With half curtain across the window, a checkerboard floor and formica tables, Norman’s has all the hallmarks of a typical caff but this newly opened Tufnell Park joint is a cut above your average. It’s owned by Alex (a hair and make-up artist), Elliot (who’s worked at Lyle’s, French House, Clove Club and Leroy) and chef Richie (previously head chef at Prufrock and Crispin), who all met working in restaurants and wine bars and wanted to open a refined greasy spoon.
Yes the menu includes a fry-up, ham egg & chips, and fish & chips as well as a range of hot breakfast sarnies (including build your own baps and a killer sausage, red Leicester, egg and HP muffin – exhibit A) but on Friday and Saturday nights it flips into a wine bar. The evening menu is still very much in line with the classic British grub served in the daytime, with comfort food like ham & mustard, cheese on toast, battered haddock & wally, chicken & leek pie and pear & custard for pud.
All the dishes are comfortably under a tenner and the wines (two white, two red and one skin) top out at £7.50 a glass, so when you’re able to dine-in, this is a place that’ll fill you up without costing the earth. With Cafe Deco finally open as well it looks like 2021 could be the year of the cafe.
167 Junction Road, Tufnell Park, London, N19 5PZ
normanscafe.co.uk