Al Johnson Swedish Restaurant & Butik

I’ve heard about this restaurant for YEARS! «It’s the place with the goats on the roof!» Don’t worry, the goats aren’t out in the winter, but the roof IS covered with grass, and there are videos and photos to prove that you can see goats on the roof during the warm months.
There is also a store inside with clothing and shoes and jewelry and candy and books and other things Swedish, but I was there to eat — FINALLY!
The menu is large, literally and figuratively. I was looking for something Swedish and it took me 4 seconds to see what I wanted, Swedish Pancakes Special ($ 10.50) with choice of sausage or Swedish Meatballs and fried eggs. I got the meatballs, of course.
There were 11 in our group and a group of 13 ahead of us, yet we only waited about 20 minutes, which is exactly how long they told us the wait would be. While we waited, I looked through the shop and watched a video in the lobby of the story of Al Johnson’s with the goats and the chef making Swedish Pancakes. Umm yes, I’ll be getting the pancakes.
I’m not a big pancake person, but these caught my eye. They were rectangular and made very thin, so I was intrigued. The pancakes were somewhat light and had a slight bread pudding texture to them and didn’t have the heavy «soak up all the syrup and still taste dry and doughy» texture that I often find with pancakes. I enjoyed these very much, even without syrup or fruit preserves.
However, I moved the over-​medium fried eggs and the Swedish Meatballs and gravy from the separate plate on which they were served onto the top of the pancakes. I broke the yolks and mixed the flavors together. The homemade meatballs were much denser than any other meatballs I’ve had, but the were well-​seasoned and provided a great flavor.
I ran into an old high school classmate who was there with her family. She recommended the bacon, so I ordered a side of bacon. That’s how I roll. The bacon is deep-​fried, crispy, and awesome! Great call, Susanna! Good lookin’ out!
I shared my bacon with my friends because I already had plenty to eat in front of me, and now they like me even more.
I was curious about lingonberries, a popular Scandinavian food, so I ordered lingonberry juice and tasted some of the lingonberry preserves that were brought out for the toast that my friends ordered. I would probably describe the flavor as a mix of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. I liked it, and now I can cross it off my food bucket list.
The décor was warm and welcoming. The servers were friendly, and the kitchen was efficient. We didn’t wait long for our food, all of the 11 orders were correct, and my dish was executed to my liking. BTW, there is counter seating in the dining room if you’re not in need of a table.
I hope to get back during the summer to see the goats on the roof and try more of the menu.

Funky seating, tables and chairs felt like ‘70s formica, not super comfy, but they are busy and seem efficiently like they get-​im in and get-​im out, so butt comfort not necessarily important. But… not to mislead, good efficient service! Food fine, but nothing stood out breakfast-​wise. Tried the Swedish pancakes and meatballs with our eggs. Not for me, but my Husband enjoyed this different breakfast. Swedish pancakes too heavy for me and meatballs were too «dinner-​ish» for my tastes. He really enjoyed the heaviness of the meal. I wouldn’t go back, except maybe to try a lunch where I wouldn’t mind something heavier. He would go back in a heartbeat! Would enjoy seeing those goats on the roof… maybe we’ll get there during summertime.

Whenever we visit family up North we always make a trip up to Door County. We always eat lunch at Al Johnson’s. It is my dad’s absolute favorite but I think its just OK. We usually have at least 10 in our group, since our family is large and they all come with us. The wait usually looks long, it always seems like we are gonna wait a long time but I have to say we usually do not wait long.
The last time we went here, a few weeks ago, we had a not so great experience. Our waiter was extremely slow and everything we asked, he had to «go check or go ask» someone else. I ordered a BLT and asked for mayo on the side. It came smothered in mayo, so I asked them to re make it. The server again had to ask someone. I thought it was the craziest thing, like I needed permission to get it remade. My family was pretty much done with their meal by the time I got mine. My sister ordered the Swedish meatballs and when she asked what they were made of, the server didn’t know, just replied, I think beef. That doesn’t make me feel good. They were also hard and tasted really weird, like maybe they were old.
The menu is very large, they have breakfast, lunch and dinner items. I probably should just stick with the breakfast items because you cant really mess that up. The best park of this restaurant are the goats of the roof. The roof outside is covered in grass and depending on the time of the year they put the goats out. Its really neat.
There are a lot of places to eat in Door County, and I would say try this one because it unique and different. It is not my absolute favorite but my dad loves it. I know we will always go back, I just wish the food was better.

