Robert A.'s Profile

Solvang is truly one of California's lesser known gems, with cute traditional Danish architecture, lots of interesting shops and sites to explore, and of course the food!  It was founded in 1911 by Danish settlers hoping to recreate a traditional Danish culture in the sunny land of California.  Today, I don't know of anywhere else you can get traditional Danish cuisine in California, maybe somewhere but I don't know of it.   I think its the probably the best cuisine in the world other than another next to impossible to find cusine, Hungarian.

On a recent visit to Solvang, I ate twice at The Red Viking in the eastern side of the village, and would definitely recommend it.   I had the Danish meatballs and Danish sausage combination, though they also have a smorgasbord, and serve aebelskiver, as well as other Danish and American specialties.  Though there is an emphasis on meat, the food doesn't weight you down at all like some other heavy on meat cuisines do.  A couple doors down from the Red Viking there is a stall that serves giant aebelskivers with a massive amount of ice cream on top for only $5.50; you can eat inside or right on the sidewalk in front.  Definitely recommend it despite the obviously insane calorie count (you come all the way to Solvang, so don't worry about it!).  Then head to one of the four Danish bakeries and try the butter cookies (get a tin to take home to your relatives) or the Kringles or other pastries (remember that the Danes gave the world the Danish!).  If you're thirsty, they sell a Danish schnapps in the restaurants around town called Aquavit that is supposedly pretty good though I haven't tried it; maybe next time.

Ok, besides eating there's dozens upon dozens of little shops to explore, and even a Hans Christian Anderson museum (you remember the guy who wrote all those fairy tales like The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, the Princess and the Pea, The Emporor's New Clothers and dozens of others), as well as a historic Lutheran church and old Catholic mission.  Don't miss the little red shoe that kids can sit in to have their picture taken and the numerous windmills around town.  You may even hear a few older people with Danish accents or if you're lucky maybe overhear a few words of Danish around town.  

All that said, I was a little disappointed that the overall Danish cultural character seems to be declining.  Though this is an understandable occurance over time, I'm afraid that too much emphasis on wine tasting or too many sushi places or Mexican restaurants may dillute the special Danishness that has drawn people here for so long.  I mean you can find that anywhere, but only in Solvang can you find the Danish theme going on.  Hopefully, the village will maintain the right balance between the traditional Danish theme and the non-Danish themed restaurants and shops.  I especially found the central part of the village to be much less Danish in theme than in the past (though the architecture is of course still the traditional storybook Danish as required by town ordinance).  The eastern side of the village seemed to retain a more Danish feel with more Danish restaurants and shops with Scandinavian items.

Solvang is definitely worth your time from anywhere in Southern or Central California for a unique and pleasing experience.

Went here on a Sunday without knowing anything about the club.  It turned out to be gay night with a transvestite singer and mostly gay clientele.  All songs were in Spanish, as its a hispanic club (I seemed to be the only non-hispanic).   Its defitinitely a dive but pretty fun place all the same.  I assume its straight night on other nights.  Worth a stop by if you're in the neighborhood.

This bar has been here for at least 40 years.  I used to poke my head in the door as a child after my family would eat at the Chinese restaurant next door.  Back then it was a very dark lounge in the old style.  Its been remodeled a couple times since then of course, and as with almost all remodels, its gotten successively less charming but I guess that's true for society as a whole so what can you do.

Anyway, fast forward to today, its still relatively dark as far as bars goes and despite not trying it kinda sorta still has a bit of a old lounge feel to it despite being mostly a pool hall now.  Maybe its the flashing light cocktail glass sign over the entrance?  Its usually not crowded and if you want to play pool you probably can get a pool table without a long wait (there must be a half dozen of them).  There's also a smoking patio attached.  If you're not a pool player though I'm not sure what the appeal to the place would be.

Also,the last time I was here I was just stopping in to use the restroom as I was in the area and needed to pee.  As I was leaving the bartender was rude and verbally abusive toward me for not buying anything.   Dumb a-hole, doesn't he realize that on rare occasions I USED to come here to drink, well I won't be coming here ever again UNLESS its to piss all over his restroom floor.  : )

Went here to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday on a Thursday night a couple months ago.  It was a nice cross between a dive bar and a dance club.  I'm not from the area, gf is, so i can't compare it to other places in the region but  I got a good feeling about the place.  The dance floor is open to the street, and I liked the music selection (lots of latin music of various types, 80s and 90s music, current pop, and best of all was only subjected to a handful of hip hop songs all night, yea!).  The drinks were extremely expensive though, $14 for vodka and rockstar.

This is my favorite bar in this whole crazy ole world we call home.  I've been coming here since I turned 21 in the early 1990s and seen it go through two remodels.  Unfortunately, its become successively less attractive, warm, and appealing in decor and ambiance both times (the latest remodel was in early 2008 I believe) which costs it a star.  That said, its still the best bar on earth, or at least my favorite.  The walls may be sterile white tiles now instead of the warm wood panelling it used to have, and the karaoke may be off in the corner now, but for some reason it doesn't really matter.  Its just the kind of place where you feel warm and happy after a few minutes and like you're surrounded by friends even if you don't know anybody or haven't been here in months (about how often i go drinking these days).  The best thing is the karaoke is not up on a stage, but the singer is just out on the floor with everybody else, and its often one big sing along or people dancing.  There's also pool, shuffle board, a smoking patio, and sports on TV too, but that's not what makes it a great place.

This place has got no atmosphere, the people are assholes, and unless you happen to live in Tierrasanta its not worth your time to go out the way to come here.  In fact, even if you live in Tierrasanta its not worth your time to come here.