Normand’s Bistro

I really can’t say much about Normand’s. It was a last-​try attempt to get a pre-​Symphony drink. The Caesar I had was really tasty, and the prices were decent. Being that we were here on Valentines Day, the décor was perfect for the couples that were in there, and the ambiance was romantic. The menu looked pretty great so again, I wouldn’t mind coming back!

I can’t review much, but we stopped in for drinks before heading to the Winspear for the ESO. Most of our regular stops were crowded because it was Valentine’s Day (we didn’t think that Sherlock’s would be jammed, but it was packed!). The Drink list was full of syrup and kind of uninspired, honestly. But the staff there was on top of things, and the menu itself looked tasty and worth a stop back in before a show on another night.

I came here with a massive group of friends and we were accommodated easily for brunch. The bistro was actually quite empty.
I am a self-​professed French Toast connoisseur. I loved their French Toast. My oh my, it was delicious. I definitely recommend it if you come by for brunch, although my friends enjoyed their Eggs Benedicts as well. If you’re a fan of well-​done staple items, try out this Bistro.

Ugh. This was our second time for brunch here. First experience was last year and was similar satisfaction level. This time, we were the first table seated in the entire restaurant but it was a bit of a gong show for them deciding where to seat us. She asked if they could «put a couple tables together» yet there was only 3 of us and a completely empty room. Mimosas were cold and tasty, and one of us had an omelette which was apparently pretty decent but two of us had eggs Benedicts and both had eggs that were completely filled with water and they soaked the muffins underneath. We sent them back and we got eggs that were hugely overcooked to replace them. The place was filling up and we knew it would be a long time if we sent them back again so we ate them and didn’t really enjoy them at all. Incidentally, the fruit cups with vanilla yogurt were delicious. Also we received about 3 fried potato pieces on the plate and they were tasty but apparently endangered as we had only a few per plate. Second chance and it wasn’t great so we won’t be back.

I came in here the other night for a post-​show snack after seeing a ESO performance at the Winspear. The main reason we chose this location was because it was close to the Winspear, and open late (until 11:30pm on Friday and Saturday). I don’t have any strong criticisms of the restaurant. I suppose, if anything, the menu may have seemed a little bit over-​priced — at least for what I ordered. I had a Caesar salad with three ‘jumbo’ shrimp on it, which cost $ 15. The portion size did not seem to justify the cost and the jumbo shrimp were fairly average in their size, but the flavours were good and the ingredients were fresh. My friend had a soup, which looked and smelled absolutely amazing, and at $ 6 it didn’t seem too unreasonable. She also had the smoked salmon Carpaccio, which looked very appetizing with its thick slices of dark rye bread and generous slices of smoked salmon and capers. The also had a couple of interesting beers on their menu that we were keen to try.
I think if you’re going to a show in the area and looking for a spot to get a drink or a snack afterward, this is not a bad option. Their menu at that time of night had an interesting mix of appetizers and desserts that seemed to provide something to suit most tastes.
I’m assuming Normand’s Bistro must be connected to the Normand’s restaurant which is on Jasper Avenue. Of interest, I have heard that Normand’s took over the brunch menu that had formerly been offered at the Glenora Bistro.

I ate lunch at Normands two days in a row as I was at a conference. The first day, I had hours for lunch. Of the 4 at our table, only one of us had a «yummy» meal — the vegetarian lasagna. one had the chicken pot pie, which looked nice but had little flavor. Myself and one other had soup and quiche — bland, no garnish. We had an overwhelmed, crabby server. We did manage to be served, eat and out in 2 hours. The second day, we had an hour and half for lunch. After an hour after ordering, we asked about our food. People were starting to leave who also had received no food. We eventually got our food to go. Three of the four dishes were dreadful. My chicken pot pie, which had looked so appealing on my friends plate the day before, was a soupy mess. It had no crust on it, just two pieces of dry toast. Seriously! ?! It was supposed to have wild mushrooms in it. There were no mushrooms in it and it tasted like cream of mushroom soup. I get that people and places have bad days. But two days in a row of poor service, mediocre overpriced food? Save your money, people! Normands is not worth the aggravation.

