- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
The Little Mermaid - CLOSED
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Touristy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
75 reviews for The Little Mermaid
Review Highlights
-
"Also, the raspberry jam is the bestest." In 12 reviews -
"they still serve the best aebleskivers in Solvang." In 14 reviews -
"...They have the best Abelerskivers (Pancake Balls) in town." In 6 reviews
Loading...
75 reviews in English
-
Review from nick g.
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Solvang, you are like the Main Street USA of disneyland, but more of Denmark.
I think that makes it more like Vigtigste Gade, Danemark
(I used google translate, yeah, I know it's wrong)
Well, this restaurant is not nearly as campy as the street its on, and their salmon benedict is pretty damn tasty.
the aeblskivers are nothing special - but I'm not crazy about them from anywhere.. make sure to use the jam supplied on the table.
borkborkbork -
Review from Annette b.
San Jose, CA
3/3/2012
Spent a week in Solvang in 2010. There aren't many places to choose from and within a week we'd hit them all.
The Little Mermaid smells musky. Potatoes tasted musky. Service was horridly slow. Took forever to get a cup of coffee. I ordered the egg white scramble felt like it was bathed in butter, which totally defeats the purpose of an egg white scramble. -
Review from Emily S.
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
The Little Mermaid is a decent place to have breakfast if you're in the area. It is a step above Ihop and Denny's.
The servers are a little mean, but the food is pretty good. We also got to try their fresh aeblskivers. It's not something I would crave again but the jam that it comes with is decent.
I would hit up this spot again for breakfast, because it is my favorite meal of the day!
Go here if you're not looking for a fancy restaurant. -
Review from Kim V.
9/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was our attempt to have danish food on our vacation. I'll be honest with you, the man appeal of this restaurant was the name. I love the little mermaid.
The servers there all seem to hate their life. Like for real! Every place in solvang had those surly women wishing they could be somewhere else. Geez, i know you have to deal with tourist all day, but can you at least pretend you want to be here!
The food was pretty darn good. We both started out with pea soup. Which surprisingly i liked. I hate peas with a passion. But i inhaled the soup. On to the real food, I had the cabbage roll while the bf had the combo platter. Both were very good. I don't know if it was all the gravy on the food or the fact that we were hungry but i ate most of my meal! The veggies and mashed potatoes were very good, They looked like frozen veggies and the potatoes were probably from a box but i liked it. -
Review from Tana P.
Hesperia, CA
9/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
My 4 star rating wins out on the food front. The server was a bit impatient and absent when we needed her. We sat for 20 minutes before receiving menus. BUT, the food was DELICIOUS! I think the server situation was due to it being the busiest week of the year, Danish Days. She was probably just exhausted as the event was coming to a close. This is a diamond in the rough though, because the food is that delicious, so we'll definitely be back for more next time we are in town.
Beware of bees if you sit outside, oh and the cabbage rolls are to die for! You're crazy if you order anything else! -
Review from Rosanne P.
Anaheim, CA
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mediocre to blah food. Eat some where else. Service was aweful.
-
Review from Paul A.
La Habra, CA
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was not feeling this place, empty is nice when you want a table , but suspicious once your seated. The food was okay, but I won't be back because there are just too many options in this little town.
-
Review from Alan E.
La Jolla, CA
6/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Pro: the aebleskivers (pancake popovers) are absolutely amazing and so is their homemade jam (totally bought some after). Food is all-round good and the atmosphere is very quaint. Lots of authentic danish cuisine (like haggebof)
Con: menu selection for breakfast is a bit sparse. -
Review from Alayna S.
El Monte, CA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food was Okay. It was nothing special. The hubby and I stopped here to try the Danish dessert called ableskivers. Hope I am saying that right! There was a place right across the street that had a line outside of it. Next time I am in Solvang, I am going to have check that place out.
-
Review from Veronica B.
Campbell, CA
3/30/2011
The BF and I COULD have waited 45-60 minutes for a table across the street at Paula's Pancakes but I've always had a special place in my heart for the underdogs.
Sure the service was a touch slow but the coffee was fresh and my danish sausage with spinach and feta scramble was SO hearty, delicious and EXACTLY what I needed before our long road trip home..
Honorable Mention: They have the best Abelerskivers (Pancake Balls) in town! Full of flavor with the slightest crunch on the outside. PERFECT with some raspberry jam and powdered sugar.
The Little Mermaid made this gal feel "part of their world." har har -
Review from Alice V.
