Words and photos by Susie Sandford Smith

Standing room only and an ocean of chips

On Sunday I popped up to Norman’s Cafe. to celebrate their first birthday, where it was standing room only!

They were serving their signature simple food done exquisitely - this time in the form of a chip butty or a chicken escalope roll. The night was co-hosted by Top Cuvée (on my must visit list, which I’m slowly making my way through) with a fantastic selection of wines to suit all tastes.

I was after a glass of a big red, which is basically what I’m always after, but Brodie (Top Cuvée head honcho and someone who strikes me as a person you want to have around on a night out! Good fun.) suggested pairing the chip butty with a glass of sparkling wine. I thought it only fitting, given that this WAS a birthday after all (and that I don’t really need an excuse for bubbles) and went with that and I have to say it was a top suggestion. I love the idea that you can have a chip butty with a glass of champers or, whatever sparkling wine - why the hell not. It feels… very Norman’s.

I’ve seen Norman’s being called hipster and I suppose, if you don’t scratch beneath the surface, you could think that that was the only story. But Norman’s is a local cafe, taking over a site that previously house the stalwart of the local scene, Cafe del Parc, it would be hard not to keep the local, welcoming, vibe going, And it does draw a surprisingly mixed crowd. With its red and white curtains and tablecloths and chequerboard floor (and free sanitary products in the loos) it is charm personified and lemme tell you, it delivers on the goods! Whatever, it’s one of my favourite places and somewhere where I feel totally at home! And I suppose that’s part of the point of this blog, to encourage you to not make assumptions and to try things and places - anywhere worth their salt (is that even a saying!?) will welcome you regardless. Unless their thing is being surly, then I’m not interested anyway.

A pandemic opening

Richie Hayes and Elliott Kaye met whilst working across restaurants in London, with years of experience and a real culinary/hospitality pedigree behind them, they chose to open (during the pandemic) the type of place they enjoyed eating in when they weren’t at work and so, Norman’s was born. A celebration of simple British classics using good quality ingredients that are cooked to perfection. I think they’ve got it bang on. Sometimes, when a place ‘elevates’ a fry up they ruin it, it somehow feels a bit ‘worthy’ and that’s not what you eat a fry up for. But, if you’re anything like me you do really prefer eating good quality food and that’s exactly what you get here. And as everything is made in-house it’s great for people with allergies because they know exactly what’s in everything.

Norman’s Cafe. is at 167 Junction Road. They’re currently open Tuesday to Sunday for breakfast and lunch, walk-ins only, but do check their website/Instagram as they sometimes have extra events in the evening.

NORMAN'S CAFE. (normanscafe.co.uk)

@normanscafelondon

Top Cuvée is at 177B Blackstock Road - they’ve a restaurant selling small plates and natural wines and a shop/deli, and have just opened a shop and wine bar on Bethnal Green Road.

They also do same day delivery in London and next day nationwide. I can deffo suggest the Can Suriol “Azimut” Macebo (the sparkling, a Spanish cava) and Léah Anglès ‘Diva Rouge’ a French Grenache

Top Cuvée (topcuvee.com)

@topcuvee