Restaurant of the Month, Sweden
Meatballs for the People: The passion project turned Swedish icon In Stockholm’s Södermalm district, Meatballs for the People puts Sweden’s (unofficial) national dish front of mind. But this is not just a restaurant devoted to meatballs – it is a celebration of comfort food and culture. One where stories simmer alongside gravy and every plate is served with curiosity, pride and a dash of humour. By Emma Roedin
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Photos: Meatballs for the People
The restaurant grew out of a long-standing partnership between Mathias Pilblad, Peder Smith and Tiel Ridderstad, who have worked together in Stockholm’s restaurant scene for more than two decades as part of Bockholmengruppen. Known for neighbourhood favourites like Nybrogatan 38, they had already built a reputation for warm, bustling spots rooted in local life. And after years of success, they wondered what might come next. For Pilblad – a former chef in Sweden’s 86
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Issue 186
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January 2026
national culinary team – the answer was surprisingly simple: meatballs, the dish he had loved since childhood. A kitchen spark The idea truly took shape when Pilblad came across an old meatball-making machine online. It barely worked, but he bought it anyway – and still has it as a form of keepsake. The discovery reignited his instinct to refine and perfect, a habit that followed him from his years of
cooking at an elite level. Soon, the three friends opened a small meatball shop where guests could eat on-site, offering over ten varieties made with the best Swedish ingredients. “We ran the shop for about a year before we realised that the concept deserved a bigger stage, and that’s when the shop morphed into a restaurant,” explains Pilblad. From there, Meatballs for the People found its true rhythm. The team began testing different meats and blends, always insisting on quality, traceability and Swedish sourcing. Moose, reindeer, and even bear became part of the menu, each one thoughtfully developed. Pilblad is even experimenting with beaver – an example of the playful creativity