I recently paid them a visit for lunch and I’m conflicted. I have many fond childhood memories of this restaurant. If you’re looking for an experience with the kids, I’d highly recommend it. I love the goats on the roof, and I’m sure the pancakes are still great. Unfortunately, my last visit did not meet my childhood memories. The 40 minute wait for a mediocre sandwich isn’t worth it. Add in a mean, unhappy (not sassy — mean!) waitress and I don’t think I’ll be going back anytime soon. Go with the kids, but Door County has better options for good food.
I added the third star for the memories.

After hearing about this restaurant from two different people, my husband and I decided to go check it out during our recent trip to Door County. The first thing that you’ll notice when you arrive are their famous goats on the grass covered roof. They are lots of fun to watch and listen to. If you go on the restaurant’s website, you can watch then on «Goat Cam».
When you step inside, you definitely get a feel of the Swedish culture. It’s like being inside a Swedish cottage. The butik (love the alternate spelling on that word) is located at the front of the restaurant. We didn’t have time to check it out while there, but you can shop on their website.
The food here is very good. Their menu consists of both Americanized and Swedish dishes. Breakfast is served all day, and lunch and dinner are served from 11-​close. We came here for dinner on a Saturday night. Even thought it was busy, we didn’t have to wait long to be seated. Our server was very nice and immediately brought us out a tray with assorted Swedish breads, along with some butter. For our meal, we both ordered the Swedish meatballs. It comes with homemade mashed potatoes and vegetables on the side. We both thought the dish was great. The only thing that would make it better would be if the portion sizes were slightly larger. However, we would definitely make a return visit when we are in Door County again.

We ve been here numerous times and always delicious food and good service! !!my bf has been going there most every year since he was a kid .
I got the Swedish pancake special comes with two eggs over medium your choice of sausage or Swedish meatballs and pancakes. I chose the meatballs so delicious and I ordered a side of rye bread to dip in the eggs. I enjoyed every bite!!!
Look for the famous goats on the roof!!! from their website there is live video streaming to show the goats activity.

Lovely atmosphere, good food, friendly knowledgeable staff. Best pork chops I’ve ever had at a restaurant. Authentic seasonings. Get a window seat and watch the sunset while you dine.

It’s so hard to figure out how to review this place. It is a hot spot for tour buses and because it has been here so long, those of us who came up here as kids tie it in with fond memories of family vacations.
The goats on the roof are fun to see, and the Swedish pancakes are good, but not worth a long wait if there is a line to get in. We did enjoy our pancakes, lingonberries and meatballs; since it is of season, there was no wait.
With all of the great places to eat in Door County, I have to say, this is no longer on my must-​visit list, but I won’t protest if others want to go and there is no line. Since this is a very busy place, and they need to turn over tables, do not plan to linger over coffee if there is a line. I think it would still be a fun place to bring kids though to see the goats and have a hot chocolate mounded with whipped cream.

I can’t speak for the food but the goats on the roof… amazing! Totally worth the trip. I wish we would have tried the food the restaurant seems super authentic.

Eric S.‘s review from 8÷15÷15 is pretty much right on.
This place is a tourist trap… first and foremost.
We stopped by on a Sunday morning and were told the wait would be just over an hour.
We went outside and looked at the goats. We took some pictures. Weeee.
We went up the street and had coffee. Walked back to Al’s and walked around the crush of seniors in their gift shop. (Btw, their women’s clothes are probably the best thing in the whole building – according to my wife).
Finally, our name was called and we were fed into this 70’s cafeteria.
The wait for our food was a bit longer than it should’ve been and what a disappointment when it arrived. My french toast was ice cold and my bacon tasted, um, «odd».
The prices were slightly inflated – like a lot of other things in Door County.
Take your goat pictures and then go anywhere else for breakfast.

Everyone told me to come here, so I did! I was lucky enough to get seated after a 5 minute wait. Originally I was told 1hr 45 min. I got the walleye basket, a side of Swedish meatballs and a lingonberry lemonade. The food came out pretty quickly, around 15 minutes. The fish and fries were very good. The lemonade tasted a little tart and like pink lemonade (nothing to write home about). It felt very crowded but the volume wasn’t loud. I didn’t get to see the goats because a thunderstorm had just come through. The gift store was very crowded, narrow and really geared towards women. Overall, I liked it and am very willing to come back!

Over rated way too busy tourist trap. But enjoy the bland overpriced food all who hail from Chicago land.
I’ll be at good eggs :)

This was my first trip to Door County. We came with friends who’ve been here many times. They insisted we eat at Al Johnson. We definitely will be back. We had to wait about an hour for a table but the service and good were great.

