Tag Archives: buffet

Castillo & Co: Revisited

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Around one year ago we visited Castillo & Co and said we would probably not visit again. However, around a month ago Muzeyde, the owner, commented on the blog admitting that there were some teething problems in the beginning and that we should give it a second try. We agreed.

IMG_20160531_173654Have things improved? We would say: Absolutely! In the past month we first tried the evening buffet and I really liked the salads selection. On the day we visited everything looked fresh, colourful, and tasty.

The fact that my least favourite dish (a curry pasta) was one of Michael’s favourites and his least favourite (a meaty pasta dish) was my favourite also shows that the food has improved.

Besides the salads there is also other warm food, such as ribs (my guilty pleasure) and other warm meat dishes. The dishes, although maybe not all labelled, are mostly labelled at least with what meat is in them.

Castillo & Co, Borgen Sønderborg

Then earlier this week we also tried out the a’ la carte menu. Michael tried the tenderloin, I tried the beef sandwich and my mother, who was visiting, tried the chicken burger. The plates were all empty by the end of the meal, and the food was enjoyed by all (including our young son tasting all our food). The prices are also very competitive when compared to the cafes in town and we like the value for money you get here.

Castillo & Co buffet restaurant Sønderborg

Finally, we sent my mother ‘incognito’ to try the brunch buffet. She liked the food and had very good service. In fact, the service has been great on all visits. We thought it could be because they knew who we were, but they also served an older non-Danish speaking woman with a smile and very friendly service. My mum particularly liked the ice-tea.

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So our experience of Castillo & Co has changed significantly from our visit one year ago to today. To the question of if we would visit again, we would say: Very likely. The convenience and the buffets, especially, are excellent for meals out with children where you want to be sure they would like something on offer rather than you order one dish that they refuse. There are plenty of high chairs as well if you need one, although do be warned that they have no harnesses, so if you have an escape artist do take this into consideration.

Disclaimer: Castillo & Co offered us gift cards for food for three meals to try out the different selections on offer.

Fish Buffet at Propperiet

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Propperiet is one of the 3 restuarants next to each other on the harbour. Its focus is mainly on fish and meat. It is open for dinner every day, but on weekends it is also open for lunch with a fish buffet. We decided to try the buffet out this past weekend, and what a difference from the last buffet we reviewed! Both service and the food quality get a big thumbs up here!

We were greeted with a smile and shown to our table as we arrived. We could then help ourselves to the buffet, with drinks brought to the table. The buffet is set up along a long table. As the restaurant is quite small everyone is seated quite close but not on top of each other.

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The website says that there will be at least 20 options at the buffet, and I would say that that was easily present on the day we went. Amongst what I remember off the top of my head there were green mussels to 3 types of salmon, stuffed squid (my favourite) to vitello tonnato. For 19 DKK you can also get a shot of schnapps (3 varieties on offer).

We were very impressed with the presentation, variety and quality of the food. If I had to have one criticism it would be that the items on the top level are not made for short people like me! I couldn’t see inside to see what was in them. But then, at 160 cm not many Danes are my height! At least everything was well labelled so I could ‘see’ what was inside.

Sonderborg buffets have been redeemed! Definitely one to return to.

Review: Castillo & Co. Buffet Restaurant in Borgen

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Update: We revisited Castillo & Co in June 2016. For an updated review check out this post.

As happens every spring, Sonderborg starts getting new restaurants and eating/drinking places. First this year was Kisling’s. Now it is Borgen’s turn with Castillo & Co., serving a buffet lunch and dinner. The name Castillo & Co. is a reference to Borgen itself, since both indicate castles in different languages. When asked for a newspaper article why the ‘& Co.’, the owner mentioned it was to make it a bit softer.

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As always we were curious so we went for lunch there today. On arrival we were quickly greeted with a smile and shown to a table where we could sit with a pram (barnevogn) next to us. We then ordered drinks and were directed to help ourselves at the buffet. A great start – we were hopeful.

The service continued to be good, with a friendly and present server (when needed) and dishes constantly replenished and plates cleared away. Only slight niggle might be that it took a while for drinks to make it to our table, a wait made worse as we were very thirsty. As the place was quite busy we can excuse this.

However, the place is really let down by the quality of the food. Unfortunately, the food is less than inspiring:  it all looks as though it came from frozen and just heated, with the focus being more on quantity than quality. A cold selection with cheeses and cold cut meats, eggs and some fruit. There is also yoghurt and muesli, but I could find no bowls so had to use a flat plate, and an apple cake. On the other side there is the hot selection with fries, eggs, bacon, sausages, breaded fish, chicken and pasta & noodles. There are also pancakes. It would be good, however, if everything was labelled, especially the sauces!

Would we go again? Most probably not. At full price I would more likely opt for a sandwich from Kvickly – cheaper and better quality – or go to another location. If you are still curious maybe try it out in May, when the buffets are half price: 35 DKK for lunch and 45 DKK for dinner. But remember: We tried it so you don’t have to!