Mountain View, CA
8/16/2011
Pros:
Aebleskivers, cute how they have a guy standing in the corner making them in the window, as well nice and doughy.
Easy to get in compared to across the street at Paula's Pancake.
Cons:
Slow Service (Someone needs to light a fire underneath the gals) **Came on a Saturday**
Overcooked Bacon
Overall, if you are hungry and can't wait for Paula's this is the somewhat place to go as the tables were not filled like Paula's but the service was slow. Don't order the bacon get their sausage, (sigh).
The Aebleskivers with Fruit was yummy in my book, though I could use an extra Aebleskiver and a little more fruit, but the price was right for the amount one pays for. -
Review from Linny H.
6/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
My friends and I came here because Paula's Pancake was ridiculously full and the wait lines was even more ridiculous. I had never tried their abelskivers until this visit and it was yummy. It's more dense and bigger than The Red Viking's version. I love their generous portion of berry jam and powdered sugar. Perfect for getting the morning started.
I recommend this place if you're looking to eat right away and want some yummy abelskivers. The service is good and the ambiance plus decor is quaint.
Huzzah! -
Review from Edward W.
11/20/2011
Go for the raspberry jam, you can buy it at the front cash register, but go eat breakfast someplace else. Spotty service, mediocre food and lousy coffee served in what appeared to be Corelle cups is what you'll find here (I haven't had remarkably bad coffee like this in a long time). We went here because we were in a hurry and couldn't wait the 20 minutes over at Paula's. Mistake. We were able to make our appointment, which we would have missed if we waited in line at Paula's, but thought that Paula's is still worth the wait.
-
Review from Tim P.
San Pedro, CA
7/11/2011
The food may be good, but the restauraunt is filthy.
We came in at lunch and were presented with breakfast menus (Filthy and held together with tape) When we asked about the lunch menu THEN they brought us the lunch menu. I went to use the rest room and this was reminicent of a gas station bathroom on the interstate somewhere.
Go anyplace ele in Solvang and enjoy good food. In Los Angeles this would be a "C" rated restaraunt. -
Review from Jose G.
Huntington Park, CA
2/9/2012
You know those times when you feel you've been suckered by a tourist trap? Welcome to The Little Mermaid where the best thing on the menu is beer. This place seriously has the grossest dishes.
-
Review from Kym D.
Santa Clarita, CA
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
We saw the huge wait at Paula's Pancake House across the street so stepped into the Little Mermaid. We stood there for five mins and were completely ignored by two waitresses. They had plenty of open tables. We're now in line to eat at Paula's Pancake House!
-
Review from Karina C.
Oakland, CA
12/9/2011
My BF and I plus a solo lady were the only peeps in this restaurant. The waitress was nice and attentive. But the food was bland, not interesting. Just plain boring. I appreciated that she didn;t drown my salad with dresing, and my BF's pea soup was delicious. His rib eye steak and my danish steak, were bland. It was soft, and juicy but bland which made it dissappointing. The hash potatoes were bland too but as for dinner, it didn't work. And a huge broccoli was good. Not a great place for dinner. I saw them a bit more busy at breakfast. But for dinner, don't waste your time.
-
Review from Francesca L.
Colorado Springs, CO
9/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
Came in with a group of 9 for late breakfast before a day of bike riding and wine tasting. The people were nice and seemed to do a thorough cleaning of the tables and chairs before seating us. The menu had all sorts of breakfast items--bagel w/ lox, omelettes and of course the Danish dishes as well.
I had the 3 aebleskiver (pancake popovers) with 2 eggs scrambled and danish sausage. The sausage was eh. Kinda tasted like liverwurst and I was burping it up all day :( The eggs were plain. The famed aebleskiver were ok, they have a different flavor to them, some kind of spice. Definitely needed the raspberry jam. I liked watching how they make them right there in the front of the restaurant.
I'm glad I finally tried them, but I'm just not a fan. -
Review from Heather R.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/28/2008
It must have been a year or so ago when I stumbled upon a thread in the Talk Section about aebleskivers. "What a strange name," I thought. And so I read on. I discovered an aebleskiver is a ball-like Danish pancake, or as Holly T. described, "...think a donut hole on steroids." Oooooh, yeah...
Time passed, and suddenly I found myself in Solvang for a quick research visit for my job. The goal was to come back with wine and information for a corporate wine dinner. I did come back with that, but I also brought back something else: An addiction for aebleskivers!
I have eaten at the Little Mermaid several times in the past. I'm not sure how I missed them. This time, however, they were on my mind and I was on the prowl!
