The Søvengård

My partner and I went on 02/13/2026 as an anniversary(the 13th)/Valentines Day dinner. The only thing good about the experience was our server Spencer and the cocktails. He was very sweet and the cocktails were amazing. Here comes the bad. We made a reservation for 4PM and were seated promptly, but took 10 minutes to get a drink menu and another 5 to get the "Valentines prix fixe menu". They were not ready to open. We thought because they had a pre-determined menu, things would be swift and yummy. Wrong. We left at 6:15pm and we would have been there another half hour if we hadn't asked to take our dessert to go. Every dish had flaws and every dish was cold! There was not one redeeming dish served to us to make up for everything being poorly executed, cold, and very underwhelming. We paid $350+ on a meal that will always be remembered as one of the worst meals we have ever experienced. I have no problem reviewing the food if anyone wants those details.

Had a FANTASTIC time at Søvengård's Oktoberfest Late Night! This review is a little late but I had such a good time. They seem to host monthly events that each have a unique theme with music, competitions/games, and unique drink and food options! I sampled a few of their beer options as well and was very impressed, their Haus Lager is very refreshing and easy to drink, while they also had a Finnish Farmhouse Ale on tap that had hints of juniper berry and was very unique. I also had to get some Oktoberfest märzen and Weissbiers of course. I was a big fan of the live polka band as well. It really added a nice touch while not being too loud that I couldn't hear others talk. Overall, very fun event with excellent food, staff, and ideas. The fact that they focus on fresh local ingredients is the cherry on top. Will absolutely be back.

I LOVE Søvengård! My partner took me here for brunch for my birthday in April and we loved it so much we decided to come for dinner last night for our anniversary! It's definitely more of a special occasion place for our personal budget, but it's so so worth every penny. The ambience is warm and cozy, with plenty of windows and natural light during the day. The warm lights and orange accents keep it feeling bright and vibrant even after dark. The booth we sat in on both occasions was wood with a raw edge, and the booth seat was comfortable (which is important! Some booths are very uncomfortable). Our server was the perfect amount of attentive without checking on us too frequently. I think she even sensed the mood from afar when my partner and I were reminiscing and getting a bit sappy; she made herself scare and waited for a less personal moment to come by and ask if we needed any more drinks or desserts. Stellar. For food: all farm to table, frequently rotating and changing menu, and portions you can finish in one sitting while feeling perfectly full (personal opinion: I'd rather pay for higher quality and less food overall than leftovers that weren't jaw-dropping to begin with). I ordered an espresso martini and my partner got their version of a Manhattan (can't remember the name). Both were beautifully balanced and some of the best cocktails we've had in GR. We decided to split their daily special of short ribs (came with corn grits, a red wine gravy/sauce, and radishes), as well as the beer fries and the confit carrots. All were perfect. The meat melted off the bone and paired perfectly with the grits. The carrots managed to retain the perfect amount of crunch while being packed with flavor and easy to cut (and the microgreens and herbed skyr they came with brought it all together). And the shoestring fries with the remoulade? PERFECT. delicious. Couldn't stop eating them. Dessert was duck egg pudding with candied cranberries, and an almond torte with sliced baked pears and candied nuts. The pudding was unique in the best sort of way, and I was grateful we got two desserts because the texture of the torte helped balance the pudding's richness. Both were sweet but not TOO sweet; I appreciated not feeling like I was gagging on sugar the way I do when I eat buttercream frosted cake. The grand total for all of the above (3 drinks, 2 shareables, 1 entree, 2 desserts) before tip was roughly $140. Like I said, not a cheap meal, but it's a lovely experience and the food is all extremely fresh and delicious. Whoever their chef is should get a medal of honor. I'm very grateful to have the privilege to experience such fine dining every now and then. This is based on our dinner experience last night (December, 2025), and our brunch experience back in April was equally lovely. We've decided to make it a tradition for many special occasions going forward. I hope you give Søvengård a try! **If you want the experience for a bit less money, they apparently have hot dog nights on Wednesdays! We haven't been yet but at a place this perfect their hotdogs have gotta be the most insane dogs you've ever had. Our server mentioned they're mostly $8 or less :)

This place is incredible. We went for brunch with two small kids, and the service was so accommodating and friendly. They really went above and beyond. The food was spectacular, and the restaurant and garden area are simply stunning. This place is a gem. We'll definitely be back! We made a reservation, but there were open tables (which was surprising, since in most other cities the brunch line would be wrapped around the block for a place like this).

Beautiful presentation and delicious. Great atmosphere. Loved the walleye and the confit carrots.

Beautiful and cozy interior. My son was leaving for a semester in Asia and wanted a dose of something he would not have access to while there. Sovengard was his choice and his belly was beyond happy. He got the full Scandi and loved all of it. Biscuits and bread were both A+. My brunch hash looked beautiful but the vegan eggs were undercooked (IMO) and there were vegetables I don’t associate with breakfast in the mix (green beans, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots). I love all of the ingredients individually but not with eggs. Giving them total credit for this being farm to table brunch and focusing on locally sourced and in season on this one. I will probably try this restaurant again but for dinner.

