The Norwegian

I will be back so you know its good. Food was very tasty, the while family loved it. I do think the shakshuka should come with another slice of toast. Everyone at the table liked their food and wants to go back. Service was good, but I did not feel the most welcome as I've felt in other places. Could have been an off day, I hope next time I can give them a 5 star review.

Hey Everyone, I know it’s been a while for me to review but I finally had opportunity to come here! It’s been on my list for a while, too! We met Phoebe who was an excellent server for us. We sat right next to the window in the front where we could see the clouds mixed in with the blue sky. We got the pancake balls which is an appetizer and is not the name on the menu. The omelet had the caramelized onions hidden inside along with the bacon and spinach as what is on the menu description. As you can see, the eggs Benedict was looking pretty good too, along with a huge slab of Canadian bacon on the famous English muffins for that dish. The strawberry basil mocktail was delicious, refreshing, and light not heavy to fill you up before the main meal. I would come back and share this place with a friend as I was able to have this placed shared with me. So yes, I highly recommend it!

***edited review. We frequent this restaurant almost every Sunday and usually sit at the bar, where we’ve always had a great experience. Today, however, we decided to sit at a table, and unfortunately the service felt less than professional. We waited about 20 minutes before anyone even noticed us—thankfully, there were at least waters and glasses on the table. The food, as always, was absolutely amazing, but the service was less than desirable this time around. We were left waiting far too long for each step—our food, our drinks, and even just getting the check. We left feeling disappointed compared to our previous visits, which have always been excellent. Oops, we dug into the cake before I remembered that social media eats first... but, honestly, can you blame us? We've been here twice now for brunch, and let me tell you: the food, drinks, and service never disappoint. The mimosa flight? Chef’s kiss. The dessert? I’d fight someone for it. The main course was delicious too, but I unapologetically live for dessert and Sunday brunch mimosas, and this place delivers both like a dream. If you're looking for a spot that hits every mark, this is it.

The bartender was amazing!! My drink was THE PERFECT BLOODY MARY ( I ever had)!!! The cook came out and introduced himself. He made the breakfast steak bagel with a side of potatoes with cheese. Definitely will be going back.

This place is great! I went for brunch and got the quiche, coffee, and mimosa flight, and the ebleskiver for an appetizer. All of them were fantastic, unique, and delicious. I will definitely return here, one of my favorite restaurants in the area!

I absolutely love the atmosphere here, all of the wood here is a very homey feel and the large windows bring in so much light. The little houses are like a baby Bergen for the kids to play by and it’s just the cutest. As far as the food I loved my quiche, it had a delicious glaze on it as well. The Cinnamon knot could use a bit more cardamom and cinnamon for my personal taste but it was still good and very pretty. I’d love to come back and try out a dinner or lunch item.

Great local spot, solid food and atmosphere priced well. Always something new to try. The coffee was lack luster tho def not worth it, matcha was also too milky. The rest of the food is solid and anything here is likely a good meal we really liked the shakashuka. Also dough balls are very good should def try them once. Will need to reserve a table especially for the weekend very busy place!

I try to make a trip to the Weeg’ anytime I come back home to Rockford. Most recently (June 28, 2025), I was home for my high school reunion and gathered a group of 18 for brunch the morning of the reunion. The staff at the Norwegian was accommodating, flexible about a few changes in the group size and time of reservation, and provided excellent service with aplomb and graciousness. The food was amazing. Several of our group had not been to the restaurant before. I’m sure they’ll all return. I love this place, the food, the faces, the sunlight, and the salmon…