I had no expectations going into this restaurant but left really happy! I made a dinner reservation for 5 because it was Mother’s Day weekend and our play started at 730. We were the only people in the restaurant until almost 6 so I don’t think my reservation was entirely necessary, but as this is the only time I have ever been I don’t know if it’s always that dead. Maybe make a reservation to be on the safe side. My fiancé and I had the fries to start and I had the chicken penne and he had steak as entrees. The food was excellent. I honestly can’t complain about a single thing. I could eat that penne all day everyday. We were done eating by 6 so we killed the time just drinking and chatting. Our server was attentive and polite and we never felt like we were waiting for her which was great. We had about 10 rum and cokes between the two of us and with an appetizer and entrees our Bill was only $ 130. I will definitely come back here if we’re at the citadel again.

Quite honestly I’ve experienced far better than this place. I’ve been here a couple of times now, once for dinner before a show at the Citadel (an experience I’m unlikely to repeat) and once for drinks with friends. My pizza at dinner was overcooked and not very good when I came for dinner. I was mostly ignored even though I sat at the bar, and the venue was far far too noisy for my happiness on that visit. A more recent visit for drinks with friends was sub-​par mostly because the drink menu is unsatisfying, and my tea was mediocre at best. The staff seemed stressed and overworked late at night which contributed to a less than pleasant experience sitting in the bar/​lounge area.
I suspect I would have a better experience if I were seated in the restaurant area but generally I’m underwhelmed by these experiences.

Stopped into the lounge while waiting to meet up with a friend. Great space –can’t wait to try the patio this summer. Nice vibe, jazz music in background. Good prices for happy hour and enjoyed the green onion cakes as a snack. I’ll be back for dinner.

I was the most fortunate recipient of an invitation to the Winspear’s «Tommy Banks and PJ Perry: Old Friends» concert last night :-) In return, I took my friend out for dinner before the show and we went to Normand’s at the Citadel.
We have dined here once before and as is a usual rule for me, I usually don’t write a review for a place or service until I have gone a couple of times or dealt with the people/​service a little longer to see how things «go».
So, here is my review. I am giving it a 4 though I would probably want to give it a solid 3.5 (if it were possible) in light of the consistent quality, good value, and the service which is quite good as they seem to be quite conscientious of the Theatre District crowd that comes :-)
On a chilly night like last night, we were both wanting something substantial and tasty. We opted for their «Table d’Hote» meal of $ 40 which includes a choice of soup or salad, any entrée you wish and any dessert you wish.
I chose the green salad to start which when it came was a very nice helping (and I was hungry to boot!). It was already seasoned (I didn’t ask for the dressing on the side) and I found it very good and not oily. For my main entrée, I order the 7oz Angus Steak which came prepared with a mushroom jus and with a nice helping of mashed potatoes, broccoletti and cauliflower. The steak was VERY tasty (NOT salty) and it was a very good, warm dish of comfort food :-9 My friend was in the mood for the short ribs which she enjoyed immensely with the meat coming off the bone so easily and she telling me how tender it was.
For dessert I had the Chocolate Cake with Callebaut Chocolate Ganache. It is a flourless cake however, this one was NOT dry at all and served with a bit of whip cream and sour cherries. It is dark chocolate and so it was very smooth :-) My friend had the cheesecake which she enjoyed, however, the only drawback was that the juice of the sour cherries was a bit too much and it took away from the cheesecake she ordered (which was served in a low, wide mouthed jar).
In all, with 2 glasses of wine, our bill came to about $ 115.00.
Given the service and so far (so good) consistent quality in their kitchen and value, I know I will be coming back especially if I am going to the Winspear or the Citadel for an evening performance :-)

