The Norm Reviews

The Norm is inspiring for anybody with a strong appetite for fine food and powerful art. Only few tables in this modern unique loungy location allow you to trust the sincere dedication the chef puts in each dish. The menu is created for open souls and picky stomachs. In Brooklyn people know who the Norm really is. They say his real name is "Norman the living Legend" and only so few can share his table.

With a group of friends I went to the Brooklyn Museum. We decided to have lunch at The Norm, an eclectic restaurant located on the ground level. It was not the culinary experience we expected. The service was incredibly slow, the meals we ordered ranged from salads to fish and chips. Those of us who ordered salads felt that they were OK, just that. The fish and chips order was, to put it kindly, truly below par. The fish consisted of three fish sticks that was more bread than fish. I should also mention that the soup some of us ordered came out luke warm and had to be sent back. The museum itself was a very positive experience.

For the prices charged, this museum- based restaurant delivers outrageously scant fare. A $15 appetizer of vegetables and aioli consisted of two tiny carrots, minuscule cubes of beets, microscopic mushrooms, and two broccoli sprouts. The $17 pear/roquefort salad was nicely dressed but the pear slices were so thin they were practically transparent and the specks of roquefort hard to find. A $27 bronzino entree was fair but accompanied by meager sides. Better to stick to the art-- ample food for the soul!!

This place is sort of a fancy food wannabe. They have many good options for lunch including the braised short ribs, which are fantastic. Another good dish is the lemon and onion home fries to have as a side dish. The food here is fairly priced and is worth going to if you are already at the museum.

We had Saturday brunch here, having visited the museum several times in the past thinking - "we should have a meal there". The brunch/lunch options were focused but well represented and the four of us had no problem picking items that fit our tastes and dietary restrictions This is not a fast food joint, so we were prepared for the wait that is typical of a "prepared to order" restaurant. It is worth it. Museum restaurants can be a stuffy at times. This is not. The service was attentive and prompt, The food delicious and nicely presented. The drink/beer selection was just fine, although no draft beers in a town crawling with breweries. I'd happily go back for dinner. I think that fact that it is in a museum and not a store front would qualify it as a hidden gem.

I had the chance to visit the Norm on a Sunday during the GOK exhibit. I was excited to try based on the knowledge that a well known chef was responsible for the menu. I could not have been MORE disappointed. It was lackluster to say the least. The server reported he added all the request to our order (no anchovies to one Cesar salad and no Salmon in another order of scrambled eggs) BOTH came out wrong. We also made the simplest request to add CHEESE to the eggs that they report the chef refuses to do, despite endless cheese on the menu. It was so disappointing. I suggest avoiding and going to another fantastic option in the area. There is no way this one will last with this type of service and accommodations to simple requests. Just ridiculous.

Having eaten at the restaurant in The Met and The British Museum this doesn’t reach their high standards. The location, being on the ground floor rather than on one of the higher floors with a view seems like a missed opportunity as does the fact that it is situated next to the main Cafe. We visited for lunch on a Friday after visiting the David Bowie exhibition. The menu is pretty limited and seems tailored for a quick flying visit rather than a relaxing lunch. Service was however excellent. Professional and attentive. Given the Michelin star we anticipated a higher quality and better location but worth trying if you need an alternative to the Cafe.

Everything about this place screams "I don't care." From the nearly somnambulent staff to the overpriced average food, Norm should definitely not become the norm. My $18 lunch featured a tiny piece of quiche that tasted like it was nuked, along with a miniscule salad. I was glad I ordered french fries (for six dollars!). I'm honestly surprised that this fine museum would have such a terrible restaurant.

We had an early dinner at The Norm after seeing David Bowie Is & before the Little Cinema screening of Labyrinth. The dishes and cocktails available were varied and interesting; the ones we ordered were delicious. The service was prompt and courteous. In the theme of the travelling Bowie exhibit, the art on display was photos of Bowie by Masayoshi Sukita - wonderful!! The Norm's website described these photos; I'm assuming they'll do so for every art display within the restaurant. Would eat there again, and recommend it for sure.

