This was my first foray into Swedish food and definitely not my last. I didn’t know what to expect or know anything about it, nor had I even tried the Swedish meatballs at IKEA. Like 80’s one-hit wonder Kajagoogoo, I was “Too Shy” about trying it, but then I decided to try something different, so I went to Waxin’s. So, I made the trip out to Palm Beach Gardens, and here’s what transpired.
On the menu, one can find a mix of Swedish, American and Italian dishes, all with a Swedish twist to them. There’s even Spanish pata negra ham from Spain and cod tacos, but you came for the Svensk dishes, right?
Toast Skagen
I didn’t really know what to pick. I wanted something familiar, yet something different. Toast Skagen. In front of me lay a heaping mountain of shrimp bathed in mayo, topped with salty and fishy roe, with plenty of finely-chopped dill throughout and garnished with a sprig of dill on top. Accompanying this was a slice of lemon and three small, buttery and ever-so slightly crunchy pieces of toast. Shrimp cocktail fans will not be disappointed. I’m not a big dill fan, but this was a game changer for me, folks. You can opt for a small or large, but even the small was big enough to share with your friend Flicka.
Fun fact: Skagen is actually a port city in Denmark, but the dish is mainly popular in Sweden, where restaurateur and chef Tore Wretman of Stockholm created it and introduced it in the 1950’s.
Beef Rydberg
For my main dish, I ordered the beautifully-presented Beef Rydberg, consisting of prime tenderloin, cubed fried potatoes, horseradish and caramelized onions, with a side of mustard cream, enough to feed two people. When I think of caramelized onions, I think of brown ones used in tacos, but these were bright white and finely chopped. Although the steak could have used some more salt and pepper, I figured out why the chef had (possibly) left it out—because the steak was not meant to be eaten separately, but instead combined with all or most of the ingredients to get the full experience. It made perfect sense, because if not, the flavor would have been overpowering.
And let me tell you something else, my friends—the side of mustard cream was incredible. It was so good, I could’ve eaten it as a separate side dish. It had just the right hint of spice.
The atmosphere is sleek, modern, and intimate. It’s not very noisy, so being able to have a conversation at a normal volume and not raise your voice ups my rating. Artwork of Albert Einstein, Swedish tennis player Björn Borg, and others hang in the dining room, including a painting of a bookcase as an homage to greats such as Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, the Jackson 5 and others.
Indoor and outdoor seating is available, facing a beautiful fountain.
You can watch your meal being prepared in their open kitchen or watch sports on 4 different TV screens. Some tables feature low-hanging lights and most spots at the bar have individual, dimmed lights with five levels of brightness. There is also a massive wine selection available.
I was surprised to hear American dance-pop instead of Swedish music or music recorded by Swedish artists. Either I just missed Europe’s “The Final Countdown” or ABBA had already left the building.
Most servers that passed by and one of the managers asked me how my meal was, and I enthusiastically said, “Fantastic!” The bartender introduced herself and was super friendly without going overboard.
A Sweet Ending
To the best of my knowledge, there were no Swedish desserts, but something did catch my eye: key lime pie-flavored crème brûlée, which I never had before. I’ve always enjoyed breaking the layer of hardened, caramelized sugar, only to reveal what lies beneath. Usually, the custard is vanilla-flavored, but I assume the key lime flavor is Waxin’s ode to the Sunshine State. Garnished with strawberries, it was every bit as delicious as it looked, and was a great way to end a great meal.
Where to find Waxin's
Waxin's
5300 Donald Ross Road Unit 130
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
(888) 8-WAXINS
waxins.com