Totally Stockholm 1
BAR OPENING It’s been in the works since the turn
of the year, and now it’s beginning to take shape. Bar Ubu opens up in Ersta, fast becoming Södermalm’s latest restaurant hotspot. Text: Pelle Tamleht At the beginning of June Zef Bodros, Goran Milutinovic and Sebastian Johansson opened their first restaurant together. The name is Bar Ubu and the location is the corner beside Pat’s Place on Folkungagatan, across the street from the Ersta Sjukhus, in the middle of a neighbourhood that in recent years has been growing and growing as a restaurant destination. You chose to open up your bar here in Ersta, how come? Goran’s family run Därmed Pasta that was located here previously, and when the building became available we didn’t hesitate. This is Stockholm’s up-andcoming new restaurant quarter with Punk Royale, Nizza and our friends at Ai Ramen just around the corner. The name Ubu comes from the character in the satirical play Ubu Roi, by the French writer Alfred Jerry. Zef Bodros’ newly deceased father was the one who introduced the trio to Ubu, and so the name is also a little tribute to him. The spiral that serves as a symbol and logotype for the restaurant is taken from the character’s apparel. ”There is a lot of fine art linked with Alfred Jerry’s idea of ‘pataphysics’ as well, which will be on display here.” It’s very brave to open up in the middle of a pandemic, what made you take the plunge? Haha, well, it goes against all logic. But we think that if we are successful now, we will be able to handle anything in the future. How much are you remodelling the venue, compared to how it looked when your predecessor was here? Both a lot and very little. We discovered when we began working that the original floor still was situated underneath the new floor and was in great condition. We actually took that as the starting point when designing our interiors. It was a building site for a while, but has now been transformed and has about 35 seats indoors and another 20 seats outdoors, and it of course follows covid protocols, like everything else these days. All three founders have years of experience in the Stockholm restaurant business, with names like Strandvägen 1, Häktet and Restaurant AG on their CVs. They will all be on operative duty at Bar Ubu. ”All three of us will be working here, together with our chef Niclas Junbrant”. You have all have a lot of experience of working with cocktail bars, I’m thinking that will have an influence on the menu? Yes you’re correct. Bar Ubu is a cocktail bar, but with some really good and hearty sandwiches on the menu. It’s portable food. We’ve also made a version of the Philly Cheesesteak, so think baguettes stuffed with some damn great food. So you have a great cocktail while waiting for your food? Exactly. Our first line of cocktails will be a throwback to when we began working in the business in 2007, with Bergman and Joel (the duo behind Tjoget) down at Reisen. Very colourful! Are great sandwiches something you personally feel Stockholm’s restaurant scene has been lacking? Yes, absolutely. There isn’t that much quality in this genre actually. Sandhäxan is an exception, but they don’t do cocktails. What else is there, Subway? During the initial period, the restaurant will be open Tuesdays through Sundays from 23:00 to late, depending on current covid restrictions are of course. DJs will be on hand to liven the scene a couple of nights a week. Bar Ubu, Folkungagatan 140, Södermalm 19