We were looking forward to spending the day at the Brooklyn Museum and eating lunch at the Norm, its restaurant with Michelin starred Chef Bolton at the helm. It was such a mixed experience that when we finished we felt we had wasted $162 plus 20% tip. We started the lunch with Sfoglini Reginetti Pasta which was delicious but a very small portion. The Big Eye Tuna Poke was bland. The Shoyu Ramen, which two of us had was salty. One bowl had pork the other did not. The hostess remedied this by bringing pork but the kitchen gave us pork that had been grilled, and was dry and hard. This is not the cut or preparation of pork appropriate to ramen. We left most of it. The Pan Seared Scallops were good as were the Kids Chicken Fingers. The Georgia Fruit Cake was one thin, tasteless slice cut in half diagonally that was topped with creme fraiche or whipped cream; I don't remember. The Chocolate Mousse was good. The Cappucino was delicious. Our server, Dwayne C. was professional, friendly and helpful! The dining room is attractively decorated and the noise level moderate.

If you are at the Brooklyn Museum to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit, don’t miss the opportunity to sample the Frida Kahlo inspired Mexican menu at the Norm! A friend and I stopped by for lunch (we’d made reservations online) and shared the sweet plantain and goat cheese gorditas to start, followed by the vegetarian budin, a very yummy lasagna like dish using tortillas. For dessert, we shared the Flan de Horchata, with the perfect smooth texture. All dishes were very well prepared and tasty. The menu has been specially developed by top chefs specializing in Mexican cuisine. The dishes are creative and very well prepared - not the run of the mill Mexican. Definitely worth a visit to both the exhibit and the Norm!

This is located within the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Quite good. Pleasant space, attentive wait staff delicious food. The ramen and french toast and best in class bacon that came to our table were all excellent. The table next door had very tasty looking huevos rancheros and a picture perfect hamburger. Only complaint was my coffee could have been served hotter. Seems like a perfect place for brunch with friends, family or maybe an early date.

Husband and I had lunch here before visiting the Bowie Is exhibit. The food was average for the price, but the staff is phenomenal, attentive and professional. The overall ambiance is small, not bright and airy, but the Bowie artwork on the wall made up for any decorating lapses. Kyle was our wonderful server, and he made some suggestions from the small menu. My husband and I shared the spicy salmon lettuce cups (good) and the lamb meatballs, which were a little overcooked/tough. Sadly, $16 for 5 little meatballs in a decent sauce. The best part was the Bowie themed dessert, BlackStar, which was excellent. Nice touch is coffee served in individual French presses, but at $6 per coffee. So, a little overpriced for what is is. Will we return? Probably, on our next visit. Cafe next door is an option, but when we went, tables were full, including outside seating area, full of school groups.

Recently attended the David Bowie dinner series, German themed, food was good, Bowie inspired cocktails were also yummy. Service was excellent, staff very accommodating & friendly. A little more time should be given so dessert could be enjoyed before going to Bowie exhibition, which was unique.

My daughter and I had spent a couple of hours looking at the David Bowie and other exhibits at the Brooklyn museum and decided to have a late lunch at The Norm. We ordered the Bavarian Pretzels to share, a Caesar Salad with Chicken for me, and the Spicy Salmon Wraps for her. For drinks, I chose an Iced Tea, and my daughter had a Fame 13. I thought the Caesar Salad was just average, but the rest was very good.

My 5 year old son and I visited the Brooklyn Museum with the hope of sparking interest and conversation between us. It was a success! Apparently, seeing a real mummy is on my child's bucket list. Our day ended with a late lunch at the museum's restaurant, The Norm. To my surprise, we had one of the best meals I've had in Brooklyn. I can't say enough about our server, Dwayne. He was knowledgeable about the menu, the city and excellent with my son. Much to my mama delight, I was able to sit down and enjoy my meal, a glass of wine, and the insane dessert. Even my son was fixated on the hanging artwork (currently of David Bowie) and the busyness of the space. Must Haves: The Norm Burger and French Fries The Spicy Salmon Lettuce Cups *Black Star 11* (Save room for this sharable masterpiece! So rich and delicious it made me do a little dance.) I will definitely return to this gem of a restaurant!