Everything about this restaurant was perfect. If I had to pick one word for Sovengard it would be crafted. The interior is beautiful and intentional. Every table is the beast seat in the house. Ours had a leather tufted bench on one side and a velvet swivel on the other, yes, a swivel chair! The hostess was busy with several parties arriving at once, but she was warm and attentive and took care of all quickly. Cass was our server and a true professional. Her suggestions when I didn't think I would ever be able to choose from the menu were perfect. Don't miss the Boudini for dessert! We will be back and back, I have a lot of tables to try and oh, there is the gorgeous bar to sit at!

Westside True Locally Sourced Farm-to-table Excellence. We have so much fun here! You’ve gotta check it out! The ambience is lovely, each server has always been attentive and personable, the time spent with family and friends is priceless, and you can tell the food and drinks have been really well crafted and thought through. We had a siblings-and-spouses dinner for 10 the first time, and were quite pleased. We’ve also come in smaller groups for drinks, or drinks and shareables. All fabulous. As a family we all tasted everything, including the desserts! Wow. I am not a dessert person, but The Søvengård’s talented chefs have a way of creating the perfect balance of flavors and nuances in each plate & dessert that not many places achieve. My spoon kept creeping back to the plate! This place has gone from “Thank you so much! We will definitely be coming back!” to “Hey! How’s the family?” •TIP—> If you love a plate you get here, get back here THIS week, because next week it might be gone! (Seasonal menu) •TIP—> Highly recommend their Biergarten out back. I had no idea how much property they had and how restful it was, until the server guided us back to their secret garden of sorts! Heaters help extend the eat-outside-comfortably season. •TIP—> trying to find PARKING? The church next door allows guests of The Søvengård to park there, making it a lot easier on a busy street! •TIP—> Pickiest eater here growing up *waves,* and I it is all delicious. Seriously. Chat with the server — they know every bit about the menu or will find someone who does quickly to make your dream dinner work. (My sister-in-law did actually dream of one of her dinners here!) •TIP—> The menu accommodates many taste preferences and dietary restrictions! I know personally GF/DF/sugar-free is very doable here. I’ve even gone off my usual diet here a bit with no repercussions, because farm-to-table is just so fresh and amazing. TIP—> There is even a cute tiny market inside! TIP—> Neighborhood residents get the added bonus of not needing to find parking because they can just walk home! PS I must say, our group had to “close the place out” to get pictures of all these empty tables! The ambiance is really lovely when it’s busy. Just right. Feels like a community group hug.

The moment we walked in we were greeted by the host. As she led us to our seats, she gave us some insight on the layout of the restaurant (which is beautiful, has a semi open kitchen and is welcoming) along with some of the history. Spencer, our server, was polite and charming. He gave us wonderful suggestions and paced out our meal very well. The FOOD is OUTSTANDING, the prices were excellent and the Chefs creativity and expertise showed in each preparation. Bravo!

I've been to The Søvengård twice now, both times after their location change. The interior is absolutely beautiful, warm, and welcoming. There are open lounge style seating in some areas as well as a small market that sells local produce and goods. The service is friendly and knowledgable but a touch slow in refilling drinks or checking in on you, but they will not leave you feeling neglected in the slightest. I really enjoyed all the food I had. Many of the dishes were incredibly unique which made it feel like a more fun and adventurous dining experience. The smashed potatoes with tomato aioli was a standout for me! I really like this restaurant and hope to be back soon.

The decor is lovely and simple. The service was friendly but a bit slow. We ordered "breakfast for dinner" and steak frites. The breakfast for dinner was really delicious, the scotch egg was PERFECT and all the flavors really complimented each other. The steak frites flavor was decent. Unfortunately both the steak and fries were cold. Overall I had a good experience and I would try it again.

This is the first time I've been to Sovengard since they reopened in their new location and I am so impressed! I absolutely love the aesthetic of this place and was very happy that my friends and I could visit. Parking is going to be a little tricky (it's right near the curve of the road so depending on the time of day, that area can be a bit chaotic). You can park in the nearby church (during non-peak church times) but you can also find some street parking. I really appreciated that they had a couple handicap street parking spots right in front of the restaurant. We made a reservation through Yelp and were promptly greeted and seated. The space is very open, airy and spacious! There are 3 different rooms and an outdoor patio. Each room had a different feel but all still very cohesive. The whole place was very bright (which I loved! But they did decide to turn down the lighting towards the later portion of our reservation) and it was actually very quiet. While it wasn't the most busy while we were there, there were a few tables and most restaurants in GR are a bit loud with a lot of people. I assume that because it's so spacious, I didn't notice the noise at all. We ordered a few items (Garlic tasting, raclette and smashed potatoes) to share and I think my favorite were the smashed potatoes. I didn't mind the garlic tasting or raclette but feel like they were just okay and not something I'd order again. I chose to order the mushroom bucatini pasta - it's vegan but you definitely could not tell! I do wish that there was an option to add protein or more mushrooms to it though. I look forward to trying it again and enjoying the patio in the warmer months! Definitely make a reservation though, it just saves you a headache of not getting a table on a busier evening.

