Norman's
Orlando, FL 32837
Phone: (407)393-4333
- Price:
- $$$$
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 6pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 6pm-10:30pm, , Sun 6pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Norman's – by Natasha Lawrence
The Scene
The grand scale of the dining room--a spacious, octagonal room with high ceilings, enormous windows and marble floors--is tempered by intimate tables covered in linen and lit by oil lamps. As it fills with diners, however, the noise level rises. Service is superb, from the hosts to the sommelier.
The Food
By deftly blending Caribbean and South Florida flavors, Chef Norman van Aken reminds Orlando why he's the reigning king of Floribbean cooking. A habanero tartar salsa adds heat to crispy, succulent yucca-stuffed shrimp, while Grand Marnier-marinated foie gras simply melts in the mouth. A perfectly seasoned pan-cooked Key West yellowtail stays moist and flaky on its bed of garlic-mashed potatoes. Tender slices of roasted duck breast are piled atop a green chili pancake stuffed with mango-barbecued duck. Light and delicious apple crepes with vanilla sorbet and caramel flan are garnished with a gingerbread brownie.
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Insider Tips
Know Before You GoDining options: a three-course prix fixe ($55) or five-course tasting menu ($85, wine selections an additional $55) that changes monthly.
Where to SitReserve a semi-private table surrounded by tall dark-wood wine cases in the middle of the restaurant. The chef will custom-design the menu ($125).
User Reviews for Norman's
05/19/2007 Posted by tina_lewah
I wanted to treat my husband to a romantic night out alone (toddlers back at the resort with Auntie) and I really outdid myself with Normans. Our attentive waiter, Joseph, suggested the 4 course tasting menu ($80) and the wine flight ($45), which we giddily agreed to. We started off with a conch chowder. A bowl filled with colorful bits of red, green and yellow peppers, chopped cilantro, mandarin oranges, and conch. They poured the broth in from small copper pitchers at tableside - they do this so you can see all the yummy ingrediants for yourself. Superb!!! The wine was lite and fruity; I wish I could remember the name, but it matched the soup perfectly. The next course was a verde curry snapper over pad tai noodles - the spicy sweetness was a perfect balance on the palate. This was served with Saki - my husband had never had it before and he really loved it. Our main course was a succulent pork loin chop grilled to perfection and served with three (mole, sherry reduction and a plantain sauce) incredible dipping sauces. My mouth waters just thinking about it again!! They paired this with a robust red wine from Chille. Dessert arrived as rum soaked bananas with homemade Macademia nut ice cream - I couldn't finish it, but I wanted to. The wine was a sherry, which was a bit too much for our tastebuds. The plates and glasses came and went without any delays and we never felt rushed. We sat down at 7pm and left around 9pm. The decor and service was elegant yet very relaxed. It was such an incredible dinner and will go down as one of my all time favorites.
Pros: complimentary valet, attentive and friendly service, great wine list
Cons: I was too full to add the cheese course!!
03/15/2007 Posted by millardf
I am lucky to dine out a lot in many of the fine restaurants around the country and Norman's is consistently one of my top three favorites. The service and ambience are perfect. The menu dishes are creative and clever without the silliness you find in a lot of top end restaurants. This is one of the rare places where I would eat anything they brought to the table with confidence it would be fantastic. They even make a great martini. The only complaint I have about Norman's is that when I finish my meal I can't start all over and have another one!!!!
Pros: Amazing food, perfect service.
Cons: None.
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