Operation hibernation is over and the Track is Back – hungrier than humanly possible. And what a lovely canvas to return to! A house full of new colleagues who are untrained in the culinary ways of Off the Eaten Track. Welcome!

For those unfamiliar with our mission, it’s simply this: sharing the love and wide-eyed wonder of Norra Älvstranden’s fantastic food. Off the Eaten track – a small and motley crew of Zenseactian foodies – celebrates the contributions of NÄ’s formidable band of restaurateurs, chefs, cooks, and servers – especially those who have escaped the long reach of darkness and oppression to make a home for themselves here. OtET is about more than eating great food and sharing embarrassing moments. It’s essentially about celebrating diversity. Places like Kville will remind you that, if it weren’t for them, we would still be eating only salted pork, herring, and porridge before getting off our hind legs to whack a neighbor in the head for looking at our cattle the wrong way.

Now, back to greeting all our new friends! Yes, yes, there’s a constant ebb and flow of people at Zenseact (a healthy turnover is the lifeblood of innovation, innit), and we should celebrate every newcomer. That’s true, but now we have an unprecedented opportunity to guide a whole new herd onto the pastures of paradise (not meant in an ominous, biblical way). And on that note, here’s a list of recommendations to start you off.

These are OtET’s favorite places right now. They’ll get you warm and nicely fed.

1. East Africa, Kvilletorget

2. Duy Than, Kvilletorget.

3. Al Affandi, Backaplan, Motorgatan 1

4. Silverdraken, Kville, Herkulesgatan 24

5. Bosna, Kville, Hisingsgatan 21

1. East Africa: Eritrean

This is where introverts are forced to confront a level of awkwardness so profound it can alter their life’s trajectory. For example, one of OtET’s staff underwent a significant transformation here. Eating such beautifully prepared food made them cross every social boundary they’d ever had and shred every ounce of integrity they’d ever clung to. Knowing that food can be so good – transcendent even – should make everyone rush to East Africa the first chance they get. We think this is the best kitchen in Kville right now. Read our review.

Pro tip: Enter with an open mind and a bagful of wet wipes.

2. Duy Than: Vietnamese

In our original review, “Noodles to Duy for,” we went on and on about the quality of the food. To be fair, we have not tried much else than the Bhun Tit, but the place is always packed, and the smells are gorgeous. Sit down, close your eyes, and take in the atmosphere. You’ll be transported to a bustling lunch joint in southeast Asia. Facing the relative bleakness of Kville on your way back to Lindholmen might be overwhelming, but you’ll always treasure the eating experience. Read our review.

Pro tip: Avoid rush hour and white clothes.

3. All Affandi: Syrian/Middle Eastern

It’s a hike, but it’s worth it. You’ll be able to benchmark correctly because this is food you’ve undoubtedly had on many occasions (shawarma, shish kebab, shish taouk/tawook). The food is gorgeous, and the restaurant offers a lovely setting to discuss important things. Matters like company changes, geopolitical meltdowns, personal setbacks. It might be the relatively spacious dining area where you’ll be able to find something secluded. And no matter how infected the issue, the food here will do you a world of good. All Affandi seems to eat your grief like a kind and hungry spirit animal. We base this on one visit, and that’s saying something, eh? (Now they’re apparently also offering a lunch buffet.)  Read our review.

Pro tip: Clear your schedule.

4. Silverdraken: Chinese

Quite frankly, we don’t only visit this place to satisfy our hunger. This Chinese restaurant whispers tales of the 80s; every bite is a time machine, a nostalgic throwback to what it was like (at least for us) to go for a fancy Sunday meal in rural Sweden. That might not exactly be the case today, but for us old-timers, the buffet served at Silverdraken pushes all the right buttons. We fear restaurants like this are dying, so get out there and enjoy the warm and friendly food while you still can. It might not be as sophisticated as Ganzu Köket, but they’re not stingy with the monosodium glutamate; that’s for sure. Read our review.

Pro tip: Double down on the fried chicken.

5. Bosna: Bosnian

Simplicity. Volume. Taste. We go to Bosna when we’re really hungry and in the mood for salty cevapcici. Eating lunch there is like a serious business transaction. Order quickly, sit down, sip a cup of water, bow your head and wolf down your plate of food in silence. We’ve never seen the owner smile, so we always lick our plates clean, gently put back the chairs, bow, and remove ourselves in an orderly fashion. This is not a place to misbehave, but if you enjoy the savory richness of Bosnian food, come for lunch. Read our review.

Pro tip: Skip breakfast, comb your hair, clean your fingernails.

This should get you started on your journey to explore the string of pearls that Norra Älvstranden offers. Obviously, now’s not the time to overindulge in extended lunches. But you gotta eat, right? Treat yourself to a trip to Kville once in a while.

Good luck on your culinary journey! And, once again, welcome to Zenseact!!!

And as we always write here at OteT: We’ll return shortly with another review. In the meantime, heed the great Robert Frost’s advice and choose the road less traveled – a wise gastronomic approach and an outstanding professional mantra for every Zenseactian.