If you know me, you know I love a good happy hour, and The Sovengard's new spot delivers. Light, airy, and packed with character, this revamped Westside space is gorgeous--think cozy fireplace, wood tones, and an open, inviting feel. Their new happy hour? Elite. $7 mini (bartender's choice) cocktails and a $4 hot dog that was, no joke, the most elevated hot dog I've ever had. The bartender had so much care and passion for his creations. I can't to wait to come back for a full meal, especially when their summer market and patio is in full swing. This place has been taken care of with care.

I met up with friends here last week and finally saw their new spot- The space is dreamy- big, spacious, and BRIGHT (an instagram foodies dream ) with some fun moody statement pieces. I started with a delicious cocktail that had a sweet potato reduction in it??? Not take I've ever tried before, but I LOVED it. The hearty flavor was balanced by a spritzy base, which made the cocktail as a whole well rounded! Our table started with the raclette (you guys know I love that stinky cheese), the garlic tasting, and the smashed new potatoes. They were all lovely, but the potatoes were a hit! The raclette was a little difficult to scoop as it began to cool, and we loved the garlic with the garlic tasting, but it does still come in its skin, so you have to squish the garlic out yourself. For entrees, I got the half chicken, and was in AWE of how much food that really is I didn't even eat a quarter of it I don't think (lucky for my husband, who got the leftovers!) Others at the table got the bucatini, which was reported to be amazing, and the walleye, which was also good, although the squash it came on may have been a little undercooked. Overall, this was a great stop! The flavors were great, the space was great, and the service was great!

I was so excited to check out the new Sovengard recently with some friends. We made a reservation for 5:45 pm and were seated right away. The space is large, airy, and so gorgeous! The interior design is so pretty, we were all looking around and taking so many photos. I loved the greens and oranges of the furnishings/decor. We sat in the back area near the little "market", this area leads out onto a huge patio. Our server was very sweet and great with recommendations and giving us enough time to look over the menus. The menu is a bit Scandinavian focused with their smorrebrod (open faced sandwiches) but mostly it has a farm to table feel. I saw vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, and dairy free options listed on the menu. We started with a bunch of small plates: the garlic tasting, raclette, and smashed new potatoes. These all came out at once and we shared them all. My favorite was the potatoes - they were crispy and delicious, with a bit of aioli to dip. The garlic tasting was just one small head (maybe even half of a head) of roasted garlic with some cheese bread and pickled golden beets on the side. The portion was pretty small, and some of the group didn't love that it came inside the garlic skin so you have to squish out the garlic cloves. There were only 3 pieces of bread too which made it tough to share with our group of 4. I had high hopes for the raclette, as I love this cheese, but it was a bit disappointing as it was just a thin layer of cheese that was tough to scrape out of the cast iron dish it came in. I did like the flavors and enjoyed the seedy crackers and toasted bread. For entrees, most of us got the bucatini. I also got the walleye and one friend got the half chicken. The bucatini was vegan but you wouldn't really know it, it was pretty creamy and tasty. The pasta was cooked nicely but I wish it had more mushrooms. The walleye itself was perfectly cooked and seasoned well, but the delicata squash was undercooked. I left most of it on the plate. I really liked the buttermilk sauce. The half chicken was reported to be good and it was a massive portion, easily shareable. We didn't get any dessert but the options were all very fall forward, with sweet potato and apple flavors. Overall this is a cute spot and I would love to come back and try more items, especially some of the smorrebrod. They are also starting brunch soon! Parking is a little tough, with mostly street parking but they do allow parking in a nearby church parking lot (during non-peak church times). There isn't really a ton around that you could easily walk to if you had a long wait time. I recommend making a reservation!

I have a rule of thumb when trying new restaurants: If I can't pronounce it, then it's probably worth trying. The Sovengard takes this and dials it up to an eleven - I felt like I was having minor aneurysms whenever I tried to order the svielkaksa or the skyifgge (I made those words up but they sound pretty real, no?) Clearly I know very little about Nordic culture and cuisine, and yet I cannot speak highly enough of this place. Everything is created with craft and care, from the unique and delicious cocktails that have NO business being as good as they are, to the starting plates that completely reshaped my definition of what a cracker is, to the main plates that are simple in design, yet bursting with complexity and flavor underneath. The space is gorgeous, the staff is kind and friendly, and the gastronomy does. Not. Miss. Perfect spot for a date night or if you just want to pull up, have a cocktail, and pretend to read the latest trendy book to look cool (no shame if that's the case, been there done that.)

