I was walking up Kungsportavenyn in Gothenburg, it had been such a great day. The weather was really nice and I was getting kind'a hungry. I browsed through the different restaurants menu's on my way up the street. Hmm A Cheeseburger with Criss/Cross-Fries, that would go down easy, I thought for myself. When one is on the road you tend to eat a bit more junk-food than usual, even though I tend to do the same when I'm home..but whatever. This restaurant seemed to have a American/Italian inspiration-source I interpreted in the menu. I looked up and saw the name of the restaurant "Joe Farellis".
I wen't in and was actually quite impressed of how cozy the lights and the interior worked together, not that I had expected less, but you know, some restaurants just makes you feel more at home than others. I asked the door-keep for a table for one (I almost always travel alone when I'm on bussiness-trips) imediately I was escorted down to this big counter, which was right in front of the kitchen. At first, I admit it seemed to me, to be a quite un-natural view, as you are looking straight into the kitchen. And you are basically able to make direct contact with the kitchen staff. The rest of the crowd in the restaurant was actually behind me, and I couldn't see any of the other guests unless I turned around or looked to the side.
I ordered my menu, I chose a Cheeseburger with Criss/Cross-fries on the side and a big Pepsi. The very kind waitress took my order, and I started waiting for my food. I looked at the hockey-match going on the TV, and suddently I got it. I realised that I had just been given one of the best seats in the house. The trick about looking into the kitchen was "entertainment" not like they were clowning around or anything, but you could just see the relationship there was amongst the kitchen-staff. They were joking around with eachother and it was almost like one were involved in the fun, even thogh I was just a guest. I enjoyed it highly, had a couple of really good laughs on their account, but I could see they didn't mind at all.
All of a sudden the food I ordered was in front of me, and I started eating while I kept on enjoying the fun in the kitchen. It was a massive cheeseburger and I had a hard time finishing it. After I finished and paid, I'd say I propably sat around there for a good 15 minutes more, and thats something I never do. Another thing I never do, when I'm in Scandinavia anyway, is tipping the place (while its not that big a custom in these parts). I also had the cursity of asking the manager if it was ok if I wrote a review on the place, which is something I neither do, when I feel tempted to write a review on a place.
I think the food on Farelli's was really good. If I really wanted to know what the kitchen could do I propably should have ordered something a bit more technical than a cheeseburger. But I could see from the other dishes served out the kitchen that these further skills, we're indeed in posession of the very amuzing kitchen-staff. My dish was definetly no exception, one of the best cheeseburgers I've ever had. But I'd like to point out that no food on earth could match the experience I had during my visit at Farellis. It might sound a bit over the top, but I assure you that "Joe Farellis" in Gothenburg is definetly a place that is worth looking up if you are in the area. Come for the food, but I almost guarantee that it won't be the strongest impression you've had when you walk out. And I also expect that is why the place was filled to the brim, which can be a bit stressfull, but I didn't even notice at Farellis.
Rating: Well being my first food-review, I feel obliged to explain that getting a 10 with me is basically impossible. Food worthy of the highest grade has never reached my mouth yet, but few has come close. "Joe Farellis" scores a clear 9 out of 10. I defend this rating by the overall experience it was for me to visit that place. I can honestly say that I've rarely experienced anything like it. The food was really good, and the restaurant provided the atmosphere in a degree thats rare to find. I can't guarantee that people will experience Farellis the same way I did, because I think impressions in that way are individual, but judging from the full house, I take it that Farellis simply is that way. I'll definetly keep it in mind, and if you're in Gothenburg and you want to get a burger in nice surroundings, its the place to go.
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Joe Farellis
Kungsportsavenyn 12
411 36, Gothenburg
Phone: +46 (0)31-10 58 26
info@joefarelli.com
Opening Hrs:
Mon-Wed 11:30-01:00, Thu-Fri 11:30-02:00
Sat 12:00-03:00, Sun 12:00-01:00
