Norman’s Bistro
1001 E 43rd, Chicago, IL, 60653
Norman’s Bistro Menu
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Address :
1001 E 43rd
Chicago, IL, 60653 - Phone (773) 966-5821
- Website https://www.normansbistro.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Susan M.
We've been there several times. It's a little dark and sometimes it looks like it's closed. The food has been consistenly good. We enjoyed the gumbo and red velvet cake was better than I've ever had. Service was slow at times, but we were never in a hurry and the staff is friendly.
(4)Krystal M.
My sister and I had an early dinner at Norman's Bistro. The food was great. I had the salmon cakes, corn pudding and greens. We also shared an appetizer of the asian wings. The wings were by far my favorite. I could've used a few more wings (maybe my sister and I shouldn't have split them), but there was more than enough food in my entree to compensate. Our waiter was amazing! She even suggested that we try the Sunday brunch which includes a variety of foods and live jazz band. I suggest you check it out.
(4)A C.
Three stars for service, our waiter Robert who was non existence. We had to ask another waiter for our corn muffins that came with the seafood gumbo. He was not attentive nor did he ask if we needed anything. The gumbo was delicious and served hot. However, Sunday evening they were out of the catfish, braised greens, duck. The group at the next table were highly upset that none of the items they wanted were available. Three stars for the service, but four stars for the gumbo. Will come back for the gumbo and try another item from the menu.
(3)Denise S.
Delicious variety of brunch items with great service. I would defintely venture out to try their other menu items. Great food, great place, great service!
(4)Starr M.
We went on a Friday night to celebrate a milestone with a friend. The seafood chili is incredibly flavorful. The duck burger was juicy and well-seasoned. There are two areas inside the restaurant; one is for dining and the other is more of a bar with high top tables for dining. There's also an outdoor dining area. The DJ was really good that night and the servers/bartenders were very attentive.
(4)Phil G.
Had my first lunch at Normans. Ambiance was good and the server was very pleasant and attentive. Daughter and I weren't famished, so shared a chicken sandwich and fires. Food was hot, which is always a plus. Sandwich was tasty, but small. Grilled chicken, nothing terribly special. My only problem was price. I understand that Norman is a bit of a pioneer in that area, and I applaud- but $16 dollars for a small chicken sandwich is waaaaay too much money. That should have bought me two sandwiches. I won't be going back for food at those prices.
(2)E B.
After several years being open this place should have gotten their act together by now. The food continues of be hit or miss, small portions and escalating prices. Furthermore service is poor. I am all for having a nice place in the area to eat , but $14 for a turkey burger on 43rd is insane!! I will buy one around the corner will fries and a pop for $6 in the future.
(1)rita s.
Norman's Bistro has the best food in town and quality customer service. His greens are absolutely to die for! Try them for yourselves and you feel the same way. Absolutely delicious!
(5)Michelle V.
Normans bistro is a neighborhood jewel. We came here on a whim on a Sunday evening and discovered a great spot! We ordered the shrimp and lobster gumbo and the shrimp and lobster potpie. Both were delicious! The portions were generous and the shrimp and lobster were generous. The shrimp were jumbo sized and cooked perfectly. We also had the green bean fries and they were great. I can't wait to return and try something else. The service was a bit odd, like the severs definitely need more training, but I didn't even care. Norman came over to check on us as we'll, which I appreciated too. Please try this place and keep a place with a great menu and chef in bronzeville, in business.
(5)Gregg F.
Really enjoyed the food. And I look forward to going back and supporting this establishment the same as those in other parts of the city support their local restaurants. The Cajun Catfish was outstanding as well as very good drinks and dessert. There was an eclectric crowd which is a plus. Keep doing what you do Norman.
(3)Jaleesa C.
Eating in peace!!!!! Love the fact that they have a lot of turkey options!!!! I could eat here everyday!!!! Lobster pot pie is my fav!!!
(5)Trish G.
My first experience was here absolutely one for the books, and it will definitely not be my last. On top of the amazing customer service, the quality of the food I had during my visit was divine. I even had the pleasure of meeting the owner himself, and he made the experience all the more fantastic. With his kind, cheery, and playful demeanor, I didn't feel as though I was at a restaurant, I felt like I was at home with an old friend. The fact that there is little to no knowledge about such a fantastic establishment is what's truly appalling.
(5)Candace W.
Although I have been to Room 43 for several events, my first experience having food occurred just recently. First I LOVE that there is a sit down, non-fried fast food, place in the neighborhood! I also love the ambience of Norm's. the space is great and the outdoor seating (another anomaly on the Southside) is fantastic. I removed stars for a few reasons. One, they can be a little slow. Two, my salmon cakes were just OK. Finally, I believe that it's just a LITTLE overpriced. The prices are fine for an occasional visit. However, I really want to support this place and would like to come more often. But, I am just not the person to spend what their asking as a regular. I do plan to return, especially when the outdoor seating opens.
(3)Bre M.
This is a nice cozy upscale looking spot to stop in and have a lunch or dinner date. Plenty of parking Nd the food was good. It did take them a while to bring our food and I was included in a party of 4. Overall, a nice place to go.
(4)Evan S.
Quite the gem of a restaurant in the Hyde Park area. A must try if you live nearby or find yourself visiting friends, family, or volunteering (my case) on the south side. This creole-Brazilian-fusion restaurant was the perfect place for a Saturday brunch after packing and distributing cold-weather gift bags in the area. My buds and I were the only ones in the place. Greeted with wonderful, welcoming service and sprinkled with "oldies but goodies" on the stereo system, Norman's provided comfort and warmth both externally, and internally, i.e. my ears were as happy as my belly! I went with the pancake platter (I love a breakfast platter, y'all!) and an OJ. I was plenty satisfied afterwards. Some of my friends went with lunch (burger) and breakfast (flatbreads, omelettes) and everything looked and smelled absolutely delectable. I can imagine that this is a great place to see and be seen at night when it's jumping!
(4)Jamie H.
I came here with my friend on Saturday, April 5, 2014 for an early evening dinner @ 5:30PM & it was AMAZING! The service was friendly & prompt with our food (which was important as we had a theater performance @ the Harold Washington Cultural Center on 47th & King Drive, right down the street, @ 7PM which we made it there on time!). I had the Lobster & Shrimp pot pie & it was AWESOME: it was a deconstructed version whereas the creamy broth (much like a chowder) was on the outside of the "crust" which was actually a nice biscuit in the middle of the bowl (a cute all white deep soup bowl!) with plump, succulent pieces of lobster meat (alot of them!) & huge jumbo shrimps (that I had to cut with a knife & fork!), so good! My friend had the Lobster & Shrimp gumbo which was also tasty (as we tasted each other meals): again it had lots of seafood along with chicken, sausage, & veggies! The cocktails were great too, I had the Key Lime Martini (sweet & refreshing!). This was a wonderful dining experience & I'll definitely be back again!
(5)Kathy H.
I went here for a day party on Sunday, and needless to say, I should have stayed at home. The bar staff was extremely slow, and I never got a drink. We then went out to the patio (thinking we could get service), and the waiter NEVER came over to our table. This place is garbage, and I wouldn't suggest this at all.
(1)Candace M.
I appreciate having a nice restaurant in Bronzeville. The ambiance is nice and the food is tasty... However, my only issue is what everyone else is saying the price of food. This is NOT the Gold Coast, it's Bronzeville and honestly the price point should reflect the area that the restaurant is in.
(3)Faith S.
The Sunday buffet was plentiful and to die for. The plantains were sweet and delicious. I also stuffed myself on vanilla icecream and loads of wonderful toppings. I didn't look at the menu so missed some of you guys' wonderful experience with misspelled words. Our waiter was timely and was always there for us. I will return again. My Queen Mother thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, the service and the food. And of course, as we were leaving, Norman introduced himself to us and we were on our merry way. Faith Sloan faithsloan.com
(4)Helen K.
