Very unassuming little diner. They are a serving up delicious breakfast items like an Irish Benedict, which my hubby had. I had the chorizo breakfast burrito. Both great choices and we were not disappointed. The corned beef hash was tender and flavorful. The combination of chorizo, cheese, egg and potatoes inside a soft flour tortilla was spot on. The food is great, the staff is very nice and friendly. The kicker is the atmosphere ....it is decorated with old vinyl record covers and tin signs. It gives you alot to look at and converse about. We really enjoyed our meal here and are excited to come back. Highly recommend! read more

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Pigs in a blanket! Need I say more? So yummy. Definitely a must try. And the servers are always friendly and check up on you despite being busy. read more

Norman's Grill - Pigs in a blanket! - Diners Near Me - Castro Valley, California

After driving this place for years we decided to see what it was all about. The reviews seemed worth going to and seeing what the constant activity was about, but overall I was not underwelmed. The three of us had breakfast. Two poached egg and one Belgian waffle dishes of which at the beginning I have to say most of the items plated seemed to have been pre-cooked for the sake of speed. The hash browns I had were obviously bagged shredded or shredded potatoes that sat in water for a bit because the outside that was lightly browned did not hide the fact that the inside was mush. My salmon bits under the poached eggs was over cooked and is not a recommendation. Another noted point was the odd tasting salt on the table. I have never used more then 3 shakes of salt on anything but I found myself tasting the salt from my hand and figuring out I used about 10 shakes ofaomething that tasted like sodium free or lite salt. Something I would have not ever asked for. By now you can tell that my experience was not worth my returning but I probably would have because of the old time decore, local restaurant feeling that has a mixed age and ethnicity, mellow vibe to it. What will stop me from returning was the unapologetic act of having my partner splashed with hot a coffee refill. She jerked her hand back so quick after a tall pour splashed coffee onto her forearm rubbing it off with her other hand as to not to make a sceen, but I saw it. I left a 10% tip and a bold printed explanation that "the bus boy splashed coffee on her" and on my way out our waitress said "Have a good day" and my response was that "I left a note on the receipt you should read". Looking directly at me she responded with the same response as if she could care less as to what it had to say. I choose to not make a manager issue but rather just not go there again nor recommend it to anyone. read more

Norman's Grill - A place to go and have hot coffee splashed on your arm from the bus boy - Diners Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I don't want to yuck someone else's yum, but this place is not so yum. I really wish I could recommend it, because Castro Valley is in short supply of good eats. But let me break it down: I got a cheeseburger and fries for about $15. I'm pretty sure it was just a Costco frozen patty. My buddy had the same with an absolutely horrible potato salad. Neither one of us ate much. It's the kind of place that I drive by every day, and should have just kept on driving by today. I'm throwing three stars at it mainly because the service was so friendly, but food wise, consider yourself warned. read more

Norman's offers a pretty standard brunch menu. Nothing fancy, nothing exceptional, but overall, tasty. It's kind of a greasy spoon, and I will say the consistency is something to be desired. I used to visit often but find that I appreciate other brunch spots a bit more. Their Irish Benny is pretty tasty, and their omelettes have always seemed to deliver. I think it's also telling that they tend to be fairly busy most weekends, so they obviously have some good flavors going on. But it's also just pretty standard. Nothing out of this world. I do love visiting though and reading the kitschy signs around the restaurant. It makes you feel like you're at a ma & pa shop out in the country. Sadly, I didn't get to experience Norman's much before ownership changed, and while I never had issues with current staff/ownership, I can tell the heyday of Norman's seems to be in the past. read more

Finally got the chance to come and try! Great service, great food & ambience!! Definitely will be coming back!! read more

Norman's Grill - The classic with sausage party, fried egg and homemade country potatoes with onions! - Diners Near Me - Castro Valley, California

They accommodated our large group (kid's soccer team) and handled all the orders perfectly. No frills spot with freshly squeezed orange juice and plenty of breakfast options. Food was solid, it was exactly what I expected and it got the job done. Service was super attentive and accommodating. read more

Delicious California Benedict, quality meats, fast and friendly service. Perfect weather to eat in their patio, started off our Labor Day just right. Even their water is good. Coming back! read more

