Discreet Diner: Norma's Mediterranean Restaurant

Posted: April 06, 2008

It was a typical workday, but the Discreet Diner was in the mood for something more flavorful than the tuna salad sandwich I had packed for lunch. Recently, my neighbor had raved about the traditional Lebanese food at Norma's Mediterranean Restaurant in Cherry Hill. The Discreet Diner simply had to check it out. I grabbed a Deputy Diner, and we made our way to Norma's for an unrushed, low-key lunch.

Situated in the Barclay Farms Shopping Center, Norma's has been a favorite among South Jersey foodies since it opened in the mid-1990s. The décor is nothing fancy: big windows and picturesque vacation-style landscape photos on the walls, but the restaurant is clean and unpretentious. The Middle Eastern music on the stereo hinted at the meal that was to come.

Norma's menu offers dishes for the adventurous eater, such as skewered lamb with honey and almonds ($19), as well as an extensive vegan menu for the discerning vegetarian. The tofu shawarma combination, for example, features sliced tofu sautéed with green peppers, onions and tahini sauce, served with hummus and tabbouleh ($12.95).

On the weekday afternoon we visited, the dining room was busy including a few regular diners who knew the staff.

All the menu items were tempting, but we chose to start with fattoush, a Lebanese bread salad with pita crisps, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, parsley, onions, lemon juice, olive oil and spices ($5.95). The plentiful salad was freshly made, and the lightly seasoned vegetables and pita bits offered a nice crunch.

We drank iced mint tea, which was light and unsweetened. Norma's also serves hot mint tea, Lebanese coffee, guava juice, and mango juice with yogurt.

For my main course, I opted for the shawarma combination, sliced beef layered and rotisserie roasted, topped with a tomato and caramelized onions sauce and served with hummus and tabbouleh salad ($12.95). The beef was tender and moist with slight heat in flavor. The entrée was complemented by mild side dishes. The hummus was flavorful, not overwhelmed by garlic. The parsley in the tabbouleh salad was potent - in a good way.

The deputy diner ordered the kafka combination ($12.95), charbroiled kabobs of ground lamb seasoned with parsley, onions and spices served with hummus, tabbouleh salad and tahini sauce. The dep termed the lamb flavorful without being gamey, and the side dishes were delicious.

Our only disappointment was the pita bread, which was cold and dry.

After much deliberating over dessert, we decided to split the homemade walnut baklava ($2.50). The dessert was layered with buttery, flaky phyllo and crushed walnuts and drizzled with rose-water syrup.

Our server was attentive and knowledgeable about each dish. The menu also offered detailed descriptions of the traditional Middle Eastern foods for the uninitiated diner.

Norma's portions were plentiful, so both of us returned to our offices with boxes of leftovers, which didn't make it to dinner. Norma's was a great escape for lunch.