The Søvengård - Grand Rapids (MI)

5 /5 Kat Beidler: I LOVE Søvengård! My partner took me here for brunch for my birthday in April and we loved it so much we decided to come for dinner last night for our anniversary! Its definitely more of a special occasion place for our personal budget, but its so so worth every penny. The ambience is warm and cozy, with plenty of windows and natural light during the day. The warm lights and orange accents keep it feeling bright and vibrant even after dark. The booth we sat in on both occasions was wood with a raw edge, and the booth seat was comfortable (which is important! Some booths are very uncomfortable). Our server was the perfect amount of attentive without checking on us too frequently. I think she even sensed the mood from afar when my partner and I were reminiscing and getting a bit sappy; she made herself scare and waited for a less personal moment to come by and ask if we needed any more drinks or desserts. Stellar. For food: all farm to table, frequently rotating and changing menu, and portions you can finish in one sitting while feeling perfectly full (personal opinion: Id rather pay for higher quality and less food overall than leftovers that werent jaw-dropping to begin with). I ordered an espresso martini and my partner got their version of a Manhattan (cant remember the name). Both were beautifully balanced and some of the best cocktails weve had in GR. We decided to split their daily special of short ribs (came with corn grits, a red wine gravy/sauce, and radishes), as well as the beer fries and the confit carrots. All were perfect. The meat melted off the bone and paired perfectly with the grits. The carrots managed to retain the perfect amount of crunch while being packed with flavor and easy to cut (and the microgreens and herbed skyr they came with brought it all together). And the shoestring fries with the remoulade? PERFECT. delicious. Couldnt stop eating them. Dessert was duck egg pudding with candied cranberries, and an almond torte with sliced baked pears and candied nuts. The pudding was unique in the best sort of way, and I was grateful we got two desserts because the texture of the torte helped balance the puddings richness. Both were sweet but not TOO sweet; I appreciated not feeling like I was gagging on sugar the way I do when I eat buttercream frosted cake. The grand total for all of the above (3 drinks, 2 shareables, 1 entree, 2 desserts) before tip was roughly $140. Like I said, not a cheap meal, but its a lovely experience and the food is all extremely fresh and delicious. Whoever their chef is should get a medal of honor. Im very grateful to have the privilege to experience such fine dining every now and then. This is based on our dinner experience last night (December, 2025), and our brunch experience back in April was equally lovely. Weve decided to make it a tradition for many special occasions going forward. I hope you give Søvengård a try! **If you want the experience for a bit less money, they apparently have hot dog nights on Wednesdays! We havent been yet but at a place this perfect their hotdogs have gotta be the most insane dogs youve ever had. Our server mentioned theyre mostly $8 or less :)

5 /5 Jessica Nelson: This place is incredible. We went for brunch with two small kids, and the service was so accommodating and friendly. They really went above and beyond. The food was spectacular, and the restaurant and garden area are simply stunning. This place is a gem. Well definitely be back! We made a reservation, but there were open tables (which was surprising, since in most other cities the brunch line would be wrapped around the block for a place like this).

5 /5 Kyla Joy: Westside True Locally Sourced Farm-to-table Excellence. We have so much fun here! You’ve gotta check it out! The ambience is lovely, each server has always been attentive and personable, the time spent with family and friends is priceless, and you can tell the food and drinks have been really well crafted and thought through. We had a siblings-and-spouses dinner for 10 the first time, and were quite pleased. We’ve also come in smaller groups for drinks, or drinks and shareables. All fabulous. As a family we all tasted everything, including the desserts! Wow. I am not a dessert person, but The Søvengård’s talented chefs have a way of creating the perfect balance of flavors and nuances in each plate & dessert that not many places achieve. My spoon kept creeping back to the plate! This place has gone from “Thank you so much! We will definitely be coming back!” to “Hey! How’s the family?” •TIP—> If you love a plate you get here, get back here THIS week, because next week it might be gone! (Seasonal menu) •TIP—> Highly recommend their Biergarten out back. I had no idea how much property they had and how restful it was, until the server guided us back to their secret garden of sorts! Heaters help extend the eat-outside-comfortably season. •TIP—> trying to find PARKING? The church next door allows guests of The Søvengård to park there, making it a lot easier on a busy street! •TIP—> Pickiest eater here growing up *waves,* and I it is all delicious. Seriously. Chat with the server — they know every bit about the menu or will find someone who does quickly to make your dream dinner work. (My sister-in-law did actually dream of one of her dinners here!) •TIP—> The menu accommodates many taste preferences and dietary restrictions! I know personally GF/DF/sugar-free is very doable here. I’ve even gone off my usual diet here a bit with no repercussions, because farm-to-table is just so fresh and amazing. TIP—> There is even a cute tiny market inside! TIP—> Neighborhood residents get the added bonus of not needing to find parking because they can just walk home! PS I must say, our group had to “close the place out” to get pictures of all these empty tables! The ambiance is really lovely when it’s busy. Just right. Feels like a community group hug.

5 /5 Misty B: Beautiful and cozy interior. My son was leaving for a semester in Asia and wanted a dose of something he would not have access to while there. Sovengard was his choice and his belly was beyond happy. He got the full Scandi and loved all of it. Biscuits and bread were both A+. My brunch hash looked beautiful but the vegan eggs were undercooked (IMO) and there were vegetables I don’t associate with breakfast in the mix (green beans, zucchini, yellow squash, carrots). I love all of the ingredients individually but not with eggs. Giving them total credit for this being farm to table brunch and focusing on locally sourced and in season on this one. I will probably try this restaurant again but for dinner.

5 /5 Alexandre Izokaitis: Had a FANTASTIC time at Søvengårds Oktoberfest Late Night! This review is a little late but I had such a good time. They seem to host monthly events that each have a unique theme with music, competitions/games, and unique drink and food options! I sampled a few of their beer options as well and was very impressed, their Haus Lager is very refreshing and easy to drink, while they also had a Finnish Farmhouse Ale on tap that had hints of juniper berry and was very unique. I also had to get some Oktoberfest märzen and Weissbiers of course. I was a big fan of the live polka band as well. It really added a nice touch while not being too loud that I couldnt hear others talk. Overall, very fun event with excellent food, staff, and ideas. The fact that they focus on fresh local ingredients is the cherry on top. Will absolutely be back.