Ok - I am seriously puzzled by all the positive reviews of this place. Are you people blind? Did you not see the absolute filth on the walls, floor, lighting fixures, and behind the counter? I'm shocked this place hasn't been shut down by the health department!! There are 10 years worth of scum on the walls alone. Our waitress literally threw our food at us. I've never had a bitchier waitress in my life!! Honey - you need to check your attitude or get a new job. The food was disgusting! My "viking" french toast tasted exactly like grill grease residue. I could taste the 3,000 other nasty pork products that had been grilled since the place opened. I'm not Swedish - but I'm 100% Dutch and I can appreciate pickled herring as much as my northerly neighbor. No way would you catch me eating fish even if it is pickled from a place as nasty as this. read more

Have you ever been to a place that is usually pretty good but for some reason you chose the worst thing on the menu on your very first visit? Well that was my mistake on my first visit to Svea. So let me get this out of the way, do not get the french toast! Why it is on the menu I have no idea but they should really take it off as it is quite laughable. Anyways, thanks to Emily L., I went back for one more chance for redemption. I got a Swedish sausage omelet with potatoes and limpa toast and it was all quite tasty. I will always love the potatoes at Tiztal Cafe but Svea makes a mean batch themselves! The coffee isn't awesome but it is not bad either so that was okay. But here is the best part, I got out of there with a full tummy all for ten bucks including tip! So yeah this will make my breakfast rotation. I may never give this place a 5 star rating until they take off that damn french toast from the menu ... the scars run that deep! :-( read more

This was a restaurant I visited for a weekend breakfast. Much to the advice of the owner, we arrived at 7am with my group of 9. The owner informed me that there is often a line prior to opening and to accomodate my large group on a weekend, its best to arrive just as they open. We got there right at 7am, with no line to be seen. Perhaps it happened to be the morning of the St. Patrick's Day parade. Nonetheless, we were seated as a group after putting together a few 2 & 4 toppers together. Upon entering, it was quite a confused atmostphere of St. Patrick's day meets a Swedish diner. Lots of green all around with speckles of the traditional blue & yellow colors of Sweden. Onto the menu,everything is offered on the menu from breakfasts to dinner. The popular order among my companions was the Viking Breakfast - swedish sausage, swedish pancakes w/ligonberries, eggs & toast. It was a large portion that was wonderfully filling. Another popular order were the traditional swedish pancakes w/ligonberries. These pancakes are light, delicate and almost crepe-like. The ligonberries pair nicely, however it would have been better with a nice mound of whipped cream (but that's just me.) I would definitely come back to Svea for breakfast... and I prefer it better than Ann Sathers, which also offers swedish specialities. Why? The personal attention, the quality of their food and the comfortable vibe draws me back. PS - CASH only! If you happen to prefer carrying plastic, an ATM is just a few doors south. read more

Authentic (I think) swedish brunch. Damn delicious either way. And very cheap as well. Grew up going to this place on weekends and today I would fly in from out of state just to get breakfast here. Almost. Pancakes are the way to go, they are not like any other pancakes you've ever had. The only downside is that its a bit small and can get crowded during peak times. Just put your name in, wander around (there is a bookstore across the street) and you will be enjoying delicious nom nomz in no time! read more

I have mixed reviews about this restaurant. I've visited this restaurant on a weekend and the customer service was great but I also visited on a weekday and the server there was horrible. The only reason I will never visit this place again was because the server/ part owner I believe was racist and had an issue with me over not tipping her the previous time I was there. I had noticed her strange behavior towards me anytime I visit during the week and she never smiles, never says hello and always gives me a dirty look. Because of that I figured I'm not going to tip her. As far as I am concerned I'm not obliged to tip, it's not mandatory. So I asked her on this particularly day what her issue was and asked her what her issue was. She told me the last time I came I didn't tip her and I told her every time I come there she looks at me as if I have an attitude with her and doesn't make me comfortable. She basically told me 'May be you shouldn't come back' Since then, I haven't visited and I probably wouldn't visit anyway. Some how she reported me to yelp for leaving a nasty review and yelp and yelp ended up closing my account. However, I must say that the blond lady that works during the day is very warm and friendly and I wished customers don't have to deal with the horrible middle aged server that works during the week. read more