As a pickier eater, I did struggle with the menu a bit trying to find something where I didn't have to alter the dish. Fortunately I did find some items but it was either straight carbs or a $38 steak lol. I did enjoy the smashed potatoes, flatbread, and cheese app, as well as the Jerry bear salad. The atmosphere is gorgeous. They did an amazing job renovating this place, inside and out. We had a table of 7 and service was fantastic. Shout out to Mario! Apparently there's parking down the road at a church for sovengard but I was unaware of this. Not sure it's posted anywhere but someone told me about it.

Soooo happy The Søvengård has opened again! We absolutely loved it before and fell in love all over again last night at dinner! Right away when you walk in, the interior is just so beautiful and impressive it's hard to not be excited about the experience you're about to have here. You get glimpses of different areas like the bar, the kitchen and a couple different sections of rooms as you're walking to your table. We were able to see they had an impressive size patio out back as well with umbrellas at every table and a beautiful floral mural on the back wall. Once we were seated we glanced over our drink menu. Weston ordered the Midnight Sun. Right away his first impression of the drink was a huge grin and he told me "Wow, that's amazing." I was happy to see they had some NA options and I went with the Ruby mocktail. It was absolutely refreshing and delicious. It also came in a gorgeous glass. I felt really fancy drinking out of it. For some starters we ordered the grilled sweet corn and smashed potatoes. The grilled sweet corn was covered in a garlic-herb aioli and some other herbs/spices and it just felt like summer in my mouth. I love grilled corn this time of year and demolished this in the most lady-like way possible. Eating corn off the cob is so messy but I promise this was worth every fiber of corn stuck in my teeth afterwards hahaha. The smashed potatoes were an easy win. I'm not picky at all when it comes to potatoes and these were roasted to perfection you could see a mix of purple potatoes in there too. I don't know what it is about a mix of potatoes like that- that makes me feel like a healthier person somehow. They had a good amount of salt and there was a bit of a smoked tomato aioli in the bowl that tasted phenomenal with the potatoes. Weston ordered the Koji Chicken for his entree and said the chicken was cooked really well and loved everything else it was plated with. I went with the Duck Breast entree and was pleasantly surprised with how good the savory duck meat tasted with the roasted summer fruit. I love a good sweet and savory combo. For dessert we chose the olive oil cake. Once our server said it came with peaches, we locked eyes and confirmed silently before she finished describing it to us haha. This dessert was SO good. I enjoyed whatever cream was on top of the cake as well. 10/10 experience here tonight. From walking in to leaving. I have to say that everyone we came in contact with here was incredibly kind to us. Especially our server! I love the look of the restaurant - they did such an amazing job with the interior! I truly cannot wait til I can eat here again! Try to make a reservation to ensure a table and support this place soon!

It is not often that we get a chance to enjoy brunch on a Sunday, so when the opportunity presented itself, we took full advantage. We were the first ones in that morning and sat ourselves at the bar. We were promptly and friendly greeted. I ordered the Stanley, which is the biscuits and gravy with two eggs and my husband ordered the white fish eggs Benedict and we decided to split a cinnamon roll. Everything came out exemplary. Their food is both beautiful and delicious. The biscuits and gravy still had some nice crunch to the biscuit and the gravy was not overly greasy and had terrific flavor. The eggs on my husband's eggs Benedict were perfectly cooked and the white fish was light and refreshing. The cinnamon roll Holy cow was the best one I've ever had in my life. Something about those pops of pink peppercorn on top elevated the entire experience it was fantastic! The only thing I would say needed is a proper hot sauce. I asked for one and was given their house hot sauce, which is a mango habanero, but it is really more like a chutney, almost applesauce, like inconsistency and has no heat. The kitchen admitted as much and given the talent that they have I am sure they could come up with a hot hot sauce that would blow our socks off. Still absolutely five stars delicious

i've been patiently awaiting the return of the sovengard... and it was worth the wait. my partner deemed this one of the best meals he's had in grand rapids. drinks: no mocktail menu but i asked if the bartender could make me a mocktail - whatever they wanted to mix up. it was okay. it kind of just tasted like kombucha with a rosemary sprig though. food: the star of the show. ordering was confusing. our server told us (v) stood for vegetarian even though the menu says "(v) vegan". when i asked for clarification she said v meant it could be made vegan but then wouldn't that be (VO) which was listed on the menu as "(vo) vegan option"? anyway... we figured it out and i just made she she knew our items needed to be vegan. We got the mother earth board - i LOVE pickled veg and the vegan chili butter was so good. this was such a delicious and fun thing to pick at. we also got the bbq lions mane and the bucatini. the lions mane was so salty and smoky - my favorite of the two. the bucatini was buttery and rich. there was one vegan dessert - an olive oil cake which we passed on this time but it sounded delicious. loved the wallpaper and the vibes were cozy.