We walked into the restaurant and immediately spotted a humorless man situated behind a station with a stove, sink and small counter area. He had three aebleskiver pans on the stove which he sprayed with Pam. He then proceeded to pour in the batter and slowly rotate each potential pancake. They smelled and looked delicious.
I promptly ordered the Number 4 with 3 aebleskivers, 2 eggs and Danish sausage.
When my dish arrived, I quickly sliced into a perfectly rounded pancake ball. It was slightly crisp, yet tender on the inside. It had a sprinkling of powdered sugar, and the fresh raspberry jam gave it just the right amount of sweet and tartness. I devoured it. And the second. The third was grudgingly surrendered to my companion, who had regrettably only ordered eggs and bacon.
Don't get me wrong - the eggs, bacon and Danish sausage were also very good. The aebleskivers, however, were memorable and absolutely fabulous! I will be back for those! -
Review from C L.
Valencia, CA
5/13/2008
Stop #2 on our Road Trip led us on a Huell Howser inspired mission to try Aebelskever. I have wanted to go to Solvang specifically try this pancake- like delicacy. I couldn't remember where good old Huell tried his, so we decided to go here, in lieu of the popular outdoor Swedish pancake place across the street. The Little Mermaid is like eating at a Grandma's house. Aging carpet, no open windows, lots of lace and brown vinyl furniture, old time music and the feeling that you have to whisper (even if no one else is around), yet despite all of that you are oddly comfortable because it feels familiar.
As we enjoyed the golf ball shaped, powdered sugar dusted, carb bomb with raspberry jam, we realized that every major tourist destination has some version of fried dough (Beignets (New Orleans), Sourdough Puffs (Fried sourdough, S.F.), Funnel Cake (every state fair), Fried Dough (Faneuil Hall, Boston), etc. While aebelskiver isn't fried, it's rich. That and some tea/coffee was enough to fuel our long haul to Big Sur.Listed in: Road Trip! (C.L.'s California…
-
Review from Elizabeth C.
Los Angeles, CA
3/5/2010
My father is Danish. I love Solvang; Solvang loves me. We just seem to understand each other in a way that most people and places will never experience, something I will Never Take For Granted.
For instance, almost everyone here is old. I love old people! There is a bakery on every corner. I love getting fat! There are references to Hans Christian Andersen and Hamlet everywhere. I love that man and fictional character, respectively! The streets are lined with tiny shops and restaurants
.
I love spending money!
No, I don't, which is why I like The Little Mermaid. Well, that and the fact that it's not my money I'm spending. Anyway.
The Little Mermaid makes the best Cobb salad around. Sure, Cobb salads are kind of gross, which is why it's a miracle that I'd ever order one here. Which I do, every time, and have never been disappointed.
For that, three and a half stars.Listed in: Hangin' With the Oldies
-
Review from Nancy C.
San Jose, CA
3/30/2008 1 photo
The Little Mermaid was right across the street from our motel (Hamlet Motel) and was still open when we arrived Friday evening so we popped in for a late dinner.
I just had a burger and fries - and I'm not sure if the burger was just that damn good or if I was starving. It reminded me of White Spot (which I LOVE). My fiance had some Danish Stuffed Cabbage thing with pork inside. It wasn't my favorite dish, but he really liked it.
The service was incredible - and the decor inside had a very "home" type of feel. -
Review from Meagan T.
Moorpark, CA
5/30/2010
Went here because we were staying at the Hamlet Motel (right across the street). I would definitely go again.
Pros: This place is open for dinner when a LOT of other restaurants in Solvang aren't. Food was good, service was prompt and helpful.
Cons: Beer on tap wasn't cold (beer from bottle was). -
Review from Abegail A.
Carson, CA
8/20/2011
Abelskievers - aka pancake balls. So light and so amazing, and served with butter and lingonberry jam - that describes the ultimate method of pancake delivery. It can be eaten for breakfast, dessert or a light snack. They make it in front of you, if you show up on the right day and at the right time. Unfortunately, I do not have that information. It should definitely be a place to visit when going to Solvang.
-
Review from Steven L.
Isla Vista, CA
12/12/2010
Went with a group of friends last night (Sunday). It was quiet- there was another couple being served, but besides that, it was empty.
I had a hakkebof (ground sirloin) - $11, which was served with grilled onions, an egg, a potato, pickled vegetables, broccoli, and vegetable soup.
The vegetable soup was flavorful. It reminded me of my mom's vegetable soup.
The medium rare was closer to a medium than a rare, but it was delicious nonetheless. The grilled onions and egg (over well) went well with it.
