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8 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 2LS
Harden's says
Following the success of The Game Bird, The Stafford London and culinary director Ben Tish opened this independent restaurant, in a Fitzrovia townhouse, in late summer 2019. The cooking is "inspired by the food and culture of Sicily, with particular emphasis on the Moorish influences on the island’s cuisine"; a crudo (raw) bar also features.
Harden's survey result
Summary
“Feeling like a serious step up from your run-of-the-mill Italian, but not breaking the bank” – this unusual and stylish venture is a spin-off from the Stafford Hotel. There’s a Sicilian focus to the menu and the food is “absolutely delicious”. “Booths make it a great spot for a business lunch – intimate enough to be quiet in a bustling restaurant”, with very attentive service. Top Menu Tip – “dangerously delectable focaccia”.
Summary
“The décor feels wonderfully indulgent without descending into kitsch” at the Stafford Hotel Group’s “stylish” three-year-old. Something similar could be said about the “interesting spin on Sicilian cuisine” that’s “excellently prepared and full of authentic flavour”, and delivered in generous portions. “Staff are brilliant” too. Top Menu Tip – “a top choice for inventive and not-too-excessive pasta” or small plates (e.g. prawns, monkfish, burrata); “top it all off with first-rate tiramisu and rose-flavoured panna cotta”.
Summary
“A beautiful restaurant with equally beautiful food!” – the Stafford Hotel’s first ‘extra-curricular’ venture in late 2019 has created an impressive all-rounder. In the “intimate” setting of a Fitzrovia townhouse, “delightful” staff provide dishes either from “an attractive seafood array” or from a menu of Italian small plates, focused on Sicily. One or two reporters feel results are “nice but nothing amazing”, but more numerous are those who say the food is “super tasty” and “absolutely fabulous”.
Summary
Following the success of The Game Bird, the team from The Stafford London took the bold step of opening this independent non-hotel restaurant, in a Fitzrovia townhouse, in September 2019. The cooking, overseen by the Salt Yard’s ex-culinary director, Ben Tish, is ‘inspired by the culture of Sicily, with particular emphasis on the Moorish influences on the island’s cuisine’; a crudo (raw) bar is also a feature.
For 33 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Norma?
Owner's description
Norma is a contemporary and vibrant restaurant, inspired by the food and culture of Sicily with particular emphasis on the Moorish influences of the island’s cuisine.
Norma embodies the celebrated old-school Italian hospitality and charm, taking inspiration from the grand café culture found in Sicily. Set across three floors of a characterful townhouse on Charlotte Street in London’s Fitzrovia, the first two floors are dedicated to the restaurant, with the top floor a private dining space. At the heart of Norma is the Crudo bar at the entrance, serving up the freshest seasonal raw seafood.
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £33.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £6.00 |
 Extras |
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|---|---|
| Service | 12.50% |
Restaurant details
Norma Restaurant Diner Reviews
"Nice italian style food"
"An excellent find, large and creative Italian menu, and ambience really a 3.5 rather than a 3. "
"We went with friends for a pre-Christmas meal. The food was okay, but not exceptional. The ambience was quite nice."
8 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 2LS
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑3 pm, 5 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑10:30 pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑5 pm |