Came in here with a group of our illustrious Unilocalers a couple of months ago before catching Rapid Fire at the Citadel. The location is fabulous and their menu had tons of things that looked delicious!
My mojito was so-​so; c’est la vie! You win some, you lose some.
The lamb sliders were KILLER! I would come back again just for these! So tender, served open faced with a sweet pear compote. TO DIE FOR!
I was really looking forward to trying the chicken lollipops but the server forgot to ring them in so we never got to try those before having to run out the door for Rapid Fire.
Someone in our group had a mixup with the drink order and unfortunately, I could hear the server complaining to the bar tender that the patron from our group clearly didn’t understand how to order drinks. Didn’t make me feel very welcome :-(
Also had the tomato poutine with pesto and goat cheese — worth a try but not the best.
You couldn’t ask for a better place than right inside the Citadel. The bar/​lounge was lovely with lots of natural light and an easy view of the street.
The menu had so many unusual or unique pairings that I simply must come back.
I have a sneaky suspicion that if I find a few more favourites on the menu and a better service experience that this could become a four star.

I really like Normand’s restaurant on Jasper and I’ve been wowed by this bistro’s offerings at Taste of Edmonton, so I was really looking forward to trying it out. I went for a recent weekday lunch and I would describe it as good, but not great. There wasn’t anything wrong but there wasn’t anything that particularly wowed us either.
The space is quite large inside. It was somewhat busy and our waitress was quite good, able to shed light on menu options and offer suggestions for the wine, and coming to check on us at the right times. My husband ordered the roasted herbed porchetta sandwich and I had the stroganoff-​inspired braised short rib (I think it was boar-it’s not listed on their online menu anymore).
Food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. The porchetta came in a large slab on a pretzel bun — very saucy and definitely had to be eaten with a fork and knife :) I’ve never really had porchetta before — I think it’s supposed to be rolled up pork belly with spices, though the waitress said it wasn’t all pork belly. It was a little fatty in some spots but mostly melt-​in-​your-​mouth tender meat. It also came with a crisp coleslaw to counter the richness and a choice of soup, salad, or fries. Fries are thin cut, which I prefer over the thick cut ones. These weren’t bad.
My braised meat and fettuccine was interesting. It was stroganoff-​style so there was tons of meat gravy clinging to the pasta, with a dollop of sour cream, and some slivered pickles. Lots of tender braised meat as well. However, I found the flavours to come together in an odd way that tasted savoury, but didn’t make me want more.
Anyway, overall this place a solid choice. I think I would give it another chance.

Gee, Normands. It would have been nice if you had seen fit to update your website with the fact that you are closed for construction during a good chunk of August.
That way, my husband and i wouldn’t have wasted time trying you this morning. Good thing Craft Beer Market was open.
Seriously. Add a freaking contact page to your website with important stuff like hours and you know, CLOSURES?
Once my husband has been burned by a place, it is nearly impossible to get him to return, so chances are, you may have lost him (us) for good.

You have to try the boneless braised beef short ribs and mash… They are awesome for celiacs as well! Absolutely delicious :)

This was one of the stops a girlfriend and I hit up on downtown dining week 2014! I was really impressed with this place considering I hadn’t really heard of it. The food was excellent we both had salad and salmon and both were perfectly done. Our server was lovely and the atmosphere was perfect. This is am adorable place to meet a girlfriend for lunch or for a lovely patio glass of wine I’m the summer. Which reminds me I will most definitely be back for some patio wine in the summer time!

Normand’s restaurant has been part of the Jasper Avenue restaurant scene since before there was even such a thing. It was the only restaurant on the west end of Jasper ave. Fabulous cuisine!
My husband and I were strolling along down 99 street after visiting the AGA and were delighted to stumble upon Normand’s Bistro. After years of owning one popular location, Normand decided to add a second more casual one.
Hubs and I both ordered the Maple Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée off their new dessert menu.
It was a palate pleaser! A beautifully brûlée sugar crust topped a rich vanilla bean cream with a light soupçon of maple. Perfectly balanced so as to not be over powering.
I highly recommend Normand’s Bistro in the Citadel Theatre.
What a perfect ending to a perfect evening!

