Norma's Cafe Reviews

Four of us (two adults and two children) stopped in for dinner on June 10, 2023. We love good southern home cooking. Norma's advertises scratch Texas comfort food. Unfortunately, it wasn't that. The food wasn't bad. It was passable, but most assuredly not memorable, and we found no evidence of true made-from-scratch cooking. She whom I love shared her pot roast, black eyed peas, and corn with our three-year-old. The meat was good enough, but the brown gravy tasted like it was made from a mix, which was extremely off-putting. The peas were overcooked almost to mush, which, in fairness, is not uncommon with southern cooking restaurants. The corn was sweet and very tasty, but I wouldn't be surprised if it came directly from a can with little or no adjustment. I opted for the fried catfish with French fries and turnip greens. The fish was good, but nothing special. It was typical deep-fried fare. The turnip greens didn't appear to be seasoned at all, but the pepper sauce on the table rescued them acceptably. The fries were appropriately crispy and tasty. They actually were my favorite part of the entire meal. Our six-year-old chose the kids' mini corn dogs with fries. They were heated-up frozen corn dogs. That's what we expected, so it wasn't disappointing at all. They were consumed with apparent satisfaction. Norma's is okay if one really doesn't know what truly good southern cooking tastes like. We likely will not return, but it certainly didn't qualify as a poor experience, which is Tripadvisor's only choice below average.

Green beans - sent this back due to the fact it was MUSH Mac and cheese, okay, but a little salty Black Eyed Peas - OK, and again over cooked Turnip Greens - too much turnips, and not enough greens Wife's pork chop - way to salty. left half of it Bread - rolls are wonderful, cornbread is ok Will not go back. If I want good veggies, I will go to Highland Park Cafeteria.

Joined some friends for dinner there last night about 6:30pm - 2 weeks after opening and this place is going strong. Full crowd even at 8pm. BUT onto the food. Started with fried pickles - these would have been much better if they were sliced thicker. The batter was as thicker or thicker than the pickle slice, but good flavor. I had bacon cheeseburger - one of the best I have had in a long run. Other dinners included fried shrimp - not particularly good. Pot roast I was told was real good and chicken and dumplings - good not great. We had coconut cream pie. Mixed reviews on the banana and I was told the chocolate was good.

Usually crowded for breakfast, but the wait is not too bad- they have lots of tables and booths. Lunch was very good here. I got meat loaf on their blue plate special menu at about $9. This came with your choice of 3 sides. I can recommend the turnip greens, glazed carrots and macaroni and cheese. The meat loaf was quite tasty covered with a tomato sauce. My wife had the pot roast (at around $10) which she really liked. It was cooked with carrots, potatoes and onions and served with two sides. Service was attentive. They offer about a dozen different entrees along with several sandwich selections for lunch. We recommend Norma's highly. It is not fancy but it sure is good!

I ordered the meat lovers omelette with grits and a biscuit. The omelette is so fluffy that the egg is almost soufflé like. The biscuit is large and tasty. The grits are a bit thin for my taste but this meal is a lot of food at a good price. Parking is easy and service is friendly

saw this place on food network. Really wanted to try it. Overrated .Fries were not fresh. burgers not as big as i thought

It's hard not to smile in this place. The decor tugs at files in your dusty memory banks and before you know it, you're saying, "I remember that..." or "Remember when...?" Those phrases quickly pound a rubber stamp on your forehead that reads, "You're old." The food is also just as I remember typical diner fare back in those good ole days, just ok to good, but not OMG great. That won't however, keep me from ordering because this is comfort food. Meatloaf, pot roast, chicken and dumplings? A big stack of pancakes or country fried steak? Old skool, reliable, sometimes just what the doctor ordered when you can't be bothered with small plates and micro greens.

Great Americana food. deserts are worth it. Checkout is a little hassle, too close to entrance. Staff is really good.

Highly recommend to not eat for a day before going here. Lot of food abd you want to finish all on your plate. Coconut cream pie is my favorite.

