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Europe

United Kingdom

Nestled in the heart of London at No 1 St James's Market, Aquavit offers a captivating Scandinavian dining experience that seamlessly blends modern elegance with traditional flavors. This restaurant is a haven for those seeking high-end Nordic cuisine in a setting that exudes both sophistication and warmth. From the moment you step inside, the sleek Scandinavian decor and subtle mood lighting set the tone for an exceptional culinary journey.

 Aquavit is renowned for its high-end Scandinavian cuisine, especially its classic dishes like shrimp skagen and pickled herring, served in a stylish, modern setting.

 For an elegant Scandinavian dining experience that combines modern design with authentic flavors, complemented by a warm and professional service team.

What are some standout dishes at Aquavit?

 The shrimp skagen, with its rich, creamy texture and fresh dill, and the pickled herring, offering a tangy burst of traditional Scandinavian flavors, are highly recommended.

 Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply indulging in a Scandinavian culinary adventure, Aquavit promises a memorable dining experience that invites you to savor every bite and share your journey with friends and fellow food enthusiasts.

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Fairly nice Scandi cuisine presented in a very pleasant setting, with friendly and efficient service, including the possibility of sending a mugshot with your booking so they recognise you on arrival. High points : akvavit, and shrimp skagen. Low points: no gravad lax, a distinctly lacklustre cheese board ( could be replicated from a Co-op), and if I'm honest , mash potatoes too close to baby food in consistency.

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Aquavit serves up high-end Scandinavian cuisine in a classy ambiance. From the smörgåsbord (appetizers), the shrimp skagen was amazing (and large portion size), and the pickled herring selection was very good. From the mains, we quite enjoyed the houghton spring trout. The bees rydberg wasn't great, so maybe try the meatballs instead--they looked good. The charred hispy cabbage on the side was ok but unremarkable.

The interior is slick with modern styling and subtle mood lighting. It's a good place for a fancy date or a nice meal out with a friend. Service was professional, ans we felt relaxed and not rushed at all. The place was also not that full when we came, though this may vary depending on the season.

Prices are quite high--we spent £50 per person without alcohol. Definitely not affordable for most as a regular meal, but perhaps worth it as a special occasion if you love Scandinavian cuisine. Check it out if so!

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We dined at the sister restaurant of the NY one a few months back and had a very nice meal.  First off, while the cuisines are broadly similar, the atmospheres are very different.  The NY location is fancy while London is much more casual so it depends upon what you like.

We started with the crab brioche which was fantastic.  I had the duck while my wife had the beef rydberg.  Both were really nice and delicious.

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Had a great lunch at Aquavit, aquavit included. Reminded me of several meals I enjoyed at
aquavit in New York in the days of Marcus Samuelsson.

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Not impressed. Really bad service. 
Went for lunch and had the 2 course lunch and two appetizers (pate and pickles)
The service was really slow and unprofessional. Waited way too long for my food, the people sitting in the table next to me had to leave before desert because they took so long. They got 50% off on the bill and an apology. The reason I go to restaurants of this caliber and great reputation is for the experience which they did not provide. Bummer, because I was excited to dine there.

The place is beautiful. Chic decor. 
The food was good. Bread was really good and their butter is delicious. The liver pate was great, very tasty. 
Had also an white onion soup that was delicious (my fav) and a cod with white sauce and mussels which was good. 

I was there on Nov 20th 2017

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The food was amazing but the service was really poor.

The first waitress I had was great-very attentive, and quick to offer suggestions. 

I started with the gravlax from the smorgasbord and the crab from the appetizers. Both were simple dishes, but perfectly executed. The texture of the salmon was wonderful and the crab was the right balance between creamy and fishy. The waitress suggested an aquavit with the salmon and it was good. The aquavit is really amplified my sense of taste and I tasted much more lemon and dill afterward.

For my entree, I went with the Swedish meatballs. These aren't what you get at IKEA. They were firm but not mushy, and the mashed potatoes were so creamy and smooth that they had to be at least 50% butter. Topped with fresh lingon berries and accompanied with homemade pickles and mushrooms, it was a great journey through tastes of sweet, savory, sour and umami.

And this is when things feel apart. I guess there was a shift change and my original waitress left. Except she didn't say anything to me and I sat there after completing my entree for over 30 minutes with no attention of waitstaff or management.

