4. Restaurants

Trou Normand

140 New Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA, 94105
  • (415) 975-0876
  • Store is closed

Trou Normand Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Janice C.

    Humans seek comfort in many ways. We all have our rituals: going for a run, getting a massage, meditating. Some prefer to engage in rituals of social drinking ... yes, moi. Even though I wasn't able to engage in my usual rituals because of lent, I am proud to say that I was able to survive it sans alcohol. It has been a long and arduous journey, my friends. You should see how many times bartenders would stop and think whenever I request for a mocktail. Or the numerous times when I just had an "OK" mocktail and I shake my head because I'm wasting calories on something that doesn't even taste good. Trou Normand blew me away. Coming from the Bar Agricole team, I knew they'd have top notch bartenders. But she made me a mocktail with pineapple, ginger, lime and a touch of cream at the top. I like the foamy presentation! And the best part? it actually TASTED so, so good. For a MOCKTAIL. Can you imagine what she could do with the real thing?! I'm in LOVE already. I'm also in love with the beautiful space. It's very New York: high concrete ceilings, exposed brick, roomy leather tufted booths. Modern art on the walls. Sexy, minimalist space suited for the after work crowd in the Fidi. The charcuterie selection is very impressive. With over 20 housemade concoctions, I had a difficult time narrowing my choices to just 6. The duck galantine with pear, rosemary and cinnamon was the standout of the crew. Others we tried were mortadella, lardo, porcini/anise salami and duck pate. Ask for plenty of pain epi acme bread to go with it. The entrees were all equally good and well prepared. Lamb ragu, the lamb 3 ways, Petrale sole and roasted pork coppa. However, the price point (it didn't include sides) is very expensive. Separate charges for sides? come on, this isn't a steakhouse. Depending on the mood, the "European style" service might not be for some and towards the end we had to flag her down for our check. The good thing is, they will not kick you out of here no matter how long you want to stay at the table. In fact, we stayed way past closing time. I'd visit again to luxuriate over well made cocktails paired with meaty goodness from their charcuterie selection. Thank God lent is over, this is a place my liver is worth sacrificing for.

    (4)

  • Nessa R.

    This was me and my friends first charcuterie experience so we had no idea what we were doing, but everything was DELICIOUS. We informed our server of our inexperience and she walked us through the ordering process making sure we'd enjoy our selections and we definitely did so we went ahead and ordered another board. Plus the bread was always fresh and alcohol definitely paired well. Wonderful experience. Makes me wanna have charcuterie and salumi all the time :)

    (5)

  • Tay H.

    I just love Trou Normand. I'm so happy I work close by, as I really think this needs to become one of my "regular places." I went here first for cocktails and snacks with a group of co-workers. While the wine and cocktails are a bit pricier than most places around the city (about $15 versus the typical $12-13), they are still enjoyable. Maybe not worth the price, but not NOT worth the price, either. Their charcuterie/salumi/cheese selections are fantastic. Not only do they have amazing, all house-made meats, but the combination boards come with unique and delicious accompaniments - pork aspic, fennel salad, and a delicious jam. The have a house-made 'nduja on the salumi menu right now that's out of this world. There aren't many places in the U.S. that make 'nduja - really, just one in Oakland and another in Chicago - and I would say theirs is better than both of those. Last night, I came back to Trou Normand for dinner and loved the food, the cocktails, and the overall experience. For our meal, we had a combination board (get the pork pate and the 'nduja!), the summer squash appetizer with pesto and basil, the tagliatelle with pork bolognese, and the grilled corn side with hen of the woods mushrooms and padrons. Everything was incredibly fresh and flavorful. I also appreciated the simple, rustic presentation of all the dishes. We basically licked our plates clean. For dessert, we had the butter cake with roasted strawberries. I was a little nervous when we placed the order - I expected it to basically be an angel food cake with strawberries - but I was amazed at how delicious it was. The cake was very dense but still moist and luxuriously buttery. A Paula Deen dream-come-true, basically. The strawberries offered the perfect level of acidity to balance out the richness of the cake. We ended up eating at the bar and having a great conversation with the "bartender" (really doesn't seem like a fair description for his role) about all the small batch liquors they offer, sour beers, terroir, and other interesting alcohol-related topics. I feel like everyone who works here is so knowledgeable about what the restaurant offers and they all seem so passionate about their craft, which is really cool to see. Oh, and they were playing a righteous selection of music from Quentin Tarantino movies last night that created a totally awesome vibe in the room. I really just can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Thao T.

    the best grilled pork chop i've ever had dining out. cooked to perfection and seasoned heavily with, i'm sure, was nothing more than salt. also ordered the meatballs and not only was the sauce incredible, but the texture was on point - it melted in my mouth. if you're vegan or vegetarian, this place is definitely not for you. it's pork heavy and they do an amazing job with it. we ordered a number of things from the menu, including three drinks and were completely stuffed. prices are steep but tip is accounted for. our bill for two came out to be $157. one thing i would complain about is that sides are not included with your main dish and must be ordered separately. small sides should be included - green beans and corn should not cost as much as they did ($16 or so each).

    (5)

  • E L.

    Nice place, good service and great selection of drinks. A bit loud, but manageable. I felt the dinner menu could be improved. (I.e the pork meatball dish is just two large meatballs)

    (4)

  • Jason B.

    Ongoing issue. Price was an issue during my first visit. Price was a deal breaker during my second visit. Grilled cod in a leek juice was very good. But the portion size and lack of sides for $26 was a complete ripoff. Old Fashioned with a single cask cognac and two bitter was a bit more palatable for $12. Might have needed two to make the whole experience go down easy. Design continues to impress. Cost does not.

    (2)

  • Jordan B.

    This place tries to be a very fancy, luxurious place, but doesn't really live up to it. The server kept messing up and bringing us wrong drinks and food. The food portions were very small. The scrambled eggs were a joke. They served maybe an egg and half with some very few and small green garnishes on top. No bread or sides. I luckily got the French toast which was a pretty good portion and tasty. Someone else in my party got a squid and it was again a very small portion which barely even had any squid in it.

    (2)

  • Amy O.

    Visited twice now within one month. Love it. Three different rooms...all with their own vibes. You enter through a low-lit room, warm and cozy feeling. There are booths here along with a bar. Then the hallway brings you to a communal table (possibly chef's table) that faces into the kitchen. The outside room is my favorite. Heating lamps, super cozy communal tables again. Dress in layers for this room (hey, you are in SF). The charcuterie and salumi menus remained the same (why change awesome), but the entrees and other small dishes do switch out a little. The first time I was there, we ordered the pickles (wouldn't do again), and shared the black cod and the kale side. WHOA. Fantastic. The drinks are beyond good as well. Banana cream pie for dessert. Superb. They bring it in from Mission Pie. Service was spot on, not pushy, well-informed, and delightful. Second time I went in, different entrees. We had the chicken rillete and a salumi with anise (both excellent).The meatballs, brussels, and polenta all unbelievably good. Banana Cream pie and drinks again. Oh, and a perfect cappuccino to end the night. So, after the New Year they changed their prices to encompass the service fee. No more tips. We had a server that was ho-hum, so not sure if this played into it. Could have just been an off night for her. I will be back for sure. At least once a month.

    (5)

  • Nancy Z.

    Came here for brunch. They have a beautiful glass sunroom outside with heat lamps. The seating arrangements were communal table style outside and big sofa chairs inside. It is very cozy but elegant at the same time. As for the food, the brunch menu is not very vegetarian friendly (other than the French toast), but you can ask for eggs and such without meat, etc.) I love they serve even the ice tea and lemonade with a tall cocktail ice, and fancy steel straw with spoon attached. I ordered poached eggs, which came out perfectly...firm enough outside so it doesn't taste raw but still runny in the middle.

    (4)

  • Katelyn W.

    5 stars for the food, service, patio, and included tip. 1 star for the coffee.. Two weekends in a row and we will definitely go back. A great brunch option for soma that you can actually get into. Dishes are always different, with top notch meat butchered on location. Amazing bacon. Yum!!

    (5)

  • Christina N.

    I love the vibe at Trou Normand, as well as the rich selection of pate and salami! Come in and get a drink at the bar... or sit down and get dinner. We had the small combination board, and the chef selection for the day was pork pate, beef salame, ciccioli and bierwurst (but we swapped this for dried pancetta). It was amazing. Loved the entire platter and I wish we could have more! My favorite was the pancetta and ciccioli. It also came with mustard, pork consommé and fennel salad which were great sides. The tagliatelle was also cooked perfectly. The pasta was cooked just to the right texture, slightly aldente, and the dish was seasoned perfectly. Also, just the right amount of bolognese :) Will definitely come back again, highly recommended! PS. 20% tip is included in the price and the service is excellent!