Norman's Grill - Diners Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Got there and the place was packed. But I was able to seat myself on the patio right away which was nice. I ordered chicken fried steak and a waffle. I've ordered chicken fried steak from a lot of places and to be honest very few places make it good, I'm not going to lie it hit the spot and I would definitely order it again. The service was excellent and the staff was friendly. The inside was really packed so I enjoyed eating on the patio which was shaded and had a nice breeze coming through. This hole in the wall spot had a very homey feeling in the atmosphere. I definitely can't wait to be back. read more

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We've been coming to this local diner for a while, and it's been pretty consistent. Prices are fair (although rising), no frills, food generally good, and service mixed - definitely not fancy, but great local, homey place. I had the 1-egg breakfast ($13). It's not a huge amount of food, but filling and egg was cooked well. The hashbrowns were just ok, I like mine a bit more cooked and crunchier outside. Service mixed, coffee and order was quick, but server took a long time for a refill and the check. read more

Norman's Grill - Patio seating - Diners Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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We used to eat there with our daughters and grandkids. Moving to Texas was a great idea. Norms prices have shot to the moon. I remember once when we were all 10 of us were there for dinner. I can't even imagine what that bill would be now. Our younger daughter and 2 boys went there 1 month ago. Mee lived there now we wouldn't be going there with those prices. read more

Found Norman's on Yelp with good reviews. They didn't disappoint. Went for lunch around 11am. Waitress was extremely nice and attentive. I had the eggs Benedict with hash browns with iced tea. Guest had patty melt with fries and a soda. Both meals were good. Eggs were perfectly cooked. Total with tax and tip was $49. It was a little steep on price but good. I would recommend going here. I would and probably try the rubber. read more

What a great little family restaurant!! The breakfast was awesome and the portions more than enough to satisfy a normal appetite. I had the Chorizo scramble which was absolutely delicious!! I love the fact there is NO wifi which forces one to enjoy the simple ambiance of the restaurant and more important, the special person you may be dining with. Norman's is worth making the 22 mile drive from my house!! But be prepared for the possibility of a wait to be seated as Norman's can get crowded particularly on weekends.. read more

Old fashion delicious breakfast with big servings and friendly fast service! The French toast with eggs and bacon is highly recommended read more

It was a great place to eat. I took my team there for a breakfast meeting and thanked them for having a good year. Service was friendly place was neat. The ambience was great. Definitely recommend going there. read more

Decent breakfast place. Good service and food was tasty. My parents go here all the time and sit outside. Nice and dog friendly which is great. The veggie omelet was good and the avocado and fruit fresh, but nothing spectacular about the experience. I'd probably go back. read more

Norman's Grill - Veggie Omelette with chicken and avocado - Diners Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Had breakfast for the first time at Normans restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised on how fresh and good the food was. And also most pleased, with the great service received by Cindy today. Good food and excellent customer service - that's where it's at. Thank you, Cindy for the wonderful hospitality. read more

Norman's Grill - Norman's - Diners Near Me - Castro Valley, California

After going to this restaurant WEEKLY for many years, my grandfather brought a gift card in with him that was previously gifted to him. The manager would not allow him to use this card & took it away from him. He treated him terribly! We will not be back. A claim has been filed with the BBB & CA state department of consumer affairs. read more

I was looking to get some quick breakfast before visiting my friend named Norman, and when I saw the sign for "Norman's" I just had to pull in. I was craving for some hearty diner brekafast and the country fried steak just called on me. Very good price, old school decor, and patrons that look like they've been coming for decades. I had a great nostalgic breakfast and with belly full, I was completely satisfied. read more

Food and service are always great. I try to hit this restaurant for breakfast at lease once a week.

