Skeppet GBG
“A smooth sea never made for a skilled sailor.”
The ones who make the climb all the way to Stigbergstorget will know, it’s a little bit of a Hipster Paradise with plenty of alternative and Gothenburg-vibe places. Skeppet GBG fits right into that category by being a beautiful place with a view over the river that also works as an event area for your random concerts. And, they have a restaurant that is fully vegetarian - with many adjustments to vegans. Let’s have a look!
One of the first things that was a bit weird at Skeppet GBG - there is table service. It’s not that uncommon in Sweden to have it in finer establishments, but it feels weird to see it in such a place. I mean it in the most positive way possible, but it feels more like a cosy pub rather than a fine dining place. And that’s good! It’s Stigberg after all.
With this, however, one of the first issues comes up. The place is rather big, and there are way too few people working to really handle all the tables. So, service is very slow and waiting times are long. This would be an easy fix by simply ordering/paying at the bar, giving the guests a little sign with a number and then just bring it out. I’d reckon that would be a better experience for both guests and staff.
In any case, the menu is presented in a cute dossier you would see on a ship. I like the touch! Inside the dossier is an interesting surprise. The entire menu is Palestinian. Not the cuisine I expected in such a place, but I am all up for it. Vegan (possible) options are clearly marked and there is a lot to choose from.
We went for a large variety of dishes to share. I will skip the endless waiting for the staff to take orders and bring food, but once it arrived, it was quite a delightful sight. Hummus is fluffy, Baba Ganoush is nice, the salad with toasted bread is great, and the mains are mostly great. While I wouldn’t say it’s the best Palestinian food available in Gothenburg, it is pretty damn good. But the chef went a bit too generous on the vegan cheese on the Za’atar Qawareb. A little less would help give more focus to the freshly baked bread and the spices. Also, the Baklava is pretty below average, so avoid that.
The Palestinian cuisine is an odd choice, but well executed, and the mixed crowd - typical for good places in Stigberg - is another testimony of the quality. Skeppet GBG is a great place to eat out and enjoy time. Only the table service is a questionable decision and I think with simply ordering at the bar, everyone would have a better experience. Especially during rushes.
Price:
Meze: 95 SEK
Small dishes: 75 - 105 SEK
Main dishes: 135 - 150 SEK
The Verdict
Skeppet GBG is a bit of an odd bird. The atmosphere, location and style all gives Scandinavian and maritime vibes. But the food is exclusively Middle Eastern and the focus on drinks lies on wines. Clearly playing with expectations, but after the initial shock, the food surprises. It’s really well executed, at a fair price point, and vegan options are clearly marked and many. Only the vegan cheese was a bit too much on Za’atar Qawareb and the Baklava is just not good.
Downsides lie in the alcohol free selection (not indicated on the menu) and the service. Skeppet GBG decides to go for a table service approach, but clearly lacks the staffing to manage such a large place. A simple order at the bar, give a little ship with a number (you see what I did here?), and just bring it to the table once ready would be a better experience. Hence, it is done like that in most places that have more of a bar-ish setting. So, if you can’t do good table service, don’t do it at all.
But apart from that, it’s a surprisingly great Middle Eastern dinner experience. I’d come again!
4/5 Leaves
Pro
Fantastic selection of Middle Eastern food
Freshly baked and clearly handmade breads
Cool atmosphere (though misleading)
Con
Very slow service
A bit too much vegan cheese
Location
Amerikagatan 2
Opening Hours
Mo-Tu: 08:00 - 15:00
We-Sa: 08:00 - 01:00
Su: closed