    (5)

  • Sherry L.

    Love this place!! The "outdoor" patio is awesome; I highly recommend getting seated there. There's also a group table right in front of the kitchen that looks like a good time. The cocktails are pretty good, very brandy focused. I got the Supreme and it was delicious. Don't get outraged by the prices, they all include tip, so it's actually a great deal! The food was pretty good. We got the salumi, melon salad, summer squash, braised green beans, and pork meatballs. All the veggie dishes were delicious! Definitely coming back to try the charcuterie and more drinks!

    (4)

  • D B.

    SALUMÍ I am hangry, Bruncharch. [Salumí dances the dance of the $78 Charcuteries.] BRUNCHOD Ah! nomderful! nomderful! You see that it has Iced Tea for me, your diner. Come near, Salumí, come near, that I may eat me my reward. Ah! I tip the dancers accidentally. I will tip thee doubly. I will eat thee Scrambled Eggs thy soul desireth. What wouldst thou listen? Beach Boys. SALUMÍ [Kneeling.] I would that they presently bring me on a wood boarder.... BRUNCHOD [Laughing.] On a wood boarder? Surely yes, on a wood boarder. It is charming, is it not? What is it you would have on a wood boarder, O sweet and fair Salumí, you who are fairer than all the dishes of Soma? What would you have them bring thee on a wood boarder? Tell me. Whatsoever it may be, they shall serve it you. My treasures belong to thee. What is it, Salumí? SALUMÍ [Rising.] The board of Charcuteraan. - excerpt, Hogscar Wilde. "Salumí". 1891

    (4)

  • Anya C.

    The duck thing in the Small Charcuterie & Alumni Board was great. The Confit rabbit in the Brown Rice Porridge was juicy and great. The Croque Madame was ok but the pastrami was very hard to eat - it could be cut to slides or less salty and more juicy. Orange juice is ok but feel a slightly bit like concentrate. Service was good. The ACME bread was good although personally I like soft bread. They have wifi. Love the fact that they have Oolong tea even though I didn't have the chance to try it yet. The chair on patio was kind of uncomfortable. Love the fact all price include service. The napkin was dropping cotton on my sweater all over the place :(

    (4)

  • Christopher L.

    About half the time I go somewhere nice, I'm disappointed. This place was definitely in the other half. I had a fantastic experience! The drinks are really tasty, made well, non GMO, organic, and lovely. The food is divine, too, even for a vegetarian palate. I got the summer squash, and whatever they do to it (sprinkle a little crack on top? It is addictive), it is the best I can ever recall having. The arancini was equally delicious. I had no idea what I was in for, but the waitress Nikki suggested it, so I ordered it. The arancini is deep fried balls of risotto with a little ball of cheese inside. It is kind of like classy fair food, and ridiculously good. I tried to savor them, but part of me just wanted to shovel them into my mouth. The price was not bad at all, considering how good everything was, and I'm usually pretty cheap. I'll be back!

    (5)

  • Mark O.

    Fancy charcuterie place on New Montgomery. Older crowd. Medium meat board had chefs selection of 8 meats. On 2015 7x7 list. Beef salami - 2/5 Felino salami - 3/5 Tongue and cheek bologna - 4/5 Mortadello - 4/5 - pistachios added good flavor Dry cured belly - 2/5 Chicken pate - 3/5 Duck pate - 4/5 Pork pate - 5/5 - Best of the night. Rich taste, good texture. Lardo toast - 3/5 - Overloaded with vegetables. Had to remove them to even taste the lardo. Bread was good and together with some of the charcuterie this turned out decently. Semolina cake - 3/5 Overall, this was a good charcuterie place. Not sure if it deserves it's spot on the 7x7 list but until I find a better one I'm ok with it. I'll need to come back to try the roast pork which is mentioned frequently. "I'm a fan."

    (4)

  • Diana K.

    Let me just start off by saying the waitstaff here is very attractive. Great eye candy, attentive service, cute ambiance, and good food? YES PLEASE! I'd say this is definitely more of a Friday night/TGIF kind of dinner venue. Will be back!

    (4)

  • Ron L.

    This is how you celebrate: * You win your court case by smoking the defendant. * Drink a smoke induced mescal laced cocktail to start. * Order the smoked duck. * Cuddle up with your smoking hot lady. * Finish with a nice smoke from a Montecristo #2. Oh well...at least some of those were true that night. Just trust me that the 40 minute wait for the smoked duck was well worth it. In the words of our past cigar smoking Governor, I'll be back.

    (5)

  • James M.

    Just disappointed. Service was inattentive and SLOW! Food flavor profiles we very well done. Just did not overcome the poor service. Not recommended.

    (1)

  • Teresa B.

    Outstanding Brunch. Came here with some food writers and bloggers who really know their food. We all enjoyed everything that we ate. The space is beautiful and the servers are graceful. Some stand out dishes were the Charcuterie plate, which are all made in-house. The fig French toast was also amazing. To drink order the ginger beer and all of their cocktails l. I can't wait to go back and enjoy another brunch on their patio.

    (5)

  • Joanne W.

    I came here for my friend's birthday last evening. I was SUPER excited to come here -- it's been on my list for a while considering that their drinks are supposed to be top notch. We got there at 8:30 pm -- we had reservations. We had to wait a tiny bit, but it wasn't too long before we got seated. Between the 6 of us, we ordered the following: 1) MEDIUM CHARCUTERIE + SALUMI BOARD: 8 items. I can't recall what we had exactly, but I have to say -- everything on there was just top notch. My favorite was the chicken pâteé. 2) BUTTER LETTUCE: Very good -- the chèvre complimented the strawberries excellently. 3) SUMMER SQUASH: I love squash. I love pesto. However, the dish was slightly underwhelming. Would skip. 4) ARANCINI: This was so good that we ordered TWO of them (it was also because we had 6 people and it only comes in 4). But damn, it was hella good. I was trying to consume it as fast as I can despite the fact that it was burning hot from the kitchen. haha 5) PICKLES: Pickled varieties. Great little starter. 6) GRILLED PORK CHOP: MAN. This was hella good. I loved it. Would definitely recommend! 7) TAGLIATELLE: We were all definitely amazed by this dish. We were all super impressed and very happy with the pasta. 8) HALIBUT: I didn't have much of this, but wasn't amazed by this dish like how I was with the rest of the entrées that we orderd. 9) PORK MEATBALLS: Maybe I'm a sucker for meat in red sauce. This was REALLY good as well. 10) GRILLED CORN: Didn't have much of this -- just had the corn and no padrons. I think I could've passed. 11) JAPANESE EGGPLANT: Surprisingly not bad. The lamb panchetta with the eggplant and the yogurt complimented each other well. I was a little worried at first, but dannnng - it was good. AND THEN WE ORDERED DESSERT: 12) SEMOLINA CAKE: The strawberry sauce was just SO GOOD. This is a great cake for those who like something light. 13) MEYER LEMON TART: I'm usually a big fan of lemon tarts, but I think because the other two desserts that I had were SUPER sweet that this tasted WAY too sour. Wish I had this before all the other desserts. 14) CHOCOLATE POT DE CREME: I'm usually not a big fan of chocolate-related desserts. However, this was AMAZING. The toffee crunch was just the cherry on top. DRINKS: We all ordered something different. I, myself, had the Brown Derby. Definite recommend to those who like something a little sour. I would've ordered more if I wasn't a small Asian girl with poor alcohol tolerance. Our waitress Rachel was a sweetie as well. Management came by every and now and then to make sure we were having a great dinner. They also came by to give us some of their house special wine from Normandy. Their Trou Normand. It supposedly had some apple and peaches hint to it, but it was quite strong with alcohol content. Overall, great food. Great service. Great company.

    (5)

  • Jonah K.

    Came here for drinks a couple times. The bartenders are nice, the place and decor are awesome. The prices for glasses of wine and drinks here are off the charts. It's a nice spot, but not the kind of place I'd want to hang out unless it was for a work dinner or drink. This is in the Yelp HQ building, so I feel odd writing this review, but oh well :)

    (3)

  • David N.

