Tucked away in the near south district of town I had never heard of this place. A friends mom wanted to have an extra special date with her husband and wanted us to try it out for her first so we did! First off let me say the website set a high bar for expectations. They serve a limited menu each day which for this town is rare and likely confusing to many small town Nebraska. Coming for Denver I get it. So we started with both the mussels as well as the greenbean almondine. The greenbeans were well cooked but a little heavy on the almonds in my opinion. The mussels were in a garlic sauce which was very good but they were very small mussels so not much of an appetizer. We got one of each main course. The pistachio crusted salmon was tender and flaky but the crust should have been toasted with a torch or maybe even braised a little. The risotto was good and asparagus was cooked perfectly! The steak was the best part although, being a Nebraska boy I don’t care for sauce on my steak and they smothered it with something. But it wasn’t bad I just enjoy the meat flavor. It was cooked to order as well. The mashed wasn’t anything special but made from scratch for sure. And again perfect asparagus. The dessert was a chocolate mousse with strawberries on top. Mousse wasn’t bad and the portion was good but the strawberries were bitter. Perhaps a different topping for the season would be better. The restaurant as nothing but Rolex posters for decor and the mens bathroom was the size of a closet and decorated with bar tins. The website made it seem like a short and tie only spot but after going there I would have not felt out of place in jeans and a tee. It was good food but the house pinto noir wasn’t the best and the value is for sure is not worth it in my opinion. They are due for a location upgrade for sure. Not sure if I will revisit them at this location.
christian corliss
The most personal and intimate French dining experience! The food was wonderful, and it was easy to tell much care was given to each individual dish being served, and the server made the evening and was well versed in the menu and wine selections. I’d recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Lincoln area seeking a fine dining experience, it felt truly authentically French, and the location was nestled into a neighborhood away from the bustling city areas.
Beth Scholz
One of our favorite places to eat. At this time they do have a limited menu so you always want to check. We love the mussels and the filet and the Ribeye.
Kyla Brummett
What an absolutely phenomenal experience! I don't know what was better, the quaint atmosphere, exceptional service, or the outstanding food! The chefs on staff seriously know what their doing, and that's a hard thing to find in that competitive industry!The owners are lovable, likeable, and reasonable people that honestly followed after their version of "the American dream." Treat them well, Lincoln, we can't have the best restaurant we got go anywhere on us! Bravo, Eric & family!Would be great for date nights, intimate celebrations, or if you're just tired of the same old food. Menu changes weekly, so it's always fresh and made from the best available!
Duane Wunderlich
Great local restaurant that offers a limited, but delicious weekly menu. Very nice French wines to choose from as well.
Ann D
Our food this evening was definitely above average, probably would have rated the restaurant a 4 based solely on food. The problem with this place is the ambiance. They could do SIX very basic low cost things to the restaurant which would really improve it’s appeal. 1 - Go outside and remove the weeds between the street and the restaurant and plant a few flowers. 2 - inside, install some sheer curtains in the windows so you dont have to look out and see the lights of the traffic glaring in your face 3 - put a single little flower in a vase on each table……like a daisy or a sunflower…..something you could buy daily at Trader Joe’s or possibly even a silk flower 4 - Light the candles on each of the tables 5 - turn DOWN the overhead lights once it gets dark. This always helps the atmosphere 6 - get some light French music or some acoustic guitar music, but LOOSE The Jimi Hendrix stuff. That is BAD.
Sam D.
The food was great one of the few times in Lincoln that a steak was served at the temp asked. The dining room has a weird Midwest feel but wasn't bad. The server was very nice and was willing to help you find the right wine. It is a high price place but the food is worth it. One of the best spots in Lincoln.