The pickled vegetables were delicious. The broccoli and potato were unremarkable but did not detract from the meal.
Over all, a good place to enjoy a meal. -
Review from Christina L.
South Pasadena, CA
9/4/2011
I have been going here for years, and it's the cutest little restaurant! It has really yummy authentic Danish food. The prices are appropriate and The waitresses are all dressed up in Danish dresses. I go there every time I got up to Solvang. Seriously, try it out! It's one of the few places left in Solvang that hasn't been sold out to a winery!
-
Review from Armen M.
Los Angeles, CA
9/3/2011
Don't be fooled by the cute European venue...this place is aweful...worst food! We tried their Danish dishes but couldn't even finish our meals. I got some dry hamburger-looking piece of meat with heated frozen vegetables on the side and Im pretty sure the mushed potatoes were from a box.
-
Review from Jeremy K.
11/18/2009
After the drive up the PCH and 246 from LA, and parking the car in the center of the small town of Solvang, my grandfather and I were looking for a place to eat. I wiped out my iPhone and launched the Yelp ap and this was the closest restaurant it could find that was both open and had decent ratings. I only had one criteria: eat Danish food.
I did not order the aebleskivers because it was lunch time and instead settled for some wonderfully cooked Danish meat loaf served with veggies. It was delicious and the prices were reasonable. My grandfather enjoyed his lunch as well.
The service was a tad slow, especially since it was only at half capacity but the overall experience was pleasant. I'd totally go back if I'm ever around Solvang again in the future. -
Review from Joel F.
Orlando, FL
5/7/2007
I'm going to imagine that, just like everyone else, that my reason for going here (it's called "The Little Mermaid") is the main draw.
The restaurant is very cute inside -- nautical and nostalgic. I enjoyed my food (fried chicken), but was disappointed that they wouldn't halve the order or just make it all white meat -- a lot of food was wasted.
Other than that, I really enjoyed myself. It's a fun little place and I'd recommend it heartily, especially if you're feeling hungry. It's a lot of food for the low price! :) -
Review from Steve S.
Charlotte, NC
12/19/2009
I absolutely loved this place for breakfast! I had a bacon, garlic, mushroom, and parmesan scramble, and it blew me away. Our server was 106 years old, and the only English she spoke were the menu items, but there were no problems with service, and the food quality was amazing - a little better than Paula's, if you ask me.
The cafe is quaint, rather quiet, and very nice to sit by the window and watch people wait outside Paula's for a table to open up! -
Review from Kali M.
11/27/2009
Great breakfast! My party had mostly scrambles, which were all tasty. Side of aebelskivers to share, fantastic (hard to mess up).
So why do I give it only 3 stars? Two reasons. One, the drink menu was very limited. This never bothers me because I order plain ol' water 99% of the time, but we had some coffee and tea drinkers in our party who were limited to coffee (just black coffee, cream and sugar were not offered, much less menu options like lattes/mochas/etc.), or "hot tea." This was the actual name of the tea, printed on the bag. Not English/Irish breakfast, not even black tea, just "hot tea." It was pretty bad.
Two, our waitress was... um, unprofessional? That seems like a silly label to apply to a waitress in a diner, but it was borderline upsetting. She would linger at the table after dropping off whatever, to the point that we would all sort of glance around uncomfortably, thinking "what, is she just going to stand there an watch us eat??" At the end of the meal, she brought the check and felt the need to repeat several times which copy was hers, just in case we couldn't read the "RESTAURANT COPY" in big, bold letters printed across the top of the receipt.
So then of course she left us in peace to finish up our meal and sign the receipt, right? Wrong. She stood there staring blankly out the window (across our table from where she was standing). So hubby filled out the receipt, and she stared down at what he was writing the whole time. He finished up and then went to drink the last of his tea. She reached OVER HIS ARM to get the receipt, stood there while examining it (presumably to check how much she'd been tipped), then asked us if we needed anything else "or are you done?"
Ugh, how uncomfortable.
Anyway, be prepared for awkward service and poor bfast drink selection, but yummy entrees! -
Review from David S.
Solvang, CA
9/20/2010 2 photos
We usually come on Sunday mornings and love this place. Today is Danish Days and the place is jammed. Service is a bit slow due to the crush.
I had my usual, the number 2 with a side of ham. Just perfect! My wife had the continental and complained that her egg, bacon and muffin were all cold. She was not a happy camper.
All in all this is still one of our favorite places to eat breakfast in Solvang. -
Review from thefoodie s.