Huge portions, good old fashioned home cooking. Plenty of menu choices but not a ridiculously large one like some diners tend to have. Not a place to go for "granola or kale". Great pies for dessert. This is a diner we will visit often during our bi-annual trips to Dallas.

Loved Norma’s food so much I came back twice in two days. I’ve had lunch and now breakfast. The chicken fried chicken is fantastic, all veges are good, highly recommend the omelet breakfast. Service is fast (loved Diane as our waitress)

I have been here several times and they never disappoint. Wide selection of foods from your basic breakfast all the way to the traditional diner food and some good Mexican choices too. Prices are reasonable, the food is tasty, the portions are very big, and the wait staff is friendly. If you are really hungry go for the chicken fried steak.

Having friends from out of town so another friend who lives nearby suggested we meet for lunch. She had the meatloaf platter which was enough for two. I had the veggie special where you selected four items. I had pinto beans, fried okra, kale salad & chicken gumbo which more like a soup. The kale salad was a delicious surprise. I also had the peach cobbler. All of it was good. Will include it on the list for the visitors to choose from.

Been a long time customer of their breakfast. Until today. Today, the eggs were Luke warm, biscuits were stale, sausage was tough as if it had been sitting for awhile and the service was slow. Very disappointed.

Home cooking to die for. Great food and even better service. I had the chicken and dumplings with mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. The wife had chicken fried steak. Finished it up with coconut pie and chocolate pie! They also serve rolls and cornbread. We took half of our food home so come hungry!!! Everything we had was very good.

The GF and I went for dinner on Saturday night. We were seated right away. The place is clean, well lit, comfortable noise levels and good smells coming from the kitchen. It was our first visit and we were very pleased. I had the Chicken and Dressing blue plate special. My lady-friend had the cheeseburger and tots. She said that hers was very good. While you're waiting they serve you with rolls and cornbread. The rolls looked great but I locked in on the cornbread. It was fantastic! It's hard for me to find good restaurant cornbread and I was impressed. The chicken and dressing reminded me of my mother's. The plate also comes with three sides. You get a lot of food so prepare for a to go box. We had a good experience all the way around and will be looking forward to returning.

I have had many of the items on the menu, and some of the specials. I like the grilled pork chops a lot and like their turnip greens and glazed carrots.

Cinnamon roll big but mediocre. Biscuits and gravy okay but Braums tastes better. Everything was okay but not the wonderful meals we experience here at lunch. Won’t eat breakfast here again but will stick to other meals.

Smells like mop water when you walk in. Staff is nice so I have not complaints there. Found roach in my food just before i cashed out

I was disappointed with my service. I brought my patient for a lunch out.We arrived at 11:40,Our order was taken pretty quickly.We were served at 12:20.We had blue plate special items thinking they would be quick.The food must have been sitting in the window for a while.My husband's CFS was dried out.My vegetables were cold.

Always look forward to going here. Treated to lunch today by some friends. Gotta go for the CFS, served hot and crunchy, 3 tasty sides, terrific yeasty rolls and cornbread. The chocolate and peanut butter was the best. Plus, the Norma's folks are great. The company contributes to local charities, so it's always good to patronize places that give something back.

I had a Belgian waffle, butter, and syrup, with strawberries. She had hash browns with ketchup, toast , a meat lovers meal. Clean bathrooms. Friendly service. Quick service. Lots of desserts around especially in front. Stayed about 45 minutes. God bless. They serve breakfast all day.

.....when you hire sub-par wait staff like we had, it's bad for business. Really bad. I'm giving you a one in hopes that it will get your attention. Our waitress was more concerned with chatting it up with her buddies next to us. When we asked for more rolls and cornbread, it didn't show up. FINALLY, when she came by to wait on a nearby table, I showed her the empty bread basket. Later, she brought out a couple of pieces saying they close at 8:00, sorry. I don't care what time you close, serve the people who are already there. When it came time for dessert, no waitress to be seen. We had to go to the cashier to ask for some pie, which was promptly served, despite the fact that she was no where to be seen....until she brought the updated bill. Tip: $0. Zero. Hire people that want to be of service, monitor their performance, and dump the ones that hurt business.