The NORM is a full service restaurant that serves great food and displays a wall filled with beautiful art works on one side and a wall of crating boxes directly opposite. Finding a relaxing place to dine and sip a glass of wine was most welcomed after viewing art works for several hours. We lunched on roast pork belly and lamb ragout, enjoying glasses of Malbec. It gave us energy to see even more art at this fabulous museum, which could take days to see and fully appreciate. Show your lunch receipt to receive a 10% discount at the Museum Shop.

Great spot to relax between exhibits and enjoy a simple but delicious meal. I had a grilled cheese and tomato soup, with a small side salad. The sandwich was a perfect combination of being flavorful and crispy, while the soup was outstanding in every way. The salad was SMALL and for $10 not worth it in price or anything special. I'd recommend making reservations if you're planning on going.

This place features Mexican food. Tasty, spicy if you want and a nice variety from vegetarian to meat The black bean soup is very good. The hidden fish was red snapper. The chicken tacos were spicy and more than enough. Guacamole nice and spicy. For our lunch dining we shared the soup and entree. More than enough food. Beverages nice selection if beers and wines. Service very good. Waiter was very considerate and took questions back to the kitchen. Reservations should be done but not required

You're at the Brooklyn museum so why not eat at The Norm? It is a great spot for a burger or salad. Not overly innovative but fresh ingredients and everything served professionally. The environment is a little less hectic than the cafe next door. If there is a line up just leave your name with the hostess and she'll call you.

Went to eat at The Norm after viewing the frida Kahlo exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. We had read all the hoopla about the Mexican food which would be available during the exhibit. The Margarita was the smallest I ever had. They charge for chips and salsa which most restaurants put on the table. For appetizers I had the black bean soup which was good. My wife had shrimp flautas which lacked any significant amount of shrimp. For the main course my wife had chicken enchiladas which were only OK and I had the fish tacos. The fish was over cooked and undersized for the size of the taco. All in all I would say the food was mediocre. The service was passive and the space noisy. I would think that a one star Michelin executive chef could do better.

Including a special ketchup that is so delicious you want to take it home. Beautiful presentation of classics you love in a setting that feels modern and “artie”. With David Bowie in the museum, you can currently enjoy some special menu items that were favourites of his. The vibe is sexy and cool. You will not know that you are in a bustling, busy museum....well, except for the art. Worth the trip to Brooklyn! I will go back because I still need to see the Bowie exhibit!

We came here for a late lunch after a morning in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. The restaurant was about 2/3 full, but my friend and I had to almost shout to hear each other, so we eventually decided to eat in silence rather than risk sore throats. Yes, it was that loud and the restaurant wasn't even full. Let me add that I'm a New Yorker and accustomed to loud busy restaurants and they generally don't bother me; this one did. As for the service, it was excellent. Loved our waiter. And the hamburgers and salads were quite good as well. I'd be able to recommend this restaurant, if it weren't for the noise.

Ate lunch here with friends after visiting the museum. Waiter was efficient and friendly, the best part of the visit, and the place is comfortably casual. I ordered the Croque Monsieur. This is a French bistro sandwich consisting of thick slices of white bread or brioche stuffed with ham and Dijon mustard toasted or grilled with melted Gruyere cheese and Bechamel sauce on top, most often accompanied by a frisée salad. This is what I RECEIVED: two small thin slices of white bread (think Peperidge Farm Thin white) filled with ONE thin slice of ham and topped with Dijon and a slice of melted cheese accompanied by about 3/4 cup mesclun salad. Besides being the size of a young child's lunch and not an adult's, the sandwich was awful for a whopping $18.00. I actually left the table hungry. I really should have refused it and asked for a hamburger instead. Rest assured that the next time I go to the Museum I will eat beforehand, at the Cafe or outside. I will not return unless there a new chef or new management, and definitely DO NOT RECOMMEND.

