurry, just had a nice 2.5 hour dinner read more

Great food and atmosphere. I had the Cheese and Herring starter and the Elk roast for main course. The service is a little slow and the waiters could be a little friendlier. But overall a great dining experience. read more

Pelikan - Pickled Herring and Cheese platter - Scandinavian Near Me - Stockholm, Alberta

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My friends and I were only in Stockholm for one night, so we had to make the most of it. For some reason I was put in charge of making our plans for our 24 hours in the Swedish capital, and dinner was the one thing I could not get wrong. I set my targets on Pelikan, and boy am I glad that I did. We were quickly seated in the full dining hall. The decor was simply captivating, I did not look at my menu for a good minute or two as I was so captivated by the floor tiling, the chandeliers, and the paintings on the wall. This was some establishment we had found ourselves in. When we finally got to ordering, we decided to split the Pelikan assortment of herrings and meatballs with lingonberries between the three of us. This came with some boiled potatoes as well. The herring really was something special. As the saying goes, when in Rome do as the Romans do. My limited knowledge of Swedish cuisine told me that herrings were a traditional choice of dish. I was not disappointed in the different preparations of herring. And then the meatballs, oh how the cream sauce polished the meat. I have always found the meatball to be one of the most confounding things to cook and put on a plate. But this was the best meatball I have ever had; no longer will the Ikea food court be the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Swedish meatballs or Swedish cuisine, period. My only regret is that I had but one chance to try Pelikan. Should I ever find myself in Stockholm again, "Jag kommer tillbaka." read more