First I want to say I like little dives, I just like them to be clean. We were sat a dirty table with empty and used items and when we asked to wipe it down they only wiped part of it. We were handed a greasy and filthy menu and just to add to the perfect beginning, a severely sharp water cup was put in front of me. We liked their food so we decided to order to-go. Would rather not sit at a dirty table we asked twice to be wiped. While waiting for our take-out we watched as dirty plates and glasses were emptied into a sink where they placed clean water pitchers. I don't think I need to explain cross contamination. The waitress that was using the sink as a bus bin didn't even wash her hands before touching clean plates and glasses, EWW. Maybe some health codes are being broken? The food was atrocious. The potatoes tasted old and had soaked so much grease I think they were scrapings from other plates. The Swedish meatballs were undercooked and tasted odd. I have eaten here before and never had it be such a terrible experience. What happened to quality control and just plain cleanliness!? Boo on Svea, you have disappointed and we will not return. What a shame. :( read more

When you specialize in Swedish pancakes, here is what NOT to do: have only fake syrup (corn syrup mostly) in those little packets. Seriously, that stuff makes any pancake taste horrible. Spring for real maple syrup. I didn't put any on the pancakes, just used lingonberry preserves, which were all right. There was also the Swedish sausage, which was reminiscent of bologna and had a strange rubbery skin that was impossible to chew up completely. I had no problem with the potatoes or eggs, but how can you, right? Good hot chocolate though! read more

After a being quoted an hour wait at M Henry, Svea seemed like a decent alternative. Until we got there and were somewhat turned off by the old diner look and cash only... And not the most thrilling menu. But 8 people and a Koval tour in just a little over an hour wouldn't get us in and out of many other places on time so we gave it a shot... And it was great!! 2 words: Viking Breakfast. 1 recommendation: Split it between 2 people. Stack of Swedish pancakes w/lingonberries Roasted potatoes Eggs your way Swedish sausage Toast (get the limpa (rye)) Ordered a side of meatballs- I would skip this next time. Where else will such a breakfast for 2 (with coffee tax and tip) cost $25?! read more

This place is cute, but I have to say I think the reviews are a little high for this place based on the food. It's really cute and quaint. It's not very big so as you would expect, plan for a wait on the weekends. Also, plan to have cash as it is cash only which is automatically -1 star for any establishment in my book. The menu is larger than you would expect and I like that it was rather varied. I also liked the diner at the front if you just want to stop in during the week for a quiet place to chill. I had the Viking breakfast and the bf had a lot of pork. I ordered the Viking breakfast so I could sample what they had to offer and it was just underwhelming... as were the sticky tables. My eggs were good, the wheat toast was fine (I don't like anise/caraway seed so I'm not a limpet fan), the sausage was not good. Other items I just found to be really salty. I did like the Swedish pancakes which are crepe style served with the lingonberry sauce. Our server was good and the food came out quickly (we were there during the week). I just wasn't all that impressed so I can't say I would come back, and I definitely wouldn't wait for a table here. read more

Nothing fancy here, just a tasty Swedish breakfast. Nothing trendy. It's a place that your dad would like for breakfast And he wouldn't "guffaw" at the prices either. $7or the Swedish Tease -- one Swedish pancake, 2 egss and Swedish sausage. More than enough food for anyone but the biggest of lumberjacks. The coffee isn't fancy, but it's hot and your cup will never be empty. The atmosphere is straight up Scandinavian grandmother, and I know, because mine was from Norway. Lots of little tchotchkes and trinkets. Takk for maten. (I know, I know it's Norwegian, but it's true..."Thanks for the food".) Cash only! read more

Ordered smoked salmon with limpa. Fish was good but limpa crumbled, didnt make for a great sliced bread. Cash only