I have been wanting to try this place but the pandemic hit. With indoor seating now going on, we got our chance on a Saturday morning. Super efficient service here. Nice selection of Benedicts, omelettes and more. We went with the steak breakfast burrito and 2 x 4 with pancakes, sausage, bacon and eggs. I noticed the eggs were super fresh! Cool decor with old school record albums and more posted on the walls. This place is a classic. Don't look for exotic food but you can expect great diner food. Is is clear this place has lots of regulars and if l lived near here, I would be a regular. read more

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A nice family vibe environment spot. The French toast was great and the food came out pretty quickly. They have some cool vintage artwork which is nicely displayed as well. I'll be back for the burgers which looked amazing too! read more

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Norman's breakfasts are really good. I had bacon, eggs, potatoes, and toast. The eggs were cooked just as I like them over medium. They were perfect. Potatoes were well cooked. No undercooked potatoes. The toast was actually cooked right. It was actually toasted right. It wasn't warmed up bread with a little brown on it. Nice and crunchy. The bacon was also cooked right just the right amount of crispness. Overall a great breakfast. read more

Classic! This is THE SPOT for Castro Valley's long time residents. The menu includes many American diner favorites. There is something for everyone. There are even weeknight specials. If dining on the weeknight, make sure to get there early if you want a special, I noticed that these tend sells out quickly - especially the steak dinner. The staff is very helpful and friendly. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming. Motown and other favorites from the 60's are playing in the background to cause a feel good feel while enjoying the meal. read more

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Ordered the steak breakfast burrito and got a chorizo burrito. Just make sure you emphasize the word STEAK if you order it. They offered to replace it but I had already had part of half of one and didn't want to wait for another breakfast while everyone else ate. Also coffee tasted burned A bit disappointed compared to my last visit here read more

Nice outdoor dining with social distancing. Sanitizer on each table. Excellent customer service. Fast service And most importantly food is scrumptious!!! read more

Norman's Grill - Diners Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Called in a specific order for pick up. When I arrived, I was told the order was not ready, which I had no issues with. However, when the cashier started reading off my order, it was not correct - as to the number of sausages ordered and to how they were to be prepared. Given her demeanor, I had no confidence as to how that order would've turned out, and I told her I was no longer interested in my order and I left the restaurant. As I started to drive away, this person, actually accosted me in the parking lot. A few minutes later I called back to speak to the manager. The same lady said that he was not there. I asked for the manager's name but did not understand what she said and I repeated my request, at which point she sarcastically spelled his name "Marvin". She proceeded to rant to me on the phone at which point I simply hung up. Great customer service this was not. read more

Great place to take the family for a really good and affordable breakfast. Too bad they took the steak from the menu read more

I've been coming here once a week for the past several weeks . Service has always been good . Friendly staff , and yes , they were all wearing a mask . I usually order the " 2 x 4 " , and this is one of the few plates I can actually eat the whole plate , and it fills me up . The food has always been cooked just right . And I'm a very fussy eater . I had tried the other place " down the street ". ( see my other reviews ) But their service and food just kept getting worse . read more

I have frequented Norman's for years now. They are great for any time of day. I especially love the "Ray's Special" for breakfast. The corned beef is FRESH... they don't play around with the canned stuff. The staff is very friendly too and it's a cozy spot. I will always be a Norman's customer! read more

This restaurant is always consistent with filling plates, good food, and fair price. They have great service with parking, little to no wait and always get their food out quickly. read more

I was in Castro Valley after a round of golf with friends and saw this place and thought I'd give it a try. It was late in the afternoon so it wasn't crowded and the place seemed really relaxed. It looked like a typical diner both in the physical facility and the menu. The clientle was a mix of working folks, tradesmen, professionals and retired folks out for a late lunch/early dinner. I saw a Reuben Sandwich on the menu and that should be a good choice for a diner menu. I was right, it was really very good with very tender, thick slices of excellent corned beef and the sauerkraut was also very good - just the right amount of acid and tasted like it had been fermented just the right amount of time. All I did was add some yellow mustard and I was a very happy camper! I had a choice of fries or potato salad and I chose the latter. That, too, was a good choice. It had good flavor and texture. It tasted house-made and not out of a commercial tub from Costco or Sysco Foods. Service was fast and courteous. Jim read more

