Al Johnson Swedish Rest

04/04/08

Still a Door County Must See

by tomeastman

No matter what anyone says, see Al Johnson's. It has been a part of Door County forever. The decor is old, the menu is not all Swedish food, the waiters speak some English, and during the summer season the wait may be long, but the experience is old Door County. The Swedish food may not be the same as that in Chicago where my mother-in-law (100% Swede) joined the Swedish community as a young girl in 1920, but it is Swedish enough that it made me wish she was there to enjoy it. Our meal for four was an inexpensive $120.00 including tip, and everyone was satisfied. My steak was not the best cut of meat, but it was prepared properly. We had no room for dessert, unfortunately, because they looked great.

We were there in the off off off season (Door County in March?!) and everything was very very good. I think those were the same chairs they had back in 1968.

I can't think of anything negative to say. The four of us enjoyed our evening experience and went back for a special fund raising breakfast with Swedish pancakes and lingonberries. 100% of the proceeds of the breakfast went to a charitable cause, something Al Johnson does all the time. Al Johnson's is a huge part of Door County and still a big must see.

08/07/06

Try again.

by 1racebabe

My husband and I went to the Door for our honeymoon last week and went to Al Johnsons on a recommendation. First, the interior was outdated and ugly. I get the swedish thing but this was bad, very tacky. The menu was mostly american to begin with and the food was mediocre at best. I am from Milwaukee and am used to having higher standards in restaurants so maybe thats why we didnt like this place. We didnt see this huge wait for a table either, we walked in and were seated immediately. The entrees we ordered were not worth what we paid for them and didnt taste very good. I didnt think the pricing was bad but the food was. Dont waste your time, there are better places to eat in Door County.

• Pros: Cant think of one.
• Cons: Everything, there are much better places to eat in Door County.

06/03/06

Swedish? I don't think so.

by christo_1

Strawberries with your Swedish pancakes? Huh? Complimentary lingonberries for the table that are not fresh from the jar but stale from a giant bucket that sits out night after night. I've had better lingonberries from a jar I bought at Ikea. I'm from Chicago where we have several excellent Swedish restaurants and this place doesn't come close in quality of food. Al Johnson's is clearly on auto-pilot. The 'swedish meatballs' were definetly frozen and past their expire date. Also, this place is way over-priced.

• Pros: Cute, Grass Roof
• Cons: Food, Service

01/06/06

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by sameerhansen

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• Pros: XXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
• Cons: XXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX

12/05/05

User review by wanderingtourist

by wanderingtourist

Everyone was talking about how special Al Johnsons is. I thought the goats on the roof were unique. The food wasn't that great. It was way overpriced. And my server didn't know english. It was very hard to enjoy when your server doesn't understand you. The location is nice.

• Pros: goats on roof, location, decent food
• Cons: overpriced, waitress/no english

11/15/05

It's Gute for Yew!

by theswedishchef

Yummy Svenska Pankakes/Lingonberries/Shutbulles! Connect to your Swedish heritage here! Midsommar festival is gute too! Pretty waitresses dressed in Swedish costumes; building has look of Swedish lodge with knotty wood. Dining room has Nordic bright colors. Butik attached is a MUST. Buy a Dala horse for gute luck! Make wish eating Swedish pepperkokor cookies! Tak Sa Mycket! Var Sa Gud!

• Pros: Swedish atmosphere, Bright colors!, Dala horses!
• Cons: Homesick , Want to buy store, I want a goat!

06/02/05

The Goats

by marley_mae

Al Jonson's, i've found, was highly over rated. The surroundings of Al Johnson's and its goats on the roof, were the only special things besides the Swedish Pancakes. The menu was priced to "Door County" standards and it had your basic burgers & fries, sandwich & soups, and the "swedish" dishes.

The staff was excellent, except for those few foreign girls who couldn't understand a word of english. Having foreign employees add a certain flair to the restaurant, but when you can't get the proper dish, it makes for a bummer of an evening.

• Pros: nice wait staff, goats on a roof
• Cons: over-priced, language barrier, average food

05/30/05

coach

by tuffyboy

over priced meatball, average taste. service was below average, I have had better service at a fast food resturant.

• Pros: ambience, location
• Cons: service poor, below average food, over priced

10/26/04

Al's is GREAT!

by lodream

I live around 20 miles away, so when i go to visit my grandma we occasionally go to Al's. It's such a great atmosphere, and being from Swedish roots myself, I think it's wonderful! It's so popular though, that there's a little bit of a wait to get a table. The waitresses are VERY friendly and the service fast. The prices are reasonable, and you're just a few minutes away from the beach, and LOTS of shops in downtown Sister Bay. So, if you're ever in Door County stop by Al's. I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

• Pros: GREAT food, FAST service, FAMILY atmoshphere
• Cons: , ------, -------

05/19/04

Quirky Scandinavian ambience makes this family tourist spot worth the wait.

by Contributor

The Scene
Al Johnson's scores big points for atmosphere. Where else in the world can you eat in a log cabin where goats perch on the sod roof above munching grass? It's quite a sight, and it's made this place one of the busiest, most famous restaurants in Door County. Inside the casual, carpeted dining room, young ladies in Scandinavian garb dish out limpa bread and Swedish meatballs to an all-ages crowd.

The Food
The menu is a veritable smorgasbord of Swedish fare, from pancakes with lingonberries to Swedish meatballs, whitefish, sandwiches, salads, and a variety of hot and cold plates. Most meals come with limpa bread, a fresh, moist rye fragrant with orange peel and anise and just begging to be smeared with lingonberry spread. Breakfast is served all day, and it's your best bet: Swedish pancakes are paper-thin and good--four crêpes stacked one atop the other. Door County cherry pie is a fine version with a nice flaky crust.

• Pros: goats on roofscandinavian ambience
• Cons: food's just decent