Robert Fuglei
I went to the Normandy twice pre-pandemic. The second time was one of the most miserable restaurant experiences I've ever had; I almost wrote a letter to the owners at the time but forgot about it. But since I was reviewing a couple of other places, I thought about it again and really want to give my two cents.The first time was okay. The fresh-baked bread was lovely, as was the mushroom soup and the chocolate lava cake. My friend was apparently happy with her chicken entree. My rack of lamb was pretty measly, and it was served with a butter knife (???). Still, not bad overall, if not quite worth the $$$.On the second visit, we waited for nearly an hour for our entrees. Two other nearby tables had no fewer than two parties each get seated, served, and finished eating and left while we were waiting. I'm almost sure the host forgot to put in our order, and did so when he remembered from a spotty memory. I ordered a medium steak au poivre (knowing how the French feel about their rare meat, I figured if I ordered it medium, it'd probably be medium-rarish). The cow was barely dead; the bloodiest, near-raw piece of meat I'd ever been served. When this was pointed out to the host, he comped our drinks, which I suppose is something. Nobody came to our table after our entrees finally arrived. I had to go up to the bar to tell them we wanted to order dessert. After dessert, I had to go up to the bar again to tell them we were ready to pay. We were there nearly 3 1/2 hours while again, other tables were handled much more swiftly. Never again.
Brian Bjornberg
Experience was awesome! Nice place to calm down and have a nice meal. My wife said her salmon with caper beurre blanc may have been the best she's ever had.
Lee K.
If you live in Lincoln and have not been to this restaurant, you're missing out. Maybe that's for the better, so I can get reservations easier! I'm from Los Angeles have visited Lincoln very regularly since my daughter moved there in 2015. I'm very disappointed that I didn't find this restaurant until now. I love any kind of food, but I'm certainly partial to "foodie" food, which, if I'm being candid, can be hard to find in Lincoln. From the outside, it's hard to tell that the inside has charm, including nice paintings by local artists, a charming owner, and an excellent, well-executed rotating menu. The wine list has value-priced French wines. I was beyond satisfied with the food and service at The Normandy. I live in LA and follow this little gem of a restaurant on Facebook and Instagram! Can't wait to get back to Lincoln to eat here again!
The Normandy has been my favorite restaurant for years! The food is exceptional and the services is always welcoming and friendly. I can't say enough good things about this sweet little restaurant.
David Chipman
My wife and I had an amazing meal there. We were served by one of the owners. We were extremely impressed by all of the care taken in ensuring our meal was perfect. If you like French cuisine, this is your only legitimate option in Lincoln.
nic Nwo
Had a great meal in an unassuming space. The food was delicious and the staff and owner were excellent.
Kathryn Jones
Amazing, amazing food and service! We’ve had it on our list to try for awhile and should have done it sooner!
Barrett Deck Care
Gosh. Best daycare in town. And great food. Can’t wait for next years space race
Tucked away in the near south district of town I had never heard of this place. A friends mom wanted to have an extra special date with her husband and wanted us to try it out for her first so we did! First off let me say the website set a high bar for expectations. They serve a limited menu each day which for this town is rare and likely confusing to many small town Nebraska. Coming for Denver I get it. So we started with both the mussels as well as the greenbean almondine. The greenbeans were well cooked but a little heavy on the almonds in my opinion. The mussels were in a garlic sauce which was very good but they were very small mussels so not much of an appetizer. We got one of each main course. The pistachio crusted salmon was tender and flaky but the crust should have been toasted with a torch or maybe even braised a little. The risotto was good and asparagus was cooked perfectly! The steak was the best part although, being a Nebraska boy I don’t care for sauce on my steak and they smothered it with something. But it wasn’t bad I just enjoy the meat flavor. It was cooked to order as well. The mashed wasn’t anything special but made from scratch for sure. And again perfect asparagus. The dessert was a chocolate mousse with strawberries on top. Mousse wasn’t bad and the portion was good but the strawberries were bitter. Perhaps a different topping for the season would be better. The restaurant as nothing but Rolex posters for decor and the mens bathroom was the size of a closet and decorated with bar tins. The website made it seem like a short and tie only spot but after going there I would have not felt out of place in jeans and a tee. It was good food but the house pinto noir wasn’t the best and the value is for sure is not worth it in my opinion. They are due for a location upgrade for sure. Not sure if I will revisit them at this location.
The most personal and intimate French dining experience! The food was wonderful, and it was easy to tell much care was given to each individual dish being served, and the server made the evening and was well versed in the menu and wine selections. I’d recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Lincoln area seeking a fine dining experience, it felt truly authentically French, and the location was nestled into a neighborhood away from the bustling city areas.
One of our favorite places to eat. At this time they do have a limited menu so you always want to check. We love the mussels and the filet and the Ribeye.
