The Laughing Loon — Restaurant in Norway

We stopped by The Laughing Loon on a fall day and were pleasantly surprised by how much this spot delivered. The location is hard to beat—tucked near the lake with a relaxed atmosphere that fits perfectly with the season. You immediately get the sense that the owners care deeply about the experience, both in terms of food and community.

The menu leans into seasonal flavors without trying too hard, and everything we ordered felt thoughtfully prepared. The fried chicken sandwich was a standout—crispy, juicy, and finished with just the right amount of herb mayo and pickles for balance. The smash burger was another highlight, made with local beef and their own “loon sauce,” which gave it a memorable, savory twist.

On the side, we tried the delicata squash rings—lightly battered with a flavorful, savory breading—and paired with whipped maple ricotta (this item was a special that day). A creative and well-executed alternative to the usual onion rings! The fish chowder and baked beans were also solid choices, clearly made with care.

We finished with a warm apple crisp and a scoop of ice cream before they sold out, which was the perfect way to end the meal.

It’s refreshing to find a local spot that puts this much thought into both the food and the overall experience. We’ll definitely plan to stop in again when we’re back in the area, especially during...

Really fantastic side of the road restaurant here in Norway. The other reviews that complain about price are delusional, you can get a double smashburger for $14 and if they think the prices are expensive here, they should actually go to a major city and realize that this is no longer 2008.

The quality of the food was wonderful, really fresh vegetable ingredients, both of our sides were made to order and even the condiments were high quality.

The service was great, everything was made to order, a very kind and welcoming atmosphere. There are picnic benches near where you park that were clean and you can see the lake just down the road.

If you are really intrepid, you will get the food to go and just drive a little bit to one of the public access points on the lake and eat your food there.

We did not have any ice cream this time because we were so full, but we will probably return tomorrow to check it out. It look like there were some fantastic flavors and I was eyeing up the orders that were coming out of the ice cream side of the window.

Huge mistake to not have come here sooner in the summer living locally. Honestly better food than all of those dolled up places in Portland for what you pay, especially given how beautiful the scenery is...

The experience I received here says it all, as a fellow service industry employee. I had ordered a lobster burger on a GF bun. The lobster burger isn’t advertised as being non-GF.

However, one of the owners took a few minutes out of their very chaotic dinner rush to inform me that what I had ordered was not GF due to the panko in the lobster burger, and then she offered a GF friendly replacement (a smash burger). I expected to get a single smash burger as a replacement, but I was pleasantly surprised when the owner handed me a tray which included a DOUBLE GF smash burger and a free side of baked beans (also GF). The burger, fries, and beans were delicious! The owner also encouraged me to get a refund to make up the difference for my original order, despite the extra food she had given me. I received this refund immediately.

The customer service is top tier. The staff are willing to provide solutions that satisfy everyone and they are knowledgeable about the ingredients in their food. They do have a limited space, so they may not be able to cater to everyone with certain allergies. Regardless, I hope the community supports them so that we all may enjoy their food for many...