We were just there on Saturday (March 17th) and had a lovely meal and a pleasant evening. The atmosphere was really nice, and our server was extremely attentive (perhaps, they have hired some new servers since the last reviews were written). The cocktails were on the expensive side, but they do not skimp on the alcohol. One of our dining companions actually asked for more tonic for her gin and tonic. They have a specialty cocktail menu that does not disappoint. The food was good - nothing spectacular or unique- but enjoyable. The portions seemed pretty big (I could not finish the lobster pot pie), and the desserts were tasty. I would definitely eat there again.
(3)Danielle L.
Well, the food is good when you finally get it. Yes, I have to add my name to the list of reviewers complaining about the ridiculously slow service and general disorganization. During my Sunday afternoon visit with family, the entrees came out one at a time, literally, with about a ten minute spread, with the omelette coming out dead last by several minutes. I cannot imagine what system the chef is using. On my Friday evening visit, I sat at the bar with a couple of girlfriends and it was so slow my girlfriends decided to skip placing a second order. If the manager is reading this, THIS MEANS LO$T PROFIT$$$ I also have to complain about the microwave, which in my opinion should never be in a decent restaurant, but it most certainly shouldn't be in the dining area. You read that correctly: the microwave is in the dining area, facing the diners. Of course, since it is well established how slow the service is, no doubt that microwave gets a lot of use heating up dishes that sit in the window for long stretches of time before getting picked up by overworked servers doubling as hostesses. I will begin and end with a positive: this place has good ties to the community. I have been there twice and on both occasions, they were fundraising or hosting a community group event. Please step it up, Norman's. We want to come back.
(2)Carl J.
Went to Norman's for a Saturday brunch with my wife and we both agree 5***** for chef Robert the staff and brings a real new twist to North Kenwood. See all photos &check out Norman's Bistro.
(5)Cherlyn R.
The bad service we received at this place is the reason for my rating. We went there late on a weekday night following a theater event we attended in area. Upon arrival there was no host at the door. After waiting an unreasonably long time we decided to seat ourselves. Took forever to receive menus, and even longer to receive food even though place was nearly empty. Then when food came, gave my sister wrong order. Spoke to manager - absolutely no skills in customer service management. Didn't offer to discount any of our bill even though she was very aware our bad service. We went there to celebrate my mom's bday and this whole experience put a damper on the occasion. I will definitely not be returning. It's really a shame because the food (at least the meals they got right) was actually good. But the bad service is what is doing them in.
(2)Shelley A. D.
I'm sad to have to decrease my rating but I had a terrible experience at Norman's yesterday. It was Sunday almost 2p. My husband and I stopped by the Norman's to watch the Bulls game in their bar area. The bartender was standing behind the bar and the tv was on to the game-- and she told us that the bar was closed and that they were only serving brunch in the dining room. So we stood up and left and went to a bar in Hyde Park that was showing the White Sox, Blackhawks and Bulls games. Norman's in my neighborhood and I really want it to be successful, but I have found the bartender repeatedly unpleasant (she never smiles and welcomes customers) and yesterday she was downright rude. Pluses include-- the decor is lovely and Norman himself is charming and a wonderful host. Unfortunately, I stand with the other reviewers that pan Norman's for customer service. Norman's has no competition in the Kenwood/Bronzeville area. If they could improve their food quality and customer service they would have a corner on the market. Until then I will think twice to return as I have no desire to be voluntarily abused as I was yesterday.
(2)Carole C.
Today found me with a window of opportunity to lunch at Norman's Bistro. When we got there I realized we were in time for the buffet lunch, which is a full on "brunch" menu complete with omelette station, and pancakes. It is served from 10AM to 4PM for $25 per person. The featured buffet entree was chicken and dumplings, which was deliciously seasoned but the dumplings were more akin to hockey pucks. I decided to bathe a fresh buttery biscuit with my chicken sans dumpling, and it worked well. The buffet included a lot of fresh fruit that was beautiful, and ripe. Snuggled in the mix of fruit was small mountain of sauteed plantain. Rounding out the starches, was a mix of grits, oatmeal, hash brown potatoes and some orange looking rice that was propping up salmon croquettes. Bacon, sausage links, sausage patties were all housed in a chaffer as was a custardy looking bread pudding on the dessert station. There was a server at the buffet taking orders for omelettes and pancakes. I didn't order an omelette, but they looked beautiful... no browning on the eggs (pet peeve of mine). There was a trio of salad dressings to put on raw veggies (no salad greens) which included zucchini, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers. The buffet was quite attractive and well thought out. Service is pleasant, even if a bit late on the uptake. I stood quite a while before I had to ask if I should seat myself, and when I arrived it wasn't crowded. I asked what beer was on tap and the wait staff didn't know what that meant...I ordered a Corona, no beers are on tap. I was very hungry and I wanted to graze...it fit the bill. Would I go back? Yes, in a heartbeat! Would I order the buffet again? Absolutely not! There are better options on the lunch menu, for less money that are better prepared. I appreciate the availability of the buffet, and hope they continue to keep it going. There are those days when it pays to g.r.a.z.e... Ambience is light, airy and fresh, I would stick to dishes that are "a la minute"... make them cook it fresh, they do it well and you will have a higher opinion of their culinary skills. I will definitely go back and find my menu favorites that I can depend on, and it's my goal to do a 4Star update! One can only hope!
(3)Jillian P.
(I tried to give this joint no stars, but Yelp won't let me.) I don't even know where to begin.... First of all, they get no stars whatsoever, simply because it was just THAT bad. I mean, saying it was mediocre at best, would be far too generous. REALLY! I have never heard of this place but our friend had reservations for 7pm, to celebrate his birthday. We were all running late but they were very accommodating about pushing it back, so I'll give them that. Okay, I'll start at the top and work my way through the meal because not a second of it is to be missed. Really, you NEED to read this! When a majority of us arrived a few people in our party were already there, sharing a bottle of wine. They informed us there was a big wedding shower or reception going on in the bar and we saw there had been another birthday party of 15 people or so, sat right next to us, in front of the expo. There was so much more restaurant around us, so the placement made no sense. Since I didn't know what kind of spot this place is, I didn't know whether or not to be confused by the unlit buffet setup next to us, I later came to the conclusion that it was setup for the Sunday brunch to go down this morning. They couldn't wait until the restaurant was closed, to set it up? Or even have the staff come in early on Sunday? I understand, you set it up on a Saturday afternoon, so you or your staff wouldn't have to stay too late because you all had to get up Sunday morning to be on ten and ready to go first thing. Right? Our new friends also implied that we should really take a look at the appetizer menu, especially the , "fried shrimps." I understand that nobody's perfect and there's room for allowance of a few misspelled words, especially if you regularly change out your menu. All I'm saying is, all you have to do is hit the spellcheck option! Extremely distracted by making our entree choices, we tried to decipher the menu and stumbled over it's barrage of fonts, visually displeasing to the point that a handful of us were losing our appetites. That thing was a typographical nightmare! I'll say it again,NIGHTMARE! I still wonder, what kind of sauce is,"bar b queue," what is a chicken "culet," and I don't care if it's a sweet dessert, but an apple "dumping," does not sound appetizing to me. Even my boyfriend said, "this menu is setting up this meal for failure!" We should have taken that cue from there and bounced right out, but the birthday boy and his girlfriend assured it would be good. I really felt bad for the waitress, but part of me really didn't. Just because you call me "madam," it still doesn't make up for the shit storm we were about to endure. The whole experience was like pulling teeth. No... It was worse than that. It started off with a request for a carafe of water, which came about 30 minutes,to an hour later, and was only enough to fill about 3 or 4 glasses. In the interim, we got introduced to Norman, himself, social butterfly of the "bistro." Anyways we spent our time, requesting a couple bottles of wine (we could've drank more if it didn't take a lifetime to get just one), trying to order our food, trying to get the waitresses attention, trying to get anything. Let's just say, if our table was a choking baby, mother, waitress would only have found it to be dead hours later. At this point,we all had about 50% of our verbal filters off, and let them marinate until we received our salads, two hours after we had ordered. Did I mention the waitress came up to our table with a pillowcase of bagged salad, when she was asked where our salads were? Did you know that a side of Caesar salad at, Norman's Bistro, is just the regular mixed green salad that fits in a tiny,little soup bowl, with Caesar dressing on the side? Oh yeah, the dressing came about 5-10 minutes after we received the salad. I couldn't even eat half of the damn thing because it kept running through my mind that they probably didn't wash it. We watched the party next to us, sporadically receive their food, even though they ordered after us. We also watched some of our food sit under the food warmer, in the expo, for a very, long time. Someone in our party, ordered dessert and he even saw it sit in the window for at least five minutes. Left and right, people received their food. Finally the waitress came behind me, to finally lay down a plate I have anticipated for hours, literally. "Um, what the fuck?" said the look on my face as it stared ate the lobster and shrimp pot pie, which formed a skin on top, from sitting in the window. She immediately picked up my plate and said ,"No...I'm sorry madam this is not yours." No shit it ain't mine! Famished, I expected a piping, hot bowl of spicy,shrimp and lobster gumbo. View the rest on jpobocan.tumblr.com/post…
(1)Charisse L.