This place definitely lived up to the reviews and expectations! Service was great, with our waitress going out of her way to ask the chef questions for me. I started with the Rainbow Connection Sour and it was one of the best sours I've ever had AND had phenomenal packaging so it was visually appealing as well. My guy and I got a bunch of things to try. From fave to least fave: Croque Madame: incredibly good! They were nice enough to make a fresh one for me since I can't have mustard. The egg was perfectly cooked and all the flavors blended seamlessly. Swedish Strawberry Cake: absolutely to die for! The lemon curd was fresh and perfect with the strawberry rhubarb sauce. My only thing is the frosting was cream cheese and that wasn't mentioned on the menu, so it should be added. Norwegian Handheld: I loved the overall concept of this dish and all the flavors themselves. However, the ingredient ratios were off for my 100% satisfaction. There wasn't enough pork belly and too much of the herb whipped cheese. I did still enjoy the dish and wouldn't mind having it again. Æbleskiver (Danish Pancake Balls): glad we started with these because they were pretty bland compared to all the other dishes we had. Lovely texture, but nothing special.

Tried Norwegian for the first time the other day! Atmosphere and inside is nice. Big bar. Good indoor seating. Seems to have a cute outdoor section too. I got a cucumber mimosa that was pretty good to drink. Then onto food I got the burger that was a special. Fantastic burger. Really enjoyed it. Shakshouka isn't my favorite only because I'm not the biggest tomato guy but was also pretty good. Finally we ended on horchata bread pudding which was lovely. Can't wait to go back

The Norwegian is always a staple. I'm proud to have been apart of the kickstarter that launched it. I love the rotating menu offerings. I have been here for brunch but not for dinner. The brunch and coffees are so good though. The Liv Lav Love was delish. So refreshing but creamy. I've eaten the shakshuka as well as the breakfast tacos. The breakfast tacos were my fave, and the shakshuka inspired me to learn to make my own. Definitely not as good as The Norwegian's though. Good service, great decor. Bathrooms could be updated a bit to match the interior more, but also a bathroom is a bathroom. It serves its purpose.

Booyah. The whole dealio. Adorbs. Foods! Ambiances. Peeps! Did I mention foods! Small menu, executed marvelously.

Consistently my favorite breakfast in the downtown area. Their coffees do not disappoint, and while their regular menu is excellent you cannot go wrong with their specials. Some of my favorites are their quiches and their seasonal Dutch pancakes, aka Æbleskivers. The staff are always wonderful and welcoming and I love sitting at their unique bar. We have yet to come for dinner. They do have a stage and they do music nights but we haven't made it yet. Pro tip: make a reservation for weekend brunch. They fill up quickly!!!

The coffee was strong, the food was delicious, and the atmosphere was fun!!! Our server was very helpful and made great suggestions on what to add to our meals to enhance them just a tad if we chose. They were super accommodating with our 3 month old too. I'd go here again and again to try everything!!!!

Yes! Just, yes! Everything about this place made us so happy! The food was memorable and had such much flavor to it. From the start of enjoying a rosemary oat latte, to the Ebleskiver (danish pancake balls), to the main dish of Norwegian handheld. I still dream of the latte to this day! It was all so tastefully done and had us dreaming back to the time of being in Sweden. Thank you for having us!

If you're looking for a phenomenal brunch location look no further than The Norwegian in Rockford, IL. The Rockford area is known for having a large Scandinavian influence so you can find many of restaurants with that culture and style of food. you can have delicious items like a Cod Breakfast Biscuit, Pumpkin Quiche, and pancake balls ( blanking on the formal name) . Will say that the cod biscuit stole the show for me based on uniqueness and deliciousness. Service is phenomenal here.

Love their Swedish pancakes! So good! The breakfast buffet is very nice lots of variety! Staff was very nice.

Was working in Rockford this morning and needed a quick bite to eat and came across The Norwegian. Wow, what a nice surprise. I am glad I gave it a try. It was difficult to choose from the menus only because everything on the menu sounded good. I had the frittata and was perfect, light and airy yet savory with a nice side of greens to add. Not only was it savory and tasty it left me satisfied for the day. It's refreshing to see a place that takes care of their ingredients and makes such healthy dishes. I am sure to come back every time I am visiting clients in Rockford. Oh, and the decor was great. Looks like a great place to relax too.