From the moment you enter the restaurant you feel a sense of calm. The decoration and overall vibe is just wonderful. The comfy seating was also much appreciated. You must go for brunch and order The Hearty Woodsperson! Incredible value for the massive amount of food you receive. Reminds me of a giant charcuterie board filled with eggs, meats, cheeses, and bread for brunch. It was extremely tasty with everything sourced locally and extremely fresh. They use Lewandowski's meat market to source their sausage and breakfast meats. We also had the eggs Benedict which were very good too! The poached eggs were cooked to perfection. We have been to many brunch places in and around Grand Rapids and this is by far our favorite. Also very easy to get a seat, but this may change after the word gets out on how well the Sovengard's food is prepared. All around a great experience!

The Valentine's Day menu and beverage pairing was excellent! We love the ambiance and the decor in the new location. So happy Sovengard is back. It's my local favorite.

The ambiance is amazing. Great place for date night. Everyone around the table has a range of casual outfits to elegant dresses. The service was fantastic with constant check in. I went with a big group of guys. It was fun. The food was amazing as well. I had the cassoulet and it was to die for. We had 2 appetizers to shared and 10/10 would recommend them.

Excellent service and a favorite place for birthday dinner parties. Allowed us to bring our own cake and plated and served for a small fee.

The drinks are well crafted. We tried a good portion of the menu and everything was fantastic. Get the whitefish. The service and the atmosphere were on point. This is my new favorite restaurant in GR.

We visited the Sovengard for the first time this weekend and just had a number of things that added up to a poor experience. First, we had reservations, and still had to wait about 20 minutes for a table to open up. Second, the menu was different than the one I had seen online earlier that day. It was the first of the month so perhaps it just hadn't been updated yet. It was the first day of Restaurant Week and my wife ordered the special 3 course meal. The first course of leak and fennel soup was very good. The second course of short rib was very fatty, she ate about half. When it was time for dessert the server informed us that they only had one of the three options left. It wasn't what she wanted, but okay. Then she came back and told us that actually they were out of all desserts and didn't have anything for her. Our party asked if maybe she could get a raincheck, or maybe a discount, to which she kind of laughed it off but sure enough when the bill came, no effort to right the situation had been made. I asked once again if she could knock off something for the lack of a course, and she was able to that time. As for me, I ordered the half chicken, which was very good. I only ate a little bit since we had loaded up on sharables as a table. I brought home the leftovers and the next day when I cut up the half chicken to reheat I found a large portion of it was raw. Overall there was a lack of attention to the details. For what our evening cost I expected much better. All of those things added up and it was a really disappointing experience. We don't feel the desire to return anytime soon.

First time at the newly opened Sovengard just down the street from its first location. The atmosphere was very welcoming and felt like you stepped into a home. The service was still working through some kinks (ie infrequently checking in, no water refills, suggesting the highest priced wine options). The food was alright. Our favorite by far was the smashed potatoes - the aioli really elevated the dish. Our chicken was cold and lacked flavor. The menu seemed limited and mostly shareable plates (predominately veggies). Overall, for the price and atmosphere, the food did not live up to our expectations. I'll be trying this in a few months to see if any improvements have been made.

Food was extremely salty. Service was great and good wine. Love the decor and vibe.

The restaurant itself is lovely, but the service and food were not on par with the price. Our server seemed overwhelmed or distracted, took a long time between check ins and did not ask if we wanted more drinks (we each only had one and would have had another if he would have come back or asked). My steak and fries tasted okay but were barely room temperature. The Borsht was delicious though. Not sure we would go back.

Was able to visit with a large group during the soft opening hours. At 1st, parking seems tricky however you can park in the church lot on Valley and there are signs to let you know. The space is spectator! Their attention to detail with decor and placement was great to see. They have different seating options that are spaced out well and each area gives a different vibe including the outdoor area. The outside area is also complete with a fire pit which is great! They also have a market area where you can purchase items. We were with a group celebrating and they did allow us to have individual checks however they do have a cake cutting fee if you bring in a cake. I am unsure if the menu is permanent or was rotating during this time so I included it in the photos. There were a good amount of options however not your traditional fare. The cocktails were delicious and the food was pretty good. Several of us got the smoked whitefish sandwich and the chicken thigh. The review on the whitefish was that it was plentiful whoever lacked flavor and with the chicken thigh, it was flavorful and cooked well. The smashed potatoes and farmers cheese shareable were made well. I would return for cocktails and the vibe bo question however would like to see some changes to the menu to return for food.

First time here and was pleasantly surprised . Ordered a couple of cocktails and wine which were really good . The flavors in the duck entree were amazing . Love that they're like a farm to table restaurant . Fresh everything . Service was great and the ambiance was laidback .

