Scandinavian Pläj Opens Soon At Inn At The Opera

Adding to the pre-theatre dining scene soon is Pläj, a new Scandinavia-inspired restaurant and bar staking claim to the largely underrepresented Swedish food genre in San Francisco. Run by chef and native Swede Roberth Sundell (last seen as chef at Martis Camp up north in Truckee), the restaurant replaces Ovations at the Inn at the Opera. After a few months' revamp, the 50-seat dining room and 8-seat bar (pictured, above) has been freshened up with new paint, carpet and seating.

Sundell's menu has four sections, designed to be a bit smaller, so you can order more than a typical appetizer, entree, and dessert. Everything is sourced from local farmers, using organic produce and hormone-free meats. Sundell describes the flavors as "simple, earthy and fresh." Continuing the theme are 100% Scandanavian beer and liquor options. Pläj's planned public debut is on June 27th, and you can check out the full menu, below.

Hagen

Caesar, baby romaine, garlic croutons, västerbotten cheese, anchovy dressing $8

Gioia burrata, organic greens, heirloom tomato, fresh herbs, aquavit vinaigrette $12

Beet root and Jerusalem artichoke, black summer truffle, watercress, hazelnuts, västerbotten cheese $14

White asparagus, morels, fennel confit, egg 63°C, hollandaise sauce, fried sour dough$15

Fjord

Krondill poached lobster Skagen, white fish caviar, horseradish, avocado, chili $18

Sashimi of striped bass with pickled onion, ginger, crispy shallots, hot dill oil $10

Kelp cured salmon belly gravlax, spicy grain mustard, summer onion, dill puree, lemon crème fraise $9

Seared striped bass, forest mushroom emulsion, shaved asparagus, trout roe$ 21

Faraway smoked wild salmon, roasted radishes, shaved fennel, watercress $ 18

Beta

Birch syrup -glazed pork belly, potato dumpling kumla, onion ragout, lingonberry brown butter $16

Porter braised ox cheek, roasted beet root, fried onions, horseradish $22

All natural beef tenderloin, sunchoke puree, spring onion, Danish blue, tarragon jus $24

Natural chicken, savoy cabbage, skåne mustard, wild mushrooms, lemon-thyme jus $ 20

Godis $8

Rhubarb crumble pie, strawberry ice cream

Chocolate torte, cloudberry sorbet, hazelnut cookie, meringue

Cardamom spoon crème brulee, lime-mint marinated strawberries

Crisp apple fritter, cinnamon sugar, vanilla bean ice cream

Sorbet of the day, crushed meringue, olive oil, hazelnuts

—Chloe Schildhause