Walking into Norma Dee’s is like stepping foot onto the set of a 90’s tv show. A short flight of stairs leads into a wood-paneled and white-paint-daubed room packed with tables and chairs, a kitchen visible past a small countertop where people on the go can perch, eating their meals and drinking their coffee. The walls are adorned with disparate paintings, some framed, some not. Everything is as it should be, right down to the neon “open” sign in the window. Finally, you can find Norma Dee herself at the counter waiting to greet you with a smile.
Living in Devon for a year meant looking for good, local food. Everyone we asked for recommendations told us to try Norma Dee’s Kitchen. The restaurant is part of the old Devon Hotel, a fact that only adds to its charm. It serves breakfast and lunch, opening at 8 a.m. every day. There isn’t a comparable place in Devon, so you will always find it packed.
The smell of bacon, bread and coffee that greets you is a recipe for instant hunger. The dishes are doled out in big portions and most of them are served with a side of crispy, golden hashbrowns made from scratch. The stand out item on the menu is the Eggs Benny. The eggs are fresh, the hollandaise sauce is creamy and the bread is toasted to perfection, making each bite a happy combination of savoury, delicious and never soggy. They also have a big menu of sandwiches with diner classics from Clubhouse to Beef Dip and Meatloaf.
What struck me the most about Norma Dee’s, aside from the food, is that it’s truly a family-run restaurant. Norma is usually at the counter and her daughter waits on tables. You don’t often find multiple generations working together under one roof these days, so it’s sweet to see them keeping this town staple alive and thriving.
And they’re always glad you came.
Norma Dee’s
#1 Huron St, Devon
