Valhalla | Restaurant & Gift Shop - Visalia (CA)

2 /5 Mrs D: I ordered the Corned Beef Hash for the first and last time. The dish came in a very small skillet with 16 small chopped pieces of undercooked potatoes which had the skin blackened; 3 very small chunks of Corned Beef not even mixed into the hard, undercooked potatoes. That was not a hash. Aesthetically the dish was disgusting. Taste wise the food was so bland. My husband had potatoes, eggs and bacon. His potatoes were as awful as mine and with a very small potion. His eggs and bacon were good. There was only one waitress while others either stood around, behind the counter mostly during our time there.

5 /5 Roger McCort: SHORT VERSION: Nice themed breakfast diner. Good prices. Excellent food and service. Great stop! LONGER VERSION: I love a good breakfast place and search for them everywhere I go. Ive lived in the area for nine months and somehow Valhalla had NEVER come up in my searches. It took a small newspaper review to call it to my attention, even though its been around for more than 40 years! The restaurant is a storefront along one of the older parts of town. It isnt immediately obvious but also wasnt hard to find when I went looking. There was close parking in a lot beside the store. Only one handicap space, but its a smaller lot. Plenty of parking when I was there. The front door opens into a small gift shop and signs ask you to sign it to be seated. I didnt get a chance, as a staff member had greeted me and asked if I was there for breakfast. I was ushered back and seated in the main restaurant. It looked like there were two separate dining/meeting rooms available, at least one of which was filled with a meeting of about eight people by the time I left. There were plenty of tables, which may be because I visited on a Tuesday. The decor is supposedly Danish-traditional, which it may be. I saw lots of blue and white and the servers were uniformed in stereotypical Danish Girl costume. The tables are all those heavy, wooden, home dining room tables that everyones grandmother had in the 70s, and all were surrounded by matching dining room chairs. Im a big guy, so I appreciated how sturdy that all was. Everything was clean too, which is a big plus for any diner, so far as Im concerned. The menu plays into the Danish theme. There were lots of Danish specialties, but the two that are the obvious house favorites are the Danish pancake (a thin, crepe-like hotcake) and the Aebleskiver (pronounced "able skeever"), which seemed to be a big ball of pancake batter baked in a cast-iron pan and served with lingonberry jam. If you look at my photos, youll probably note that I actually ordered two breakfasts. I was hungry, the prices were great, and I wanted to try the two kinds of pancakes, but I also wanted the ham and cheese omelet, so thats what I got (and a side of hash browns came with the omelet too). I had them to the Danish pancakes with strawberries and cream, which turned out to be an excellent choice. The service was fantastic! My order was taken quickly and the food was on its way to my table in just a few minutes. The omelet was made right, with the meat scrambled into the eggs and the cheese inside the fold. The photo doesnt do the food justice! You eat with your eyes first, and this sight was a feast even before I took a bite. Everything was flawless! It tasted great. The strawberries were fresh-sliced, not from a freezer or can, and there were plenty to keep the pancakes covered until the last bite. Perfect! Prices were great too - after a larger-than-average tip, my two breakfasts still only came to about $25, which is less than Ive had to pay at some places for half the food. I did check the gift shop on my way out. It was my only disappointment. The shelves seemed very bare and it was crowded with big, empty display units. I wondered why they dont get rid of half of the shelves to make their store look fuller and make it easier to wander around. THE BOTTOM LINE: If youre in Visalia in the morning, go to Valhalla! It was simply amazing, and it coaxed an uncommon five stars out of me.

5 /5 Daniel Morales: I recently visited Valhalla in Visalia for breakfast, and it was amazing. Right when I walked in, I was greeted with friendly smiles that made me feel welcome. The breakfast menu had so many good choices. I picked the eggs benedict, which were delicious. The sauce was creamy, the eggs were just right, and the English muffin was nicely toasted. My friend got the Belgian waffles, which were light, fluffy, and topped with fresh berries and whipped cream. The restaurant itself is cozy and nice. The rustic and modern decor mix makes it feel comfy and stylish at the same time. The staff was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed without being too pushy. What really impressed me was the quality of the food. You could tell that the ingredients were fresh and locally sourced, which made everything taste even better. The coffee was also great – strong and just what we needed to start the day. I’m excited to try their lunch and dinner options next time because I’ve heard they’re just as good as breakfast. Overall, Valhalla in Visalia is a fantastic place to eat. The breakfast was delicious, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the service was excellent. If youre in the area, you should definitely check it out. You wont be disappointed!