“I love warm food,” my colleague declares with enthusiasm. It could be that he’s a person of modest preferences. But it’s also the kind of lukewarm praise you might offer in a desperate act to say something nice about your meal. When my plate of Bolognese arrives, I pause briefly. This tiny hesitation proves to be a blessing, allowing the scorching dish – straight from the fires of Mount Doom – to cool down.

I also prefer my food warm. Not oysters, perhaps, or gazpacho. But certainly pasta. But it turns out food can be too hot. As I write this late at night, my taste buds (and other useful eating/tasting instruments) have yet to fully recover. Maybe I’m sensitive; maybe I had an off day. Regardless, I’ll approach my next meal at Mr. Tomato with caution.

As for the flavor, it was good. Not exceptional, but pleasant. Comforting, even – quite the perfect remedy after a night of excessive socializing. My dining companion’s ravioli was creamy, generally tasty, and neatly garnished with a few slices of roast beef. The salad bar featured an unconventional blend of pizza salad, pickled cucumber, and beans. The bread was superb, the service swift, and we relished our meal.

Just as we prepared to depart, two locals sauntered in. Nonchalantly, they slid into the closed-off VIP booth behind us and ordered shrimp salads. This struck me as peculiar until the realization dawned: they knew the true heat of the food.

• Name and address: Mr. Tomato, Brämaregatan 1
• Cuisine: Italian-ish (It might not exactly be home away from Rome, but the food is undeniably good.)
• Distance from Zenseact: a 15-minute walk
• Price: 109 sek, with salad buffet, bread and drink
• Rating: 3,9/5 NCAP stars (Norra Älvstranden Culinary Assessment Program)

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.