Enjoy the Bounty of the Sea at Cafe Brag’s Fish Buffet

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Brag is a fishing/shipping shop and smokery on the banks of the Dybbøl side of Sønderborg. However, if tackle and nets do not feature anywhere on your shopping list, there is still one major reason why you should check this place out. After all everyone has to eat right?

Brag Fisk Cafe Søsport

The history of the smokery goes back several generations and the family has been having a business in the current location for decades. During the winter you can drop by the shop to buy a portion of fish to take home and enjoy. They smoke their own fish and among the variety of items we have seen on sale (and recognised!) have been smoked herring, halibut, eels and salmon – but there are also other fish brought in by the fishermen. It’s a nice treat to cycle down there on a weekend and grab whatever takes our fancy for our lunch.

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However, from the first weekend in May to the end of August, Cafe Brag, which is to the back of the shop, is open for business. And you can sit and enjoy the view of life on the pier and Sonderborg across the water. This means that you can indulge in the food right there on the spot. The cafe serves fish dishes during the week, but on the weekends a fish buffet spread is organised.

Spinatrolade med dampet laks

Michael’s parents were visiting recently so we grabbed the opportunity to try it out. Now I am not necessarily the biggest fish fan (rarely if ever order fish at a restaurant), but the wide variety of items meant that this was not a problem. My favourite items were the fiskefrikadeller, the salmon/spinach rolls, and the steamed salmon. Every thing is made in their own kitchen and even the bread is homemade. The dishes were continuously replenished, so I didn’t have to forgo my favourites when a big group of people came in for their lunch.

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The fish buffet is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 to 16:00. In 2012 it costs 145 DKK per person. Perfect for the fish lovers out there. However, if you are completely averse to fish and seafood, this is probably not for you, since every item, including the salads (though not the fruit basket), contains fish or sea food.

Ur Hellefisk

bowling alley

Bowling in Sonderborg #11/99

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Let’s face it: weather in Denmark is not always great (to put it mildly!). When the temperature creeps up above 0 and the snow melts away, it’s the turn of the fog and the clouds to make an appearance. I find this worse than the snow…especially the fog!…but being on an island you cannot really escape it.

The alternative is to find something to do inside. One option available is a visit to Sonderborg’s bowling alley, Funbowling, to the north of the city.

bowling alley

I was at the bowling alley last week with some of the girls from work. Although it might not be the most modern bowling alley, it has all the facilities you might need and a relaxed attitude. Perfect for a fun night out with friends!

The place being a bit away from the centre, it is good that the bowling alley offers other facilities as well. We had a go at the buffet on offer since we went there straight after work. Decent food I would say. I especially loved the ice-cream bar and toppings (Thursdays-Saturdays)!

On the website I also spied that there is a mini golf course. Last week was my third time bowling (and it showed!), but I have never been golfing (mini or otherwise). So I guess a return is due when the weather gets better. Anyone wants to join? 😉

Photo by Kevin N. Murphy

Review: Asian Wok House, Nordborg

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Just down the road from Nordborg Bio is Asian Wok House. Having heard very good things about it from several people we decided to give it a try.

Asian Wok House is, as the name implies, an Asian restaurant. We were greeted warmly by our waiter and led to our choice of table. Surprisingly even though the restaurant officially opens at 5pm, there was already another table there when we arrived at 5:15, happily tucking in to their food, and the restaurant soon filled up with people.

The restaurant offers both an A’ la carte menu and a buffet (as well as a take away menu if for some reason the decor of the place doesn’t entice you to stay once you are in, or you are in a hurry). Wanting to have the opportunity to sample as many of the delights as possible, we opted for the buffet.

On asking if this is our first time, our waiter graciously took us over to the buffet area where he explained to us all that was on offer. The buffet is actually split into a normal buffet area and a Mongolian barbeque area, both of which you can sample as part of the buffet menu.

bd's Mongolian Grill

What I found to be a nice touch is that the waiters help you choose the sauces for your Mongolian buffet choices based on your choice of meat as well as preferences in terms of amount of spices, garlic etc. For a Mongolian barbeque virgin as me this was excellent. The meat, vegetables and noodles are then cooked on a big grill by the chef on hand for this purpose.

On the recommendation of the waiter we started our meal with a bowl of hot chicken soup, followed by a sampling of the Mongolian buffet and then the buffet. My favourite was definitely the Mongolian buffet noodle option I had with crab meat and squid, the fried prawns and chicken and the spring rolls.

My main issue with the restaurant is the same one I have with all the Danish restaurants I have been to so far, that the food is too salty for me. But then I guess that is really my issue rather than the restaurants’ now that I am in Denmark, since the Danes around me always seem to love it! Nevertheless, the very good service you get at this place and the taste of the food makes it a place to visit if you are looking for food in the area.

Photo by Dome Poon aka MoHotta18.