Normandy Kitchen

We were on a business trip and randomly found this place near our hotel. We didn’t expect it to be this good! The food was fresh and delicious—such a great surprise! Highly recommend!

The food was fantastic!! Got the eggs benedict and hash browns n it was delicious!! The waitress really didn't check on us often but was polite. The hotel was just ok 🤷🏼 the front desk people were kind of short with people at times n the beds werent really that comfortable. The couch they had in the living room part of the "suite" was an old beat up couch that sank in really bad in the middle.

We made reservations and waited a little while to be seated. This was due to short staffing, but our server, Dawn was fantastic. She was prompt, professional, and took care of us throughout drinks, appetizer, entrees & dessert. We asked if she had any recommendations and she simply stated that everything on the menu is delicious and is made from scratch. The calamari was cooked perfectly, with 2 dipping sauces & lemon. I had the french onion soup that was rich, lots of onions, and the cheese on the top was golden brown. I also ordered a ceasar salad & a popover. Way too much food for one person. The soup & popover (which was huge) was plenty. My friends had the pork loin, which was tender, and also delicious. One ordered the fish & chips. We had beignets for dessert that came with chocolate & carmel sauce (4 per serving). If you're not sure which sauce to drizzle on top, I suggest both! This is a quaint restaurant, inside of the Normandy Inn, and I highly recommend visiting. They also validate your parking and the hotel staff had a great sense of humor. We all need a little of that.

This location is connected to the best Western Normandy Inn, and it is excellent. The service is top notch, and the drinks very good. We only had their popovers, but those popovers were delicious! Definitely a place to visit and seek out when in downtown Minneapolis. You won't be disappointed.

My 94-year-old grandfather, Quentin Johnson, used to work here from 1947 to 1951 as a busboy and fry cook. Fast forward 73 years later, he took me here for my 27th birthday. We both had the signature Henry VIII hamburger, which he used to broil back in the day. It was a wonderful meal. The restaurant and inn are beautiful, rich in history, and very charming. As my grandpa put it, "This is what you call 'Class.'" Tonight was particularly special because we had the honor of speaking with Mike Noble, the innkeeper and grandson of founder John Noble. If you get to read this, Mike, thank you for such a special and precious night. My grandpa told me that this was one of the most special nights he's had in years. Hearing him share stories of working at the Normandy and learning that this job put him through college (and housed him while attending Augsburg) really is a big part of his life story and is a lifelong memory I will cherish. The Normandy is a shining example of the quality and care you give to your patrons as well as to your staff. Thank you for keeping such a special place running. Respectfully, Andrew Johnson

Another restaurant that we've been saying we want to visit... we were not disappointed. Rotisserie chicken with polenta and Brussels sprouts and also the Walleye with mushroom risotto -- everything was seasoned well. The decor in the dining room was very cozy, good background music. We'll be back again to try other options!

If you're a risotto lover like I am, definitely go try this place! Had dinner here 2 nights in a role while on a business trip. I'm impressed by the quality of the food period. The pizza was simple and refreshing, and the Wallaye with Risotto was an amazing period.

Recommended. The duck 3-way was absolutely delicious, and the pork was super tasty too. The wine was wonderful, too. The service was okay, somewhat strained by the number of people on New Year's Eve. Our bill was messed up pretty significantly twice... But we eventually got it ironed out. The atmosphere was better than I expected for being inside the Best Western building. It didn't feel like a "hotel restaurant," just a great restaurant.

I was a little disappointed to eat here because the place I had planned on eating at lost power, but I ended up being very happy. The service was excellent: attentive but not overbearing, personal but not too personal. I had the eggs en cocotte, and the fish was both beautiful and delicious.

We stayed at the Normandy so we came here for breakfast every morning and dinner a few times. The service is very friendly and fast and the food was always very good.

They mixed up our food which wasn't a big deal we chose to eat the burgers even though they wernt what we ordered and the owner without us saying anything allowed us to pick out 2 free deserts on the house for the mix up.

Had a really good experience. The croque monsieur, chips, and popover we're really tasty and had some cream ale on tap. Went back and had the steak salad that was also really good. Excellent service and ambience.👌

We had a great experience. The staff was friendly and helpful. The food was good. The space was nice.

