Ivögården Mat & Vingård

Most of the staff were pleasant, but one interaction left us feeling unwelcome. I’ve worked in hospitality for 20 years, and I know a restaurant needs to make money. The price at Ivögården wasn’t the problem. The food was average for what it cost, and the courtyard view wasn’t especially scenic either. We’d come for drinks and maybe lunch, though we weren’t very hungry after a late breakfast. A friendly young woman helped us set up tables and chairs, took our order, and brought water. Then a plate of ham, salami, and cheese arrived without explanation. Seeing other guests with similar plates, we thought it was complimentary. We later ordered a charcuterie plate from the menu for 250 SEK. A man who seemed to work in the kitchen, and didn’t introduce himself, brought out the rest of the cheese and bread a few minutes later. He called it “the rest of the plate,” and that’s when we realized the first plate had been part of our order. Since we’d nearly finished it, I politely asked if we could have extra meat without more cheese or bread. He refused and said we’d have to order another full plate. He said he’d given us the first plate because he assumed we were having lunch, then pointed out in a cocky way that the cheese plate was “quite well filled.” As he left, he called across the courtyard, “That’s what you get when you try to be friendly.” It felt unnecessary and unprofessional. Five minutes later he came back with a plate of meat. I thought he’d reconsidered, which I appreciated, but he set it down, tossed 100 SEK on the table, and said, “Then you can also pay for it,” in a very unfriendly tone. I’d never speak to a guest that way. We felt treated like a nuisance instead of paying customers. The food and view were nothing special, and that encounter spoiled the visit.