Finally, another waitress stopped by and accommodated my request for the Arctic Bird's Nest. A carryover from the 2 Michelin star Aquavit in New York City, this dish is both very creative and tasty. It's looks like an egg in a birds nest, but the nest is chocolate, berries and herbs and the egg is a ice cream filled with lemon curd (yolk). It was amazing and nearly redeemed the poor service.

Maybe this was unique to my experience, but the food was worth it. Maybe visit the NYC location to get food AND service?

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I'm going to be as clear as water and say that Aquavit is nice enough to dine in, with everything from its service to its cocktails and dishes being pleasant but not that special. It offers Nordic inspired cuisine at seemingly Nordic prices since the cost felt somewhat excessive for the small portions they are attached to. The interior feels spacious and shiny yet yielding a more business meeting vibe than a relaxed dining one.

Most of the starters are served cold and rather simplistic, the meatballs look a little too similar to the Ikea ones but thankfully taste significantly better, and the ice creams accompanying the desserts are delightfully smooth in texture. Overall Aquavit comes across as a bit of a mixed bag, not quite stunning, generous nor delectable enough to justify its expensive menu yet not offensive but quite satisfactory. Aquavit is more of a glass half full than a glass half empty but still empty enough to be wanting more and to be left feeling a little underwhelmed.

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I would absolutely disagree with any rating under 4 stars. The food is extremely fresh and flavorful.

We ordered the toast skagen and gravlax to start paired with some chilled aquavit followed by the Swedish meatballs and the duck breast. Excellent excellent excellent!

My dad grew up in Sweden and he says the food is not exactly the same as you would find in Sweden but just as tasty... and perhaps even better.

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What a gem of a restaurant. We were here on a Friday evening around 7pm and it was busy, but we had made a reservation.

The restaurant itself is beautiful, decorated with true Scandinavian design. The menu is true Scandinavian, which also meant that I had almost no idea what anything on the menu actually was. We opted for dishes like pickled herring, some kind of crab dish, Swedish meatballs and beef Rydberg. The meat dishes were excellent, I've only had Swedish meatballs at one other place (yes, it was Ikea). The herring was unique, not a big fan of herring but I heard it was very traditional... so I thought I had to give it a shot. The Jansson's temptation was somewhat of a scalloped-potatoes (but not really) type dish, but nonetheless it was delicious. The head chef/owner also used to be a pastry chef, so we had to order at least one of the deserts - we opted for the douglass fir panna cotta and were not disappointed. 

The one gripe I have about this place is the service. It seemed like the waiters were very attentive to almost all the other tables, except ours. The food came out relatively fast, but the waitress never came by (after our last course) and after about 45m of sitting there waiting for someone to check on us. we had to flag someone down and ask for the bill. I'm not sure if they were understaffed or she had simply forgot about us, but I was needless to say I was astounded at the lack of attention we received.

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This place supposedly have a one star Michelin star. The vibe of the place is fancy sleek Scandinavian with a touch of the retro. 

Came for the 24£ - 2 dishes lunch set. The food was decent +, but not at the expected level of a one star Michelin restaurant. 
My cod fish arrived lukewarm and the seasoning was very light. No side dish or veggies to come with. Had to order a side dish of bitter leaves. 

Overall the service was pretty on point, the food was forgettable and the price a little too high for the quality delivered.

Aquavit London: Top Scandinavian Restaurant Near St James's Market

Nestled at No 1 St James's Market in London, Aquavit offers a unique Scandinavian dining experience that combines modern elegance with authentic flavors. Perfect for foodies and trend-conscious travelers seeking high-end Nordic cuisine in a stylish setting.

Aquavit's menu features a delightful array of starters, mains, desserts, and specialty drinks that celebrate Scandinavian culinary traditions with a contemporary twist.

End your meal with traditional desserts like panna cotta or the smooth ice creams that add a sweet finish to your Scandinavian feast.

Start your meal with exquisite appetizers like the traditional pickled herring and the rich crab brioche, offering a true taste of Scandinavian flavors. For mains, indulge in expertly prepared Swedish meatballs, the spring trout, or the unique Arctic Bird's Nest dessert, a creative masterpiece that combines chocolate, berries, herbs, and ice cream filled with lemon curd.

Main courses like Swedish meatballs and spring trout

Desserts like panna cotta and Arctic Bird's Nest

Experience the vibrant flavors of Aquavit in London's St James's Market. Savor innovative cuisine in an elegant setting. Book your unforgettable meal now!

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