Stenbjerg Kro & Badehotel

The menu was pretty small, even for a place focused on seasonal, local ingredients, but the food itself was great and the portions were fine. We went for dinner during their new fall evening menu. The waitresses were warm and accommodating, and the person I took to be the boss was friendly too, though we’d seen him take a few shots behind the bar.

We had a great lunch here. The portions are generous and rustic, and the handmade food uses ingredients from nearby. It’s a small building with a local feel, comfortable places to sit, and welcoming staff. The inn is also beautifully situated near both the beach and the heath.

The service was welcoming, and the prices seemed reasonable, though they’re not exactly cheap. A three-course meal costs around 300 Danish kroner. What makes the food special is the attention to local ingredients, familiar and less familiar ones alike. Buckthorn, hawthorn and ramson, along with local fish and meat, go into dishes you’re unlikely to find outside western Jylland, with its rugged land and climate. A lovely, authentic meal with a clear local touch.

The bill was the worst part. We noticed after getting home that we’d been overcharged. When we called, they said the boss would get back to us, but gave no explanation or apology. He never called, and when we rang again, they only said the difference would be put back on the credit card. Mistakes happen, but a proper apology would have shown some basic respect. We won’t be back. The food was generally good quality, original and interesting to look at, though a bit expensive. We had the set menus, and the dishes were more than okay overall, but came with little or no explanation. Service amounted to taking our order and bringing the food, which felt disappointing for this kind of place. Good food, mediocre service and lousy management sums it up.