Nestled in the heart of Smith Street, Norma brings Mediterranean-French cuisine to Melbourne. No fuss—just simple, flavourful dishes that transport you straight to the south of France. Chef and owner Ben puts a Mediterranean twist on French classics, paying homage to his Nonna Norma with every plate.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 197 Smith St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
Phone: +61 494 087 413
Website: https://normafitzroy.au/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com.au
Photo Gallery
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Reviews
The atmosphere and interior were absolutely lovely, and most importantly, the food was incredibly delicious. We even got to enjoy a famous French dish, beef bourguignon, which made the experience extra special. It truly felt like a little taste of France.
We had such a happy and relaxed time together. I would love to come back again with friends, and I can already imagine it being a great place to visit with family as well.
Highly recommended for a date too
The beetroot and octopus starters were spot on, fresh, full of flavour, with great texture. The bread and French butter on the side just tied it all together.
The highlight though was the beef cheek bourguignon with frites. The sauce was rich and full-bodied without being heavy, the beef just fell apart with a fork, and every bite had that deep, slow-cooked flavour you only get when it’s done right. It actually reminded us of a beautiful version we had in Paris at Le Caveau de l’Isle behind Notre Dame earlier this year. Absolutely outstanding.
Edit (10 Jan 2026).
Second visit, and it definitely won’t be our last. The service was polished, the food rich, flavourful, and indulgent. A brilliant spot for anyone chasing French flavours done right.
The food was outstanding. The beef tartare I ordered was delicious, fresh, flavorful and clearly done with care. The service was friendly, professional and made the whole evening feel seamless (including the split billing at the end, which was a big plus for our group). The vibe of the place hits that sweet spot of being classy without being stiff, ideal for a big group dinner that still feels relaxed.
Great for groups, upstairs space + split billing = big win
Excellent food, beef tartare was a standout
Warm and inviting atmosphere, yet still feels special
Pics are of the octopus, tuna crudo and beef tartare. We also had the beef cheek and the bread. We were pretty stuffed. The stand out for me was the octopus.
Decent crowd for a Thursday night. Great service by 1 front of house and the 1 chef in the back. Not too long wait for service too.
Had a chat with the French chef after dinner. He was friendly and down to earth – no fancy chef outfit, black shirt, jeans and a hat 🙂
The food, however, was just okay overall. We really loved the entrée that was probably the highlight of the meal. Unfortunately, the mains were quite underwhelming in terms of portion size. The dishes seemed like they were meant to serve two people, but with eight of us sharing, it just wasn’t enough. There was also only one serving of the barramundi dish for the entire table, which felt a bit odd, everyone only got a single bite, and it wasn’t enough to properly enjoy it.
Flavor-wise, the dishes were a bit flat. We were especially looking forward to dessert, hoping it would end the night on a high note, but sadly it didn’t quite hit home.
One of our friends is lactose intolerance, and while it was accommodated for the earlier courses, it unfortunately wasn’t catered for when it came to dessert. We were told that it’s “really hard” to make a dessert lactose-free, which honestly surprised us. With so many alternatives available these days, we didn’t expect that to be such a challenge. It was a bit disappointing, especially since we were all looking forward to ending the meal on a sweet note together.
Overall, a beautiful space with potential, but the food experience didn’t fully match the expectations. Sorry.
They have very relaxed and professional approach to food, service and making customers feel at ease.
As one would expect at a French restaurant which excels at being very hospitable and food is just amazing!!!
Must try