A cute spot for a drink or bite, usually among travelers and hotel guests. Expect a little slower service, but very friendly and welcoming. I recommend the pancakes 🥞 for breakfast!

This place has gotten better with age. It’s been 10 years since my last visit. It’s the 100 year anniversary of this cool vibe bar/restaurant. Popovers were amazing as was the old fashioned made with a big cube and sazerac rye. dinner menu though limited all tasted great for the 3 of us. Bartender/server was fantastic!

The chefs know what they’re doing, the service is phenomenal, and the atmosphere is lovely. The Normandy was the highlight of our long weekend in Minneapolis. We were immediately greeted by the owner and seated in a large cozy booth. My boys each ordered a pizza and loved their perfectly tart, fresh squeezed lemonades. Simone, our waitress, recommended the fish of the day and she was right to do so. The chefs clearly had fun in preparing the menu. We never order dessert, but I’m so glad we did. The cardamom ice cream paired perfectly with the fried pineapple pie which we devoured alongside a beautiful cheesecake. 10/10 Go here. I hope Simone is your waitress.

This little restaurant was amazing?! My mom and I didn't know what to expect when we were visiting from out of town, and it's in a hotel. It's so cute! Our waiter Danielle was incredible and so kind. She gave us many recommendations as tourists and checked in on us often. Would 100% visit again! Great cocktails too!

Nicole was great !! She greeted us immediately upon entering (which apparently is rare in Minneapolis bars) she made us drinks that were not on the menu and ones she hadn’t heard of and was so nice about it! Made me feel so welcome the whole time! I honestly would go back just because of her service. And I live an hour and a half away! So to pick this place again because I liked the service I had is saying something! Thank you Nicole for being the best bartender I had in all of Minneapolis this last weekend!!

Wanted a light meal. Loved, loved the celery, asparagus and leek chilled soup! Grilled curry cauliflower and an arugula salad rounded things out. Cauliflower melted in your mouth. Salad was so fresh and flavorful. Nice dark wood decor is welcoming. Jacqueline took fantastic care of us at the bar!

Best Walleye I have EVER had! Wait, best fish dish of any kind I have ever had! The food is exquisite.

Came in on a Sunday afternoon for a late lunch. Frank was our waiter and I have never in my life had better service. He was polite, kind, made great conversation, and had the best recommendations. He knew the dishes inside and out, down to how they were prepared. He also made fun non alcoholic drink recommendations for our teenage daughter, and she was thrilled with her order. We ordered what he recommended and we're floored by how amazing everything was. Next time we're in Minneapolis, we'll definitely be back.

Nicole was awesome, probably the best server I’ve ever had. She was super easygoing, genuinely friendly, and really knew her drinks. Her recommendations were spot-on and exactly what I was looking for. She checked in often without ever feeling intrusive and made the whole experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. You can tell she really cares about giving great service. I’ll definitely be back, and I’ll absolutely be asking for Nicole again!

UPDATE - I came back 2 days later to try out their famous Henry the VIII and once again it exceeded my expectations! The bartenders Mel and Nicole were the biggest sweethearts and were insanely knowledgeable on their menu and drinks. I am thoroughly impressed with this place. I cannot recommend it enough! I do not have enough kind words to give this place specifically Max their bartender. He served me two of the best drinks I’ve had in the last year and I also watched him take care of a group of 20 people that showed up unexpectedly within a matter of minutes. It was pretty impressive. I ordered the chef special which ended up being one of the best pizzas I’ve had. I would highly recommend this place. I will for sure be coming back here all the time!

Just moved into town recently and love this spot. Nichole has been our bartender/server every time, and has been nothing but fantastic, accommodating, and pleasant. Good food, good cocktails.

Awesome fried green tomatoes. Flank steak melted in my mouth. Very nice little place with good atmosphere. Probably a nice place for a quiet date.

Very quaint little restaurant with some French vibes. Loved the crab cakes Benedict. The blueberry pancakes were also good. The beignets were only a 3/5.

