"Al Johnson's, oh yeah, it's the place with the goats on the roof." That's the first thing anyone says when you mention Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant. My family's yearly vacations to Door County always included a stop there.
It's a bit overrated and you have to wait a while to get a table (up to over an hour and they don't take reservations), but the goats and the ambiance is what I love. Watching goats walk around on a roof right in the middle of downtown Sister Bay is quite a sight to see. If you get there early enough in the morning, you can see them led up their small leader. Although one of the most popular sights in town, the goats don't seem fazed as they chew on the sod roof, controlling the grass length.
The food is all about the Swedish pancakes with lingonberries and the Swedish meatballs - usually served together. (It's an odd combination I know, but it always seems to work.) The pancakes are as light and feathery as the meatballs are meaty with a slight spicy aftertaste. Breakfast is served all day and they also serve lunch and dinner until 9 nightly. The homemade banana cream pie is amazing. Stay away from the more complicated meals - they usually taste somewhat mediocre. I would stick to the traditional Swedish meals or something simple.
The restaurant is a family business. Al Johnson started rolling his famous meatballs in 1949. His children Lars, Rolf, John, and Annika now work along side him. You can frequently see them working. They also have a little boutique that sells their pancake syrup and lingonberries. Also tons of cute Swedish things... and up course a book written about the goats. (Also a good place to entertain yourself while waiting for a table.)
Al Johnson's is a great place to go for Swedish meals and a pride of Sister Bay. Breakfast is a must.