Restaurant review: Norma’s Cafe in Oak Cliff

by Katie & Emily Garrett of The Dish On Dallas

Southern cuisine, down to an art.

Norma's Cafe

Morgan, Mallory, and I ventured out to the O.C. (Oak Cliff) to try some great Southern cooking at Norma’s Cafe.

This spot has been around for over 50 years, and has Southern cuisine down to an art. We arrived at about 1:15 on Sunday afternoon to a packed house!

You come in and seat yourself wherever you would like. Once a waitress gets a moment, she comes by to take your order.

Norma's Cafe corn muffins & rolls

We were already starving prior to arrival, so we requested the bread basket and three diet cokes ASAP. We were immediately pleased. The basket comes with a mixture of three buttery dinner rolls and three savory cornbread muffins.

Morgan ordered the chicken club with french fries and a dinner salad. The sandwich portion was generous and served on Texas toast. The French fries were seasoned with a house blend that was perfectly scrumptious.

Norma's Cafe club sandwich

Mallory and I ordered the chicken fried steak and the chicken fried chicken. These entrees were under ten dollars and came with your choice of three sides. We both opted for the mashed potatoes and a side salad with ranch (this counted as two sides). We were both pleased with the meat portion. I wanted cream gravy and Mallory went without. Either way- the breading was crisp and salty.

We followed suit with the mashed potatoes. They were homemade and perfectly creamy. What a treat!

Norma's Cafe CFS & mashed potatoes

The only thing that we would all three pass on was the side salad. Then again, we likely weren’t in the mood for anything healthy on this particular day! If we would have saved room, we would have loved a piece of their homemade pie or cobbler -- I guess that means we will have to make a return visit for sure.

This place does southern cuisine right!

Pegasus News Content partner - The Dish On Dallas

dschmits, anonymous:

Um, you go to a restaurant to sample their Southern cooking, and you order side salads?? Where's the greens? Where's the mac and cheese? C'mon, you can do better that this!

2 years, 1 month ago
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Granny, anonymous:

A chicken club is Southern cooking?

2 years, 1 month ago
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embry1, anonymous:

You guys arrived about 4-5 hours too late..............next time, plan on being there to try their southern-style breakfast lineup! Their biscuits are every bit the match to their dinner rolls. We had scrambled eggs, patty-style sausage and bacon all perfectly cooked (and I didn't say overcooked!)
The first thing you notice when you walk in is a wonderful aroma of coffee that would put Starbucks to shame. Maybe not the same wide selection of coffee but their house blend is second to none. And don't forget their "Secret Weapon" that is guaranteed to please........their towering meringue pies. Maybe not necessarily on a person's breakfast menu but whole pies are available for purchase at a very reasonable price for taking home and enjoying at your pleasure. And a taste (we had the chocolate but their coconut is just as tempting) that will have you running back to th kitchen to make for sure that YOUR mom isn't back there directing their preparation and baking!
Norma's is WELL worth your trip into Oak Cliff (near the Bishop Arts District) and once you have done so, you will be their next return customer.

10 months, 1 week ago
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