I went in for lunch and was pleasantly surprised that the famed eggs Benedict that I have heard so much about in the last few months is available to order all day! Hooray! Because seriously, a Bennie that is perfectly poach, with just the right slathering of Hollandaise is something that you can eat all day long; especially when it is on the most rich, succulent, pulled beef short ribs. Yes, you read correctly: Pulled beef short ribs eggs Benedict. Oh, and it was absolutely delicious! My lunch companion was just as delighted as I was that she could order a lunch Bennie and went with the Wild Boar bacon Benedict. As each order comes with two we decided to switch one for one so that we could each try a full Bennie of each flavour. Both delicious, I would return for either in a heart beat!
The Bennie’s were accompanied by the most delicious fried potatoes. Neither of us could quite decipher them, they were crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside, almost like a gourmet tater tot. I don’t know quite how else to describe it. As if that wasn’t enough, there was also quite a lovely fruit bowl with pineapple, blackberries and dollops of vanilla yogurt. Quite nice. They have a fresh squeezed orange juice machine that is out in the open so that when you order a juice you can see them make it right in front of you. Love it!
Now, on to why only 3 stars. It was the atmosphere and ambiance. Maybe it was because at 11:50 when I walked in I was the only person there. It was uncomfortable (and I’m not the kind of person to feel uncomfortable easily). Perhaps if there was music playing, something to give the large concrete space some life! I will say this: Go for the Bennie’s, if you are a fan, you will love it! The food is quite good. And lets hope they work on the environment in the mean time.

I stopped in around 6:30 for dessert and coffee with a friend. The restaurant side was full but we were seated in the bar immediately.
The waitstaff was clearly overwhelmed by the diners, but the hostesses appeared to be largely ignoring them.
After some discussion, we elected to share the «French Vanilla Cheesecake», and I had a cappuccino.
The cheesecake, which was served in a mason jar and promised «seasonal fruits», was extremely disappointing. The fruit was strawberries in heavy syrup, clearly not fresh and certainly not seasonal for Alberta.
The cheesecake proper was equally disappointing. Although its texture was appealing, the promised «French vanilla» flavour never appeared. The defining notes were sugar and cream cheese.
Probably owing to the jar’s material and shape, the crust was thick, dense, and somewhat underbaked.
The coffee was fairly ordinary. Some had spilled into the saucer, leaving a bit of a mess to clean up. Fortunately, the dessert was served with paper napkins.

I like the Glenora Bistro, and I love Normand’s, so, unsurprisingly, I’m a fan of Normand’s Bistro too.
I’ve only been for brunch, but their dinner menu looks good too. I had the short rib benedict, which was everything I hoped it would be. It also wasn’t busy at all, and I suspect that brunch is pretty quiet for them in that location. Definitely the best brunch option downtown, in my opinion. I’ll be back for sure.

I was downtown for lunch today and decided to try Normand’s Bistro inside the Citadel because I knew the original location was one of my friend’s favorite restaurants and that they serve wild game.
I called ahead and asked if they were open for lunch and let them know that I would be there in 10 minutes for a party of two and a baby. We get there and were promptly addressed by a very nice hostess who brought us a high chair. Sadly, both of their highchairs did not have working buckles so I had to actually hold my daughter in the chair the entire lunch to ensure that she wouldn’t climb out or fall out of the chair. This may not be a big deal for some, but I had to eat my whole meal with one hand.
My husband ordered the salmon feature, which came with white rice a spinach pesto and fresh vegetables. The pesto was actually a cream sauce with spinach and accompanied the salmon quite well. Rice was fresh and smelled sweet. The butternut squash was very firm and seemed undercooked. The green beans had a sprinkling of salt on top with I found to be too much. The salmon was done well and very tasty.
I ordered the elk meatloaf which came with a pear, carrot and parsnip slaw, potatoes and choice of salad or soup. I opted for the wild game soup. My slaw tasted like the vegetables had been soaking in water all day then quickly tossed together and thrown on top of my meatloaf which was only barely warm. The potatoes were good. Well seasoned, crispy on the outside and tender and moist on the inside. Everything a homefry should be.
Service was excellent and our food arrived very quickly. The restaurant was pretty slow. Maybe people don’t know about this place yet?