we went on the night of the jazz pub crawl and the food and music was FANTASTIC! 2 of us shared the rib dinner with collards and a side of coleslaw and red beans and rice, and everything was delicious (especially, that special treatment of the greens!). service was prompt and the food arrived fast. will attend again when we can linger a while, order individual plates and then have leftovers to take home. I wanted every dish I saw passing us by to other tables!
(4)Stephon M.
Service was Excellent, ambience was on point, music was smooth, and most important the food was Superb!
(5)Laurie V.
A terrific restaurant--eat outside if it's a nice day! Delicious food, excellent service, lovely neighborhood. So glad we decided to try it. Especially recommend the tea, sweet potato pie, Caribbean chicken.
(5)Debra M.
Whenever my husband and I go back home to Chicago, we always pick a place to meet our friends for a drink. Before we arrived in Chicago last week, my sister suggested Norman's Bistro. Well, what a cute place! This was a perfect spot to catch up with our friends. We were seated at a large table in the dining room. Our food was good and the staff was very attentive. We also had a chance to meet Norman, the owner. What a treat! His enthusiasm is infectious! It really was a pleasure to meet him. I should also mention, there's a bar in the rear of the restaurant, which looked like a great place to watch the baseball game. Maybe next time we're in town, we'll stop in for brunch.
(3)Kamilah S.
My family, friends and I came here for lunch on a Thursday after my sister got married and the food was excellent, Esrah or Israh, our server, (sorry for the misspelling) was excellent. I got the shrimp and lobster pot pie, delicious. The restaurant gave us a pineapple and lemon glazed bunt cake, that was very moist and yummy. We toasted the evening away with a bottle of champagne. The service was a little on the slow side, but I think our server just wanted to give us time to review the menu and talk with our party. The food more than made up for the service. I will definitely be back.
(5)Tony J.
Just what Kenwood needed. The food is excellent and the ambience is just right. Norm has placed the "perfect restaurant" in the heart of the neighborhood!
(5)Stephanie N.
I went here last night with my best friend. We like to find new restaurants and review them. Let's just say the parking is nonexistent. I had to park in front of someone's house who gave me a dirty look for taking their spot. We had a nice waitress named Chada, who also gave recommendations. The restaurant was beautifully decorated. I loved the jazz/blues music playing in the back ground. Now down to the food. I was not very impressed at all. The yeast rolls were good. I was told that the Seafood chili would be good and I must admit it was delicious. My side salad does not need to be addressed. I order the jambalaya. The shrimp were big and the sausages were ok. The rice mixture was too salty. My best friend ordered a slab of ribs. They were falling off the bone as for the texture. However if it was not for the flavorful BBQ sauce, they would've been bland. No seasoning of the meat. The potatoes that came with them were also very bland. We were ready for the sweet potatoes dream for the dessert and they did not have it. I was very disappointed. My other friend had bragged how delicious this was. We had to settle on cheese cake and bread pudding. Again, bread pudding really did not have a good flavor as far as the rum sauce. I am not sure if I would consider going back...
(3)David L.
Server was average. Food was good. Kitchen was slow
(2)J U.
Ehhh, I hesitated reviewing this because I SO wanted to give it 5 stars (you know, upscale restaurant in North Kenwood and all), but alas, all I can muster is 3. I've been here several times for dinner and it's been... alright. The wait staff is very friendly, but the service time seems quite slow. Also, the menu is a bit limited and I feel like they're always out of an entree item each time I've been there--but at least are apologetic about the inconvenience. I did have the Blue Burger the last time I was there and it was yummy. The only other thing I would note is that it's a bit pricey for what you're getting. I went there for a group dinner, had 1 entree and two drinks--my bill came to almost $40, without tax or tip. However, I will more than likely be back because I like to support community businesses.
(3)Thomas A.
Very disappointed by both the service and miss opportunity. I went on Election night...it was my first time at Norman's and i don't think i'll ever be going back. The kitchen closed early because they were "backed up with orders", the waitress didn't come to our table for 15 minutes after we sat down, the table was never bussed to sat at the table with empty glasses and plates all night, was never offered any drinks yet alone a drink menu. We had to get up and walk to the bar on the other side of the building to get glasses of water. It was just a real let down for a place that could have done so well on a big night in Hyde Park/Kenwood. If you're going to be open to a event like this....then you should be prepared (whatever that takes). That was my first and probably last time trying this spot.
(1)Emily P.
This place is horrible. My boyfriend and I went here thinking we were about to enjoy a nice dinner a few weeks ago. We were sat in a dimly lit corner and forgot about. Finally a man walks up to our table and tells us he will be our server for the evening. Before anything, he lets us know he doesn't work there on a regualar basis and is just helping out. WTF?? We proceed to order our drinks. I ask for a white wine while my boyfriends gets a mixed drink. Strike 1- They bring me red wine! I tell them this is not what I ordered and he then brings me a glass of white wine. We go ahead and place our dinner order. My boyfriend orders steak and I order salmon. Then it happens, we begin to wait and wait. 15 mins go by, 30 mins go by, 45 mins go by, 1 hour. Nothing. No one checks on us. Finally our volunteer server comes to us and says, "I'm sorry but we are out of steak. Can we get you something else?" Are you friggin kidding me???? You JUST figured this out and we have been sitting here for an hour! Strike 2!!!! We decide to just leave and tell them to cancel my order and just bill us for the drinks. This fool then over charges us for our drinks. Our bill read $20 for my boyfriends mixed cocktail! Strike 3! What drink cost $20??? At this point, we were too done with this place. We won't be back again.
(1)R M.
I live really close to Norman's and was really excited to try this Bistro out.. Granted it's nice to see on the exterior a nice looking restaurant because we have so little in the area that being said I'm strictly basing this on the food and I wasn't impressed. I ordered the Salmon and my Husband ordered the Ribs. The only part of our dinner that I enjoyed were the dinner rolls. The restaurant has great service and it's nicely decorated but I was surprised at how much the food lacked. I was told from the waiter that the menu is constantly changing so I'm just hoping they improve on the taste of their food.
(2)Lisa W.