Starting off, the drinks were amazing, we ordered the Coffee Martini and the Buzzbomb. The service began slow but it was a Friday night on Valentine's Day so that's to be expected. We then proceeded to order the Rainbow Carrots and Perunareiska, which were both decent but nothing to write home about. For entrees, we tried to order the Steak Frites and Chicken Stroganoff but they were out of both at 7:30pm on a Friday. Then, we decided to get the Smoked Whitefish and Pork Loin. Both were messy presentations, with too much sauce but however, the portion size was decent. It was simply disappointing with what we had in mind for the evening and after looking up the restaurant, we had different expectations for the food considering the ambiance. We understand it's a newer restaurant and it was our first time there but after this experience it's hard for us to want to try again.

We've waited almost two years for this restaurant to reopen and I'm so disappointed in it. It used to be our favorite but the food and service was really lacking. We won't be back again for a while and we will probably never bring our kids again. 1. We had a 4:45 reservation on a Saturday night and were five min late. We ordered our main dish around 5:15 and didn't get them until 6:15. Our waitress barely checked on us. She got drinks wrong and just didn't seem to want to be there. She never asked me if I wanted another glass of wine or if my daughter wanted more lemonade (she has ordered a Sprite but just drank the lemonade she was brought). She didn't have food suggestions or anything. I've honestly had better service at Chili's. 2. We had eaten here with our kids a lot before they moved. (There's a photo of them when they were younger there in the original review at the old location.) Our kids are picky but they have always been accommodating. They're both tweens now and eat more, but still pickier. The waitress told us no accommodations could be made. I asked for the pasta noodles plain for my son with just some butter and she said there was no way they could do it. I've added a photo below of mine. I got the same thing but just as is on the menu. The pasta was a sheet noodle folded over on a scoop of meat filling. They were not ravioli or anything like that. She also said they had to be served in broth. The only thing she said she could take off were the top greens. Then she said they're made fresh so that's why they can't change anything. However, that's exactly why they should be able to make changes. I make things like this at home all the time. They're changeable. They just didn't seem to care. My son didn't eat much. He liked the broth but they served it without a spoon and we had to ask for one. We stopped at Wendy's so he could get a hamburger afterwards. 3. The tomato salad was awful. I'm not sure how tomatoes can be bad right now because it's the end of summer but one of them had 0 flavor. The whole dish was under salted. As in almost no salt. There was some in the pea purée under the tomatoes and hot peppers. That was it. Just as plain as could be. 4. We asked for my daughter's steak medium. It was brought out medium rare and there was a massive fat cap down one whole side of her serving. She ate a few bites and gave some to my husband who said it was chewy. 5. My husband's duck was the worst. He eats it often when we go out so he's familiar with the flavor, texture and gaminess. He almost spit out his first bite. He couldn't chew it. He had to take drinks of his water to get through it. It looked raw in the middle to me. It's supposed to be served medium rare but that should really be up to the eater. The center just wasn't cooked. It wasn't even warm. He got a burger at Wendy's too. 6. Lastly, and perhaps not as big of a deal, the inside decor was stark. I get that they were going for minimal Scandinavian but it just all looked like it came from IKEA. The outside was more charming but still plastic chairs and tables. The original place had beautiful wood tables and that look was so welcoming. I don't remember the chairs. Anyways, we paid and left. My husband loved this place before. We brought all his family here when they have visited. He said there's no way we are coming back for a long time.

I can't wait for the Sovengard to reopen their new location! Food was really good (will say my friend's meal - meat was a tad dry, but otherwise was very much enjoyed). Drink options on point. Aesthetics/vibe was chill and classy. Staff was very friendly.

Warm and cozy dinner with friends. All meals excellent and dessert at fireplace was perfect relaxing way to continue our night out and share stories.

The food was wonderful. Our server was the best. Super knowledgeable and considerate. And the new space is so welcoming. Looking forward to many other visits!

Went in tonight to celebrate my third anniversary with my wife, and it was amazing. The wait was worth every minute. Spencer was our server and he was amazing. They had a bit of a wait, but they're getting up and going, so no hard feelings. Food was excellent and if you have food allergies, they accommodate so well.

The wife and I went to Sov for our anniversary dinner. The new space is gorgeous. The food was exceptional. They have a great craft beer selection and a large cocktail menu as well. Service was a little slow but the food makes up for it.

Excellent food and atmosphere. The staff was attentive and friendly. I would highly recommend if you are looking for a unique quality experience.

Great service the short rib entree was amazing smoked to perfection. The bone marrow appetizer was also very good. The drinks were also delicious.

