sad, sad breakfast at Norma's

[adam]

Thanks to a late start at work this good friday, I breakfasted at Normas, ready for the best, and left depressed.

First, there was something the matter with our pitcher-sized French press of coffee. Possibly it hadn't had enough time to steep, but it tasted watery and bitter.

Waffles featurd prominently on the menu, so I had one with berries and Devonshire cream. Highest of crimes--they'd sweetened and whipped the cream, robbing it of its unique rich clotty subtle taste. After I'd hurled several damnations at no one in particuar, the waiter retrieved the original (unsweetened, unwhipped) jar and spooned a healthy glob onto my plate. Otherwise, the berries were juicy and plentiful, the waffle well-executed, and the syrup sufficient.

Boyfriend's duck confit hash with orange peppers couldn't have had less flavor if it'd sat overnight under my radiator. Driest of duck shreds. some peppers. a limp fried egg.

What do people *like* about Normas? What sets it above the rest? Did we order wrong?

At that price range, I'd happily stick to bruch at Ouest, a $24 prix fix 3-course caloric orgy, from a creative and fresh pastry basket, apps like granola with yummy sweet cream, enrees like duck carpaccio with breaded fried poached eggs (good), rich, aromatic coffee (or tea) is included. Best brunch on the UWS, and frankly the best i've had in Manhattan so far (excepting the Eggs Benedict at Balthazar)

[Boswell]

I also had a very underwhelming breakfast there a couple of weeks ago. The French toast I had was perfectly ok, but it didn't seem to warrant a $15 price tag. But the real disappointment was, yes, the coffee...as you said, watery and bitter. I too wonder why people like this place so much.

[Jane]

Obviously something has gone terribly wrong with Norma's which used to be wonderful and fresh and tasty. Thanks for the 'heads up' that this is now a place to avoid. That's one of the better things about this board - up-to-date information. I promise though, it was wonderful in it's earlier days. I'll try Jean Georges next time.

[Steve Piller]

I must be in the minority here, but I have eaten at Norma's many times and have had very good to excellent meals. I just ate there this past Saturday. I will say that the prices are somewhat obscene and the service is not always up to par, but I feel the food is still top notch.

[adam]

What did you eat last Saturday? What have you enjoyed previously?

[Steve Piller]

Breakfast burritto, potato pancakes, omelet with chicken, mushrooms and red peppers.
Most entrees are large and can be shared for two.

[Su-Lynn]

I've had a mediocre experience at Norma's recently as well. It was my first time, and frankly I don't think it's worth the long waits (we waited an additional 25 minutes even though we had reservations)
I had the duck confit hash too, and I am devastated to say, that that dish alone has gotten me "off" duck for a while (this comes from a supreme duck lover). The meat was incredibly game-y tasting, dry and there was just so much of it. I didn't think it paired well at all to the few specks of potatoes and peppers that it came mixed with. And my egg was practically raw!! The dish just made me ill. Now when I smell duck, usually I gravitate towards the smell, but now it just reminds me of that hash, and I get queasy. =(
I did however, eat a lot of my boyfriend's huervo rancheros, although I think it was because I was hungry, not because I particularly liked it (I prefer simple huervo rancheros like what I had in Mexico, not the stuff that comes looking like a western omelette)
Oh well. I had been looking forward to my brunch. The other two people in my party said their food was ok though, one had the chicken pot pie, and the other had eggs benedict.

I probably woudln't go back unless I was dragged there. I'm sure there is something on their extensive menu that I will like.

[Kanaka]

My girlfriend and I ate there about a month ago and both us thought the food nearly inedible and extremely overpriced. I ordered the brioche french toast and she ordered the pecan-banana pancakes. Both were cooked poorly. The outsides were burned and bitter tasting, and the insides were uncooked. The orange juice (supposedly fresh-squeezed) tasted as if it had been squeezed several hours earlier. Fresh OJ, IMHO, should be consumed within minutes of being squeezed, or it becomes somewhat bitter. For all this, the bill was $60. A much better breakfast/brunch can be had at the NoHo Star, on Bleeker and Lafayette.

[Jeff]

I'm also in the minority.
I have been much impressed in my 2 visits.
Not to say it couldn't have gone down hill...

Sad if this is true.