Day 22, 2021: Norma (Hell's Kitchen, NYC)

 

DAY 22: OCTOBER 22nd, 2021

LOCATION: Norma - Gastronomia Siciliana (801 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019)

GUEST(S): Robin Rothman, Adam Natale, Jeremy

ORDER: 2 slices of Diavola (Tomato Sauce, mozzarella, Calabrese 'Nduja, spicy salami, black olives, parsley), 1 slice of Cotto & funghi (tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, Italian prosciutto cotto), 1 slice of Funghi trifolati & porchetta (roasted porchetta, mozzarella, sauteed mushroom, provolone cheese, red onions) 1 slice of Regina con bufala (Tomato sauce, bufalo mozzarella, cherry tomato, basil)

REVIEW: 

In a Sicilian minute. Norma Gastronomia Siciliana has opened a second portal to Sicily in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. Just like the Kips Bay location, the staff, the ovens, and the recipes are as Italian as it gets. Not surprisingly, so is the vibe. Despite the fact it was peak dinner times on a Friday night and Norma's indoor and outdoor dining areas were bustling with people, at no point did anything feel rushed. It seemed the attentive and friendly servers were just as happy to have us stay the night - a far cry from the typical get-em-in-and-get-em-out New York experience.  And the food is as authentic as it is delicious. Pair your pies with an Italian beer or wine for a date to remember. Since everything on the menu is good, I recommend exploring it beyond the pizza.  Sure, you should definitely split a high quality topped brick oven charred personal sized pizza, but save some room for something else. The rice balls are great place to start and the desserts are a better way to finish.  It's not inexpensive but a trip to Norma is a lot cheaper than a trip to Sicily for the same food. 

PHOTOS:

Day 22

Regina pie

Diavola pie

Funghi trifolati & porchetta

Cotto & funghi

Interior

MISCELLANEOUS:

Sean, Robin, Adam, Jeremy

1. Adam Natale and Robin Rothman were next door neighbors growing up in Philly and now they both live in New York City.  As children they both had a very mature palate and even once asked their parents for "extra caviar."

2. Jeremy went around the world in 19 days. His circumnavigation took him through London, Saudi Arabia, Cairo, India, Japan.

3. After pizza Robin and I finished season 9 of RuPaul’s Drag Race - strongly recommend.

RATING:

 4.17/5

• VALUE:
   3.5/5


• AMBIENCE:
   3/3


• TASTE:
   8/10


• SERVICE: 
   3/3

17.5/21 = .833 x 5 = 4.17