Went during the soft opening last weekend. Service was a tiny bit slow but definitely not as slow as I expected because it was a soft opening. All the servers and hosts were very friendly. The ambiance in there is awesome, I kept wanting to take pictures of everything. You can tell a lot of thought went into every last detail, including the wallpaper, layout, music, and tableware. The bar was very cute I definitely want to come back to sit at the bar. All the food was amazing, we got smashed potatoes for app (crazy good I could not stop eating them) and the Rainbow Trout and Petit Sirloin for dinner which were both very good. I've never eaten the skin on fish before but it was crispy and delicious. For drinks we got the Alpenglo and Summer Rouge. They were very tasty and had the perfect amount of alcohol. The Alpenglo was almost like a melted milkshake but fruiter. The Summer Rouge was refreshing. Will definitely be coming back

The restaurant is very open and inviting, it feels more like a bookstore or a coffee house then a restaurant. Since I ate alone I sat at the bar and was very impressed by the service I received from the wait staff. They were attentive kind and had the right kind of professional openness where you felt comfortable talking to them. I had the mushroom smorgasborder as well as one of the vegetarian plates made with eggplant. The mushroom plate was well executed, consistent in flavor with present texture. The vegetarian plate was a dish that only somebody who is vegetarian could enjoy fully. The eggplant was slowly cooked to a even consistency and was pretty firm in Texture, about the same as a green tomato. In order to achieve this Texture the eggplant had to be very lightly seasoned. Though the dressing was interesting it was not enough to carry the dish, especially as there was no way to include it with every bite.

This is my wife's favorite restaurant. We've always dug the vibes here, even with the change in location. Their new space is chic and hangout-able, if that's a word. The food is consistently good. We especially like the fried chicken, our son said it was the best that he's ever had. Great drinks and service as well. It's not the cheapest place, so just know that going in.

The ambiance and vibe of their new space is great! The cocktail menu was diverse but their food menu is incredibly limited and too niche to be successful long term, in my opinion. There are still ways to maintain a farm to table standard while having options that would appeal to a majority. I was hopeful this would be a good dining experience, but unfortunately I wouldn't recommend Søvengård for anything beyond drinks. Response to Owner: Hi Rick! We were in on Wednesday which I believe featured the new fall menu. I think the addition of some burger, flatbread and sandwich options that are "comfortable and familiar" but still have a minor Scandinavian flare (and feature farm to table ingredients) could help and be appealing option for a variety of customers.

Great ambiance and food. Cocktail are great as well. Staff was friendly. The bone marrow dish and Finnish flatbread were outstanding.

This time the weather was agreeable and we ate outside! It's a nice, quiet area, no annoying music overhead! Once again our food was over the top delicious! But the weird thing was how friendly the staff is when they're off the clock! We ride our bikes there, and needed to park them back by the dumpster. When we arrived there was a gal there who was on break but was still engaging and friendly. When we retrieved our bicycles, there was a group there who were equally as friendly despite knowing that the tip had been paid and there was no more gratuitous friendliness to benefit them in any way. Yeah, if you need a review on the food, the only protein we had was some smoked whitefish, but we had two other trays of exclusively vegetables. It glorious as to the flavor! We're so glad they've reopened!

Spent too much time on decor, making food look pretty & forgot to season anything. Fish had no seasoning & dry. Service was horrible. Got steak no steak knife. Never checked on us. And is serving warm water a thing? Do not recommend

Always amazing food and service. I'm so glad they finally reopened. We had the farmer's cheese. It was a nice warm gooey goat cheese for an appetizer. Then the smoked whitefish smørrebørd. The rainbow trout was awesome. To end it all we got both desserts they had which were pies. We do miss the Pavlovas they used to do. Nothing else to complain about.

Sorry - I am looking back at 2017 Me and I was definitely being too extra! This place was great! Really good food and great ambience! Now having a little more life under my belt with two kids and being a business owner, I want to say sorry for previously only giving 3 stars to a great meal! I don't know why I thought I was a michelin star food critic in 2017 but I was being super extra. This place was really great and if I am ever back in town I would love to eat here again.

Wow, what a delicious dinner. Only the outside is available right now, so I braved the heat and it was worth it. Got the cheese plate, the arugula salad and tried two desserts. They have lots of drink options including several tasty non-alcoholic choices. The menu has a lot to offer. There are vegetarian options, lots of local ingredients, and shareable options. Everything is beautifully plated with equally beautiful flavor. It is a little difficult to get to, you have to go downstairs and through the basement dinning room to get to outdoor seating. I'd recommend having a reservation if you plan on heading here on the weekends - it gets busy. The blueberry goat cheese with the seeding crackers was of of the best bites I've had in Grand Rapids!

Good is subpar for the price. Need more options. The drinks were good but the food wasn't worth the price it was listened didn't have very many options and the portions were tiny for the price.

Highly impressed with the new location. Building is absolutely amazing and every detail is perfect. Cocktails were all wonderful! We started with the smashed potatoes and a special they were running which was a toast with chicken, sweet yogurt, cabbage slaw, and dill. Appetizers were so flavorful and were great for sharing. The rainbow trout, koji chicken and duck breast all got raving reviews. Ended the night with the olive oil cake which we all loved. We will be back!