This place was incredibly efficient, great service, and delicious!
We arrived around 8:30 Sunday morning, and had a 30 minute wait to be seated. With as jam packed as the restaurant was, I was impressed with the «short» wait.
Once seated, our overly friendly server appeared with water and to take our drink orders. Food came out incredibly quickly and was absolutely delicious. My little ones had hot chocolate, which had a good 5 inches of whipped cream piled on the top! The pancakes were wonderful too. I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this place, and would love to go back!

We got into town late in afternoon and had an early dinner here based on a «fun» recommendation by a friend. It’s kinda cool, since we were there in an off-​time, we were seated right away and the food was delivered quickly.
I tried the Baby Walleye Fillets and they were okay. I was hoping this meal would knock my socks off, but it didn’t, it was just okay, but I’ve never had Walleye before, so keep that in mind. My wife had the Pork Chops and they were very good.

We stopped here at the end of a 3 day trip to Ephraim. It was an average meal… it was interesting to see the diverse choices seeing we are Norwegians. The gift shop was what really attracted us, a lot of rosemaling! The waitress was as nice as she could be concerning she had 10 tables and there was a 40 minute wait… the place was crazy.
The goats were kind of a letdown, they must have been full when we were done. They were laying down and very hard to see, but they were still funny. Goats… ha!

I was really impressed with my last visit to Al Johnson’s. The goats on the roof and the gift shop are fun, but I would go here for the food alone! I had a roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy, which was pretty delicious! The potatoes were great and the roast beef was perfectly done. My dad had the Swedish meatballs, which I didn’t care for as much, though. The meat tasted a little darker than what I’m used to. Everything else I’ve tried over the years has been very tasty (especially the cherry Swedish pancakes!) Meals are served with bread, crackers, and lingonberries, which is a nice touch. The prices are somewhat high, but it’s worth trying at least once if you’re in the area.

What a great find in Door County! My wife and I were there for early dinner on a Saturday before the rush. The food was perfect. The Swedish pancakes are unbelievable as are the Swedish meatballs. We chose to add the pickled cabbage to our order and that was perfectly done. The goats on the roof grazing were not quite expected but what a treat.
A must see if you are in Sister Bay. Well worth the visit.

Visiting Al Johnson’s to see the goats on the roof is definitely a required stop on any visit to Door County!
The goats are only up on the roof in the the daytime during the spring and summer months, so check out this strange and awesome spectacle while you can.
Al Johnson’s Swedish restaurant is cute in its full embrace of Swedish food, culture, and clothing (the staff wear traditional outfits). However, I don’t think people come here for the food. I’m pretty sure it’s the goats and the whole Swedish cultural experience.
The Swedish Meatball entrée ($ 13.95) was served with over-​cooked string beans and the most dense and saltiest mashed potatoes I’ve ever tasted. The Swedish meatballs were also covered with a gravy made with a generous serving of salt, which needless to say didn’t add much to the dish.
The Pytt I Panna (Swedish Roast Beef Hash, $ 11.75) was another salt-​heavy dish. The potato and onion hash was quite tasty and the pieces of roast beef were tender. The dish comes with a hefty serving of pickled beets which I recommend ordering on the side. As another reviewer said, «Holy beets!» This «side» could overwhelm your plate if you’re not careful!
So, stop at Al Johnson’s to admire the goats and check out the fun Swedish items in the Butik (boutique), but don’t expect a tantalizing experience for your taste buds or foodie friends.

Goats on Parade!!! Well, they’re on the roof in summer months, and that’s kinda nutty and cool. Al Johnson’s is a great stop for breakfast in Sister Bay, but the menu actually looks like a good lunch/​dinner place, as well.
My son and I popped in on a Sunday morning and the place was hopping. We sat at the counter and our server took care of us! We both got the Swedish pancakes, and my son ordered the strawberry w/​whip cream pancakes. They like whip cream here, and load up the Hot Chocolates with mountains of it. I got coffee in a cute li’l Al Johnson’s mug, the Swedish touches here make me happy.
Waiting for our bill a server was loading up hot chocolates with whip cream and notice my son watching, so he loaded up my son’s empty water glass with whipped cream, people are nice here. The Butik is a good stop if you’re an old lady, or know an old lady who needs a gift. But I did find a book on Chicago landscape architect Jens Jensen (who also designed some of Peninsula State Park), so there’s that.
A must stop when you’re in Door County.