I’m currently staying at the Best Western Normandy inn for a conference and ate at this restaurant twice so far. On my first night I had sea scallops as my entree. The sea scallops were ok but I think there was just a bit too much sauce going on with it. The next night, they forgot my silverware and bread and butter but the hanger steak was absolutely fantastic! I’d come back for the hanger steak again.

You never quite know what you’re going to get at Normandy Kitchen, and that’s what keeps me coming back. Sometimes the food is great, sometimes it’s a miss. The bartender, I think his name is Brian, is a hoot and his anecdotes are reason enough to keep visiting Normandy Kitchen.

Ambience is beautiful. Service exceptional. Food was okay. It’s on the lower end from other French restaurants I have tried. That’s not to say that the food was bad. It was good enough for a decent meal but certainly not exceptional. No char marks on the cheese for my onion soup. Popover was a bit soggy in certain spots. Niçoise salad was refreshing but lacking a bit in flavor. No fishy tuna smell so I appreciated that. Pork tenderloin not as tender as we had hoped and certainly not enough depth of flavor from the red wine. Bone marrow was delicious and perfectly seasoned though I thought it a bit strange to have radish on it. One of the ends was bloody so I avoided eating that part. Street parking is available though certain parts are limited due to time restrictions.

We came after an event at us Bank Stadium. The old fashioned I had was great, but the bartender was hussling around with a busy bar, so service was slow. We ordered the popover and the crab rangoons, and they were good. I've had better elsewhere, but they were hot and fresh. There was a "manager" who was drinking and visiting with some cuatomers and complaining about working there, which was off-putting. But the atmosphere in this bar is top-notch.

I had fish with the risotto. It was excellent. I was by myself so I sat at the bar. It was entertaining. They also had a good selection of wines and cocktails. For dessert I had the beignet. It was not good at all. First of all it was not a beignet. It was some sort of a fried batter that was not sweet and they sprinkled very little sugar which ironically even that was not sweet

Food was very bland - absolutely nothing like the images shown on google. Wendy's makes a superior burger to their purportedly "famous" Henry VIII burger. My girlfriend got what looked to be cat food. Plenty of other great options in the area. I'd give it a miss!

Some of my out of town relatives were visiting and staying at the attached hotel. As I was leaving my house it started to rain and hail so I was a little concerned about walking to an restaurant in the hotel area so we stayed in house. We probably should have taken our chances on getting beaten by hail. Service was okay and our server was pleasant enough. The food is expensive and as with many hotels it seems like they know they have a captive audience. For the breakfast prices they need to up their game. Part way through our breakfast they opened all the windows on the street side of the building. This added lots of traffic, including tractor trailer noise, exhaust smell, every perfume and cologne variety imaginable as well as cigarette and cigar smoke. Yuck. I don’t eat outdoors for a reason and this was not a good way to bring the outdoors in... I will not be going back or suggesting it to any folks looking for breakfast in Minneapolis. Breakfast for 2 with tip and without adult beverages was $42! Yes, you read that correctly! Upside - they validate parking for restaurant patrons.

We stayed in the adjacent hotel. I love a drink before I turn in for the night, and also was happy to get one the afternoon we checked in. Well, that initial drink was as good as it got after three visits. The service was slow, the drinks inconsistent, the servers in the dining room staring uncomfortably, drama amongst the staff, not a clean bar, literally watched cockroaches run across the bar while there. Everyone there was friendly, so I will give it two stars, but this place is more a reality show of a failing establishment than anything else. I did not, absolutely would not order food in this place after seeing the roaches.

This used to be our go-to place for birthdays and special dinners. They have now switched to a menu with sandwiches and glorified bar food, rather than the selection of great main dishes they used to have. It’s still a great space, but don’t go expecting the great dinners from the past. We went for my birthday last night… ended up having a beer and leaving to eat elsewhere. It won’t be on our list for special dinners with the new menu.

I’ve always wanted to like and support this spot since it’s right around the corner from where I live. The folks there are nice enough enough, but the food is always a major disappointment. This restaurant basically serves reheated hotel food but charges as though they are a five star restaurant. In my latest attempt to support this restaurant we were served a piece of halibut the size of my thumb and charged $35 for it. This combined with their overpriced drinks makes it feel like a a scam whenever you visit.