This is one of the first restaurants I ate at when I moved to Edgewater 12 years ago. It experienced a weird brief lull in quality a few years back, but I'm happy to report that Svea is still the best place to get a diner breakfast in the area, along with some Swedish treats you might not be expecting. I don't know what they do, but for bacon and eggs, this is the place. My favorite dish is the Swedish tease, which adds a Swedish pancake to the B&E combo, making a nice sweet and savory breakfast. Don't sleep on their lunch though, Svea has incredible burgers and meatball sandwiches. I couldn't finish the review without mentioning the coffee, which has a classic diner flavor it's just hard to find anywhere. I love this place. read more

Why in the world have I never stepped foot in this place when I've been living in the area for practically my whole life?! I knew that Svea was a Swedish restaurant in Andersonville. It was here for as long as I can remember. I never knew that it was a cute little place that serves great breakfast items! If not for all the reviews from yelp, I would have never gone to Svea. I liked the service, it was very quick and the food was great. I ordered the Swedish Tease and it was perfect...one Swedish pancake with eggs and 3 strips of bacon...delicious!! I wonder how busy it gets on a Sunday morning. I will definitely be back! read more

Whenever I am feeling the need for some spinach, I head over to Svea & get my hands on their Popeye omelet--it is delicious & somewhat healthy. It is an egg white omelet with lots of spinach & cheese--yummy! Comes with potatoes & toast to boot--I am sold! Their coffee is also pretty decent--not the best, but a okay. It is a very cozy place & I do not recommend going on a Sunday after the churches let out--it can get pretty crowded in there & you may have to wait a bit. Not the best place for crowds either as they do not have big tables. It is a very nice alternative to Anne Sathers though. read more

If you want a good breakfast, served quickly inexpensively, got to check out Svea. This a small quaint, neighborhood restaurant with an old time register to boot. The serve wonderful sausage and a nice selection of other foodies. The service is good. I enjoyed this restaurant, came here based on my brother's recommendation. We all have different selections and were able to sample many things since we shared. It's not your typical breakfast place which is nice. It's good to mix it up a bit. read more

Svea has quaint written all over it. From the small mom and pop feel, to the rustic tables and counter, to the darling worn cashier ... everything about it suggests a casual Swedish affair. True to the vintage form, it's CASH ONLY. And, for the most part, Svea delivers. We ordered their signature "Viking breakfast" (~$11) and a side of Swedish meatballs to share. It is not for the weary stomach as it packs in 2 Swedish pancakes, seasoned potatoes, egg, toast, and Swedish sausages. I would've loved to if the pancakes were crispy (they were limp and flopped about) and if the sausages weren't so tough to chew through. The meatballs come in a good helping and we found about 6 meatballs in that savory gravy. I'd ease up on the salt a bit in the gravy. Overall, a nice little joint and a great way to spend the morning with super friendly staff and service! read more

Lingon berries YES, Popeye Omelet OH EM GEE Great old school Decor -haiku review read more

My husband (before we became husband and wife) took me here last Fall when I visited Chicago for the first time. I don't remember what I got EXACTLY but I remember salivating over the pancakes, sausages, and him =) I also remember it being a very cute small spot so since we were basically the only customers in the restaurant listening to pins dropping and all, me and my loud mouth had to tone it down. Heheh, "shh..." Ooh! My mouth is watering now! I wanna go back there soon... read more

The breakfast here is acceptable, though nothing special. The lunch/dinner, however, is really gross. We got a Swedish sampler plate, which was supposed to have sausage and cheese. Wow was it awful. There was actually spam on the plate. Ugh. There are great restaurants in Andersonville. I'm not really sure why anyone would pick Svea. read more

