Norman's (Cuban?) restaurant on Sunset

Famous for their Friday night Caja China Roast Pork and Paella special. My housemate set up reservations for us at Norman's this weekend because the restaurant is permanently closing its doors. Of course we both had the pork and paella special which was...mediocre at best. The pork was excellent for the first 3-5 bites until the fat and richness overcame everything, the plantain/potato mash was gluey and underwhelming, and the paella was just okay. The seafood didn't taste particularly fresh, but the rice was excellent. Portions were perfectly sized, however, service was impeccable, and the "Dark and Stormy" rum cocktail was really quite good with its balance of lime juice, ginger beer, and rum. A very clean refreshing drink which offset the richness of the meal to a small degreen. The meal was also lukewarm when it came.

All in all, I think we might have been happier eating at Mel's Drive-In across the street. For Cuban, we'll stick to the tiny local spot Havana Mania with their Tuesday night pork special. By the way, Norman's isn't closing due to poor food quality or lack of business. The scoop according to the floor manager is that the building has been sold and the new owners aren't interested in having restaurant partners for the property. What a shame. I would have like to have tried something else on their menu for comparison.