Nice atmosphere, we got seated fairly quickly. We ordered drinks, however 20 minutes after ordering our waitress told us we were given the wrong menu and the drinks we ordered were no longer served and the new drinks were more expensive. Fine, the new drinks were good. We ordered our food, thought everything was fine and in stock, as our waitress told us what drafts were out of stock. When she brought my partner’s food and the appetizer, at the same time by the way, she informed me my order was not available. She did not ask if I wanted something else and walked away. We were also not given silverware nor napkins. The appetizer was good and my partner enjoyed his food, but I am severely disappointed in this experience. I would like to know if this management and purchaser improves before I return.

Quite possibly the worst meal we have ever had at a restaurant. They were out of almost every option on the menu.....LITERALLY. We ordered an appetizer only to be told a few minutes later they were out of it, so we picked another, same thing... then another, same thing... out of it. Finally they brought us a redacted menu (attached to this review). Take a look at the entrees... they only had 2 of the 6 entrees available. I took the french onion soup, which was terrible, my wife ordered the Salad Nicoise, which had canned tuna and was inedible, and we ordered a couple of the popovers which did NOT come with honey butter as advertized until we asked them for it. The staff knew it was all terrible and offered us a complimentary creme brûlée, which was actually pretty decent. All in all just a terrible meal, and we will never return to this restaurant.

Service was very much lacking. Came in for early dinner at 5 and there’s only 2 other people. The Bartender/server were talking on side of bar, took a good minute to get her to come over and get our drink order. We placed our food order (turkey sandwich and a hamburger) took over 30min. Didn’t realize to make a sandwich and a burger took THAT long. Was quite irritating side there was no one else at the bar but us. Food was OKAY but not impressed since I expected better for $21. Also sat not eating just waiting on our check because the bartender was more focused on her friend than serving us.

We visited the beautiful city of Minneapolis for a Ravens away game. Of the thousand locals we met, the people at Normandy Bar were the only ones who were less than friendly. Visited for drinks at the bar on Saturday and the experience was a very good one. Bartender (shorter bald guy with glasses) made a great ol fashioned and the service was very good. We spent ~$200 and walked away very impressed with the atmosphere, drinks and service. Unfortunately, when we returned the next night the experience was awful and downright embarrassing. We walked in (wearing Ravens apparel) and moved a stool to the end of the bar where there was one empty stool. We saw new “friends” from the night before and sat down with them and another couple. About 15 minutes later we grabbed the bartenders (younger taller guy with a Vikings jersey) attention and politely asked if we could order drinks. We were told that we were being denied service. I asked why and was told simply “we saw you stumble walking in and are not going to serve you.” We were astonished by this claim. This was patently false. In fact a couple who we began talking to after sitting down argued back that we were the most sober people in the entire bar. Mind you, we’d only met that couple 10 minutes prior…so it wasn’t like they had a vested interest in either side of the matter. I asked to speak with the manager and she came over(first time I’d seen her). I asked why we were being denied service and she merely said “my bartenders are very well trained.” I told her that each of us had a handful of light beers over the course of the entire day at the stadium and surely were not intoxicated. She apologized several times but doubled down on the decision. I found this to be contradictory and frankly believe she lacked the backbone to question her bartenders decision. Several onlookers stuck up for us and apologized for what we dealt with. I never raised my voice and treated the bartender and manager with a respect they never gave us. They missed out on another 30%+ tip (like the one we gave the night before) and put a damper on an otherwise amazing trip. I can only guess that the reason for the refusal was due to us being opposing fans…I cannot fathom any other explanation. Ironically, the night prior, I witnessed an older female restaurant floor manager at Normandy’s clearly inebriated while working. I said nothing because it wasn’t my place, but still find it incredibly ironic and unprofessional that they allow employees to be intoxicated while working but then refuse service to sober patrons. I recommend staying away. I gave this 2 stars because the experience on Saturday was very good. However, that was nearly completely negated by the terribly embarrassing experience on Sunday. Do better Normandy’s.