    Came here with a couple of friends before my birthday party somewhere else and the dinner food was great. The pork chop done like a steak is a must have. The drink of choice is the old fashioned! Dinner 4 stars! Then... I came back here for breakfast and they need to do some work on it. The menu is miniscule and confusing because they put the entrees mixed in with the side dishes. You'd think beef sausage patties for $12 might be an entree, but it really is just two tiny patties that taste like hamburger. Tomato toast was also just sliced tomatoes on toast which was overpriced. I did get a stewed pork dish that had grilled lettuce on it that was much tastier. I'd suggest tightening up the breakfast menu to be more cohesive. The menu listed on Yelp is out of date. Breakfast - 2.5 stars

    (4)

  • Candice G.

    I understand why some SF businesses, including Trou, are instituting a new pricing structure where tip is already included in menu items. I waited tables and bartended for over a decade and I get it. Front of the house. Back of the house. Living wage. The struggle is real. Having 20% included on everything doesn't bother me at all - in fact, I think it'll save me some scratch since I'm an over-tipper given my history in the service industry... but what does bother me is that the prices at Trou, a place my colleagues and I were regulars at, definitely went up closer to 30% than 20% with that change and the service 100% went down. If it was just the 20% I'd let it slide because good or meh service, I still tip at least that always, but 30% more for everything + now you're being taxed on the tip amount as well + it feels like the servers/bartenders now just know they've got theirs coming so there's no point in really offering much service, which was absolutely the case on what was possibly our last visit. If I'm paying $18 for a single glass of wine on the low end of the menu, I'd like just a little bit of cordialness to come with it. I know everyone loves their cheese and meat plates and all that jazz but I just think they're aight. We would come a lot for lunch and you'll see a pretty typical SF style menu with carefully portioned ala carte plates and privileged lunchtime diner prices, which is expected for a place with as nice of digs as Trou has, but I've never been wowed and I've never left feeling like my food was more than a healthy snack. I mean, now I don't really have to worry about it because we've pretty much been priced out of coming here... at least when I know Mourad is just 2 doors down, with what is now very similar beverage price points and much higher service quality... and gladly tip on top of it. Also, to be fair, I've never had their breakfast sandwich (which I've heard is on another level) so maybe I'll be singing a different tune some other time, but with so many places to spend what little extra payola is left after rent, I just don't think I can justify the jump in price and drop in customer care. It's still a beautiful place and if you're going on an expendable business account or are taking home one of those SF tech money paychecks it's a totally decent place, I'm just in a bracket where I need my money to work harder than that.

    (4)

  • Jon B.

    I have been here for lunch twice, both times sitting outside on the patio. I absolutely love the food, the first time I had the pork burger which was just delicious. The second time I split the duck pate with a friend. I really enjoyed this, and the fresh acme bread it came with. Our server was kind enough to restock us with extra bread, and some butter as well. He suggested the meatball sandwich, as it only comes on the menu every few weeks. I went with that choice and it was really good. It was very messy though, as the bottom bun was cut a bit short compared to the top, so the marinara soaked through very heavily. Although it was very messy, I enjoyed it very much. I noticed a dining neighbor had the meatball sandwich and his didn't look as messy. To be honest I think mine looked better with lots of marinara! Our server was very prompt with water refills, and checking on us too. He knew the menu well and provided great recommendations. The prices can seem high when looking at the menu, but when considering that it includes tax and service it is actually very reasonable for the quality and taste of the food, solid waitstaff, and being in downtown SF with a nice outdoor patio.

    (5)

  • Ash S.

    I wanted to like TN but last nights experience makes it impossible. The first sign of trouble was when our waitress refused to accept that my friend wanted a sweet wine (dessert wine) with the meal, and kept directing her to something else. Eventually she felt embarrassed and acquiesced, and ended up drinking something she didn't care for. Then let's get to the food. At these prices for charcuterie it needs to blow your mind, and it didn't. The pork jelly tasted like beef stock and was inedible, the bread hard and cold. The rabbit was bland and the salumi was no better than the packaged kind available in the shops. It would have been better to go to the ferry building, get fresh bread and fresh cuts of meat from the shops, and half the price.

    (1)

  • Semuteh F.

    This review is for brunch on Sunday at noon. We came here after giving up on the wait for Pink Elephant around the corner. We used yelp to find something nearby and this place came up first. Really cool space! We actually didn't see the seating outside until after we ate so we ended up eating in a huge booth. Service was really great and the food was tasty. We had the duck hash and pancake. They serve four barrel coffee and the fresh squeezed grapefruit juice was great. Another nice surprise was that the tip is included in the price of the food. We had two entrees, coffee, and juice for $40 which I thought was really reasonable! I was expecting higher cost with tip included. Will definitely sit outside next time. We walked right in without a wait and they have outdoor seating and reasonable prices--SF Brunch Perfection!

    (4)

  • Roxann R.

    I think it's really neat to sit in the same building that houses Yelp Headquarters and write a Yelp review! We had brunch here and it was great! Well with the high price tag. Service was a little slow at first but they gave us some extras with apologies and we hadn't complained .

    (5)

  • Anne K.

    I'd be happy to give Trou Normand a rave if it weren't for two very troubling aspects. The food was very good. The Pork Ragu Taglitelle I woofed it down in no time. Yum. Arancini, delicious. Cheesecake with plums and Chocolate Toffee Pot De Creme - yeah! Love them. Butter cake with strawberries - a bit dry. Overall, the decor is tastefully modern, not stark. The back patio with the greenhouse was lovely. The tall, tall ceilings in the main dining room were a beautiful nod to the building's history. Very well done. I loved the view into the kitchen so I could see the young, fun chefs. No stuffy chefs in there. I thought the hostess was very sweet and the sommelier was a hoot with her very spiky bleach-blonde hair. Give me a break...I was in Paris in June. None of the waitstaff over there looked anything like these guys. I enjoyed the modern staff at Trou Normand. Problem points: 1) Until we actually handed money and a credit card to the our server and the credit card tag was returned, did we realize that there's a built-in 20% service charge. It was actually also at the bottom of the bill as a tiny black bar with reversed, white writing. A little tough to see or pay attention to when they've already served you a few drinks. So, I went back to the server and asked her to bring our entire payment back because she was about to get an enormous tip on top of her built-in 20%. She didn't even know the amount of the markup until she went and asked her manager. More on her later. NOWHERE else on the entire menu was the 20% mentioned. Not on any of the menus, not mentioned by the server, nothing. So, the whole thing ended up looking shady. My friend had selected the restaurant for her birthday and she hadn't even seen anything until I flagged it. Trou Normand's prices are certainly inclusive of the 20% markup but many items seemed inflated already. $24 for 3 item cheese plate. The cheeses were puny with some bread and a few wine grapes. All the entrees come with nothing on the plate but the entree. Sides are extra. $26 for the taglitelle, $24 for lamb duo. Again, good food. It's hard to parse out if that service markup makes their prices in line with comparable restaurants or not. 2) And, the service really stunk. Three times I had to get up from the table to let our server we were ready to order. I eat out enough to know what good service and pacing look like. This wasn't anything near it. I wish I could remember her name but I can't. I can't figure out if she was new or what. But, the normal amount of checking in and inquiring about our dishes didn't happen. Frankly, I think the disincentive is the built-in tip. I don't need service like Gary Danko or a two-star Michelin Paris restaurant. I just needed to not have to get up to flag a server down for ordering a main course, a dessert or the bill. I appreciate letting a table have a leisurely dinner but I've seen it done well many times. This was not it. The only explanation I have is that the servers just aren't motivated. Will I be back? Maybe. Not sure if the food and service are commensurate with the price.

    (3)

  • Lance W.

    I love Trou Normand, the charcuterie is tops in SF. Whether you decide to perch at the art-deco bar with a brandy-cocktail or relax on the heated back patio with a glass of wine and charcuterie plate, you can't go wrong. 40 types of salumi and charcuterie served with fresh baguette, yums! The wine list is fairly extensive, indexing toward old-world reds, particularly Italian reds. Trou Normand is open all day so I typically to stop in mid-afternoon for a drink and snack.

    (4)

  • Olga G.

    The selection of charcuterie in this place is absolutely phenomenal - from goat to lamb to rabbit to duck... There is so much to try and be amazed with! Great spot for Happy Hours as well as memorable dinners. Love how the menu always changes, but some amazing staples stay the same, like the mouth watering meatballs.

    (5)

  • Krista L.

