Trey Croner — Review by Food Network
Chicago, United States — Scandinavian (Swedish, Norwegian, Danish)
Trey Croner is an authentic Scandinavian restaurant on Chicago's northwest side owned by a Swedish-Norwegian couple who have been serving traditional Swedish and Norwegian cuisine for 17 years. Guy Fieri praises their homemade gravlax cured for three days, perfectly textured Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce, and various traditional Scandinavian dishes that showcase real family recipes.
What was great: Authentic Swedish and Scandinavian dishes including gravlax, Swedish meatballs, Swedish pancakes, and pickled herring prepared with traditional recipes. The owners' genuine passion for Scandinavian cuisine and their annual trips to Scandinavia to bring back authentic recipes.
What could improve: Nothing mentioned
The Dishes
Trey Croner delivers an impressive array of traditional Scandinavian cuisine that transports diners straight to Sweden and Norway. The gravlax appetizer is a standout, featuring fresh salmon cured with aquavit, dill, salt, and sugar for three days until it reaches the perfect delicate texture. The dish is served with dill cream potatoes, lemon, and fresh dill, creating an elegant balance of flavors with the cool salmon contrasting beautifully against the warm potato salad. The Swedish meatballs, called shupala, are equally impressive with their light and tender interior wrapped in a nicely browned exterior. Made from a mix of ground beef and pork combined with breadcrumbs, half and half, nutmeg (their secret ingredient), red wine, eggs, and sautéed onions, these meatballs are served with mashed potatoes, pickled cucumbers, and a rich gravy enhanced with homemade veal stock and cream. The lingonberry garnish adds a tangy sweetness that elevates the entire dish. Additional menu highlights include Swedish pancakes, ableskever (Danish apple pancakes), pickled herring prepared ten different ways including one with basil, and rainbow trout with butter sauce, along with various pastries and other Scandinavian staples.
The Experience
The restaurant is housed in a charming building constructed in 1896 located on Chicago's northwest side in a predominantly Scandinavian neighborhood, directly across from a Scandinavian college. The atmosphere carries the warmth and authenticity of a genuine Scandinavian establishment. Owners Larry Anderson, a former Swedish waiter, and Patty, a former Norwegian waitress, created the restaurant 17 years ago on a whim after deciding to cook the foods they loved and learn as they went. The couple's genuine passion is evident throughout the dining experience, and they maintain the tradition of traveling to Scandinavia annually to bring back authentic recipes and maintain the restaurant's cultural integrity.
Value and Pricing
While specific prices are not detailed in the review, the generous portions and high quality of ingredients suggest reasonable value for authentic Scandinavian cuisine in Chicago. The restaurant offers comfort food at approachable price points.
Notable Moments
I'm from a Swedish family. So if you want to go home and get something to eat, it's like just come here to this joint.
This is like our favorite restaurant. We love it here.
You got to mix the lingonberry in for the whole experience.
The Verdict
Trey Croner represents an exceptional example of authentic Scandinavian comfort food in America, run by owners genuinely devoted to preserving traditional recipes and flavors. This restaurant is perfect for anyone seeking real Swedish and Norwegian cuisine, those with Scandinavian heritage wanting to reconnect with home cooking, and adventurous diners interested in exploring lesser-known traditional European cuisines. The combination of authentic recipes, quality ingredients, passionate ownership, and the historic building create an unmissable dining destination that successfully brings Scandinavia to Chicago.