Soooo disappointed - and I really wanted not to love this place! Went for a birthday party and was expecting a bit of a wait, perhaps even some slow service. However, what we got was the most horrible dining experience I've had in YEARS. The dinner started out innocuous enough, even pleasantly entertaining. The owner, Norman, came out to the table and greeted the birthday boy and his girlfriend. He even called them "his favorite people" (this is funny because he totally disappeared later and we certainly must not have been his favorite people then). We couldn't help but chuckle as we checked out the menu, as it was literally FILLED with careless spelling mistakes (why, I ask, in the age of editors and spell check would you let these slip by?) I ordered the salmon, my boyfriend the gumbo. We were assured that the food would be amazing, and we were prepared to wait a bit because the place had another party (that were seated right behind us in an otherwise empty restaurant); they also had some sort of catering event going on in the adjacent room. However, I was not prepared for the absolute disappointment that we endured. It took approximately 2 hours to get our food. Our waitress was inattentive and simply lost. She carried a bag of salad out into the dining room and couldn't seem to remember anyone's orders. After approximately an hour and 15 minute wait, she ASKED ME again me what I ordered, and I told her. Then, our food began to slowly trickle out. My boyfriend received his gumbo, yet another girl in our party didn't get hers. She was told that they weren't able to make the gumbo anymore. They offered her another seafood pot pie instead. However, when she received it, we noticed that this was the same food item that we had watched SITTING under the foodlamps for a good 15 minutes. The lobster pot pie was congealed and gross on top. AND SHE WAS EXPECTED TO EAT IT!!! I was afraid to eat my salmon, after all, if they were this careless about food prep, did I want to venture seafood? I cancelled my order. The waitress brought it out anyway, approximately 15 minutes later, and I refused it. During all this chaos, the owner, Norman, never came back out, ever. The birthday boy attempted to talk with him about our plight and he seemed oblivious. I'm a former dining room manager of a reputable restaurant and I can not believe the way in which we were handled. After sitting for two hours, I went away hungry and dissatisfied, and the owner didn't care at all. I will never be back - don't waste your money or time.
(1)Herb T.
I went for the entertainment....Sunday nite jam sessions with Ernest Dawkins and Isaiah Spencer was a lot of fun and very impressive......the meal i had was good enough that i would go back to try more of the food,,,,,(the greens were excellent...!!!)
(4)Herman B.
We went back for dinner again this time with our infant son, it was a great experience again, I had pan seared Tilapia with cranberry rice, yummm. The wife had a huge pork chop with home fries and she liked that too. For desert I had the citrus pie excellent also. Their blue cheese bbq burgers came in an appetizer size which my wife and I split. Excellent service, same as our last visit.
(5)Sheree F.
Norm's Bistro is a fun place to go out for drinks & appetizer's on the weekend. They have a DJ on Fridays who plays light jazz, R&B. The food is also great. My favorite was the turkey burger but the pizza was also nothing short of outstanding. A good place to relax and unwind after a long week. Good people are also there...nice dating spot to meet new people.
(5)Dan S.
Ok, I decided that I just had to try this place regardless of all the bad reviews because I saw it featured on one of the local food shows and had to have the gumbo. Lets just say that I should have listened to the reviews and steered clear. I went to the Bistro ( trust me it is only a Bistro in name) We parked our car across the street and had to hurdle over a mountian of snow because the bartender had parked his cadillac across the crosswalk. We (7 of us) walked in and stood there for about 5 minutes before we asked if we needed to wait to be seated or just seat ourselves.There were only three other tables with people. Finally someone walked up and asked us how many were in our party. They then dragged a table to an already set up of two tables which would have been fine except for the fact that the third table was a completely differant size making for two in our party to be sitting futher in from the rest of us. We pretty much all ordered something differant. I will just repeat what everyone said starting with myself. The Gumbo athough it had plenty of lobster claw meat and shrimps (as spelled on the menu) it was bland and tasteless. $25 Whoa.... The Ceaser salad, It sat 20 minutes on the counter while the rest of the food cooked... It was horrible only ate 1/4 of it.... $20 Really ? Bowl of chicken soup and a coke...ckicken was dry but the coke was good..$15...gasp ...BBQ Ribs...very good (Half a chicken Not sure but I think it was mediterranean.) they said it was like chicken with sweet fruit dumped on top... $20 ... The service was horrible... it took almost an hour for our food ..... Prices were way too high...Food was bland ... would I go back? Sorry but I would rather go to a fast food restarant.
(1)Ben G.
Took my parents here and had a great dinner. Fantastic service and nice creativity with the entree options and presentation of food. Tasted great too. Very reasonably priced for the high quality. They have a nice and happening attached bar that seemed like a great neighborhood spot to grab a drink. Looking forward to trying brunch here.
(5)Aprill H.
Went to Norman's to grab dinner, and the seafood pasta was excellent. The manager (?) Greg took VERY good care of us and even let us try out their signature dessert, the sweet potato dream, one of the best restaurant desserts I've ever had. He told us he's working on the menu prices which we found to be a little pricey, but overall we had a great experience, and our waiter was very very good. Will definitely be back.
(4)C F.
Hey there, Im happy to report there is a spot on the southside that Im IMPRESSED with! I was amazed when I walked in to this little pearl of a spot in the middle of the Bronzeville area that was so hot that everyone in there has on sunglasses for the Brunch buffet on mothers day! Yay! I love it! I felt so freakin "La tid dah" in here, it was crazy! Gotta take your girlfriends, and your mom when she comes to visit. Nornan came by and greeted, it was buzzing and full of excitement to be in here, on thing, my server was a bit slow, he never went over the buffet options nor did he suggest a mimosa would top of my breakfast! I fully expected him to tell me all that in this place. Other than that, we likey!
(4)marquita c.
We went to Norman's Bistro for Sunday Brunch September 30 2012 and really wanted to like it but service and the food was poor. I agree with some of others reviews slow service and a kitchen staff that need some organization. Our meals can out one at a time and the server had to reheated the rice.We may give it a second try because I really want to like it.
(1)von t.
Norman's Bistro is a great place to relax and have a enjoyable meal or a well deserved drink. The atmosphere is great and the staff is friendly. The cranberry breadpudding is to die for!!!!!!
(4)ROME N.
I know a lot of folks like myself luv "happy hour networking". This place, food, and employees are hot right now! Americano-Brazil food.. Lets Get It!
(4)Yvette M.
I come from a family that loves to eat out and that has a low tolerance for poor service and mediocre food. Because it was my birthday celebration I got to pick the place and while we usually go downtown or to the south suburbs, I chose Norman's Bistro for brunch Saturday and it was fantastic. My sisters, mother and nieces had never been there and I've always loved the food, like the lobster pot pie and I enjoy the atmosphere and the fact that there's free parking on the street and on the south side, but I'd never been there for brunch. My mother, who starts judging from the first cup of coffee, was very pleased and my sisters too. They chose the liver, gravy and onions and I chose the salmon croquets, rice and gravy and deliciously seasoned sautéed spinach with eggs scrambled medium with feta. YUM! Beautiful clean surroundings, and really good people serving, Norman's Bistro for brunch is excellent, flavorful and the menu is interesting. You need to get there for brunch before everyone finds out!!! There were eight of us and we were delighted with the food and the atmosphere, enjoyed our conversations and ordered dessert too. It's a bit of downtown on the south side. We'll be back for brunch!
(5)Latasha B.
I went with my girlfriends; the seafood pot pie was delicious! The ambience was nice; however the customer service was not the best. There were 4 of us and they only gave us 3 place settings. The waiter didn't have any suggestions for the newcomers; nor did he know what drinks they offered. Every question that was asked by us; he had to go to the back and ask. Again dinner was awesome but our waiter only came back to check on us when he handed us the bill:( I believe in communication and if he was new; he could have expressed that and maybe then we would have had a little sympathy and patience. With the right staff this place could be excellent!