    I used to dream about Trou Normand's breakfast sandwiches (and the biscuit! with homemade jam!), and then they stopped serving breakfast. And then, what was already a pricey drink treat got more expensive-- a menu photo from 2014 shows mixed drinks at $10-11, wines around $10-13, and beer around $6-9. Currently, mixed drinks are $15, wines are mostly $15, and beers start at $9 for a Stiegl (which sells for less than $3 in a store). Last year it was already steep given the mixed drinks are in smaller-than-average glasses, but $15 is just too much; even at Valencia street's or the Embarcadero's fanciest restaurants (or Mourad, in the same building!), the cocktails are $11-13. I love the house-made charcuterie and staff revenue-sharing concept, the latter of which I understand usually raises the price of an average item. But it was already expensive before, and they've always included service. This latest increase just felt excessive without any discernible value-add. As for the space itself: the design is lovely-looking, but there's hardly enough room between the bar and the tables. When I was seated recently, the host interrupted a group who'd been sitting on the edge of what became my table, but she didn't wipe it down. Those people continued to hover next to the table because there wasn't anywhere else for them to go. Not good for groups if you're just getting drinks without a reservation (we made one for precisely this reason). Additionally, because of their limited tables and permanent booths, smaller parties are often seated at the same table as other parties. There's nothing terribly wrong with the food, service, or drinks, all of which are enjoyable. It's mostly that the price/quantity/value ratio doesn't compete, and I probably wouldn't go out of my way to visit again.

    (3)

  • Ryan L.

    Trou Normand was exactly what I thought it would be, but my beau wanted to go so I obliged. I had reservations and we were seated promptly when we arrived. All of the seating in communal, which I don't like but I don't hate. In some places it is fine, but here it was really annoying. We sat between two other couples. The menu is interesting. They have some entrees and small plates but what they're known for is their charcuterie and salumi board. We got one and it was good, but nothing to rave about. We were squished between two couples at this table with a giant cutting board full of charcuterie. It would have been impossible to eat an entree as we were too squished in between the couple to move. The servers kept putting bottles of water on the table, which is great, but it took up too much room. It was really awkward. The drinks were really good. The owners are the same as Bar Agricole so it has a similar feel and similarly inspired menu. The service was strange. We ordered our drinks from one guy and literally 30 seconds later a woman came to take our drink order. At one point we ordered the arancini and we were corrected that it's pronounced "air-an-chee-nee." Ok, dude, I get it. That's not how the Italians pronounce it, but we're not Italian. You knew what we were talking about. Luckily I had a feeling what the Norman Hole would be like so I made a reservation at Dirty Habit right after and enjoyed myself immensely there.

    (2)

  • Abby S.

    Oh, Trou Normand. How many times have I come by for lunch or happy hour without a reservation? Too many to count! If you're lucky, there will be a seat at the bar or table outside on the covered heated patio. For the most part the hostess will do her best to accommodate, but be warned that they get very busy come 6 pm and might not be able to honor your request. What I love? The wine Cheese plate Papperdelle pasta That breakfast sandwich Plus the ambiance is incredibly sexy! The perfect spot for a romantic tryst to begin.

    (4)

  • Alison A.

    The venue is really beautiful, the high and unfinished ceilings give the place a very modern and chic feel, and don't forget the simplistic yet artistic mural above the bar...(see website for detail). Located on the first floor of the Old Pac Bell art deco building on New Montgomery, this place is great for a mid-afternoon espresso or tea (I suggest trying to loose leaf lychee--delicious) or an evening cocktail (their old fashion is one of the best I've ever had, it isn't sickeningly sweet nor jammed with a ton of muddled fruit, and the huge square ice cube is always fun to see spinning in the glass as the bartender mixes) or for a lunch/dinner of meats, cheeses, or gastropub fare. You can build your own charcuterie and cheese board, or order the chef's selection that day. Starters are great to share tapas-style, the summer squash with parmesan and butter lettuce salad are refreshing, the arancini are so-so, nothing too impressive flavor-wise. The chocolate pot de creme with chunks of toffee and topped with whipped cream is incredibly decadent and denser than I'm used to, so it's definitely an after meal good-to-share-have-a-few-bites item. Some menu items change daily, so it's good to go in with an open mind. A smidge on the pricey side, but it's SoMa, and the chemistry of flavors in their dishes really works well. Who knew squash, cucumbers, and parmesan could taste so good when tossed in a pesto basil dressing? Seating is a little communal, so if you're with smaller parties of 2-4, you will probably have to share table space both inside and in the back patio. I adore how you can pass by the butchering table on your way to the back, and see the chefs doing their prep work in the open. Delightful character, good food and drink, a great place to stop in during the week.

    (4)

  • Tiffany U.

    I came to Trou Normand for a work lunch and I'm glad that was the case. I think my review would sing a different tune if I had to pay for my meal at my own expense. With that said, the food is good, but not exceptional. I loved the beautiful minimalistic decor and the outdoor heated patio seating is my favorite part about dining at Trou Normand. It almost made me feel like I was no longer in FiDi of SF! What I tried: CHARCUTERIE BOARD - As everyone else mentioned, the charcuterie board is a must try here. Although I can't quite tell you exactly what was on our board, I can say that it was delicious. I highly recommend checking out their impressive charcuterie board that's made in-house. PATTY MELT - Can't really go wrong with this! It was a little on the saltier side for my taste, but it was by no means, a bad patty melt. Will I be back to Trou Normand? Maybe. I personally think the food and drinks are slightly over priced, but I'm still open to coming back again.

    (4)

  • Lisa I.

    I'm at that point in my life where I prefer to spend my birthday as more of an introvert than my usual extrovert style. After having a fairly quiet day to myself, it was nice to gather a handful of my friends together for something I had been waiting a long time for: Trou Normand's charcuterie and salumi board. Being the classy people that we are, we ordered the Large board and the cheese plate almost right away as we sipped on various wines and bubbly. Everyone, including our token Frenchie who we consider an expert in wine, cheese and cured meats, was impressed with the delicious pâté options and absolutely amazing charcuterie. A few favorites were the rabbit pâté, the chicken pâté, and the pancetta. The cheese plate didn't get as many rave reviews, and most of us considered the cheese plate to be mediocre relative to the charcuterie and pâté spread. Things were winding down on the meat and cheeses when our true selves were revealed: we were still hungry. So, in perfect form, we went with two orders of the Aracini after we perused on Yelp what else we should get, and also two orders of the pork meatballs after being recommended by our server. I'm so glad we did, being proper and wanting to just eat meat and cheese for dinner is, well, overrated. Those fried balls of risotto hit the spot, and the meatball, while lacking in presentation, made up in taste. For dessert, we all shared the chocolate pot du creme, and because it was my special day, we were also given the Meyer Lemon tart. Both were delicious, but neither were outstanding. I absolutely loved celebrating my birthday at Trou, and I would strongly recommend that you come here when you have a large group. I concluded that if my husband and I were to come here by ourselves, we'd be leaving either hungry, unsatisfied, or both. So, if you need a great place for a small and intimate group of friends, I definitely recommend Trou Normand!

    (4)

  • Peter L.

    We always order the charcuterie plate (try head cheese and any pate), small for two people and medium for four or more. Include some salumi (try coppa and any salami) and that is half your meal. I highly suggest doing that route as some of the main dishes were uneven - good but not wow. For the prices I was hoping most if not all the dishes would be great, but it may be due to my personal taste/palate. The drinks here are strong and I suggest starting the night here. Cognac and I were never good friends back in the day, and my preferred drinks (Old-Fashioned and Manhattan) are cognac based. Other drinks I've tried were strong as well. Do not make it the final stop unless you have a liver of steel. I like the space and decor, simple, and somewhat intimate so don't expect to bring a large group. The communal table in the back is good only if you're dining with one other person. Ironically, sitting there felt more private than sitting in the main dining area.

    (4)

  • Danielle W.

    First impression at the hostess table was off: I've never seen a hostess sitting down to receive guests. The hostess shouldn't be sitting at all during dinner time. The waitress didn't show up at our table until 10 mins after we got seated. She was nice, but a little off. This is our first time dining there. We were expecting some introduction or guidance on their specialty. The napkins were a major turnoff too. They shed. You can see how poor the quality is. I think this is a place for HH, not really for dinners.

    (3)

  • Eric B.

    Great food but a but over priced for the proportions. With that being said, I'd go back if given the option.

    (4)

  • Susy C.