What an absolutely phenomenal experience! I don't know what was better, the quaint atmosphere, exceptional service, or the outstanding food! The chefs on staff seriously know what their doing, and that's a hard thing to find in that competitive industry!The owners are lovable, likeable, and reasonable people that honestly followed after their version of "the American dream." Treat them well, Lincoln, we can't have the best restaurant we got go anywhere on us! Bravo, Eric & family!Would be great for date nights, intimate celebrations, or if you're just tired of the same old food. Menu changes weekly, so it's always fresh and made from the best available!
Great local restaurant that offers a limited, but delicious weekly menu. Very nice French wines to choose from as well.
Our food this evening was definitely above average, probably would have rated the restaurant a 4 based solely on food. The problem with this place is the ambiance. They could do SIX very basic low cost things to the restaurant which would really improve it’s appeal. 1 - Go outside and remove the weeds between the street and the restaurant and plant a few flowers. 2 - inside, install some sheer curtains in the windows so you dont have to look out and see the lights of the traffic glaring in your face 3 - put a single little flower in a vase on each table……like a daisy or a sunflower…..something you could buy daily at Trader Joe’s or possibly even a silk flower 4 - Light the candles on each of the tables 5 - turn DOWN the overhead lights once it gets dark. This always helps the atmosphere 6 - get some light French music or some acoustic guitar music, but LOOSE The Jimi Hendrix stuff. That is BAD.
The food was great one of the few times in Lincoln that a steak was served at the temp asked. The dining room has a weird Midwest feel but wasn't bad. The server was very nice and was willing to help you find the right wine. It is a high price place but the food is worth it. One of the best spots in Lincoln.
I went to the Normandy twice pre-pandemic. The second time was one of the most miserable restaurant experiences I've ever had; I almost wrote a letter to the owners at the time but forgot about it. But since I was reviewing a couple of other places, I thought about it again and really want to give my two cents.The first time was okay. The fresh-baked bread was lovely, as was the mushroom soup and the chocolate lava cake. My friend was apparently happy with her chicken entree. My rack of lamb was pretty measly, and it was served with a butter knife (???). Still, not bad overall, if not quite worth the $$$.On the second visit, we waited for nearly an hour for our entrees. Two other nearby tables had no fewer than two parties each get seated, served, and finished eating and left while we were waiting. I'm almost sure the host forgot to put in our order, and did so when he remembered from a spotty memory. I ordered a medium steak au poivre (knowing how the French feel about their rare meat, I figured if I ordered it medium, it'd probably be medium-rarish). The cow was barely dead; the bloodiest, near-raw piece of meat I'd ever been served. When this was pointed out to the host, he comped our drinks, which I suppose is something. Nobody came to our table after our entrees finally arrived. I had to go up to the bar to tell them we wanted to order dessert. After dessert, I had to go up to the bar again to tell them we were ready to pay. We were there nearly 3 1/2 hours while again, other tables were handled much more swiftly. Never again.
Experience was awesome! Nice place to calm down and have a nice meal. My wife said her salmon with caper beurre blanc may have been the best she's ever had.
If you live in Lincoln and have not been to this restaurant, you're missing out. Maybe that's for the better, so I can get reservations easier! I'm from Los Angeles have visited Lincoln very regularly since my daughter moved there in 2015. I'm very disappointed that I didn't find this restaurant until now. I love any kind of food, but I'm certainly partial to "foodie" food, which, if I'm being candid, can be hard to find in Lincoln. From the outside, it's hard to tell that the inside has charm, including nice paintings by local artists, a charming owner, and an excellent, well-executed rotating menu. The wine list has value-priced French wines. I was beyond satisfied with the food and service at The Normandy. I live in LA and follow this little gem of a restaurant on Facebook and Instagram! Can't wait to get back to Lincoln to eat here again!
Restaurantji Recommends
The Normandy has been my favorite restaurant for years! The food is exceptional and the services is always welcoming and friendly. I can't say enough good things about this sweet little restaurant.
My wife and I had an amazing meal there. We were served by one of the owners. We were extremely impressed by all of the care taken in ensuring our meal was perfect. If you like French cuisine, this is your only legitimate option in Lincoln.
Had a great meal in an unassuming space. The food was delicious and the staff and owner were excellent.
Amazing, amazing food and service! We’ve had it on our list to try for awhile and should have done it sooner!
Gosh. Best daycare in town. And great food. Can’t wait for next years space race