(4)Lynne N.
Like others - I'm super thrilled that we have a nice sit down spot on the south side that doesn't include chicken & waffles. My excitement is tempered with the fact that the food isn't comparable to the decor, attentive staff and ambiance. I hope they get the food together ... because I'm dying to give it FIVE stars. We had the chicken mini bleu burgers and asian chicken wings ... ho hum ... margarita was good; dinner rolls ok ... Support our local businesses and don't be afraid to tell them where they can improve ...
(3)Jess W.
So, if THIS is their defintion of an upscale restaraunt, it is a sad, sad day. This experience was by far THEE WORST dining experience I've had...EVER. Today was my dear friend's graduation and we had a party of around 40 people. Everything was set up prior to our arrival by her sisters and brother, so it's not like we just came in...reservations were made over a week ago. There were issues from the very beginning. First of all, there were only two waiters. One waiter for each side of the table. Ok...that's not so bad. HOWEVER, it took the entire time we were there to get served, they NEVER cleaned our tables, and the guest of honor NEVER GOT WHAT SHE INITIALLY ORDERED. The waiter for our side of the table should never work in the restaraunt business, period. It took him two hours (I wish I was making this up) to give everyone their bill. Wait...he didn't give it to us...TWO OF MY FRIENDS HAD TO HELP CLOSE OUR CHECKS!!!!! Really dude? And on top of all that, he added gratuity to each check! Um...aren't you suppose to get a tip when you provide GOOD service??? He never came over to apologize, never said thank you...he did tell us, however that one waiter couldn't make it and another one quit. Nevertheless, that is no excuse for the pathetic service we received. They made a ton of money from us and we could have received better service from Harold's Chicken. Now, I will say the waiter who worked the opposite side of the table did his best...he knew we weren't being treated well and did what he could. The chef tried to please my friend as best as he could. But unfortunately, their effort was overshadowed by everything else. The owner needs to invest in providing extensive, hands-on training for his staff or else that ship will sink very fast. It saddens me that I really wanted to support this Black owned business. Unfortunately, this one doesn't deserve my business.
(1)O.E. S.
I've been to Norman's a few times, and for a neighborhood that is lacking options it is definitely a breath of fresh air. The food is ok, definitely not the best that I've had, but it is tasty. The staff is friendly, although you can definitely tell that at least some of them are still learning. I give them a pass tho since it is still a relatively new business. The back area seems like it is primed and ready for small gatherings as well. Overall, I will definitely be back, looking forward to continued improvements to the service, and possibly the options on the menu. I'll review again after they've had a few months to get their rhythm.
(3)William H.
This is my second and LAST time at Norman's - was hoping for a treat in a neighborhood that could use and deserves a few good places to dine. Again, s-l-o-w service - s-l-o-w-e-r expediting of food out of the kitchen. But this time a breakast I can only describe as a greasy disappointment. Forget the "world's best breakfast sandwich" and if you want french toast plan on one small slice along with lots of potatoes, eggs and bacon - all tasting just as greasy as the sandwich. An hour later and my lips and teeth still feel like they were rubbed with Crisco. Watch what you order - not everything arrives but it shows up on your check.
(1)Jeremy W.
One word. Wow! Who would of thought you could find upscale dining in North Kenwood. Well folks, it's here! Norman's Bistro has quietly opened and I tell you the food and service is worth a look. I thought this place would never open because of all the politics Norman Bolden went through to get the place established. Went here last night and had the Pan Seared Tilapia with Black Beans and Rice. Good! Cranberry Bread Pudding was good also, although the portion was not generous enough. The Burger with Bleu Cheese is worth a day in court also. Norman has to be commended for opening this establishment right smack in the middle of a supreme food desert. Give it a shot, he's on 43rd and Ellis and the staff is super nice. Access to his adjacent Sports Bar is easily available through the dining area. Drop your hangups and head on over to North Kenwood and give Norman's Bistro a try. C'mon, you can do it!!
(4)Gerri H.
We went to Norman's during lunch/brunch early on a Saturday afternoon. We elected to have lunch, so my husband and I both ordered the blue burger (burger with blue/jack cheese, roasted pepper, and bbq sauce). We both enjoyed the burger, which was a a little different as the blue cheese was not as prominent as on other blue cheese burgers and the bbq sauce was a tasty addition. I carried home half of my meal, because I really wanted to try the desert here. We shared an apple cranberry bread pudding and a sweet potato dream (tart w/whipped cream). Both were excellent, especially the sweet potato dream. We finished our meal off with coffee, which came out in little metal cups. I also enjoyed the view; we sat in a booth near the window and watched the snow fall. Parking was also effortless. We will definitely be back again to try the outdoor seating in the spring. A great addition to the neighborhood.
(4)Atha S.
I'll keep it simple. I had the blue burger. It was great tasting. I switched out the fires for a salad. The dressing was delicious. The ambiance is nice. The service was nice. The drinks were good to. The restaurant is off to a good start. I live in Bronzeville and I'm rather proud of the place. Looking forward to seeing the menu expand.
(4)P P.
Ok...so here's another place that I do like especially for a neighborhood that lacks other dining establishments. If I could, I would give this place a3.5 My overall experience was positive. The place was pretty quite with only one other table which was a bit surprising since it was only 9:30ish on a Saturday night when we arrived. The place is nice with a great ambiance. I ordered the Tilapia which I liked. Our waiter was interesting...I would say he lacked personality. I did more of the talking than he...but I guess such is life. I would definitely go back.
(3)Damita H.
After making a reservation and finding out the person who took it didn't even write it down, I was hesitant about this restaurant. We arrived at 2:10 and had our orders taken at around 2:35, then got our food at almost 3:15. They managed to get egg whites wrong twice and the rest of our orders were just marginal, with the exception of my biscuit. Yes the place is cute, but what good is cute when service is extraordinarily slow and the food is just so-so.
(1)Selena A.
I wanted to give this spot a 5 but I couldn't. I stopped in for lunch on Saturday. I loved the art work and the wait staff was prompt and attentive. Now the food is another story. I was so disappointed, I hope Norman reads these reviews but I do want this business to grow and prosper. I was brought a tiny salad in a soup bowl, I kept thinking how strange which made it difficult to cut my veggies. My main course was the pork chop entree with home fries, and cole slaw. How can you mess up this meal. It was flavorless, tasteless, and bland. Everything and I mean everything. What a total disappointment. I had the bread pudding for dessert, another disappointment because it had been microwaved too long and I could tell. I mentioned my concerns to my server and he offered my drink for free, I declined. I would have preferred another piece of pudding that hadn't been microwaved to it's death. I'm going to give this spot one more try and I'll order the blue burger since it has had the best reviews. Please get it together, Norm. I miss Blue 47, their food was too die for, after all when we eat out in this economy it should be better than a meal we can prepare ourselves at home.
(2)Anthony H.
Review in Haiku Extraordinarily Good cuisine and great service Topped with free smiles
(5)Candace H.
Prior to coming here, I'd read several reviews, watched food critic shows and had referrals from friends. I must say we were beyond disappointed in the service, space and food. We were half greeted by a young hostess that was clearly overwhelmed and did not smile or make us feel welcome. They were obviously short staffed and we were underserved because the wait staff was being stretched beyond what they could handle. The Trolley Tour proved to be overwhelming to this establishment. The desserts ordered were Peach Cobbler and Salted Caramel Cake both of which were returned after 1 bite. The crust on the cobbler was moist and soft and lacked flavor, the cake tasted as if it had been frozen too long and had an old taste. Hopefully....in the near future, things will get better. Customer Service training is definitely a recommendation.
(1)Tavi J.