    Great spot to nosh on charcuterie and have some drinks with friends. Love that they have outdoor seating with heat lamps (very necessary for SF). It was too humid inside the actual restaurant for my liking. Not entirely sure I would do a full blown meal here as the rest of the menu didn't blow me away. I was a bit sad that the headcheese was not available the night I was there. BOO!!! Our server even told us 4 other tables had inquired. I will have to return another time to catch it. Really loved the grilled lardo toast. Although it is essentially fat on a bread, it was executed exceptionally well. Just the right amount of acid, sweetness, fat and crunch. Perfection. Arancini are definitely worth ordering. Pretty much a deep fried ball of risotto. If you like cheesy and fried things, well yea get it. No brainer. I didn't care much for the roasted shisito peppers we had. We also shared a small charcuterie & salumi board, 4 items, chef's choice. I highly recommend splitting a combo board so you can get a taste of everything. Great charcuterie!

    (4)

  • Fumi W.

    Perfect for: getting together with friends, quality solo dinner, experimental foodie couple date night. Communal table, covered patio, quirky window-sill seating, great service and experimental food/cocktail list gives a sense that this place is all about the food. Flavors are super clean and fresh. Textures are perfectly composed. Fresh, made-today ham on my board was amazing. Not recommended if you want a quiet dinner and privacy, or if you are a vegan! Prices include the service.

    (4)

  • Jenn L.

    This place is known for two things: Drinks and Charcuterie! Both are great as well as their service. We sat at the bar and ordered two of their specialty drinks and a medium sized charcuterie board. The board had a great mix of meats and pate's as well as a fennel seed salad as a palette cleanser in between. The cheese (4 types) have to be ordered separately. In and out in under an hour, and the check included all gratuity!

    (4)

  • Ed K.

    This was pretty disappointing. Part of the disappointment was simply the feeling of experiencing hype and not meeting my expectations. The rest is detailed below. First, the good - I enjoyed a good and reasonably-priced cocktail, as well as a good and market-priced lamb steak. I say market-price because it was OK but not great. I will detail this further below. Next: the bad. I was severely disappointed by the wine recommendations here. The atmosphere here is also seriously lacking. Dining is an intimate experience, and while the staff were nice enough, the patrons that Trou Normande attracts were not very cool. When I arrived at Trou, I sat at the bar and was greeted by a nice bar tender. I asked him to recommend a drink that had light aromatic qualities and the drink I served footed the bill. I hung out for a while, and then ordered dinner. It was around this time that things started to break down. First, I was dining alone at the bar; I had the impression that the company at this restaurant tends to be pretty lame. While I was dining, two parties of vapid, not-nice people sat down next to me. While not necessarily the fault of the establishment, it certainly is worth mentioning if jerks sit next to you in unusually high proportion. I recall one group babbling mindlessly about how to abuse local tech employers and how much the group despised their own employers. Hearing people squawk about this is just stupid and annoying. Perhaps more importantly, this restaurant also has a major problem with red wine. I asked for a pairing with my meal (red, full bodied; similar to most cabernet sauvignons raised in Sonoma) and was initially given a taste of a very thin, lame foreign red. I asked for something different and was presented with several inadequate options. I would have described the best of them as "thin and spicy, appropriate for barbecue pork and grilled fish." Certainly not for the lamb I was eating. They just didn't really have good wine pairings on hand for their food, despite the fact that there's some awesome wines raised on their doorstep. Lastly, I was never offered water and their food was pretty salty. Seasoning heavily is forgivable (who doesn't like salt), but it is a crime to only offer booze when your food is pretty salty. I probably wouldn't bother to come here again. Despite the service quality, (which was good) the food and drink is kind of meh. Especially given the price. And the atmosphere came off stuffy and unsophisticated.

    (2)

  • Angelina E.

    Went here for lunch the other week and loved it. We got the chef's selection for charcuterie and cheese and both were great. We also got a salad to share (butter lettuce) which was good too. It's a great location for a lunch during the work week but I would like to come back for dinner too. The decor is great as they kept many aspects of the original building.

    (5)

  • Elena N.

    After an evening of drinking, our group of 5 came to Trou Normand for a late dinner. I've had Trou Normand bookmarked for some time for their cocktails, charcuterie and cheese so I couldn't wait to finally try them out. Since we'd been drinking all evening, I only tried one cocktail: their old fashioned. But altogether, we ordered: -House old fashioned: single house cognac, two bitters ($12) -Hawaiian: calvados, chartreuse, pineapple, lime ($12) -Russell 6y rye manhattan ($14) For food we got: -Cheese board: Dorset, Brescianella stagionata, Lord of the hundreds ($20) -Large charcuterie & salumi board: 8 selections, chosen by the chef ($42) -Arancini ($7) -Pork meatballs: pomodoro ($14) -Pappardelle: braised pork shank ragu ($17) -Roasted shishitos & padrons: eggplant, curry, nardellos ($10) I really liked the Cheese board and Charcuterie board. So much, that I basically ate only those two things. The rest, I had a bite each, but those two were my favorites. I'll probably come back so I can try more of their cocktails and of course get those delicious cheese and charcuterie boards!

    (4)

  • Augusto T.

    A lot I tried was pretty tasty, but the overall experience doesn't fully live up to their prices. It is Financial district, so you expect a FiDi tax. It still hurts though. I do appreciate that they factor in service into their final prices, so you do not have to tip for service, but even with that considered I found the food expensive. The roast pork and the duck were pretty tasty, but the portions were small and because you only get the protein you need to order the (also expensive) sides to make it a full meal. The guanciale and almond Brussels sprouts were not bad. Their arancini were good. Simple, but well made. I enjoyed the two cocktails I tried. The lemon tart was just OK, but I enjoyed their chocolate pot de creme with toffee. I was somewhat let down by their service. Our servers were friendly, but for such a swanky looking place, service was not as sharp as I would have liked. I would suggest coming here for drinks and an evening snack rather than a full on dinner.

    (3)

  • Riz W.

    Nice tucked-away outdoor space! Got the rabbit pate, which was pleasantly more like a meatloaf than a paste. It was very good! Also got the sausage plate (1 juicy pork sausage and 1 flavorful lamb merguez) and the tagliatelle (delicious!). Good food, cozy ambiance, perfect for a date or group of friends.

    (4)

  • Sarabeth L.

    I went here with one friend as an afterwork kind of happy hour spot. For happy hour it was on the expensive side with three drinks among the two of us, a medium charcuterie board (came with two pates, three small slices of cured pork belly, and four small slices of salumi), one cheese selection (two small pieces), and the melon salad coming out to $120. It sounds like we had lot of food, but the portions were REALLY small. The flavors were all great though and the entrees we saw other parties ordering looked generous, so maybe come back for dinner instead. PS we were seated in the back covered patio space, it was pretty loud back there (I often couldn't hear what our server was saying), but the ambiance was really nice and they had two live acoustic guitarists playing to the side.

    (3)

  • Jimmy H.

    Some amazing cured meats. Lovely decor and even a moderate size courtyard out back where they had set up a tent and heaters. Of course, try the lardo. Basically cured animal fat thinly sliced. Quite the delicacy. In general, if you love charcuterie platters, this place will be quite a treat. This place also seems to have a bustling happy hour scene as well

    (5)

  • Rodney H.

    I don't really have much to say about Trou Normand because I didn't get to try their best stuff when I unfortunately visited during Lent which I gave up Beef and Pork.. However, I must say that this is a very cozy looking bar and their drinks and Charcuterie meats are really good! Select Charcuterie -- bit.ly/1n84f9I This was a very impressive board of Select Charcuterie meats. Though can't remember everything that was on the board, simply because most of the stuff I wasn't able to eat because of Lent, I do remember there being some kind of duck pate that was awesome! Petrale Sole -- bit.ly/1jGVdNB For my main entree I decided on trying the Petrale Sole. Wouldn't have been my first choice, but it was the only thing on their menu that I was only able to try since I gave up beef and pork. While the sole was nice and buttery, I was definitely struggling with the bones. Despite my best efforts to remove the vertebrae and connecting bones, there were still a ton of bones left in the fish. So basically one out of every three bites had some kind of bone in it that I had to spit out. Aside from the Sole, I did enjoy the drinks and what I had on the Charcuterie board. If I'm in the area, I'd definitely stop over for a drink and a small plate of selected meats. I would definitely come back to visit again to try all their other entrees, especially now that they have a breakfast and lunch menu, and also they just opened their outdoor patio as well. So hopefully with my next visit, I'll have a more enjoyable time.

    (4)

  • Mick G.