Certainly any round up of the Rockford restaurant scene isn't complete with this classic establishment. It's of the the few Norwegian or Scandinavian restaurants you can find anywhere, let alone here. The Norwegian is one of the hippest places in town. Maybe the hippest because it just may be. You can get lots of meaty things like pickled herring, or you can get plant based options like an Impossible Burger or something. Before coming here at lunch, we made sure they still had some of the options on the menu available. It's been known to change frequently. They unfortunately didn't have the vegan breakfast items we wanted, so we came at lunch. Got a few drinks of course. It's about $8 for the cheapest cocktails they had. These are small, so of course that's why. A good one was the Gojito. This is blueberry infused white rum with goji berry syrup, lime, mint, mint and plum bitters, and soda. As for the food, we each got an Impossible Burger. It's $15 for a big one and a side. Good price to get a lot. On the burger there was horseradish aioli which I left off, house cashew cheese, mixed greens, and red onions. If wanting meat there's plenty of fish. There's pickled herring and other authentic fishy items. Great place except for some of the prices and the menu items that can go away frequently. It's got breakfast and lunch menus. The hours can also be kind of screwy, so check if they're open before going whenever.

Great food, great cocktails! Make sure to make a reservation because this place fills up. I got the spiced Pork dish and Odin's salad. Was very good. I loved the crispy fat on the pork belly.

First time at the Norwegian and wowwww was I blown away. Walking in, it had a farm-to-table vibe that was super cute and cozy. We were seating at a booth table but they also have a large bar where you can sit as well The menu is extensive and the staff are super friendly and chill. I went with one of their special mimosas: The Apple Martini. For entrees: -The Sarah -Norwegian waffles -Salmon & eggs Everything was absolutely INCREDIBLE! A must try in Rockford!

Food very unique nothing I've seen before but very good got the Sarah and liv lav love 10/10 service was also 10/10 would recommend and come back

Still one of the best brunch spots in town. The Norwegian never disappoints. Service and food is always amazing. The Loki coffee drink on ice is so yummy! Pyttipanne and Aebleskiver are my go to dishes but sometimes I switch it up to try the specials. They have toy bins and books up front for little ones so when I take my toddlers I request a seat up front so they can play while we wait for food. Always make a reservation on the weekend, it can get booked up!

The bloody Mary was amazing! The bartenders were amazing! The atmosphere was really great. We didn't eat by the menu looked great!

Service is reticent. Had to eyeball the girl with the butterfly tattoo on her thigh, to request a matcha, just a Mean dispositions, shouldn't be in the service industry. I adore Etta playing, while I sit at the bar I eyed--Top shelf bourbon options !!! Barrister is knowledgeable referred me to my next stop "cork, keg & spirits" need to upgrade my bourbon game. This establishment turned the corner with their delectable Elotes quiche!! Perfectly prepared not too firm, not too loose; not the staid quiche. If you have given up on blah breakfast, try this keenly prepared quiche. The pork isn't cloying & the spicy citrus glaze is just on the plate, so hurry ! The salad = fresh & light. I will call this redemption quiche

We had the Norwegian for the first time for a birthday brunch and omgggg it is now my favorite brunch spot. Everything we gad was so good! We had other small plates that are not pictured but, if you go just try a little bit of everything. You won't regret it!

Wow. That was all my wife could say after we started digging in. And I'd have to agree If this isn't the best food in Rockford, it's certainly in the top 3. Incredibly well executed breakfast, brunch, and lunch food with a local (+Scandinavian) flair. The BLT was probably the best I've ever had. Literal perfect fries. The hot apple cider had a great addition with the cinnamon stick. The sourdough waffles had the perfect crunch and tang. Fun cocktails and a great lineup of seasonal and daily specials. Stop reading, make a reservation, and stop in. You won't be disappointed

The service was perfect! And the food was amazing, this place is my new favorite place... I haven't had this good of food in SUCH A LONG TIME. I had the bass... it was AMAZING. My hubby has the roast and i had tried it, LOVED IT. They do not mess around when it comes to alcohol lol, they're pretty strong drinks but still really good. We really enjoyed our time there! Going back soon!