I went here for brunch with high hopes and was disappointed. I'm going to blame part of this on myself. My love of breakfast had me ordering the pancake platter. I was looking forward to having sweet potato pancakes for the first time, but it was nothing special. The potatoes that came on the side were bland, but tasted okay once doused in hot sauce and salt. Eggs were bland as well. My friend ordered the biscuits and gravy platter. It came with steak on top which she said was overcooked and her biscuits were dry. Now...this is classified as a Brazilian restaurant, so I probably should have ordered something else versus going the normal breakfast route. I plan on coming back in the near future to try more of there main entree items. Also note service was fast although when we first got there it wasn't that packed. No complaints about service though.
(3)Gino W.
Realizing how restaurants tend to fill up quickly for evening dinner on the weekends, I decided to visit Norman's Bistro during the mid afternoon on a Saturday. There were quite a few diners in the main area, but still enough seats such that I didn't have to worry about people sitting on top of me. Homemade yeast rolls. Garden salad with raspberry vinaigrette. Seafood chili. Homemade corn muffins. Chicken, shrimp, and lobster gumbo. Salted caramel cake. I have no extensive review. The service was laid back and the food was damn good. I like the fact that the bread was homemade rather than brought in from a bakery. You can tell by the texture of fresh, baked bread. The seafood chili and gumbo were full of flavour. Having been to New Orleans, I am accustomed to any dishes with a roux base being spicy, but the full flavour of the dishes at Norman's Bistro made up for the lack of pepper in the chili and gumbo. The salted caramel cake, I do believe, may have come from a bakery. It reminded me of the dobo cake I've had at Julius Meinl. I shall have to return again to sample some other menu items. I have a feeling the restaurant can pack out after 5:00, so it will be another Saturday afternoon excursion. It will be worth it.
(5)Jason W.
Only thing memorable to me was the gumbo, which although was good, as not worth the price tag that they have attached. Reason why this review is so low is that the burger that I got which was supposed to be duck.....was actually just ground up duck like a normal burger. Couldn't even tell if it was duck...maybe it wasn't. Second reason was the girl got the snapper and it had the biggest fishy smell and taste I have ever witnessed at a restaurant. Maybe I'm being harsh because Chicago doesn't have access to fresh seafood? Either way, won't be coming back.
(2)Elnora C.
I've been experiencing some great burgers across a few states and have to say the blue burger was amazing, and is a contender for one of the best.
(5)Leon W.
There were quite a few diners in the main area, but still enough seats such that I didn't have to worry about people sitting on top of me. Homemade yeast rolls. Garden salad with raspberry vinaigrette. Seafood chili. Homemade corn muffins. Chicken, shrimp, and lobster gumbo. Salted caramel cake.
(5)Danielle W.
The worst! Service was horrible! I tried to give it a chance on 4 different occasions and the service remained the same. We could have walked out without paying because our waiter was MIA. No more chances. I will NOT patronize this place again.
(1)Nicole G.
The server was very polite. Sadly, that was only positive thing I have to say. My husband and I order salads for one of our sides. Both salads came out wilted, even the tomatoes were wilted. We let that past because it was 9 at night. Afterwards, when we received our meals it was horrible. My husband ordered the blue cheeses burger. When he received his burger it had American cheese on the burger. We asked about the blue cheese and we were told that they don't sell blue cheese anymore. That made me upset because if the burger is not being served anymore and then tell the customer just don't give them any type of burger you want to give them. When I received my Cajun catfish it was broiled with a bunch of sauce on it. Last I checked Cajun catfish is somewhat blackened. I still try to eat the fish, but it tasted like the fish was old or freezer burned. I ended up not eating anything and buying something from McDonald's on 47th. It's really sad that I can say McDonald's is better than this place. I would recommend this place maybe for cocktails only.
(1)Lorraine W.
Just had dinner at this "HOT SPOT." Food was good, serves was crazy I don't know if they hire help from Mickie D's or Burger King. Waitress and Waiter need to be traded before servicing patrons. Our Waitress did not know the menu, when asked if the lamb, was lamb chop or rack of lamb she said, she don't eat lamb, "which one has bones?" Then she was asked about the ribs she said she don't eat pork!understandable. But you should know about the Resturant menu. Also, she kept blaming the kitchen for everything that was wrong, who does that? If I am not mistaking the waitress or waiter is the one who places the order for the kitchen. Please, Please, Please train your staff in order to keep patronage coming to this establishment get a handle on it before it's too late.
(3)Russ A.
We found this restaurant on Check Please! So we wanted to try it. The location is a bit far out but the drive was not that bad and well worth it!! The food was phenomenal. I had a roasted cajun catfish plate with sweet potato yam and braised collard greens. It was totally out of this world. I got to taste their chicken, shrimp and lobster gumbo as well and it was the best gumbo, totally worth $25 for the dish. We were so full and didn't have any room left for desserts. May be next time. I give it 5 solid stars for the food and also for the service. Oh also lemon drop martini and Manhattan were very good as well.
(5)Claudette H.
I've given this restaurant three chances to at least serve me mediocre food, but they failed each time. In addition to bad food, customer service is not good. On my last visit my friend and I were ignored by all staff that walked past the hostess booth. I had to walk to the kitchen and ask if we could be seated, and the place was almost empty, no customers and this was an afternoon on a Saturday. We moved pass this red flag and since I've been here twice before, I had a difficult time ordering because I feared I would order something and it taste horrible due to the high prices. I finally ordered the Merlot pasta with chicken sausage, side of corn pudding, and the island sweet tea. Boy was I mad when I saw the pasta. It was loaded with store bought spaghetti sauce, no chicken sausage and definitely no taste. So upset. As I ate two individuals walked in to the restaurant to be seated and was ignored as well by staff, so they left. I should have done the same thing, but I stayed and was out of over $50 on two meals and unsatisfied with food and service at this place. The quality has gone astray and it doesn't appear it will be coming back. Poor management and lack of training for the servers. Looks like I have to continue going outside of my community for quality good food and service.
(1)Wanda C.
Me and mom are having dinner here right now and this food is amazing. I had the fried catfish with sauteed spinach OMG delicious. You have to come here and try it you will not regret it... Yelper come and try Norman's Bistro and ask for Clarence he's the best Waiter.....
(5)Fredrick B.
I don't ordinarily do this, but I had lunch with a dear friend yesterday at a truly divine hidden gem on the south side called Norman's Bistro on 43rd & Ellis. Friday in Lent so I had the Lobster Gumbo--yes you heard me correctly. Rita told me the Salmon was perfectly prepared, and the island stir fry bowl seemed delectable. Must try this spot folks--open for breakfast and Sunday Brunch. I can't wait until Easter -- Flame Grilled Lamb with Carrot Cake from Norman's for dessert! normansbistro.com
(5)P S.
Disappointed. Burger was WACK. BUN was cheap. The smashed yams were good though but couldnt make up for the main dish. Sadness Fills my heart.
(1)Sharyon C.
Really nice ambiance and good food... But the SLOWEST SERVICE EVER :( It's enough to make me not come back to eat. Only bar nights, and bring cash...
(3)Elizabeth R.
If you want to experience great food and people come to norm's. I love the Duck burger with a glass of sangria, it's out of this world.
(5)Sharon G.
The worst service everrrrrrrr! When ever I hear that Norman Bistro will provide food at an event or someone has a party or get together there I never go because the service is always terrible! The 3 times I went there or they provided food I never get waited on! Never...why? I don't know but this last time I was fed up. The free food they provided I gave it back thinking that they could have spat in it or something after I expressed my distained with the waiters. NEVER EVER AGAIN!!!
(1)April T.