    Quite simply the worst service we have experienced for many years, and we are regular SF diners, and not serial whiners. We ordered 5 dishes, which all arrived at the same time, and then our server vanished for about 45 minutes: no apology for the pacing, no check-in, no offer of dessert or more wine... We tried to flag down any staff member but were somehow invisible... The check came. We paid and left. Truly a shitty experience... The food was quite good, but the kitchen deserves better...

    (1)

  • Mike F.

    I stopped in for lunch on a Tuesday. The room was about 1/3 full. Hostess gave me a half smile when I checked in and told her I was going to sit at the bar. Sat at the bar, the bartender glanced my way and took a good minute and a half to finish his conversation before walking over. Not very friendly, but he took my order. Had a glass of moscato, pickles and their red salad. Waited 10 minutes or so, food came. Perfunctory, unfriendly service. The food was decent. Middle of the road by NYC or Chicago standards, but slightly below par for SF. Meanwhile, I had finished my wine. It sat empty for another 10 minutes with no sign of the bartender. Finished my food. Still no sign of waitstaff. He finally showed up and cleared the meal. No smiles, no small talk. Barely a "can I get you anything else?" When he finally brought the check I was confused to see no tip line. That's when I realized I had, against my will, tipped him 20% to ignore me and chat with his friends. And suddenly the poor service made sense - it was like eating in Europe. Except the food wasn't nearly as good. Not coming back.

    (2)

  • Nique F.

    NOT a fan of their new pricing structure. We came for an after work drink and noticed their prices had gone up 20-30%. $15 cocktails, $18 wines, crazy stuff like that. It was a weird Twilight Zone moment, then we noticed the "All prices include service" note at the bottom of the menu. Aha! That makes a little more sense. But still, I don't like the way the real price of the item is buried under some imposed service charge. I'd just like to know what my glass of wine actually costs. I'm a big girl and can tip accordingly. Lord, I hope other SF restaurants don't adopt this same weirdness. I'm just not ready to see $20 glasses of wine on bar menus.

    (3)

  • Michelle Y.

    We came in search of the tagliatelle, but unfortunately a seasonal menu meant that it was no longer available. The charcuterie seemed to be very popular so we tried the small chef's selection ($26), as well as the spring onion and mushroom gnocchi ($25). There weren't a lot of gnocchi (6 pieces....or 3 each for me and my friend)...but they were very good. There was a strong tangy lemon taste to it, and the mushrooms were very tender. The sauce also served as excellent complement to the bread. The charcuterie though, was excellent and I would strongly recommend it. I'm not a meat board connoisseur but all the meats were super soft and very flavourful. The salami was very soft while the pork pate was like extremely well-made spam (I love spam). Included in the chefs selection for us was also a spicy mustard-horseradish dipping with fennel seeds that went with the bread (you can ask for more if you're still hungry....which you probably will be), as well as some pork lard jelly...thing (also went well with the bread). We also got drinks. I had the Sleepyhead while my friend had the Hawaiian (both $15 each). The Hawaiian was quite sweet and fruity but the Sleepyhead, while initially sweet, had a strong aftertaste. They put a generous amount of alcohol in both though, so this is a good place to go of you're looking for a more boozy night. Overall, this place has great ambiance, an outdoor seating area and excellent service, so it's a great bar to go to in FiDi after work for drinks and finger food, but perhaps not so much for a meal due to the small serving size.

    (3)

  • Shirley N.

    The primary reasons the four of us dined here for lunch recently on a Thursday: * Three of us were former telcomm employees who either worked in the Art Deco building when it was Pacific Bell and/or had training or company business here. * To see the architectural changes made to the historic building. Our server did a commendable job of directly us to dishes that could be shared family style. Service was prompt and efficient. Flatware and plates changed constantly. Highlights: *the curry kohlrabi soup. This was a 5 star for me. *the tagliatelle pasta. We also ordered the chartcuterie platter for four. Chef daily selection. I'm not a huge fan of chartcuterie but many restaurants offer it. Other dishes we shared included: *the cooked coppa sandwich - new item on the menu. Good size sandwich. *the green salad - the croutons were excellent. *the chocolate crème du pot and the lemon myer tart for dessert. Trou Normand is following the new method where service is folded into the menu item prices. This means you don't have to calculate gratuity. You pay the tab as shown on the bill. This method is fine as long as food and service is up to par and above. In this case it was. I'd probably give it a 4 star but I'm more into substantial food servings than small bites. Food was fresh and great service. My beer was lukewarm. Canned Austrian imported beer. $44 p/p. Overall 3.5 stars.

    (3)

  • Tommy W.

    I came in for a little lunch and wasn't disappointed. I sat at the bar and was served by the eye contact enthusiastic bartender. My drink too a little longer than what I would've expected there it is. Started the lunch with a beat avocado saIad and it was charming. got the small plate of charcuterie and it was delicious, the meats melted in my mouf! I should come back for a deeper meal.

    (4)

  • amanda a.

    My boyfriend took me here for our two-year anniversary. Out first time, and everything was WONDERFUL. Food: Everything we ordered was outstanding. The lardo was a particular standout on our charcuterie plate. The summer corn side dish was fresh and flavorful. Boyfriend can never pass up a pork chop, but this one was way bigger and way tastier than almost any we've ever seen. Meat seems to be their bailiwick. Ambiance: Tall ceilings and lots of light in a cool old building. Overall: sexy. Also looked there were people there for after-work drinks at the bar. Service: So so good. My boyfriend had written in our reservation comments on open table that it was our anniversary, and they really took special care of us. I didn't think that restaurants did that any more -- except for maybe TGI Fridays where they bring you a free mud pie or whatever. Thank you for the great experience!

    (5)

  • Whitne Y.

    I'm only giving so many stars because the service was impeccable and the atmosphere beautiful. The food? Lackluster. The custard beignets were lukewarm, and lacked flavor. The salad was described with hard boil egg on the menu but the dish came out with parmesan cheese instead. Lettuce didn't taste fresh and was drenched in dressing. I like the concept of placing the service in the price, and it works since the staff was great. That said, I really hope the food improves.

    (3)

  • Megan K.

    Not a good spot for vegetarians. I went with a group who didn't know I don't eat meat. I was able to order a soup and salad for lunch. The salad wasn't very impressive but I'm not a big fan of butter lettuce. The soup was pretty good. It was a cold soup that I finished and was pretty satisfied with. I've come one other time for drinks which were good but there is no happy hour so they end up being pretty standard for the area of $15 per drink but the drinks themselves seem to be pretty small. Good but small.

    (3)

  • Brandy A.

    My boyfriend and I decided to try Trou Normand based on rave reviews of their charcuterie plates. Their charcuterie menu is extensive and we were excited at the variety and the fact that there were some exotic-sounding options. We ended up ordering a rabbit pate and the coppa off the salumi menu. The coppa was good - could definitely taste the red wine and had a kick from the black pepper. The pate was interesting. I can't say I unequivocally liked it, because it was not as soft as I expected, and the flavor was jelly-like and tasted a bit like leftover meat bits. For the main we had a roast chicken to share. The portion of the dish was generous, and I remember it being well-seasoned. We ended up gutting it and left a pile of bones for the server to take away. The ambiance is awesome - it's located on the ground floor of the historic Montgomery building where Yelp now is. Inside it's airy and marbled, so it has a very open and sophisticated feel to it. The only minus with the ambiance is the fact that we sat at a communal table by the door to the back patio. Every time the door was opened, a really cold breeze made us shudder. I suggest the restaurant think about using an archway or some kind of shield to mitigate the wind tunnel. Then communal diners will be happy =) Overall, a fine date place to enjoy a dish together with a glass of wine or spirit of choice.

    (4)

  • P C.

    Like no place you have ever been. The calvados drinks are very taste and hit the spot.They are a little sweet which is a great complement when your palet just experienced the Salty pig parts. They have a great variety of beautiful charcuterie that most have not seen or experienced. Also has the cooked salmon which was good but it was disappointing as I at the lunch dish in three bites. There is also a different twist to how they give you the bill. You get a bill with just one number only. There is on itemization of things order, tax percentage not showing and the tip is automatically charged and you do not see percentage of tip charged either. Hum how do I feel about this ?

    (4)

  • Kristen S.

    OK ambience. Good food. Expensive cocktails ($15 a pop!), but bartender Colin is a gem! I'd recommend this place for drinks and appetizers, or lunch, but not dinner. Too much hustle and bustle to be leisurely.

    (4)

  • Brooke G.