Norma's has been our favorite down home family restaurant for many years. Servers are very friendly and personable without being intrusive. Their specialties include huge chicken fried steaks or mom's meat loaf. The vegetables are extensive and always fresh. The best items are breakfast favorites served all day. Tables are spread far apart making the restaurant appear spartan. Servers are gloved and masked, and there's plenty of sanitizers. No reservations, of course, but expect long waits on weekend mornings.

Wife had an early morning appointment at a nearby clinic. I had read reviews of Norma's and knew I wanted to try it out. Appointment took longer than expected, so was close to noon before we got there. I wanted breakfast which is served all day. Had the ham and cheese omelet with hash browns and a biscuit. The omelet and biscuit were good and the hash browns were awesome, cooked to perfection. Wife had a BLT and homemade chips. She took half off it home. I tasted the homemade chips and they were good. The minute we walked in, we were greeted by a display case of homemade pies. Took a piece of coconut cream home for later. Got to say it was pretty amazing pie. Would definitely go back.

This Diner offers Southern Comfort Food. I dined on Chicken Fried Chicken, Green Beans, and Mashed Potato. The food was fresh and flavorful. The Green Beans contained some pepper. My Mashed Potatoes did gravy (at my request). Service was friendly and fast.

Excellent food, friendly service, very clean, fun atmosphere. Their food is ALWAYS delicious! One plate will feed two people! The staff is always friendly! This is one of our favorite places to go!

typical diner food, but not great. my pot roast sandwich was called cold in the middle, broccoli was raw my kids pancakes were great, as was French toast I doubt I will return, better places to eat nearby

We went for lunch after the wife's appointment. Arrived about 12:30, they were crowded, but a table had just opened up, so we were seated right away. Ordered drinks and when they arrived we were ready to order our food. So many choices to pick from it was hard to decide. I got a cheeseburger and fries and both were very good. The wife just wanted a bowl of chili, which came with corn muffins and she thought both were good. Service was very good. We got a couple of pieces of coconut cream pie to go. Can't wait until this evening to eat our pie!

The breakfast was excellent. What set it apart was the creamy, super fluffy scrambled eggs. Not sure what technique they employ for scrambling, but the result is delightful.

Ordered the chorizo and eggs and it was more like eggs sprinkled with hamburger meat (or sausage with no taste) had no flavor, eggs were runny .... it was terrible. My dad used to brag about Normas (oak cliff location) but of course that was years ago and now they apparently have young kids cooking your food who don’t even know how to make chorizo and eggs. My mom has been making chorizo and egg for us growing up every weekend it was a treat but this was horrible. sorry Norma- I’m not going back - you just lost a wannabe fan.

We came here because a friend said that he loved it and that everything on the menu was great. I had the breakfast and it was good and the fried pickle appetizer was possibly the best I've ever had. Our table had an assortment of orders and everyone loved their meal. Highly recommend this place.

The food was excellent as well as the service and atmosphere.It was like the old school diner which offered a wide selection and cooked just right.The service was great and fast even though it was really busy.Servings were generous--we left full.

29 Oct 23 - visited the one on 75 by North Park. Service was absolutely horrid. Waiter was serving other people food despite them having arrived long after us. Many orders and plates were piled up sitting at the warming lamps. Waiter took over 20 minutes just to take drink order, then another 10 to bring them out. Sat and waited on food for over 40 minutes. When we finally decided it had been too long we went to pay for the coffee we drank and the manager had the audacity to ask us how many were in our party as if we had just arrived. That let's you know all you need to about how she is not on top of things. None of the staff cared. The place is nothing like it was 4 years ago. Coffee was cold. Bad service. Bad everything.