Just had dinner here this evening.I'll relate the hits and the misses; The hits; The food was fabulous, collard greens, sauteed spinach, mashed sweet potatoes, pizza, fried shrimp, wild rice, t bone steak, lamb chops, pork chops, ALL the food was excellent. The misses; service sucked and I do mean really really sucked The waitress didn't know nothing about the food we asked about the entrees and her responses were not appropriate. My fellow guests said they must have got her off a McDonald's line to work for tonight and put her into a restaurant setting; some examples, we asked the waitress about the entrees; is the lamb steaks or chops(the menu did NOT specify) The waitress said is that with the bone in it? Because we have the one with the bone in it. We asked her about the ribs she said she didn't know because she don't eat that, that really was her response. She blamed everything in the kitchen, her response to where were the appetizer we ordered " I just put it in the kitchen I don't have nothing to do with the way it comes out, I just put the orders in" I swear that was her response. When I complained about my steak being over cooked she did bring me another. We asked her about the dessert menu options her response was I don't know or I never have never eaten that. This establishment has the potential to be so much better, we all would come back for the food but the service is seriously lacking.I would order take out.
(2)Jennifer G.
Normans Bistro is a gem in Bronzeville! I love the fact that I can go there by myself or with a group of of friends and still feel comfortable in each setting. The food is great! It is a place where you can get comfort food and it has a upscale twist on soul food classics. This is definitely a place to try out.
(5)Anna D.
Had a nice time here. They were partying on one side & we were eating on the other side. The chicken gumbo was delish. I'll be back for more.
(4)Claudette H.
My service was great! However, the food lacked flavor and the dinner rolls were not good at all. I had the citrus tilapia and it was very bland and dry. I also tried the Caribbean yams and they were tasty. The cole slaw was very good also. Even though I only gave three stars I still think I will return and try something different off the menu.
(3)Theresa T.
Such an amazing place! The food was delicious. If you go you must try the corn pudding. The Sangria will send you to your happy place. The Cranberry bread pudding is to die for!! The back bar area is filled with regulars who embraced us with open arms as we danced to great r & b dance music. Norman dragged me out to the dance floor and danced a few songs with me. Can't wait to go back!!
(5)Eric F.
It was nice spot. I didn't know it had the back bar area. I've passed this place multiple times and on this day decided to stop in for lunch. I had the liver plate with sweet potatoes and the cole slaw it came with a nice surprise as well! The coleslaw had a welcomed sweetness. I thought the sweet potatoes were creamy and cooked to perfection. Being greedy, I also ordered the red beans and rice that I thought had a wonderful flavor to them. It was something about those red beans and rice that will definitely make me return! My fiancé had the gumbo which was great as well. Thanks Norman!
(5)Dilaun W.
There was a little confusion for me at first. I called to reserve a table for 5 and was told the wait was 30-60 mins. When I arrived the place was pretty much empty and we were seated right away. Our server was nice and attentive. I ordered sweet potato fries which were really tasty. I got the cajun catfish pate with red beans and rice. It wasn't outstanding but still good food. The grilled fish was better with a little lemon. The warm bread basket was great and fresh. One side of this place is a restaurant and one side was like a club with dj so you hear two sets of music the whole meal. Jazz and mellow tunes in the restaurant competing with more upbeat music. Free street parking, not too much else is around the immediate area.
(3)Joe M.
We decided to try Norman's Bistro after seeing a review on Check Please. I ordered the Shrimp, Chicken and Lobster Gumbo. This was the best gumbo I've ever had. The corn muffins that came with were delicious too - didn't even have to add butter. The portions were very generous. Our server was very sweet and accommodating. The dining room was very comfortable and pleasant. Street parking was very easy to find. You should plan on making reservations if you dine on the weekends. I highly recommend Norman's Bistro.
(5)Simone T.
Came here yesterday to celebrate my Birthday with 3 friends. Service is a bit slow, but we wanted a leisurely early dinner, so it was wonderful. Our table had a shrimp & lobster pot pie, salmon, tilapia, and liver w/bacon & onions. All were FANTASTIC. Great sides, FANTASTIC cocktails. Our server was attending to several other tables, but took the time to remember our names and take care of us. It was also a nice touch that the owner & chef took the time to see how we were doing. This is off the beaten path, but worth it!
(4)Valerie M.
I went during the week. Service was a little slow but there was a party going on so they get a pass on that I had the chicken,lobster, and shrimp gumbo . They get an extra star for that, it's really hard to find gumbo without pork sausage in it. It had just the right amount of kick and was seasoned well. It came without a sale and two pieces of corn bread. They give you a nice size bowl enough to take home. My waitress actually seemed shocked I didn't finish. Kudos to anyone who is finishing that dish in one sitting. I liked the vibe of the restaurant and I will return.
(4)Anthony S.
The lobster and chicken gumbo was Excellent, looking forward to trying other items on menu.
(5)April B.
Yesterday my sister & I went to Normans and I'm glad we did. Great atmosphere! Their was a live band and the service was superior. This is my new hot spot.
(5)Patricia O.
They were out of lobster for the chicken shrimp and lobster gumbo. And this was this dish featured on Check Please! What a let down. But the chicken gumbo and seafood chili was good... The service was lacking. Our server was Wanda. She was nice but not knowledgeable of the menu. I take it that she's new so I'm willing to go with it. Our food came out at different times. I don't blame our server but I do blame the kitchen. My sister had the half chicken and she said it was good and well worth the twenty min wait that was posted on the menu. But it was supposed to come with a salad. She got that salad ten min after the sever cleared her chicken plate. My brother ordered the Asian stir fry bowl. Although he said it wad okay, it was too sweet, only had 3 shrimp and arrived 20min after my sister's chicken. I was served first but there was a mix up, I ordered a bowl of the chicken gumbo, a cup of the seafood chili and a side of sauteed collard greens. My brother ordered a cup of the chicken gumbo. I noticed that our sever didn't write any of this down. She gave my brother my bowl of chicken gumbo and correctly served me my seafood chilli. I took my gumbo from my brother and alerted our server of the mix up and to bring out his cup of chicken gumbo and my side of collard greens, that took 20min. My sister requested another glass of water, it never came so my sister drank my glass. Surprisingly my sibling`s alcohol drinks came prompt and requests for refills were on point. But I ordered the white sangria and they were out of white wine. So I ordered the red sangria and it came 20 min later. It was good but like chicken gumbo, it wasn't what I truly wanted. A birthday party was going on at the tables next to us and I overheard them talking about how "I ordered ice for my drink 20min ago and it's still not here." Why are the sliced cakes coming out five min here or ten min there but not all together? It was a big party of about 15 ppl. They seem pleased but again the service needs great improvement to match the wonderful food. And I didn't understand why the buffet dishes were still out? Couldn't they put that away and set up once the dining room or the entire restaurant was closed? Nice crowd, pleasant atmosphere, but please tighten up service and retrain kitchen staff to have all meals for the table prepared and delivered at the same time. Will come back for the chicken shrimp and LOBSTER gumbo. If the chicken gumbo was any indication, the lobster one will be well worth the return visit.
(3)Ciara S.
I went to Norman's today with my family for a birthday dinner. The restaurant is a nice,small intimate setting. When my party finally all arrived the waitress never introduced herself and she took her time serving everyone in our party. Apparently there is a brunch buffet that happens on Sunday and we has to investigate how much it was. The food that was out for the buffet looked like it wasbjust sitting there all day.I finally settled on the chicken shrimp and lobster gumbo which was so good. And my dish came with 2 corn muffins but I didn't get my corn muffins but my grandmother ordered the same dish and her muffins right away! Plus it took our waitress too long to give us our check because we was ready to go home. Food good service needs improvement
(3)Dayna R.