We ate at Svea this morning and were really surprised by what a great experience we had. The decor was cute, and, although the place was small, the tables were turned quickly and (big bonus) politely by the bus person. We were served really quickly and our waitress was incredibly helpful. She wasn't obnoxious and fake, she was just polite and prompt. That's all I ever want in a server, and it was terrific. The food was quite good, not overly greasy, tasted fresh, and had a good selection of items on the menu. My gf got the Viking French toast and potatoes while I stuck two a standard two scrambled eggs (which, for 5.50 came with a large amount of potatoes and two slices of toast). The potatoes were terrific- soft and not overly greasy. I also ended up giving the rice pudding with lingonberries a try and really enjoyed it. Rice pudding is a childhood favorite of mine, and, because of that, I'm super picky about having it out. I was happily surprised by the smooth texture and generous offering of two sides of lingonberry jam. The portion sizes were just right, no overly heaping plates or fancy arrangements to make it look like you're getting more than you are. Our entire price for a fairly large breakfast for the two of us ended up being like 20 bucks. A damn good price for this area and for the quality of the food. My only irritation was that they did not take credit card, but, honestly, not that big of a deal. No, it's not a gourmet hotspot, but it was good, honest food and made our tummies happy. So, we will totally be back. :D read more

My roommates and I try to go to Svea every weekend. It definitely is somewhat of a dive, but that's what makes it so charming. I've heard reports of long waits, but I've never had to wait more than 15 minutes. The service is excellent, the waitresses are all very nice. The food is great Swedish food. I usually only get breakfast, and the Stockholm Special omelet is superb. It's very cozy. A perfect place to spend Saturday morning brunch with your friends. Tip: it is cash only. read more

When I'm home in Minneapolis, my stepdad always makes Swedish pancakes. REAL Swedish pancakes, on a cast iron pan, which belonged to his Grandmother. From Sweden. Using the traditional Swedish recipe. And without fail, I'm glad to be alive after each of these amazing meals, since real Swedish pancakes are FREAKIN DELICIOUS. So I have high expectations as to what a Swedish pancake should taste like. Svea is the closest to legit in Chicago, hands down. Ask for extra Lingonberries, or just take them w/ butter and a splash of maple syrup. I don't care about anything else, its all standard diner food, and the service is standard diner service. But thankfully, unlike Ann Sather (and even Tre Kronor), Svea delivers on the most legit Swedish pancake in Chicago. read more

Best Swedish cuisine in the Midwest worth a 3 hour drive. Hope they stay open forever!

Middle of the road ok with a slightly Swedish twist. The atmosphere is interesting just like a scandinavian grandmother. The viking is alot of food, but not overwhelming. Despite the Swedish influence the menu is largely small town cafe. There are many more Swedish foods they could offer... but it's risky as Chicagoans may not try liver pate and herring for breakfast. It's "godt" for what it is. I just wish it tried to be a little "mere". It's one of the last Swedish influence places in Andersonville and it stays very busy. The owner is from Chicago. Her mother was born in Wisconsin but lived in a Swedish household. Still it's a good effort and a warm and cheerful place. Mange tak for maden! read more

I've been mourning Augie's for a long time now. While there was nothing exceptional about the place, it was the perfect restaurant to duck into when you wanted eggs and coffee without the pretense. I walk past Svea all the time and have misinterpreted it as a Swedish pancake joint only. Big mistake. Svea has all of the breakfast items I crave, like french toast and omelets. The atmosphere is cozy, the service is prompt and you get what you order. They are not messing around here. I could taste the butter in my eggs and savored the grease of the bacon. I can't wait go again and enjoy another real breakfast. read more

Ninjas and pirates are all the rage these days. You can't swing a cat without smacking either some black-clad shuriken-chucking stealth bomber or a grog swilling Jack Sparrow wanna-be. Arr, me hearties: these be the tymes we live in. But amidst this festival of swordplay and doubloons a venerable warrior stereotype, with a rich and bloody history worthy of praise, has gone under-appreciated. Yea, fellows and dames, I speak of the terror of the North Seas, the original pointy hat wearing marauders of the briny depth - the Viking. Truly, the Vikings were mighty: feared throughout the land long before that ponce Long John Silver made a name for himself. Charging across the frozen waters in an oversized canoe bringing chaos, pillaging, and burning to villages throughout the European coastline. Good authority has it these Scandinavian killers discovered America - and didn't even STAY. They went BACK to where they came from, apparently thinking that this land was not quite badass enough for them. So it is with the mighty Viking in mind that I sing the praises of SVEA, and their mighty Viking Breakfast. Don't let the deceptively pastel Swedish blues and yellows fool you, friends: Svea's breakfasts pack a hefty wallop. Amazing sausages, limpe toast, limpeberry jam (am I spelling this right?), pancakes ... truly, it is mighty. Many is the morning that I have pulled up to Svea to recover from a night of pillaging and burning: Svea has always delivered, and then some. So Skol! to the Viking! Original sword wielding, sea faring barbarian, I salute you! May your longboats ever carry you to new conquests! If you see any nancy boy pirates on the high seas, destroy them with your bare hands, screw this whole cannon thing! And then, when your enemies are laid to waste, enjoy an excellent breakfast at Svea. You will not be disappointed. read more