I can understand why this restaurant was voted the best in Illinois! My best friend and I split a Croque Madame ($15.50) and seasonal rhubarb æbleskivers ($9). The Croque Madam was topped with a perfectly cooked over easy egg, and was stuffed with ham and Jarlsberg cheese. It was rich, savory, and satisfying. The dressing on the side salad was well balanced with oil and vinegar. I'm not usually the biggest fan of rhubarb, but the æbleskivers were amazing! The acidity of the rhubarb was tamed perfectly by the amount of sweetness added to the filling. I could have eaten 3 more. The staff were kind and attentive, the decor was homey, and the prices were fair. 10/10 experience

"Scandihoovians" are interesting and delightful. Either Swedish Norwegian or Finlander make the best restaurants... Appeasement to my youngest child, on the top of favorites list at #1, oh Yah you betcha... Food over the top. Service phenomenal. Ambiance cozy trendy upbeat... So to be a top fan myself seek next time to find what was missed. Peak business hour a little less time and service.... That is expected. Thank you for your patience with me. As a chatty guest came hungry. After all, we Scandihoovians like to eat... oh Yah, Dontcha know? In Future visits, simple service courtesies are: --wipe up when you spill on a dining area. --bring your guests all you promised. --treat the newcomers as well as the others. Well done. You certainly can get by without this review. The pleasure is mine. Thank you Taylor. For sure, amazing staff here. Thank you "Special Donors" (see wall-?) Thank you "The Norwegian" to all staff Overall not too bad at all (In Minnesota that's just great) Smiles Mae W

A wonderful place to enjoy a shared meal. The staff were attentive and welcoming. The food was excellent with a made from scratch evidence with everything. A wonderful atmosphere. A must try for those of you that want an experience.

The Norwegian was a cool brunch spot that we could walk to from our accommodations. We sat outside at a picnic table in the back - it was a perfect day for that. We had shakshuka and a fish dumpling soup, both delicious. Afterwards we browsed the knickknack shop next door.

Stopped on the way from Madison to O'Hare airport. Staff were friendly and the pork belly benedict with spinach potato pancakes was very tasty. Really enjoyed it!

Amazing restaurant in Rockford if you like variety! Rotating dinner menu every week, makes me want to go every weekend. Lovely staff and welcoming environment.

Several others have reviewed the breakfasts or lunches. We have, so far at least, only been to The Norwegian for dinner. We are not locals to Rockford, but were in town for a few days and just went online to see what we could find for dinner. Wow, did we hit the jackpot! The ambiance: This place is far cooler than I am. There was a relaxed informal vibe and it seemed quite welcoming -- nothing but smiles and happy conversation all the way around. The mixologists behind the bar were colorful and the cocktail offerings were creative. Our waiter was helpful and attentive. Everyone in the place seemed to be having a good time. The food: Superb. Really very very good. Creative, unusual, flavorful and well balanced. The small menu seems to be built on themes based on what is fresh and in-season. In late June, we were fortunate enough to come in when the theme was berries. I chose the daily veggie item -- Fried Oyster Mushrooms with blueberry tahini and tamarind berries. I'm not a vegetarian, but I do love me some mushrooms. Wow was it good. The mushrooms were served on a bed of hummus, onions and marinated zucchini. I felt almost giddy eating it. Yum yum. I paired it with a strawberry rhubarb hard cider ... a very good choice. Then for desert we added a slice of almond cake with red and black raspberries (locally foraged). It was extraordinary, start to finish. 5 out of 5. I'd give 6 if Yelp would let me.

We've been here several times. Would go a lot more often but we live an hour away. Especially love the aebleskivers, but everything else we had, including the specialty coffees, was wonderful.

So happy we found this relaxing place. Owned by musician Emily Hurd, the ambience is open and airy with warm plank wood floors and ceiling. Megan was our server, her smile and positive attitude made us feel welcome. As for the food, Delicious!! I had the Salmon and Eggs over perfectly prepared potato's, my better half enjoyed the shaskshuka immensely. We will be back soon. Next time it will be for dinner and to hear Emily sing.

