Restaurant Riche, Stockholm, Sweden - living off it's name is dangerous

Riche - wow, full of people, Tuesday evening, expectations high. High "be seen" factor...maybe not on Tuesdays.

Table for two - yes, in approx. 15 minutes. Smiling host, I felt welcome and I was starving. One glass och champagne and one glass of water. Water was served in a whiskey glas without ice, lemon, flare. Just tap water. The champagne was champagne. The bar housed many wandering eyes, many longing eyes. Reminded me of the bar at Sturehof, 150 meters up at Stureplan.

Table ready - YES! FOOD! 2 starters, 2 main courses. Smiling waitress. This will be good. 30 minutes later the starters came in. It is good that a starter is called a starter since this was more of an appetite teaser.

An interesting variation of guests, from "la familia" of 30 men and 2 women along the back wall to business men showing off their new toys. Most younger men were in the bar, most younger women were eating with older men.

Where was the main course? We asked and asked. One hour later the main course came in. My wine had been served 2 minutes after my second champagne glas. Maybe it was a new way of airing the wine at the table.

I had chosen the entrecote - the most expensive meat dish. Looking around, I guess I made the wrong choice - most women were eating the salmon sallad. My meat was very rare as I had asked for, however it had probably been sitting out waiting to be served at the appropriate time after the starter.The meat was cold, the sauce had skin on it. Meat I can eat cold, but not fat. It was late now, so there was no reason to ask for a new dish - waiting another hour for another cold piece of meat did not fit well - I was starving. My guest' s dish, a traditional Riche hamburger with bacon, had boiled bacon, cold meat and after that I did not want to know more.

After putting down my knife and fork, the waitress was quick to clear the table. No smile this time, just efficiency.

Except for the food not living up to the expectations, I cannot really understand the hip factor. The lighting at the bar (integrated in the restaurant) was far too light. All my wrinkles were clearing showing. Regardless, during my dinner, a handsome younger man had made an effort to catch my eye. He liftet his glas and "skålade" with me across the room. Now I get it! This is the hip seeking bar - not a hip bar.

It was fun having been there, but next time, staying in the bar area, checking out the dishes standing at the bar after a hard day of shopping, will probably live more up to my expectations.

Service: 2/5 - until the waitress understood we were not extravangant eater and drinkers, the service was very good. After that, we were not interesting. Just me understanding this, shows how obvious this was. The host had charm, thus 2/5 can be given.
Food: 1/5 - nothing special, cold, long waiting time. If you want something else than a ready made sallad, do not go here starving.
Drinks: 2/5 - The champagne was champagne but serving a wet glas of tap water to my guest was degrading. Airing the wine (Côtes du Rhône) at the table was a new twist and serving it in no logical order.
Price: 1/5 - For what you got...terrible.
Environment/Atmosphere: 2/5 -  The lighting too bright. Felt a little like Sturehof in style, a look-a-like. The facilities were not clean, smelly and this was early on in the evening. If you cannot keep them clean on a Tuesday, how does the kitchen look?
Location: 5/5 - Situated in the Stureplan area, you are where it happens.Close to everything, perfect for taking a drink after hard core shopping.

Ages of guests in party: 40 - 45 but the rest of the guests between 25 - 70.

13/30 points.