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Finally, was able to make it to this restaurant with my husband. Very nice. For a Sunday morning brunch, the wait wasn't that long. Maybe 5 minutes? We got seated at a booth, and our server, Daniel, was very nice and helpful. I got the California omelette, and added 3 extra items for extra charge. I understand that the orange juice was freshly squeezed, but for $5 something change, was still a bit pricey. I got it anyway. LOL It came in a mason jar, and it was really fresh. The place is not that crowded, very spacious. Also, you have a choice of sitting outside in the back. Now, we know where to go for a nice brunch, and looking forward to checking the place out for dinner next time! read more

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Great food and is served rather quick. Portion sizes are adequate for the price of each entree. The first time I came, our waiter was super quick to refill drinks, even when it was super busy . However the second time, we had to constantly ask our server to refill despite it not being busy. I will totally come back to enjoy an amazing lunch. Update: Recently went with a friend and our server and another worker were so attentive to us! Not once did we need to ask for anything because they were so quick to give us napkins, refills, and frequently checked on us! read more

Norm's Grill is open for outdoor seating during this Covid summer 2020 I came in and ordered one of their burger specials and it was basically well prepared I think the fries might've been frozen but the service was always good . I always enjoy coming in for their dinner meals when I'm not in a burger mood / this restaurant continues to serve a decent basic comfort dining.It's not a place to come to get blown away by flavor but it is a place to come to get the basics get in and get out and enjoy an afternoon in downtown CastroValley. read more

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I was pleasantly surprised by this little place. I anticipated this would be a so-so experience for food and was glad to find I was wrong to judge. The outside eating area was open and airy and service was prompt. I ordered a breakfast burrito, which contained hash browns, bacon, cheese and eggs. I asked for sour cream and salsa as the topping. This burrito was awesome. The burrito was big and I was only able to eat half, I saved the remainder for lunch to be eaten later in the day. My husband ordered the side salad which was a little lacking in the toppings. The salad was topped with canned beets (nothing wrong with this), garbanzo beans,kidney beans, corn and mealy tomato slices. The thousand island tasted like McDonald's special sauce. Other than the tomatoes, my husband was fine with his selection. I would have liked to see cherry tomatoes, fresh beets and cucumbers on the salad... but that may have been why I didn't order the salad. My son ordered the turkey club. "Omg! This is great!".... this should tell you what his thoughts are, so I will take his word. Good job Norman's! read more

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Norman's has gone downhill, and the prices are astronomical! Came into town and was looking forward to their food, but we won't be visiting again after the price increase and the lower quality food. It cost me $35 for an omelette and a side of bacon. That's just ridiculous! read more

To start the day with some house coffe, and No bacon & extra sausage. The waffle is like the dream waffle, spongy and creamy but toast... The server was attendly and when you are the non Military, Marine & Army guy of the room, you van feeling like blessed. read more

Norman's Grill - Belguian waffle combo - Diners Near Me - Castro Valley, California

The prices are high and the food quality is low. Who charges $16-$18 for eggs and bacon? We found a $13 ham and cheese omelette on the senior menu. It was not good and came with 2 small closes of toast. A very sad and plain plate. The atmosphere is mediocre. The only reason it gets one star is because I can't post the review otherwise. read more

This morning i ordered a steak breakfast burrito with no jalapeños and a plate of bacon and eggs to go. The man who took my order did not speak English well so after repeating the order couple times i thought we had it figured out. I went to pay and was appalled the price was 56.00! For a breakfast burrito and bacon and eggs?!? I told the cashier and with a snippy attitude she said well you have an egg on the steak sandwich and I dont set the prices. I thought it strange she kept saying streak sandwich but whatever I thought. I figured a breakfast burrito would have egg in it! The only thing I asked was no jalapeños. At the end of the transaction the waitress had nerve to push the tip jar in front of me! When I came home I opened the container and guess what ... it was a steak sandwich, not the steak burrito I ordered. I looked at the receipt and they charged me for not what I ordered. I wondered why she had said I had an egg on my sandwich.?!? They charged me for an egg that I thought was part of a burrito! At this point I just said I'll just eat it. Unfortunately the bread was so soggy I had to throw it out and to top it off the steak had no flavor or seasoning on it!! The prices at Norms are out of control! the food is overpriced for a diner and food is just ok. Sorry Norms that's our last time eating there read more

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