    Went for drinks with some friends and sat at the bar for a low-key after work drink. The restaurant is really lovely and had a great ambiance. We had the cheese platter and the meat plate and both were tasty. The only downside- it's a bit pricey. Great for an after work drink and snack!

    (4)

  • Matt W.

    Food and cocktails are delicious. I'm a fan. Only thing is it seems a bit stuffy sometimes when I'm in there. Would probably stop by more if they were a bit more welcoming.

    (4)

  • Grace L.

    Food and service was excellent. The charcuterie platters are a must have. And the bolognese is wonderful, but I wouldn't recommend the polish sausage, quite underwhelming especially compared to the other dishes.

    (5)

  • Angela K.

    I had to come check this place out after seeing all my friends' instagrams of this infamous cheese and charcuterie plate. Made reservations for a Saturday and was seated within 5 minutes. The interior is cozy and there's a few booths that are good for small groups. We had 7 girls in our party and ordered everything family style. We ordered: - 3 cheese plate - small charcuterie plate (4 of the chefs selection of charcuterie/salumi) - appetizers: parsnips, Brussels sprouts, polenta, potatoes al gratin (all were great, my favorite were the Brussels sprouts) - tagliatelle: very popular here, made to perfection, I would highly recommend getting this - clams and mussels stew: slightly salty but good for if you are craving some seafood - pork chop: this was one of the bigger pork chops I've seen, really tender but about 30% of it was pure fat so I was a little disappointed as we didn't get that much meat and paid $40 - pappardelle: highly recommend this pasta dish too, made really well Overall, the food was all very delicious and we really had no complaints aside from the fatty pork chop. Service was on point and our server made sure we were well taken care of. On top of the items above, we had 2 bottles of wine and ordered a few cocktails, and we paid around $50 each. Pretty good deal IMO for the amount of food we ordered. Apparently all of their food menu prices include gratuity, which is odd, but I can't complain as we didn't have to calculate numbers after a few drinks in haha. Great spot in the SOMA for a cheese/charcuterie fix or for dinner, stop by if you get the chance!

    (4)

  • Ed U.

    Teeny-tiny spot, ain't it? But with high ceilings, of course (it's SoMa after all), and its setting in the Pac Bell building gives it an appropriate retro-vintage vibe that makes it a magnet for hipster foodies (photo: bit.ly/1nVJQW9 ). It's no surprise that Yelp has moved into the classic Art Deco building, and this makes an ideal happy hour destination if you can manage to grab a seat at the bar. You can eat here, and a lot of the small plates looked delicious as they whizzed by, but be forewarned there are only five booths and a community table in the back. Jamie W. and I came for the cocktails, and we weren't disappointed. Before we ordered, we couldn't help but notice the large sketch of a naked woman in repose on the wall. Despite the scale, the approach to the drawing is quite minimal, somehow suitable for the casual ambiance (photo: bit.ly/1lyU0WK ). Similar to Bar Agricole, Trou Normand offers a seductive mixed drink selection, and the bartender helped us sift through the choices. Jamie settled on the $11 Hawaiian, a tantalizing tropical mix of Calvados, chartreuse, pineapple and lime, that had nothing to do with a Blue Hawaii. I went for the slightly more urban $11 Brandy Scaffa, which blended raspberry and chartreuse into the cognac (photo: bit.ly/1jI4bGE ). The combination packed a subtle wallop that lured me into ordering another. Although the $27 Grilled Pork Chop and the $38 Charcuterie Plate looked worthy enough for a satisfying meal, we had just eaten at Henry's Hunan across the street so we were in no condition to gorge. But something sweet was not out of the question, and they offer a couple of desserts. We decided to share a $9 slice of the Apple Rhubarb Mission Pie a la Mode (photo: bit.ly/1t4tpGL ). Sure, it was tasty but hardly reflective of their kitchen, I hope. Anyway, timing is everything if you plan on coming after work or on the weekends. We got lucky since we got the last two available seats at the bar, but others were hovering quite a bit before giving up entirely. They should just relax and have a couple of Trou Normand shots to neutralize their Type-A personalities. FOOD/DRINKS - 4 stars...I can't go by the pie alone, but the cocktails are easily on par with the ones served at Bar Agricole AMBIANCE - 4 stars...small as it is, I like the casual vibe in here SERVICE - 4.5 stars...the bartenders are stellar here TOTAL - 4 stars...would definitely like to come back for a little pig, a little salumi and a whole lotta cocktails

    (4)

  • Jonathan Y.

    Yes. A few of us met here for dinner, spent some time at the bar chatting with Bartender Eric over well made, delicious, albeit a tad pricey ($15) drinks. For dinner we were seated in the tented and heated patio and ended up ordering one of the charcuterie plates, tagliatelle, brussel sprouts, sausage dish. The tagliatelle and brussel sprouts were good and none of us regretted ordering them. The sausage dish was a huge and delightful surprise. It was moist and snappy and came on a bed of what looked like sauerkraut but was in fact melted spaghetti squash. The combination was so full of flavor, especially for a dish that looked rather bland. Finally, the charcuterie. Definitely the star of the night and one of the better charcuterie displays I've had the pleasure of eating. The pork pate with trumpet mushrooms were great, as was the red wine salumi. There were a few other options on the board but one element I loved was the bowl of a jiggly, golden mass that looked like sauterne jelly but was in fact MEAT jelly. I didn't ask what meat jelly was, but instead kept slathering it generously on bread, topping with that delicious pate.

    (5)

  • Sunny S.

    One of my girlfriends and I dropped by on a random Thursday night.... Without a reservation. That's right, we're big risk takers. We were greeted promptly at the door by a cheerful host who informed us that the wait would be 30 minutes. My buddy was less than pleased--but I don't think she was within her right on this one. If I go to a restaurant such as TN without a reservation, I don't expect that I'll be seated promptly. It's all about managing your expectations, after all. At any rate, I'm okay with that, however, as I use the extra time as an excuse to imbibe a few extra adult beverages. My friend and I both ordered champagne. I note that TN has an impressive cocktail menu, although you'll also note that my days of "craft cocktails" are pretty much over. I don't like waking up with fried rice in my hair. At all. We were sat at a community table, much to my friend's chagrin. Having spent many years in the People's Republic of Berkeley, I am less abject to community seating, although I admit that I don't love it. It wasn't that bad at TN, but please be advised you're going to see a big hipster factor. You should prepare accordingly. Onto food. We ordered a side of broccoli, a side of peas, and a side of polenta. All three of these dishes sound pretty boring, don't they? Not a chance. All three were slammin. Whatever sauce those peas were in? Yes, please. Pretty expensive for a side of veggies - noted for the record. We ordered apple rhubarb pie with ice cream for dessert. I've never had anything rhubarb before, and this was a pleasing introduction. It was decent, and definitely satisfied my seemingly unsatisfiable sweet tooth. Overall, TN was a pretty good experience. Brace yourself for hipsters. Enjoy a few drinks at the bar. Prepare to lay down some dinero. You'll be fine.

    (4)

  • Jessica F.

    The prices and service take Trou Normand out of my comfort zone. I made a dinner reservation for two. The front room/inside room of the restaurant was completely empty except for one other couple at a booth that could seat four people. The host tried to seat us at this booth with these strangers - what were you thinking?! I politely asked to be seated at a separate table, given that there were 5 other tables open PLUS bar seating. She made a big deal about there potentially being other reservations, etc, and another waitress came by and questioned why we didn't want the original table. Rude, much? I want to enjoy my food without bumping elbows with a romantic couple, thanks. Also, I made a reservation and I think I deserve a table as much as the other reservations. Also, at least you could have offered us bar seating?? In terms of prices, let's look at our menu selection: - Small Charcuterie Plate ($21): To be absolutely fair, the charcuterie here is quite savory and comes with a good variety of cured meats and pate. I wasn't exactly sure which meats were in the small combination, but both of the pates were excellent. Charcuterie is an expensive affair, and the variety makes up for the price here, but let's talk about the prices on the next item... - Sausage Plate ($22): This is very literally 2 sausages on a thin, sparse bed of squash shavings. Think about it - that's $11 for a sausage! Not even a large or particularly good sausage! The waitress warned us that the plate doesn't come with any sides, but it IS listed as a main, so I would expect the plate to be able to stand on its own. Trou Normand made a bad first impression, and it just kept getting worse throughout the meal. If you're craving some uncalled-for pretension, maybe come here to share a quick charcuterie plate.

    (2)

  • Iliea S.