Service is the only redeeming quality for the Sovengard. I want to love this restaurant. They were amazing before they relocated, and I don't know what happened to make it all go downhill. 8:00 reservation... we almost left at 8:30 when we were finally told our table was ready. We asked how backed up the kitchen was, and were told they were catching up and the wait wouldn't be bad. We put in our appetizer order before our drink order, hoping that meant we might eat something relatively quickly. A charcuterie board and some potato bread.... Didn't arrive until 9:30. Out of draft IPA's. Out of chicken. Out of Short Ribs. The two remaining entrees were walleye and steak. We ordered both. Apparently they ran out of walleye, because the kitchen delivered trout slightly before 10:00 and a very RARE steak. Everything was cold. As we were finishing our entrees, the squash we ordered as a side dish arrived. Sovengard needs to get their act together fast, because they used to be an amazing restaurant, but now this ranks in our worst experiences ever. Our server appeared close to tears several times, and I'm pretty sure she had tables walk on her waiting for food. They did the right thing and comped most of our meal. Additionally, our poor server tried so hard to make it a good experience. Thus, I am giving a 2 star review, vs 1 or no stars.

I almost disregarded this restaurant coz of some of the negative reviews, glad I didn't! Everything was excellent!! Service was great, relax atmosphere, tasty and inventive dishes! The savory basque cheesecake, who know you can do that and actually paired well with greens! The chicken pate...I had doubt when my hubby wanted to order it...turned out...I probably just never had chicken pate done right! :) Drinks are great! So many choices that I didn't even know where to start! The only regret I had was that we were too full for dessert! :/

Loved this place - long overdue post! But we really really enjoyed this restaurant! I can't remember what we had but they are pictured - overall just a very cool vibe for one of my favorite cities in Midwest! Go Grand Rapids!

What an exciting time to be in Grand Rapids! Chef Jason Porter (IG @foodiejp) is playing chicken with your taste buds! The Søvengård - on the foodie row of Bridge Street NW - is undergoing an exciting transformation under your very eyes. Staying true to its Scandinavian roots (the New Nordic Movement), grounded in its values of local (and foraged and home-grown) foods, it's reaching out to offer enticingly new flavor palettes and preparations. At the moment, seating is in the outside rear section of the restaurant. The ambiançe is perfect for the cuisine: outdoorsy, between growing greenery, under the stars, lighted by Edison bulbs, warned by propane heaters. The musical background was cheery, uptempo, and unobtrusive. Our visit tonight was a roller-coaster of experiences. Originally, I was disappointed by the menu, having my heart set on the duck of read about. I was ready to walk, especially after our heard they were out of one of my choices. I am *so* glad I didn't. We started off with the Roasted Beets (oven-roasted red and golden beets, apple, nectarine, roasted pepitas, chévre, microgreens). I don't even love beets, but the combination of the apple acidity, beet sweetness, chévre tang, and pepita texture was a mouth-pleaser! Next up was the Cheese Board (local cheeses, seasonal blueberries (tonight), house jam, pickles, local wildflower honey, grilled bread). Beautiful on the eyes, confusing on my palette; I couldn't figure out the why - no obvious theme or combinations. (Pandemic, supply chain issues, new staff and visions - it's all good. I trust that they'll debug this dish.) They were out of Nana's Sopè (house-smoked local beef brisket, house-made corn sopè, Leelanau raclette, blistered heirloom tomato, carmelized onion, fresh cilantro) but it's on my to-taste list on my next visit. Instead, we went with the PB&J (confit local pastured pork belly, smoked apple compote, ginger gold apple, roasted butterball potatoes, sauteed string bean, apple-mustard cream). OMFG - THE PORK BELLY WAS PERFECTION! Rendered just so; the crispiest of exteriors and unctuous, elegant, creamy layers of fat. Seriously, there's a couple of area chefs that I'm sending over to Søvengård to see how pork belly ought to be executed. The potatoes are artistically presented, as the sweetheart said, taste like "mashed potatoes wrapped in potato chips". Dessert was a Concord grape crumble, with grapes grown near-by fed picked by the chef. The texture on the crumble was divine, the jellied grapes, oh so purely grapey; the sweetheart was all over it. I was thinking some of the chévre would've counterbalanced the sweet. The coffee was strong, hot, and very drinkable. Chloé, our server, was helpful, cheerful, and attentive. Chatting with Chef Jason - sampling some ingredients and also his "quickfire challenge" of the evening (which I know will make it to the menu when he's satisfied with it) - actually made me sad to be heading back to San Francisco this weekend. I don't want to miss a beat. I'll be back in a few months; YOU can enjoy the taste (r)evolution happening nightly at Søvengård. Oh, sure, there'll be stumbles amongst the hits, but those are the experiences most dear, the foodie tales most precious. Don't miss out on the most exciting food happening in Grand Rapids!

This place is like no other! Service was fantastic. Food is unique and exceptional. The ambiance of the restaurant is also outside of what you would normally experience. Highly recommend!