Vedens Lustgård

Vedens Lustgård has been nagging at the back of my mind for years, ever since they opened around five years ago. The thing is, they're only open on Saturdays and Sundays, and I never managed to match up my trips with their opening hours. One Sunday, when I was out travelling and starting to get hungry, I checked Google Maps and saw that the place was about 15 minutes away, but closing in 45 minutes. I took a chance, drove over and hoped I'd be able to get a pizza before they shut for the day. And I did. The restaurant is housed in an old barn with a cosy interior, and the whole concept rests on genuinely locally sourced produce. The ambition is that everything should come from within 1000 metres, and they make their own mozzarella and ice cream from milk from the family's own cows. It's the kind of thoughtful, slightly nerdy approach that shows, and that makes a visit feel like more than just a pizza. The fact that they're only open at weekends adds to the sense that this is something done with care rather than on a production line. I ordered a Mami Salami and a wild garlic dip to dunk the crusts in. The pizza that came out looked great and tasted really good all the way through, good bread, good tomato sauce, good salami and good cheese, everything at a high and consistent level. On the pizza I got a spicy sauce that I'm guessing is some kind of jalapeño sauce, and it was very tasty. The wild garlic dip for the crusts was also good and a nice touch. On my way out I discovered that they sell their own ice cream, so I picked up a lime-cola ice cream to eat as I continued on my way, and that too was very good. Price-wise the pizza comes in at 250 kronor, which is in the upper segment for this type of pizza, but given the focus on ingredients and the quality it feels justified. I was met by a very friendly guy who took my order, and the whole place felt welcoming despite me rolling in just before closing. The setting in the old barn is cosy and relaxed, and the combination of a warm welcome and a place with character makes you quickly feel at home. Vedens Lustgård is a place I warmly recommend if you happen to be passing through the area around Skara on a weekend. Good pizza at a high level, its own farm-made ice cream and an honest, locally sourced concept in a cosy barn, with a welcoming reception thrown in for good measure. Keep an eye on the opening hours, Saturdays and Sundays only, and seize the opportunity if you get the chance. I'm glad I finally got the timing right.