I went here for the first time about 3 weeks ago for a small business related 'private' party on a Sunday afternoon. We reserved the back room with the bar area for just us and I was pleased. We didn't order off of a menu we had party horse'devors ( think that's how you spell it,lol). Meatballs, sweet and sour buffalo wings, a fruit and cheese tray, pasta salad...I was pleased with the food. I plan on going back very soon to try something off of their menu. My only complaint is when me and my friend walked in there was no one to greet us. The restaurant was not terribly busy and several employees walked past, saw us standing there waiting for assistance and we waited a good 5 minutes before we were even able to ask someone simply where our party was. Also after asking what ingredients were in a particular item a server didn't know and had to go ask the chef. I was a food server before and at the beginning of every shift their was a run down of the menu and the ingredients...so in this area, I think they should step their game up. read more

Very very happy with the service. Love the memu selections. Really enjoyed the BLUE BUARGER! AWESOME! My son and I had lunch yesterday. Love the atmosphere. Nice place for lunch or early dinner. Plan to come and try the Brunch very soon read more

This food is soooo good. I decided to stop by for breakfast and had the pancake breakfast. Food was fresh, homemade and seasoned well. This is my new breakfast spot. I'm leaving the other restaurant around the corner. I can't wait to come back read more

See all

My friends and I are there most Wednesday to socialize, but other like us, go often enough to enjoy Norman's Bistro food and the bonding of old and new friends. If you have any bad to say about the place, give it another chance. I always said, buy Chinese food from Chinese people, buy Mexican food from Mexican people, buy chicken and ribs from Black establishments, steaks from a place that specialize in steaks. Norman's is a Bistro and it depends on the cook that night. Again come have a drink with us on Wednesday, from watching Empire together, or one of our Sports games over some fried shrimp, gumbo, salmon cakes, etc.! read more

See all

I hosted a graduation lunch there today and had a horrible experience. I confirmed all the details and talked to several people weeks and days before today. When we got there, our table was not set as we discussed. Fine. We sat in another section. Meanwhile, another party came in and received their food before I am two hours later, they decided to give is bread and mimosas. Then we finally got our food and some orders weren't correct. It was a cluster and the staff was #unbothered. They didn't even try to be responsive or apologetic. Worst experience ever. I get that things happen but they didn't try to make things right. We were there for 4 hours. It was terrible. I wish I could give no stars because I was give them none Doug basically told us that just because we have 15 people doesn't mean we will sit together. read more

This was one of my favorite places to go..But my experience on 08/30/2017 changed all of that..The burgers were dry..the greens were barely Luke warm and the service was super slow..and the salmon was raw in the middle. They served us drinks out of small plastic cups..and when I asked about it we were told it gets very crowded and people break them..I accepted the answer until I saw another waitress serve a table drinks with real glasses..I asked her about it.. She told me they were friends of the owner..I asked to speak with him...he never came. So 08/30/2017 was my last visit. read more

This was my 5th visit and now I have to write about this special gem. 1. The service is EXCELLENT! The wait staff is friendly, warm, knowledgeable about the menu and understands customer service. 2. I love the breakfast menu and buffet, which caused me to come the first three times. I've been back now for lunch and dinner and delicious just does not do Norman's Bistro justice. The food is AWESOME! 3. The restaurant is beautiful, the decor is wonderful and the music sets the atmosphere. It is not expensive, kid friendly, family focused and great for just couples. With all that Norman's Bistro have to offer, there is no longer a need to dine in the Loop. read more

We decide to come here to celebrate a coworker last day, it was close , and the drinks and food were good. I wish we could have heard the music from outside. However, I do understand the location is in a residential area. The waiting staff is very friendly and accommodating. I would definitely return read more

Cook at home before trying to eat here...just saying. Live music and DJ on select nights is a nice touch. Bar staff is numb with don't care attitude most of the time. But it's tolerable. Owner is nice. read more

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. read more

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. read more

My daughter took me there for Mother's Day nice quiet environment friendly employees but not as it to the tooth if they should have been most restaurants check on you and ask you is everything OK or bring water if look like you need more water but I would have to wait for them or ask someone to tell them to come over there when I needed something and the lady that seem to be in charge she was singing to be catering to friends and maybe her regulars have been to restaurants and when they see that you are someone New they would come over and ask you how is your meal and are you and John having a good time whatever but she didn't pay us any attention I have also had to cook come out before and that's how I was the food but I am how to say fry green tomatoes was good the way I like them and the way I cook my hands and I always try fried green tomatoes wherever I go that's selling them and so far I would say they were Tasty and memorable read more

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! read more

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. read more

Good drinks but poor service. The male waiter seemed annoyed to help us. The DJ on Friday night played a decent variety of music.

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. read more

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. read more

Stopped in for a drink after work and was amazed by the overall experience. The bartender Miko was great. She knows her stuff! Then, we had gumbo, ribs and sweet potato fries. All of which were excellent. So happy I love around the corner! read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

Server was average. Food was good. Kitchen was slow

Went here for a birthday party last spring. Great venue. The food is also delicious and the drinks were wonderful. it seems like a nice place to hang out, especially on a low-key evening. read more

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. read more

So I've slowly become family to this establishment. I've been here for so many occasions--birthday parties, fundraisers, brunch/dinner--and sometimes no reason either, just hanging on the patio for drinks in the summer. The food is excellent and the place is usually live. The staff is very professional and will welcome you too, like family! read more

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. read more

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. read more

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 read more

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. read more

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..... read more

Food and service for take out is terrible!! Went for the peach cobbler and only got peaches!!! Ask them for another portion and management said no. I've given Norma's a few tries to get it together but I'm done. Don't waste your time with the expensive poorly made food. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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!!! read more

I ordered these little sliders, crab cakes I think they were frozen patties served with this really really hot green sauce on it. The waiter never said or was it written on the menu about the sauce. I literally shed tears and could not speak. I have stomach issues so I wish I would have been warned. The soda was also watered down with no fizz. The patio looks pretty and the live music is good but the inside is somewhat small for a restaurant and so is the bar area. I also think their prices are a bit to expensive for the location and the menu. read more

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! read more