We eat there at least once a month! Parking is a bit tricky, but we find street or meter within a few minutes. Good coffee, yummy pancakes, Swedish potatoes, cheap and cozy. What more could you want? I guess it would be nice if they took credit cards, and had a biiiiit more seating. But we are happy to even sit at the counter - it's that good. read more

Svea is a really nice little brunch spot in the heart of Andersonville. I've recently become somewhat disenchanted with brunch places in Chicago because most of them seem interested mostly in maximizing their numbers by cramming as many customers as possible into their small dining areas. On top of that, such restaurants charge hefty prices for breakfast food that, give or take a few frills, is basic DIY fare (pancakes, omelettes, bacon, etc.). It rarely feels worth it to spend upwards of $30 to sit elbow to elbow with strangers and eat a plate of slightly fancy eggs and hash browns. Not Svea! My wife and I were pleasantly surprised to find a space that was small but cozy and not overcrowded. The service was prompt and friendly. The food consisted mostly of the usual sturdy brunch staples (with some Swedish flair--this is Andersonville, after all), and while it wasn't mind-blowing, it was tasty enough. Best of all for my wallet, the price point was actually reasonable, and at no time did the wait staff try to rush us out so they could turn over our table. We came on a Friday morning, so it's possible that things at Svea are a bit more hectic during peak weekend hours. Still, if you want good brunch for a good price in some charming surroundings, Svea's a great bet. I'm looking forward to the next time I can eat there. read more

Matthew G. ain't kidding when he says "Sweet little unpretentious Svea! What a charming little place you are!" Notice he says "little" twice there? All the things he mentions in those two sentences are quite spot on. It is cute, with that Gramma kind of decorating flair and water vessel wheels on the walls. It is unpretentious, on a block full of over priced posh pretension (Don't get me wrong A-ville, you are my Chicago Mistress!). The omelet and potatoes were exactly as I expected and also tasty. The Swedish Rye bread, btw, is great. Our coffee cups were nearly bottomless, we had a great spot to watch passersby and there was no wait on a Saturday morning. A solidly pleasant diner experience. The best part was talking to the older couple next to us about their days of forging birth certificates to drink illegally on Rush Street back "in the day". read more

My heritage found once you walk in the door --well if you can actually get the door open. I had to push down the handle button, push with all my force and still had no luck. No one else seemed to have a problem so it may be a personal issue-- I felt as if my grandmother was reincarnated and I walked in her mother's house in Sweden. The smell of a busy kitchen with a mix of musty antiques would do the trick. It's all about the light blue and yellow here! Just like everyone will agree to in Andersonville (the true Swedes I'm speaking of), Svea has the BEST SWEDISH PANCAKES WITH LINGONBERRIES in town (Not as good as my aunt's in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan because the berries are not mixed in with the butter, but close!). This is no Ann Sathers (minus the artery-clogging cinnamon rolls), IHOP or Golden Nugget. I recommend the Swedish Tease--truly that's what I am so it was the perfect size. Their "sausage" (aka extra gurthy hotdogs) and potatoes are great! Prices are reasonable and service is very friendly. I'd also recommend sitting at the counter like the antisocial Parisians because you will be sat 10-60 minutes quicker. Oh and bring cash! read more