Ate one of the best meals I have ever had. And I've been to a LOT of restaurants. Scrumptious in every way. The service was spot on. Loved the vibe. Will be back again!

my girlfriend and I were looking for somewhere unique for breakfast, and oh boy did we find it! Absolutely unique ambience, friendly wait staff, outstandingly creative food. I have nothing but praise for this place and cannot wait to return, my girlfriend had quiche, I had some delicious sandwich with a couple of fried eggs in it, it was unreal you should go here soon. Food is fabulous and it's a very nice environment

Got the frikadeller sandwich (a Danish meatball with loganberry BBQ, jarlsberg, caramelized onion aïoli, and sauerkraut on rye with pickled herring. So good. Service was fantastic, the attention to detail was great, coffee was bright and delicious, and the fries were fantastic. The atmosphere is somewhere between a busy diner and a casual café, perfect for catching up with someone over comforting food. Definitely recommend a side of pickled getting! It was served with fresh dill on a bed of pea shoots.

This place is PHENOMENAL. It felt like Born & Raised in San Diego (decor, made the Michelin Guide btw!) meets Bonn Lair in Sacramento (vibe). Now, I know that doesn't mean much to anyone in Rockford... but well, most of Rockford doesn't look on Yelp anyways. So, let's just say, it's got the hipster/boho/eclectic vibe going on. I got The Karen, made with vodka so it would be GF. PHENOMENAL. And The Sarah with GF bread (+$2). The serve staff was great and it just felt like home. My home. California. I'll be back. I'll bring my Rockford bred husband and he will love it too. Thanks for all you're doing Emily! (Owner) Keep up the hard work! Rockford needs businesses like yours!!!

It was wonderful! The food was almost like art in the way it was presented and was absolutely delicious. You can tell the chef's put their heart into what they're making. The drinks weee delicious as well. The bartenders and wait staff were very friendly and kind. Looking forward to going again!! In honor of Women's history month, the chefs curated a menu of women inspired recipes. The first dish I tried was called Woon Heng's sticky tofu. Described as being a vegetarian take on Singapore ribs; tempura fried tofu w/ sesame Wonderstate coffee glaze, tequila sour aioli, pickled carrots and rice. It was amazing. I didn't want to stop eating it. The next dish I tried was Reem Assil's Muhammara described as being inspired by her Palestinian Syrian roots, a red pepper walnut dip with pomegranate molasses & Aleppo; served w/ house corn chips. The flavors were so amazing together, and the house chips were still toasty warm when served. A delightful combination. The final dish I tried was the Alice B Toklas chicken. The menu described this as 'It was inspired by the writer who was famous for hash brownies , but she made a killer chicken dish. Millers Amish chicken w blood orange sauce and potato 'hash' . The chicken was very moist and delicious and potatoes very fragrant and flavorful.

Whoa. Such a surprise 5 star for me. Super unique menu. Awesome ambiance. Really delicious. And they were kind to help us figure out what to order! Those pancake type things are cravable!

Place was ok, but need more staff because it took a long time to get waited on. Also seemed overworked. We sat outside on the benches and some stranger sat at our table unannounced. Think beer hall style. Ok. The beer selection was all specialty with no domestic options, so be mindful if you're entertaining the non adventurous types.

Sat at the bar for Sunday brunch. Tough to make a selection because everything looks so good. Service was very friendly and laid back but attentive and the surroundings are super inviting with a lot of natural light, high ceilings and good sound level. Will go again and again.

The Norwegian did not disappoint. The food, service and just overall vibe were great.

Tonight my wife and I had the best meal ever at The Norwegian! The care and quality was exquisite throughout, the staff was amazing. I had the Corn appetizer, Tomato Bisque, Trout Almondine and the dessert made by their very own pastry chef. Combined with the cozy ambiance, music and warmth of the staff, it was an evening to remember. Definitely my favorite place in Rockford and the fish was superb, and the best I've ever had.