My wife and I have been twice and the food is awesome. We've been for breakfast and lunch. The cinnamon rolls are Huge and have raisins. The Meat Loaf is great. Sides are all good. Chocolate/Peanut Butter Meringue pie is fantastic.

First time visit based on reviews for Chicken Fried Steak. Probably the worst CFS I’ve ever experienced! That being said, I will probably return. Restaurant was clean, sides were good, other entrees especially the fried catfish looked good. Place was crowded, so they must be doing something right. Just be forewarned about the CFS!

Have been here several times for both breakfast and lunch. Service is as good as it can get, with ALL waitresses showing genuine interest in making sure guests are happy. Breakfast is standard fare, biscuits are fantastic as is the gravy. Lunch specials and variety are outstanding. You can eat healthy if you choose, with fresh veggies galore offered or for a real unexpected treat, try the cheeseburger! VERY good. Remember, it's a diner, nothing fancy or glamorous, just great home cooked food.

Norman's Cafe is our go-to restaurant for home style meals. They have daily specials that are always good, but you can always order from the menu. The portions are so large, we always share and still have leftovers.

Was not happy,with service,or misinformed people that work there. Some employees give military discount and some don’t. Please get on the same page. The work staff, little slow.

Whenever I go to a place and it’s my first time, I see to it that I go to eateries where the locals go and NOT where the tourists go! And I do that every time! This place is simply the heart and soul of the locals and I love being part of it for one good breakfast morning! The food selection is plenty, the service is excellent and the home made pie, although I didn’t have a piece of it, looks good and tempting. Thank you Luis, who served my breakfast in their North Place area along I-75.

really good food; friendly service; and the waitstaff left us alone to talk business after they served us - which is just what we wanted

I conducted way too many Google searches for the best/biggest/tastiest CFS in the Dallas Area and Norma’s was a place found on several lists and now I know why. So I was kind of disappointed with the size mainly because the waitress told me I wouldn’t be able to finish it and don’t get me wrong it is a good portion just not a gigantic portion like I imagined. But this place literally gives you all the fixings and you get three sides along with the complimentary breads they serve you. Just a heads up the Salad counts as 2 sides. It was great as well. Back to the CFS, the crust was cooked perfectly and not too greasy, the meat itself was cooked to the best tenderness. I’m always afraid of the Steak being too touch but it had the right bite to it. The Fried Okra has the best coating on it as well not too greasy, good breading on every piece. Great service and one of the most unique decors I’ve seen in a Diner. Just great home made cooking! Stop in for a dang good Chicken Fried Steak!

I’ve been to the original Norma’s a few times just to buy a pie, but I had never been there for a meal. Someone gave us a gift card and when we saw this Norma’s near North Park Mall, we decided to give it a try for lunch. The place is similar in decor to the Oak Cliff location. It is like you are stepping back in TV time to Arnold’s on Happy Days. The service and atmosphere were excellent. I ordered the BBQ Brisket Tacos (a Friday special) and my wife ordered the Meatloaf Plate. The meatloaf was perfectly cooked and seasoned, but the brisket on my tacos were a little dry. Our sides were the chicken gumbo, blackened peas, pinto beans and collared greens. Each were Southern-style cooked to their finest, even though the beans were a little too ranch-style for my liking. They bring rolls and corn bread to your table very quickly and I would return tomorrow just for the cornbread. We topped our meal off with a slice of Coconut Cream Pie. There is a reason that Norma’s is famous for their pies. Wow! Norma’s is reasonably priced, and the only reason I didn’t give five stars is that this location is in an outdated shopping center across the highway from the mall. I would recommend the Oak Cliff location for the five star experience.

My wife and I have eaten at Norma's for years. This is a somewhat new location. We had already lunch at another restaurant and my wife wanted a dessert. So we went to Norma's for pie. Never again. Grocery store crust. Not worth the money. We will continue to eat breakfast at the Davis location.