It's a little intimidating from the outside when there's a museum cafe down the hall, and we wouldn't have gone into The Norm if the cafe hadn't been closed...but we did, first for tea and then for a light meal. The quality of everything was first class.

After visiting the Frida exhibit we decided to attempt to eat at The Norm. We were able to luckily secure two seats at the bar. In spite of the restaurant being full and very busy our service was with a smile. Our meals were delivered very quickly and absolutely delicious. Thank you.

Uninspired menu that wants to be clever but falls short of culinary basics. Service is slow and prone to error. Only ate here because it was so terribly cold outside and the café food looked even worse.

Atmosphere- nice, well done I would even say. Wait staff are very friendly, and although a bit unorganized, all around well done drinks-horrific. wether alcoholic or not, no-one had decent drink at the table (besides the one girl who only got a chamomile tea food-meh. nothing special at all, or even worth eating. do not get the dessert, very, very, very meh

There's a less imposing cafe down the hall, but if you want to eat among interesting paintings (and packing cases), this is an elegant way to go. We enjoyed spending an hour decompressing after looking at so much great art, and the food was delicious. A light meal -- the deviled eggs were a surprisingly good choice. Excellent services -- a great end to a rich and fulfilling visit.

While this dine-in restaurant is very convenient to the Brooklyn Museum, it had very average food. I tries the chicken sandwich, which tended to crumble in my hand as I pickd it up to eat it. The chicken was O.K., but the roll was too cheap to hold its contents.

We had Sunday brunch and everything was well presented, cooked well and very flavorful. It is not a brunch buffet, but the menu is brunch themed. Good service and a comfortable setting

Our last day in New York : Brooklyn Heights was fantastic , an energetic vibe, beautiful views and finally an extraordinary exhibition of Frida Kahlo. We had eaten so good in NY , that we chose the easiest way : eating in the museum restaurant . Very unfriendly service, the bill was high , an unexpected grasshopper in my salad , the waiter said , he was supposed to be there , I know people eat this , but I did orde a raw beet salad ... I was really disappointed , there are so many good restaurants in the city !

We went to the Brooklyn Museum to see the Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit. Stopped for lunch at The Norm. Menu choices very weak and very minimal. Everything overpriced. We had enjoyed Saul Restaurant in this venue two years ago. It was expensive but fabulous! The Norm is disappointing.

Well, not sure what is going on. We had a lovely time with great service and food. I had a special drink, "Frieda and Her Diego" that was excellent. I know good food and our's was good. We had lunch here following our tour of the museum. We were seated quickly and were able to order beverages. My tablemate's soda arrived promptly. I did have to wait for a bit to get my cocktail but not an unusually long time. Yes, there was a charge for chips and salsa. We just didn't order any. We did think the prices were high but, after all, it is NYC and not really out-of-line. I had the chicken enchiladas (2 to the order); my tablemate had the fish tacos (3 to the order). We shared. Both of us really enjoyed the food. There was a bit of a wait for our food but the waitress kept our water full and checked in. We were fine enjoying the atmosphere and talking about the exhibits we saw.

What a gift. An intimate and approachable restaurant in a world famous museum. Locals go for a casual soup at the bar, but also for a special meal on a date or with friends. The food is delicious, and the cocktails creative and clever. Like I said, it is a gift in the heart of Brooklyn.

I couldn't wait to try The Norm at the Brooklyn Museum, one of the Boro's best treasures. I took my grandson after seeing the Virgil Abloh exhibition. The selections were limited. The burger and fries were delicious. I had the chicken salad, pear, arugula, walnut salad. The chicken had leg bones and was undercooked. The drinks and dessert were fine. The atmosphere and service were excellent. I'll give it one more try.

