I will be the first to admit I do not know much about Swedish culture or cuisine (other than indulging in the occasional Swedish meatball or Swedish fish ) but I am finding it increasingly interesting.  I recently had a most delicious experience at Svea Restaurant in Andersonville, Chicago.

© Rhonda Mix

But first — where is Andersonville?

Andersonville is a neighborhood in western Edgewater on the North Side of Chicago.

Once upon a time the village was made up of Swedish immigrants and was dominated by Swedish businesses, though now the area is as diverse as any part of the city.  Despite this, however, the area still pays homage to Swedish culture with the Swedish American Museum, the Swedish Bakery and a few Swedish restaurants and shops.

© Wikimedia Commons

Back to Svea.

I didn’t really know what to expect when entering the restaurant but I was immediately captivated by the decor.   The front door featured this lovely Viking-like mural.

© Rhonda Mix

The interior of the restaurant is small, but to me, this only added to the charm. Swedish decorations pop up around the room — on the walls, the ceiling, and of course, on the tablecloths.

© Rhonda Mix

© Rhonda Mix

I loved the atmosphere of the place. But be prepared to stand in line or wait outside — Svea has a lot of fans and seems to get a little crowded. Credit cards are not accepted.

What about the food?

Service was prompt and the waitstaff very friendly and always checking up to see if coffee needed re-filling.  I ordered an open-faced smoked salmon sandwich on Limpa bread.  I am a huge fan of salmon and I’d never had Limpa bread before so I thought I’d give it a try.  Limpa is a traditional Swedish rye bread and I have to say, it was wonderful, hearty and thick — very delicious topped with some sort of buttery spread, lettuce, tomatoes, onions pickles, and scrumptious smoky salmon.

© Rhonda Mix

My boyfriend ordered a full Swedish breakfast, which consisted of seasoned potatoes, traditional sausage, eggs and a large plate of Swedish pancakes.

© Rhonda Mix

I am not a fan of pork and very rarely eat it, but I did enjoy sampling a few of the items on his plate, especially the Swedish pancakes with lingonberry jam.

© Rhonda Mix

I would highly recommend this charming little restaurant to anyone. If you are interested in more reviews, check out what people are saying on Yelp.

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