Had the Salmon Cakes and they were HORRIBLE!! No flavor, no taste, no nothing...very disappointed. However, the chicken gumbo was good but the pricing was not conducive to the portion provided. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it. I had 'duck dressing' and 'sautéed spinach' with my salmon cakes and the dressing was 'Meh'. The duck was its salvation because it simply was NOT well executed. The texture was a bit grainy and it was severely undercooked. The spinach was 'ok'. I also had the fried shrimp and Asian wings for an appetizer. The shrimp were decent but they were five 'Seapack' brand frozen shrimp you can find in your local grocer. I was offended that I was charged $8 for that. In addition, the wings were tasty but not worth it. Portions for the appetizers are simply TOO small. I expected more. But overall, it wasn't terrible - it was just not what I expected. I would probably go back for the chicken gumbo. I just will NEVER EVER get the salmon cakes again!! They were disgusting. A tip to the chef, please add some fresh garlic, yellow and green onion, red and yellow bell pepper along with some well cooked rice to your salmon for your salmon cakes; also add a touch of dijon mustard or mustard seed with some cayenne pepper, black pepper and a pinch of sea salt; mix together thoroughly (until rice is not noticeable) w/a beaten egg and then make your patties to cook. Trust me, I make these w/a bread crumb and corneal coating but I've done them without the coating and they simple taste GREAT! You'll have people lining up to purchase your salmon cakes if you CHANGE THAT NASTY recipe. They will be light, fluffy and TASTY. Because what you have now is just salmon and onions mixed together and put into a patty and most people probably don't know any better but - It's TERRIBLE! The service was good. Not excellent but good. I may stop by again to try some new things and will be adding my findings to this review. But as for now, I can only give an average rating.
(3)Cheyenne J.
I just finished my praline pecan patties that I bought during a visit to Normans. I promise you, as a person from New Orleans, there are those that say they can make praline pecan patties, but nobody has ever come this close to my grandma. Those things were wonderful and to think he sold them to me after I practically begged him to give them to me from the Sunday buffet. I also had shrimp lobster gumbo. It was fantastic. Thanks Norman. I have not tasted food like this since I last went to New Orleans some time ago.
(4)Bradley R.
Ok you people with all of the stars must have been in a different restaurant than I was. I will never go back to this restaurant. Not because the service was slow and ineffective and it was. Not because my food not only was not as it was described on the menu but totally salty and it was. Not because we ordered mimosas which came ten minutes after our brunch entrée even though we asked our server twice about them which did happen. I will never go back here because the owner or manager not sure which came out to talk to two older ladies at the table next to us who had a complaint. His response to this customer was that she obviously doesn't know good food and should eat somewhere else. Upon hearing that I decided not to even complain because I know how my temper can be. we paid left and went to promontory for some good food and drinks and attentive service. Its a shame but I left brunch hungry and thirsty.
(1)Tamika A.
I had high hopes for this restaurant. It is a beautiful building. The wait staff is so kind and friendly. However, I came here with my family on mother's day. They had a mother's day buffet and it was billed to be amazing. My family and I waited for over an hour and the buffet remained empty. There was literally NO FOOD on the buffet. ZERO FOOD. The poor waitress kept saying the food was coming but it never came. Eventually we had to order from the menu. In the future if you are having a holiday buffet perhaps you should not have a menu too. That way you can keep up with the demand of the crowd.
(1)Ugochi N.
This incognito restaurant was quite the discovery. In the front of the house is a nice sized restaurant area that is quite and cozy. Once you go to the back the restaurant becomes equal parts lounge and delicious restaurant. The dj is a cool twist. Nice relaxing vibes. The Caribbean Rice and Bean Wrap was delicious but this little bistro is a little pricey.
(3)Mimi M.
Although my last visit to Normans ended with disappointment, I tried it again this summer and I must say it was much better. The staff at Normans are always pleasant and delightful but the food items can be a hit or miss. As an appetizer we ordered the shrimp... horrible, don't waste your money. However, the burgers are really good. The Blue burger was my favorite and has remained on the menu despite the changes and that seems be the best thing I've had. For dessert we ordered the peach cobbler, and while it wasn't bad it really wasn't anything to rave about. Overall, I am happy that Normans Bistro is still thriving. I wish the owner all the best and will continue to show my support every now and then.
(3)Ryah E.
The worst experience of my life!!!!!! Last week I went to Norman's Bistro for the first time.Everything about that night was a disaster from the service, to the food I never got to eat, to the managment. I ordered a burger with no onions, tomatoes, or pickles due to allergies. When the server brought out my food it had all three ingredients, so I politely asked for another because of my allergies and she suggested I just pick them off because it was a busy night. After going back and forth with her I finally got another burger, this time still with onions. The third time around the burger never even came to our table. Though we saw it hanging out at the counter our server never botherd to bring it to us so we asked another employee to check on it. After looking he confirmed that this burger too had onions on it, so me and my guest decided to pass on the meal and leave. Soon after a manager and another female server followed us out and demanded we pay for a meal I never ate and a drink I never touched because I was waiting on my food. When I explained the situation to the manager the female server told me I probably couldn't afford to eat there anyway. I called her rude and she continued to insult me and my appearance in the top I was wearing.After her second personal insult the manager retreated and told her to let it go. What a joke. I work in the service industry and I would never treat anyone like that, but obviously they have no problem with it. I can't review the food because I never got to eat it, but if the people I encounted there are any reflection of its quality, then its of low quality indeed. Ill never go back. Doesn't even deserve one star.
(1)Angie R.
My experience was HORRIBLE at Norman's Bistro in Hyde Park/Bronzville! This is how my evening went: * I arrived at the restaurant around 7:15 pm on 05/03/14 (please remember my arrival time). * We had a party of 16 - 20 people; they divided the table with server. Basically we had 3 servers for our large party, which means everyone didn't get their food at the same time. Some people were enjoying their food while other sat and watched. * The young lady that handled the section I was sitting was a little slow and didn't really know what was going on. I ordered an Arnold Palmer and my uncle wanted half lemonade & half Sprite, the young lady mixed our drinks up. She gave me my uncle's drink and gave my uncle my drink.....Do you not know the difference in appearance of the two drinks? * Now it's time to order. I was asking about their gumbo, I don't like okra; she had to run back to the kitchen and ask. In other restaurants servers know the answers to basic question like this; I'm sure this is not the first time this question has been asked! * One of the ladies at the table suggested I try the chicken & sausage gumbo because it didn't have okra, this lady doesn't like okra either. So I ordered a bowl of the chicken & sausage gumbo and my server responded with "We don't have any". So I then asked why is it on the menu, she then responded with "we are changing our menus for the summer, so some things you see are not available". To my surprise I have a lady to my right and to my left both eating chicken & sausage gumbo! Now I'm annoyed so I ask the young lady why would she tell me that they didn't have any gumbo her response to me was "I thought you said turkey".....REALLY?! Chicken and turkey do not sound anything alike....ugh! * Since I was told they didn't have any chicken and sausage gumbo I ordered the Caribbean chicken (white meat only). My server responded with "its legs & thighs", really you don't know what white meat is? So I told her I only eat white meat, she had to ask if I could order my chicken this way. OMG, you don't know if you can serve a chicken dish with certain parts? * Ok, now that I've ordered my food and can't wait to try it because everyone appears to be enjoying their food. My meal came with a salad that had WAY too much dressing, it was discussing! So time has passed and my food comes and to my surprise it's dark meat......OMG, Really?! * Now I ask for the manager. Per my server "he can't come and speak with me because he's back in the kitchen cooking".....AWE, HELL!!! * Because I'm unhappy with my food of course they had to make my chicken over. By the time I receive my correct dish order the way I specified it's now 9:30 pm! Yes, 9:30 pm! I've been in this restaurant for over 2 hours with nothing to eat! * My server never came back and asked me if I like another Arnold Palmer. At this point I was so discussed I wanted to scream! Overall the service is Horrible, the food is just ok and it's a little over priced for the area! Bottom line is don't waste your time! I didn't want to give them any stars but Yelp made me give them at least one.
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