The Norwegian, located at 1402 N Main St, Rockford, IL, is a charming Norwegian restaurant that captivates both locals and visitors alike. The warm, wooden decor, bright ambiance, and playful children's area create a welcoming atmosphere that's perfect for family outings or casual dining. Diners rave about the creative menu that showcases unique dishes like the Frikadeller, a delicious Danish meatball served with house sauerkraut, and the Cloud Grilled Cheese paired with cloudberry jam. The æbleskiver, fluffy Danish pancakes drizzled with maple syrup and house raspberry jam, is a must-try for those with a sweet tooth. Customer reviews highlight both the quality of the food and the attentive service. Many guests have expressed satisfaction with dishes like the fried chicken and the breakfast quiche, while some suggest reservations due to the restaurant's popularity—especially during weekends. The drink menu, featuring delightful selections like a New Fashioned cocktail, adds further merit to this dining experience. Despite minor critiques about certain items, like the overly bready cinnamon knots, the consensus remains clear: The Norwegian is a delightful culinary escape offering solid, flavorful dishes with an inviting vibe. With a constantly evolving menu and excellent service, it's no wonder that returning patrons leave with satisfied appetites and fond memories.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
From the business
Identifies as women-owned
Service options
Has outdoor seating
On-site services available
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
No delivery
Highlights
Has fast service
Has fireplace
Has great beer selection
Serves great cocktails
Serves great coffee
Serves great dessert
Has live music
Popular for
Popular for breakfast
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves cocktails
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves happy-hour drinks
Serves happy-hour food
Serves healthy options
Serves organic dishes
Serves small plates
Serves spirits
Serves vegan dishes
Serves vegetarian dishes
Serves wine
Dining options
Serves breakfast
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Serves dessert
Has seating
Amenities
Has bar on site
Has toilet
Has Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual
Cosy
Trendy
Upmarket
Crowd
Family friendly
Good for groups
LGBTQ+ friendly
Popular with tourists
Transgender safe space
Planning
Brunch reservations recommended
Lunch reservations recommended
Dinner reservations recommended
Accepts reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
High chairs available
Has kids' menu
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Photos
Reviews For The Norwegian
Muhammad Fariz Ali
May 31,2025
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!
Brittany
May 19,2025
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.
Dan Marks
May 8,2025
When we left last night all my wife could say was “mmm” like the kind of mmm when you’ve just had a delicious meal that completely satisfied your hunger and your sense of what it means to have a delicious dinner. First, I think the place is just cool. Like you walk in and the vibe is just...cool. The drinks were delicious New Fashioned and the Amarillo drink that I can’t remember the name of. My wife had the soup and I got the brie as starters...both were phenomenal. We both had the fried chicken as our entree and mmmm. The food was so good we had to order the dessert, which was so good my “I don’t really eat chocolate” wife loved it. Finally as a thank you, we ordered a round for the kitchen as a thank you, which was received with a raucous round of cheers...how cool is that? Highly recommend The Norwegian! Happy 6th anniversary, we hope you’re around for a lot longer!
Jordan Koss
May 7,2025
We enjoyed a delightful brunch at The Norwegian. The food was solid, the atmosphere is bright, and the service was wonderful. The staff in the front of the house is cheerful and welcoming and add to the comfortable vibes. One note of warning: the cinnamon knot was disappointing; it was too bready
Anusha
Apr 14,2025
EXCELLENT atmosphere and food. Christmas time is the absolute best time to go here but they are phenomenal year round. Their menu is always changing and the food is extremely unique and flavorful. Great selection of mocktails too. I will say, they are quite busy at all times, so I recommend getting a reservation. But service and attention to detail are great. You will not regret this dining experience.
Deb O
Mar 29,2025
Our first time here! Our server did a great job! We followed her recommendations and were very pleased. Everything was delicious! We didn't have reservations and had to sit outside on a hot day. It was ok due to it being covered and fans. It was packed, and I understand why. I would recommend reservations.
Ann Mahrii
Feb 27,2025
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!
Cheryl Lafferty-Morrisett
Feb 18,2025
1st time there food was Amazing. Will definitely be going again.
Reviews For The Norwegian