Small place but very welcoming. Great service and deliciously prepared fresh food. Would definitely go again.

This is quite the gem in Rockford. My husband and I were traveling back from the Dells and heard good things. The food here is beyond amazing. I was actually caught off guard. This is also an overdue review. The mimosas are wonderful. I love one with fresh OJ. I went with the eggs Benedict. It came with the Hollandaise on the side and man was it great. Actually it was perfection. I forget the sandwich my husband had but I tasted it and it was bomb. The fresh cut fries were terrific too. All in all I wish we lived closer to enjoy this establishment regularly!

Insanely good food, you can tell the chef or owner is a foodie. One of the best eggs Benedict I've had ever, will definitely be coming back again with the Wifey

Had lunch with a friend today who is apparently royalty!? King Ben was met with an iced tea followed by his favorite dish named after his favorite lady! Food was excellent! Had the grilled cheese with jam! It was superb! Service was great, atmosphere was great and food was awesome. Cannot recommend a better spot around! 10/10. Also the Christmas market out back looked pretty sweet as well!

came for breakfast, this place was packed but we got a seat at the bar without a reservation The vibe in here is good, very chill and friendly. The food exceeded our expectations honestly and the servers/bartenders were very friendly. They gave us the carrot cake free of charge due to a mixup of drinks. One of the better Rockford spots.

My favorite cafe/restaurant! Great ambiance, staff is super friendly, food is delicious.

We were staying overnight in Rockford and I was looking for a cool breakfast spot on Yelp and stumbled on The Norwegian. It looked like one of those cool spots that you would have to wait hours to get into, but they take reservations via yelp...super cool. It's not much to look at from the outside but the inside has a very cool vibe, everyone was super nice. It feels like a place you just want to hang out at. They have a bar so breakfast drinks are encouraged, I was about to get a bloody mary when we noticed the special "Sweater Weather" cocktail, a bourbon and apple cider drink that was amazing. The menu is very unique and everything sounds so good. I love the small plates they have for breakfast, we need more breakfast appetizers in our lives. We started out with some Ebelskivers which are scandinavian pancake balls, they were just great, served with jam and syrup. A perfect start, I am a sucker for a Croque Madame and even though it's not really Scandinavian I was all in on that. My wife copied and got the same. it was perfect, not too cheesy or too much bechamel, perfectly cooked with a perfect sunny side egg on top. The greens on the side (very French) were well dressed and the vinaigrette was the perfect choice with enough acid to cut through the richness of the sandwich. Our waitress was just wonderful, amazing service, wonderful food and a great atmosphere. One of the top 10...no 5 breakfast places I have ever been too. I might have to think about making the hour + trek just for breakfast, we will be back that's for sure.

What a unique and amazing place! I've been here a few times and never posted a review. The ambiance inside is beautiful, looks like you are in Norway. The service is great- very friendly and inviting. The food is always great with weekly new items. I went to brunch with friends and tried their apple pancake balls. These were so delicious I wish I had more of them! Definitely a great place to bring your family or out of town guests!

My sister-in-law treated my mother & I to brunch for our birthdays. It was my mother, my sister-in-law, my neice and I. We had finished our meals and were in great conversation all sharing a sweet pastry, when we were asked to leave because the table was reserved. In all my years of eating out have I ever been asked to leave a restaurant. Needless to say it kill the great vibe and my thoughts of the restaurant. We will never go back. I ordered the croque madame, which was dried and just okay. Had better. Next time maybe let the table know when there's a reservation made for that table and what time so the table is aware of timing. So, they can chose to still make the reservation or go somewhere less busy. Thumbs down!!

The Norwegian is a wonderful place. We have been there several times and it's perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner or anything in between. The food is amazing and they have a wide variety of food, drinks and desserts that tastes wonderful! The service is perfect and the staff is courteous and professional. Because they have so many areas of the restaurant that are so different, the ambiance can be different every time you go there. You will never be disappointed at The Norwegian.