Lompoc, CA
8/11/2011
I've had breakfast here several times and, like many others, ended up here after initially trying to go to Paula's Pancake House across the street but not wanting to wait 40 minutes in the rain to get a table. However, after that initial visit, we've come back to The Little Mermaid lots of times...and have never tried to go back to Paula's.
True, The Little Mermaid could use a little sprucing, but it's not a huge restaurant and the decor is cute. The menu is somewhat limited and the physical menus are paper ones (not laminated) that are re-used, so they often have jelly or coffee stains on them. I urge you to look past this. The food here is good, the service is friendly, and it is generally not as crowded as other places in Solvang, meaning you can have a nice breakfast and actually carry on a conversation.
The bacon and avocado omelet is delicious and the house-made raspberry jam is incredible--make sure you order something that comes with toast! The food usually arrives shortly after ordering and is always nice and hot--no long wait here. Prices are reasonable and the portions are hearty. -
Review from T N.
Los Angeles, CA
11/28/2009
This review is different from others because we stopped in for an early dinner.
1) Eggs Copenhagen were very good and the pan fried potatoes were superb---best I've had.
2) My mother had the Danish sausage with string beans and radish
3) Dad had roast beef sandwich --- keep in mind this doesn't actually come with bread
All the dishes were very decent however the portions were small. For instance the roast beef sandwich had very little meat although it was flavorful.
Coffee was all you can drink for free and the service, a kind Latino lady, was professional, friendly and referred us to a good bakery (Mortenson's). -
Review from carlos h.
New York, NY
12/29/2009
I have eaten scandinavian food before and honestly at the Little Mermaid I did not experience any height of enjoyment with our lunch.
Service was slow to get an order in .. and then the food came out so fast.. that I thought.. the kitchen just has things coming out like a cafeteria.. and it tasted like it.. the red cabbage was overcooked and too much vinager.. the mashed potato was without the potato taste and their sausage and meatball was just.. OK. Dont think there will be a second time for me.. -
Review from Chelsea P.
Oxnard, CA
2/24/2011
My family and I took a day trip to Solvang last Sunday and met at The Little Mermaid for breakfast. Going with the whole Solvang-vibe the Mermaid was decorated appropriately with the waitresses even dressing the part! We all had the abelskiver (sp?), eggs and Danish sausage, it was all really delicious but the sausage had some sort of strange spices that wasn't familiar but still tasted ok. The best part about the Mermaid was the prices, so affordable for the quality and the amount of food you got, I pay more when I go to Denny's, lol. However, I do not believe the restaraunt has been updated since it was first built but it was very clean and the service was attentive.
-
Review from s c.
Santa Monica, CA
5/24/2007
Best Egg Benedict I've ever had.
Known for their Danish spherical pancake. I'm still used to the regular pancakes but it's fun to see them make the pancakes on the grill (see pictures). -
Review from Ed K.
Brooklyn, NY
9/9/2009 1 photo
One word: AEBLESKIVERS!
Oh man, these delightful Danish pancake balls served with powdered sugar, raspberry jam and a little syrup are a kick-a$$ way to start the day, and the Little Mermaid has the best in town! Light, fluffy, a hint of cardamom.... yum!
And their eggs are pretty superior too. Had the Copenhagen Benedict (poached eggs over smoked salmon) and the eggs were cooked perfectly--which can be tricky for many cooks-and the hollandaise was delicious.
If you dont want to wait in line at Paula's Pancake House, walk across the street to the Little Mermaid! -
Review from Teresa K.
Long Beach, CA
9/20/2009
I have only eaten here for meals other than breakfast about 3 times. Considering there are plenty of other places to go I am unlikely to ever eat there again for lunch or dinner. However, for breakfast it is the ONLY place to go because of the WONDERFUL AEBLESKIVERS!!!! Everyone I go with dumps a lot of respberry jam on them but I like them plain with powdered sugar. Guess I like to taste the cardamom. I like their danish sausage too and their eggs always seem very fresh.
I have never had a problem with their service-the two waitresses I am familiar with have been there since I was 10. We used to go there with my grandparents and other family (imagine having grandparents who LIVE in Solvang!) so the waitresses know us pretty well. -
Review from Danielle T.
Orange, CA
11/30/2010 1 photo
I come to Solvang on average once a year and I have to stop here for breakfast every time. I get to watch them make Abelskivers while I eat and they have that raspberry jam right on the table. This place is not stand out awesome like some places along the strip but they are decent and have great hash browns. And this place rarely has a long wait, in case you are in a rush.
