Stures Krog on Ven – summer food with soul, flavour and a beautiful sunset

Some places you simply keep coming back to. For us, Stures Krog on Ven is exactly that kind of place – and with good reason. The setting in the little harbour at Kyrkbacken is idyllic, and when the sun dips below the horizon while you sit with a glass of wine waiting for your Arctic char or chiliräkor, it feels almost unreal.

We have been here several times – for both lunch and dinner – and whatever the hour, the feeling is always the same: warm smiles, a calm atmosphere and food that tastes of holidays and quality.

The menu changes over the season, but thankfully a few dishes keep returning. We often start with the chiliräkor, which has become something of a signature dish for us. Large prawns with garlic and chilli, crisp baguette and creamy aioli – simple, full of flavour and with a gentle kick. We have also tried their goat’s cheese toast – Dianna in particular is a big fan. It comes with beetroot, pickled tomato and walnuts, and the balance of acidity, richness and crunch is really well judged.

For mains we have had both the butter-poached Arctic char and the fillet of beef, and it is hard to pick a favourite. The char is delicate and gently cooked, served with beurre blanc and chanterelles – it tastes of forest floor and Swedish summer. The beef is classic and well executed – perfectly cooked and served with pepper sauce, onions, green beans and crisp fries. We shared the two, and both of us talked for a long time afterwards about just how good they were.

The children had köttbullar with mash, gravy and lingonberries – the only right choice on a Swedish summer’s day like this. The children’s menu is not huge, but what is there works, and it is served with the same care and quality as everything else.

We finished with dessert – chocolate cake with vanilla cream and berries for the adults, and vanilla ice cream with warm berries for the kids. Simple, homely and exactly what we needed. Nothing over the top – just delicious and satisfying.

To drink this time we had a bottle of Bichot Chablis from France (1,000 SEK), which was a superb match for the fish, and two soft drinks for the children.

The service is friendly and efficient every time – you feel welcome and in good hands. Everything runs smoothly without ever feeling too polished.