We went to the Frida Kahlo show and made reservations to eat at the Norm after the show. Went thinking that this would be a good choice with the menu planned around the show. The food was ok once you received it but getting it was a chore. A large table of women behind us (14) were there celebrating a bridal shower? The restaurant put them right in the middle of the room -- interesting placement. I would never go back, there has to be something close by that would be much better.

Came to the Brooklyn Museum to see the O'Keefe exhibit (and loved it). Decided to have lunch before seeing the rest of the museum. The Norm is so convenient, quite comfortable, and our food was fine. A lunch for three (without alcohol or dessert) was $115 -- more than it was worth. Our charcuterie plate and pickles were a nice appetizer -- and the three of us had a salad, all of which were tasty, but nothing special.

We had lunch at The Norm during our visit to the Brooklyn Museum. The food was tasty enough, but the portions were very small and the prices were very large, even for New York standards. Had the price been half or the portion doubled, it would have been the norm. The waitstaff was also particularly unattentive, and somewhat poorly trained. When I asked a busboy to refill my ice tea, he told me that they did not do refills. Since I had confirmed that with our waiter shortly before asking the busboy, I pointed out my confusion. I did get a refill, But there was no need for the confusion.

Separate private dining room from their cafe. reservations needed.Lovely quite respite from the large museum. Cold rainy day, we had wonderful soup, and shared the Goat Cheese Flatbread. Also two glasses of Sancerre. Nice

We stopped here for lunch after touring the museum and before the botanical gardens. The grilled cheese and tomato soup was delicious. The bread was perfectly crisp and the blend of cheeses was yummy. The soup was hot and flavorful. My daughter had a burger with caramelized onions that was large and juicy. Would definitely come again

Met friends from New Haven for Brunch here. We arrived as the museum was opening and got to spend some time in an exhibit before we met them for a meal. It was a nice break. We had drinks and coffee before and then ordered something to eat. Our food was good, nothing spectacular but our server was off-putting with a real chip on his shoulder! We sampled all the Bruch mains: French toast, a smoked salmon scramble and braised short ribs. And we all shared one piece of New York style cheesecake for dessert! Other than the service we had a nice time catching up with friends.

I had booked a reservation three weeks ago at The Norm for dinner after viewing the Frida Kahlo exhibition and was excited to eat there under the Mexican chef, having been to the restaurant on many other occasions. However, I was extremely disappointed when my reservation was canceled, and then when I called I was informed that they now had a buy out for that day so could no longer take me. Having had this booked for a while, and offered no compensation, I was let down by this experience.

The menu in honor of Frida Kahlo show is all Mexican based and it was delightful set of choices. The French toast was one of the best items, but the tostadas were good, as were the scrambled eggs. I did not like the potatoes as they had some sort of sauce on them that just ruined the flavor. But the bacon side we ordered crispy came out perfectly. The service was very good. The portions were large. They can customize the dishes to leave out ingredients which is very nice too. Since we had tickets to the exhibit, it was nice to be able to eat right there. The Mexican food put you in the mood for the show.

Lovely room with mementoes (pillows, photos ) that are about the exhibit. Mexican chefs from New York serve as chefs to have typical gourmet meals served in the restaurant.

Our group of 6 decided to eat here before our tour at the Brooklyn Museum. Expected more and were disappointed. Limited menu. Spotty service. Meal itself was average at best. Could have just gone to the cafe stand down the hall for a lot less.

Drink are ok Food terrible Service lazy Really, Do yourself a favor and don’t go. Frida would have been very disappointed!

Great lunch for 3 at the Brooklyn Museum on a cold but sunny Saturday. Soup of the day was delish, kids enjoyed homestyle mac n cheese, burgers fantastic and the best are the HOUSEMADE PICKLES! To die for! Amazing carrot cake and coffee to finish off a perfect lunch stop. Wonderful ambiance- everyone having a nice time at their tables. Servers very friendly. Highly recommend!