We finally tried The Norwegian for brunch and really enjoyed our experience! There was a short wait…read morewhen we arrived, but it wasn't bad at all, and the service was good throughout our visit. We ordered a few different things so we could try a little bit of everything, including the breakfast sandwich, æbleskiver, an egg dish with potatoes, and some drinks. The æbleskiver were definitely fun to try and came with dipping sauces, and everything was beautifully presented. The breakfast sandwich was decent and filling, and the potatoes were really good too. We also tried a drink flight along with a Bloody Mary, which was a fun way to sample a few different flavors instead of committing to just one drink. Everything looked just as good as it tasted. The atmosphere is cute and cozy and definitely has more character than your typical brunch spot. I also liked that the menu has items you don't see everywhere else in Rockford. Overall, we had a great brunch experience. Good food, good service, and a unique menu. We would definitely come back to try more!

We drove to Rockford from Madison to eat here specifically and tagged on going to the Anderson…read moregardens. We were not disappointed! Fantastic food and service! The place is really adorable too. We just happened to swing by here once after a flight delay and they were booked, so we knew it must be good. If you're up for some excellent Scandinavian fusion cooking with some adorable ambiance you found your place! Just be sure to have a reservation on the weekend. This was absolutely worth the wait and the drive!

My husband and I went to Eggsclusive Cafe on a Sunday morning for breakfast. The restaurant was…read morefairly full but we were able to get a seat right away. The restaurant was nice and bright with a lot of sunlight coming through the big windows. I had the French toast combo that came with biscuits and gravy. My husband got the corned beef hash skillet. The food was really good. I highly recommend Eggsclusive Cafe!

The food here is always great, I've eaten in as well as to go - food quality is on point. The…read moreservice is close to one of the best in Rockford, I have visited multiple times with a group of 8+ and they take care of us! The vibes are your typical cute diner, and I'll continue coming here!

My husband and I met my cousin and his wife here on a beautiful sunny day which made the gardens…read morelook fantastic. Two of us had the Fresco burgers. The buns were toasted which made mine dry. The sandwich itself was dry throughout. It had some kind of sauce sparingly on both sides of the burger. It wasn't served with ketchup, which is fine, if there is something to make it moist enough. Maybe if the sandwich had had more than one tomato. I asked for fruit instead of the fries and the fruit was wonderful - strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, pineapple. Another person had a lovely salad, which I didn't catch the name of, but I'm sure the unique part of it was that it had beets on top. The final person had the Nashville Fried Chicken Sandwich. He felt the sandwich was left in the fryer a little too long. Jamie H was our waiter and he was very attentive. He came and filled our drinks before they were even empty. Made sure we were happy with everything. Big problem!!! All they had left for dessert, at lunchtime, was 3 different sorbets. Very disappointing!!!

When visiting the Andersen Japanese Garden we started our visit with lunch at Fresco at the…read moreGardens. The dining room is stunning with a full wall of windows that make the inside feel like you're in the garden. They also have two outdoor seating areas and we sat in one. The patio is structured so you feel like you are seating in the trees. The menu was average. I couldn't find anything on the lunch menu that interested me so I ordered the breakfast sandwich. The bagel was huge and it came with a nice portion of scrambled eggs and sausage that seemed made in house. It was served with a bowl of fruit which was topped with delicious granola. The waiter was friendly and attentive. If we return to the garden we definitely get lunch there again.

Stopped here during our weekend trip in from Chicago with my husband and two boys (1 and 4) and…read morecouldn't have been more impressed! I've never been to a more kid friendly place - toys for the kids to play with, a treasure chest, stepstool in the bathroom, incredible service and the food was delicious! Highly recommend!

The food does not photograph well but it tastes so good!!! Best breakfast we had in Rockford by…read morefar. The burrito was so good, since I got it with no cheese I asked for verde salsa on the side which was the right move - highly recommend the mod. Lots of bees outside, recommend sitting inside -which is our only regret.

What a surprisingly wonderful experience we had here. Besides excellent service, I believe these…read morewere the fluffiest and best tasting pancakes I ever had! The other entrees our table had were thoroughly enjoyed as well. We only wished that the coffee was stronger. However, adding flavored creamer helped and the refills kept coming without needing to be asked, which was much appreciated. We would definitely come again when in the area.

