2Gether Swedish Restaurant & Bar In Kata Beach Thailand

The first of their 2 locations opened in Karon beach, at the entrance to Karon Plaza on Patak Road, near the Bangla intersection. This is also the location of their guesthouse. The first restaurant enjoyed immediate success, and this prompted them to open a second location in nearby Kata Beach. The newest restaurant is located in the heart of Kata Beach, just across the street from the Karon (Kata) Municipality office. To get there from Karon, you follow the beach road until you reach the Karon Municipality office on your right, and 2Gether restaurant is on the left.

Christer Larsson has been cooking since he was a boy, he started as a sue chef until he was given the job of head chef at the "Bakfickan at Hotel Diplomat Åregården". He opened his first restaurant (Kök 1) at Åregården Ski Resort in Sweden in 1997, and after selling his first restaurant in 2001, he opened a new restaurant in Stockholm, Sweden in 2002. After the birth of his daughter in July 2007, he was faced with a decision, he sold his restaurant so that he was able to spend all his time with his family.

Christer had always dreamed of living in Australia, but on the flip of a coin, his fate was sealed. He was destined to move to Thailand where he met his wife in 2004. His first restaurant in Karon, Phuket established an excellent reputation, so much so that he decided to open a second location in nearby Kata Beach. Christer is very passionate about the quality of his food, and that is obvious to anyone who has visited either of his restaurants.

Christer does not believe in paying large advertising companies for endorsements, he strongly believes in word of mouth advertising. He tries to do everything he can to make sure his guests enjoy his food and appreciate his hospitality. He believes that money can not buy the kind of endorsements he gets from satisfied customers that love his food.

Pizza - 2Gether has 20 different kinds of pizza, Christer's favourite is "Frutti De Mar" (scampi,mussels,tuna,onion & octopus). The Scandinavians always say that the best pizza is by far the "Kebab Pizza", with kebab meat, kebab sauce, onion & pepperoni. Apparently this is a very popular dish in Sweden, I have tried it and I did enjoy it, however I prefer their "Gamla Stan" (a pizza with beef tenderloin, onion, tomato and Bearnaise sauce). I can honestly say that I believe the pizza at 2Gether is the best pizza in Phuket. Swedes tell me it tastes just like the pizza back home in Sweden. Nowhere else can you find such unique combinations and toppings on a pizza.

Steaks - Steaks at 2Gether are served in the traditional Swedish style, served on a wooden plank, surrounded by a wall of mashed potatoes. On the side is a generous helping of Bearnaise sauce (made from scratch). Christer always makes a point of using the finest quality ingredients, for that reason they only use imported Australian beef. Available cuts include Fillet Mignon, T-bone, Ribeye and Sirloin.

Swedish Meatballs (Köttbullar) - It wouldn't be a Swedish restaurant without Swedish Meatballs! This is a classic Swedish dish that anyone can appreciate when they have a craving for meat and potatoes. The meatballs are made from a variety of fresh ground meats, they are pan fried and served with mashed potatoes, brown sauce and lingonberry jam.

Swedish Hash (Pytt I Panna) - If you have never tried Swedish hash, I strongly recommend trying it at 2Gether. Swedish hash is supposed to be made of whatever is left over in the fridge. A little bit of meat, and some potato, fry it all in the pan and crack an egg or two over the top, and you have "Pytt I Panna".

Seafood - My favourite seafood dish is the fillet of lemon sole with lobster sauce and potato puree, flavored with shrimp and dill. They have a wide variety of fresh seafood that is purchased daily from the local fishermen. One of the advantages of having a restaurant in Phuket is that you have unlimited access to fresh caught fish, and seafood that is only available near the ocean.

The "Tuk Tuk Buffet", is a favourite with locals and tourists, complete with fresh seafood, crab, beef, pork tenderloin, chicken, duck, fresh local fruits, Thai food, B.B.Q meats and a variety of sauces. The food is served from a display table made from the body of a local "Tuk Tuk" (taxi). In low season they offer the buffet, along with all you can eat and drink for only 550THB. This includes wine, beer and spirits, and you can buy a seasons pass for your kids for only 20THB (NO..it is not a typo, Only 20THB for the year!). This applies for kids from 1 to 12 years old! It is easy to see why this buffet is so popular with the Swedish families in Phuket. During high season the Tuk Tuk BBQ Buffet only costs 349THB, but this does not include drinks.

The menu at 2Gether is available in 10 different languages: Japanesse, English, Swedish, Finish, French, Italian, Korean, Russian, German and Thai. This is just another example of the steps Christer is willing to take in order to provide a pleasant experience for his guests. Many people remember this and truly appreciate the thoughtfulness of having a menu available in their native language.

The Owner, Christer Larson from Sweden, also owns and operates a successful guesthouse above his restaurant in Karon Beach. The gueshouse is conveniently located just a 2 minute walk from the beach in Karon. The rooms are fantastic as you can see by the photo to the right. The facilities include DVD players in each room, air conditioning, free WIFI throughout the restaurant and the hotel as well as swimming pool access. The rooms are so affordable that it is difficult to find availability in the high season, however in the low season there are normally rooms available for as low as 500THB per night.

I have always noticed that the most successful restaurants always have happy staff. 2Gether Restaurant is no exception, the entire staff and ownership live and work together and interact as a family. The staff often move from one location to the other in order to provide a change of scenery. Christer's passion about his food has lead to his success, and his loyal staff certainly share his passion when it comes to providing quality food and great service. This is obvious when you have a chance to enjoy the pleasant atmosphere while dining at either of the 2 locations.

The location in Kata Beach has been sold, and is no longer under the same ownership. The Karon Beach location and guesthouse remain open, an under the same ownership. Last month I had a chance to visit the restaurant and the food is still just as good as it always was.