My breakfast was good but was super disappointed in the Swedish Meatballs. They didn't have the mashed potatoes which was fine we subbed the breakfast potatoes but the meatballs were blah. Tasted like the sauce was a powder mix and the meatballs had no flavor at all. Tasted just as bad as store bought frozen meatballs. If your going to be a Swedish restaurant the signature dishes should be spot on. read more

Svea - Not good - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great service and great food. Get the Viking breakfast!! The lingenberry sauce for your pancakes. It would be a 5 if they took cards. This place is cash only!! read more

I met a friend here for brunch a couple of days ago. I was early, so I enjoyed my coffee while I waited for my friend. The decor is so awesome. Ok, I have to admit that I'm a little obsessed with Sweden, Switzerland and Norway, so I was really charmed by the decor. Plus, the restaurant was all decked out for Christmas. I was never hurried to order while I waited for my friend and the owner kept my coffee topped off. Once my friend arrived, I ordered the Swedish pancakes with Lingonberry sauce. Yum! They arrived promptly with the sauce on the side as well as butter and syrup on the side. We sat there and chatted for a good two hours and were never hurried. On one hand, I wish they took credit cards. On the other hand, it's good they don't or I might end up here more often than I should. In any case, this place is charming and wonderful. I look forward to going back and bringing friends from out of town to show off this gem. read more

Bomb ass breakfast that practically filled me up until the next day. We stumbled upon this place a few months back after discovering Ann Sather was closed. And what a good thing that was. The viking breakfast was very hearty and tasty - sausage was so good. And I don't even like sausage. Pancakes were OK, a little soggy, but still good. I'm not a big guy, but I felt a little too big for the chairs. Will def go back. read more

It's a small cozy place that offers up good service and a decent breakfast. I honestly wasn't even going to review this place since I don't get excited for breakfast unless I'm heading to Uncle Mike's(see review), but I decided to at least drop a line or two, so here goes. I ordered some pickled herring, two eggs and some sort of Swedish sausage. The sausage was Kielbasa esque, almost like a huge old hot dog for breakfast. It was good due to the casing having a nice snap, which is just the way I like it... Enjoy Suckas'!!! read more

I like the place but they don't use real 1/2 & 1/2. They put the coffee whitening chemicals in a little metal pitcher and it fooled me until the headache came on. They will gladly give you milk for your coffee if you ask. Just don't be fooled by the presentation read more

Being a brunch/andersonville expert, this place is top notch. I'd rank it right on top with M. Henry (except cheaper). I had the Popeye's omlet, which was clearly cooked in a frying pan filled with clarified butter (if you've ever worked in a restaurant you know this is a big vat of melted butter). It was tender and buttery and delicious. They have this special toast which is made by Swedish Bakery (right down the street). I forget what it was called but it was kind of like a sweet, fresh, chewy rye. It's amazing. My boyfriend had The Vikings Breakfast. Which pretty much conquers all. It's swedish pancakes with linganberries, swedish sausage, eggs, potatoes. It's intense. And it's the most expensive thing on the menu at ten bucks. Better than Sather. read more

This establishment is small but cozy. The service was great and friendly!!! The food came quickly and was delicious! The portions were large enough for two people to share. I really liked the Swedish pancakes. So unique! The prices were affordable too. read more

Today kicked off Midsommarfest in my hood, so the roommie and I decided it was appropriate to kick off the day with a hearty Swedish breakfast. We've passed Svea for the last 10 months but finally decided to give it a try this morning. The place is wicked cute, and we were greeted right away by a perky (but not annoyingly so) waitress. I was pleasantly surprised by the food; my bacon was seriously awesome...so crispy. And the roommie's potatoes were honestly some of the best breakfast taters I'd had in a long while...very bad for you, but extra crunchy and yum. The limpa (swedish sweet rye bread) was really really good...definitely get that as your option. Oh, and the swedish pancake with lingonberry jam? Killer. Overall the food and atmosphere is very homey. I felt very comfortable eating here, and my belly was very happy afterwards. read more

Really fast service and fantastic food! It is a small place so it usually fills up quickly. Get there early or grab a seat at the counter for some delicious Swedish delights! read more