Norman's Steaks and Burgers
We wrote about Norman's a long time ago, and we thought it was time
for an update.
Let us say right off the bat- Norman's is a busy, noisy restaurant.
The sound of lots of Anglos eating, drinking and generally having a
heckuva great time fills the place (and it is quite sizable) with a
joyful buzz. Lots of "kids" and lots of visiting American
parents as well as all the others make for a most wonderful dining environment.
We were there on Thursday night, Feb 2nd, and we had a ball.
We were a small group and we ate like kings. We started off with a
bowl of Norman's famous onion rings. Crisp, tasty and just the right
amount of spices, these onion rings were a great way to introduce friends
to the Norman's experience.
So what did we eat? Ok, here we go:
One of us started with soup. From his slurping sounds we knew it had
to be good. When he started scraping the bowl with his spoon to get
the last tiny drop, we were sure! The pumpkin soup is quite good- obviously.
One of us had the nine inch hot dog served in a hero roll over a bed
of crispy fries. The dog was huge and the roll was rather substantial.
Hot dog afficiando that our friend is, he proclaimed that one to be
worthy of his time and taste buds.
One of us had chicken fingers served with fries. One of us had the
half pound steakburger served on a huge bun over a bed of fries. And,finally,
one of us had the Jeff's Slam Dunk: 250g(that is a half pound) of beef
smothered with fried onions & mushrooms topped with slices of sirloin
steak. It was huge!!
The dipping sauces (honey mustard, bbq sauce and creamy Italian) were
all excellent. All in all, the food was really good. Our burgers came
exactly the way we like it. The chicken fingers, although an appetizer,
were big enough to serve as a meal. And what can we say about the dog?
It was a meal all by itself.
Owner Robin was our server, and at the end of the meal, we asked her
to join us for a few minutes. What followed was an incredible hour of
really good conversation. One of our group was a retired (and highly
decorated) NYC cop. The two of them had a wonderful conversation about
safety and cops. We also discussed the recent Palestinian elections.
Through it all, Robin was witty, cheerful and, frankly, a much needed
bit of beauty for a table of four elderly (!!) and not so good looking
American men. We had a ball talking with her.
So,to sum up: the food was great. The conversation was excellent. We
had a great time. What more can you ask for?
Long time readers might recall that when we first wrote about Norman's
in the KN newsletter, back in '04, we were not happy with the lack of
spice on our steak. This time everything was quite good. The burgers,
quite frankly, were spiced just right and, as we said, cooked just right.
We can't wait to go back. Thank you Robin for a meal worth remembering
and for an evening filled with wonderful conversation.
Norman's "Steaks Its Claim" on Emek Refaim
by Ruth Beloff-Begun
To find new expanded premises of Norman's Steak'n Burger all you have
to do is literally follow your nose along Emek Refaim, where the distinctive
scent of charcoal broiling will lead you right to number 27. A lovely
outdoor patio and a spacious two-level restaurant set the scene for
the heartiest, tastiest American style Kosher steaks and and burgers
in town. But you don't have to be a meat-lover to enjoy Norman's.
The well planned menu has plenty of platters to please even the most
particular palate.
Owned and operated by Robin Blank, Norman's Steak'n Burger has
been growing and expanding for almost twenty years. From the small
burger parlor that Norman opened on Agron Street in 1978 to the
current location that seats over 120, Norman's Steak'n Burger has
been renowned for the excellent quality and tantalizing flavor of
all its fare.
Some of the specialties at Norman's Steak'n Burger include steak,
filet mignon, foot-long all-beef hat dogs, and their famous jumbo
burgers (1 kilo) made from pure steak meat, with no filler. Heinz
ketchup and mustard are always on hand, but Norman's secret-recipe
burger sauces -- namely, garlic, honey garlic, salsa, and barbecue
- are usually the toppings of choice. "Our honey garlic ribs
are really something special." adds Robin. "They're fatty,"
she warns, "but they're delicious!"
Norman's lunch special, which comes with soup, salad, French fries
and a beverage, offers a choice of jumbo burger, California chicken
salad, or salmon steak -- all for about 44 shekels. Other menu selections
range from Caesar salad, home-made soups and chicken fingers, to
desserts such as brownies & pecan pie.
"Not only is the food delicious, but the portions are enormous,"
comments Robin. "but no matter how large the quantity, our
customers rarely leave any food on their plates." she adds.
While the food is "American style", the clientele is
international. The restaurant's central location makes it accessible
to tourists from hotels as well as local residents. "in fact,"
quips Robin, "we had to teach Israelis how to eat an American
hamburger. At first they would take the burger out of the bun and
start to eat it with a knife and fork. But we taught them how to
eat a hamburger with their hands, and now they love it!"
The "Bar" aspect of Norman's Steak'n Burger is very special
as well. Fully licensed, Norman's offers a good selection of beer
as well as an exceptional array of Kosher Israeli wines from their
extensive wine cellar.
Fun for the
whole family, Norman's offers a kids' menu, supplies high chairs,
and has paper tablecloths, complete with crayons for kids to doodle
on while they wait for their meal. Equipped with air conditioning,
free parking facilities, and smoking and non-smoking sections. Norman's
Steak'n Burger is ideal for lunch or dinner, as well as private parties.
Norman's -- the first name in American-style charcoal broiling.....
they steak their reputation on it.