We were headed home but decided to stop for a "sit down" breakfast. It's the first cool day we've…read morehad for a while and waffles sounded perfect. We both had the Belgian Waffle and a side of bacon. The bacon was crispy and perfectly salty. The waffle had just enough sweetness. DH likes his crispy and the kitchen did great. Coffee cups stayed full. We would stop here again when traveling.

A lot has changed since the last time we visited a few years ago…read more We were looking to break out of what I call our "DeKalb" funk since we have been eating a lot in DeKalb when we do eat out. I thought of Hoffman House, which is co-located inside a hotel. We'd eaten there years ago, and their prime rib was very good. While driving north, my wife looked it up. They changed from a white table cloth restaurant to more of a sports bar theme. Their entree list was rather anemic and just not worth the trip, except they did offer Prime Rib on Saturday. We made the trip. For starters, when you walk in there is no hostess station. The bartender told us "Sit where ever you want." so we found a booth that was clean and sat down. The seating was, well worn as in worn out. The seat covers were chipping on the chairs, and the booth seating was just dead. Our server arrived and we placed our order. My wife ordered tea, and I had a Guiness draft which was properly poured. The server brought out 4 honey buns, which are light and fluffy, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and served with a honey butter blend. They are best when they arrive - HOT. (Eat them as they arrive) It wasn't very long before the main course came out. No salad was offered. My Prime Rib was ordered and served medium rare, and the baked potato was cooked properly. I was expecting some horseradish sauce with the Prime Rib - nope. My wife did enjoy her shaved Prime Rib sandwich - the roll it was on was nice, and she opted for the premium onion strings, which were tasty. Why just okay? This was a place to go for a nice dinner with your family. It has transformed into a tired sports bar. Lots of screens, but it's kind of half-hearted with regards to the sports bar theme. Servers aren't in sports uniforms, there isn't a lot of stuff on the walls. The seating is worn out and should be either refinished or replaced. It feel like they ran out of money or concepts during the conversion, and just stopped. There is nothing compelling here to bring us back.

Our family contracted the Hoffman House to provide food for our family reunion. My immediate family…read moreis vegan, so we ordered food from the vegan menu and it was tasteless, not prepared according the description on menu, the veggies were raw unseasoned and inedible. I have contacted the contact at Hoffman House to be reimbursed for the meals. I will update my review if this matter is settled to my satisfaction which looks like being reimbursed for the meals that none of us ate.

It was our first time dining there. The service was wonderful. We made reservations and we were…read moreseating on time. The food was great. So many choices for dessert. The waitress was very attentive but not too much. Definitely would recommend and we will be going back.

Enjoyed a business dinner here. Upscale but not overly fancy. Food was on point!…read more I enjoyed their OLD FASHIONED cocktail. I had asked for a smoked old fashioned, which they thought they could do, but apparently no longer had their smoker accessible. I ordered a STEAK with side of mashed potatoes and sauteed onions. I had a brown gravy to pour on steak whichade the dish phenominal, exploding in umami flavors. We were a large party and service was great.

Whether you want a sweet treat or a meat pie BCB is the place to find it. The best croissants,…read morescones, muffins, and cm cookies. They sell out sometimes, so go early.

Can we just say HOW amazing this bakery is! I am kicking myself for not asking what their names are…read morebut I plan to come here as long as it stays open. Sweet couple(if they are married) DELICIOUS baked goods and just overall a beautiful way to start your weekend. I love their BEAR CLAWS but today they didn't have them.

5 stars for Jerry's Cafe in Rockford…read more This is a nice breakfast & lunch cafe in Rockford with some classic breakfast and lunch dishes with some Mexican dishes as well. I tried the Corned Beef Hash Skillet and the Shrimp & Grits - both were very good and big portion sizes that will definitely fill you up. The service was good, the place inside has plenty of seating but just know that it can get very busy on weekend days. Overall, a nice place to stop for a meal for breakfast or lunch.

Good food and lots of options. Friendly service. Prices were good…read more The Spanish Benedict was really good and a unique menu item.

You talk about the best homemade country fixins, you've got to be talking about "The Machine Shed"…read morein Rockford Il. Best food you've ever eaten, and the service is way over the top. We're definitely going to make another trip to Rockford.

I love The Machine Shed…read more We have been here several times in the past two years and every meal has been fantastic. The restaurant is sometimes a little loud but it is always clean. Our servers have always been pleasant and during our first visit, she walked us through the menu and told us her personal favorites. The slaw and cottage cheese is my absolute favorite part of the meal.