    Came here for snacks and drinks in the afternoon with a friend. We ordered house made ginger ale and a selection of meats and cheese. Man! this place is great! They house butcher and cure all of their meat selections. What a great find. the cheese they served were also of great quality. It is a bit on the spendier side, so be prepared for that, but i think it's super good quality, so you are getting what you pay for. It is a pretty new place, so everything is clean and neatly decorated. i think i would love to try out a bar and bites night here with friends. Also they have dinner, which i might want to try in the near future.

    (5)

  • Blake B.

    If you're a meat eater (and I am), you're going to love Trou Normand. I went here when a friend was in town and we had a great time. We didn't have reservations but they had room in the back and we sat at a "table" which was against the window. IT was an odd seat but ended up working for us. They have a great drink selection and I had a few beers including the Andechs which was nice. For our meal, we went with our waitresses recommendation and started off with the chef's selection of charcuterie (pate, salami and mortadella). From there we moved on to the Bucatini and sausage plate. No greens on either of our plates but it was amazing nonetheless.

    (4)

  • Amanda B.

    I've only been here once as it's brand spankin' new, but I will totally be back. Let's have some real talk: breakfast sandwiches. In my opinion, usually a bad idea. However, _this_ breakfast sandwich: the best decision you'll make all day. There's thinly sliced ham, a fried egg, cheddar, another type of cheese, all slapped between two soft pieces of delightful ciabatta roll. So damn good. The good: zomg the sandwich. The bad: takes a while, so grab a seat. Protip: split the sandwich with someone, or prepare to eat the other half at lunch. It will own you.

    (4)

  • Carolyn F.

    Excellent service all around. Cocktails are all right and not super expensive (relatively) at $11 but many are served in the small champagne coupes. We were relegated to the mostly deserted patio on a cold windy SF night....heaters were turned on to their highest (we asked) but BRRR.....! I ate with a beanie on my head. Dings are for value/portion. Don't expect to be feel full after 4 charcuterie selections. The liverwurst was literally 2 rounds of meat 1/4 of an inch thick. Do not order the lamb cardoons if you are looking for any sort of physical fulfillment from food (we got 3 thread-like strips of lamb bacon and some measely celery pieces). Also got the potatoes with porcini ($14) and pork ragu. I could have made 3x the amount of potatoes at home for that price. The ragu had good flavor but the pasta tasted undercooked vs. al dente. Again the service is stellar and can't be faulted.

    (2)

  • Monita H.

    Came here on a Friday night with a reservation only for meeee! :D My mom stopped in with me as well before her business meeting in the area, and the hostess happily accommodated us in a comfy booth shared by another couple. Prepare to get cozy with your neighbors! ;) The Chef's Charcuterie selection was amazing! A must try with all their unique cured meats, pate, and animal jelly. Too huge for 1, but enough for 2-3. Their cocktails are strong and delicious! Ordered the Sleepyhead, but the drink was anything but sleepy! ***The food and drink were most certainly stellar, but the star of the night was Kevin, who went above and beyond in service. Since my mom left shortly after we were seated, he made me feel that I was with an amazing friend the whole evening! He was attentive, energetic, and lots of fun! It's been a while since I've had an impeccable and outstanding restaurant experience. Thanks for making me feel at home Kevin! Trou Normand has it all! Hope to come back soon! :D xoxo

    (5)

  • Jaina S.

    gorgeous old building. *a-mazing* cocktails, melt-in-your-mouth housemade charcuterie. I like the communal table. move on to shopping or a movie or a show, late dinner elsewhere OR stick around and share a main & a couple veg ....

    (5)

  • Linda F.

    Dinner last night sadly devolved into a very negative experience. Too bad, it was a much needed date night for us, and we were looking forward to it. The space is quite lovely, but over lit, and on a Friday night, very empty, so ambience was a bit flat. Our server was friendly, initially. Everything on the menu looked amazing. We placed our order, and the food came out quickly. Too quickly, as the starter arrived with everything else? We envisioned nibbling on Arancini and sipping wine for a bit before the mains. It felt a bit rushed. Food was good, menu could do with more vegetable choices, but everything was delicious. After that, someone else arrived to remove empty plates, one by one as we were still eating, a bit annoying, again felt rushed. After that. Nothing. Our server had vanished. Never saw her again until we were ready to leave. Someone who looked like a manager passed our table a few times, we tried to get his attention but were ignored. Nobody asked if we wanted anything else, we ended pouring the rest of our bottle of wine ourselves. No dessert was offered ( which I would have enjoyed) Surprising, as it was still early and they were hardly busy, it was virtually empty. Eventually we gave up and finally managed to get the server's attention to bring the cheque. I cannot remember an occasion where we left without tipping, and this was the first time. Awful and disappointing service, I'm surprised this place is still open.

    (2)

  • Bruce C.

    Take a glance at Trou Normand's seasonal menus and you'll immediately salivate from the mouth like a mad dog. Their claim to fame are their charcuterie plates - cured salumi and pâté made in-house while providing an excellent selection of artisan cheeses. However, everything else from their starters to their mains are very hit or miss. Unfortunately, it was more of a miss. LARGE CHARCUTERIE & SALUMI BOARD ~ $78 ~ 4 stars: Littered with several types of salumi, pork pâté, duck pâté and several other heavenly cured meat items, this was an excellent item to share amongst eight people. My favorite was the pork pâté - rich, deep flavors and dry. Everything else was ok to great. I personally prefer going to Whole Foods and building my own board at home but this didn't disappoint. Was it worth $78? Probably not but it wasn't too bad. CHEESE BOARD ~ $22 ~ 3.5 stars: The selection of cheese was good but it didn't blow me away. My favorite was the La Marotte raw sheep's milk cheese but even that wasn't worth writing home about. ARANCINI ~ $9 ~ 4 stars: Delicious fried balls of rice and cheese. If you've never had arancini, try to imagine a glorified fried mac 'n cheese ball. However, Trou Normand makes it light, perfectly seasoned and very crispy. PICKELS ~ $6 ~ 3 stars: Just an assortment of pickled carrots, cauliflower and something else (can't remember). Nothing special but it was necessary to cut through the meat, cheese and arancini. LACINATO KALE ~ $12 ~ 4 stars: Kale cooked like creamed spinach. Awesome side although a little on the rich side. BRAISED ARTICHOKE ~ $16 ~ 4.5 stars: Excellent. Very tender, creamy and flavorful. Out of all the sides we got, this was the best. CARDOON & POTATO SALAD ~ $13 ~ 1 star: Atrocious. Do not got this. GRILLED BEEF CHOP ~ $66 ~ 3.5 stars: HUGE! It was seared perfectly and cooked very well. However, it wasn't close to the $66 price tag. LARGE GRILLED PORK CHOP ~ $48 ~ 5 stars: ALSO HUGE! Hands down the best pork chop I've ever had. I can't begin to tell you how amazing Trou Normand cooks their pork chops. Seared to perfectly and completely moist & juicy in the middle. The strips of fat were beyond tender and added excellent flavor. Do not waste your time deciding on what to order as your main. Go with their pork chop. In my opinion, it sits in a league of its own. SAUSAGE PLATE ~ $28 ~ 3 stars: Don't remember what kind of sausages but it wasn't great. You get two standard size sausages, each coming in at $14. Not worth it. TAGLIATELLE ~ $26 ~ 2.5 stars: Ehhhhh. Good past but not great. Pass. OLIVE OIL POACHED BLACK COD ~ $36 ~ 2 stars: I can't believe how small this portion was. The piece of cod we got provided four people one bite. It wasn't any bigger than a standard size burger patty. To be honest, the spinach served with the cod was the star. We were fortunate to sample almost the whole menu. One of the benefits of dining with a large group. After trying a little bit of everything, I have to say I would never go back to Trou Normand for two reasons. 1) The overall menu didn't wow me and 2) Other than the pork chop, I don't believe anything is worth its ticket price. Go to Trou Normand with low expectations and you might, and I stress might, be pleasantly surprised. However, I highly encourage you to go elsewhere.

    (3)

  • Stefanie C.

    I was not entirely sober when I came here for a late-night dinner with friends but it was an enjoyable experience nonetheless. Classy dining experience. Perfect for a date with the dim lighting and whatnot. Their pork chop dish is most popular but they ran out of that so they substituted it for a different meat. I settled on the Salmon ($36) with Spinach and Beurre Blanc and many friends had the Tagliatelle ($26) with moroccan goat ragu, mint, and cilantro. Both were absolutely delicious, and I would recommend them. They were of moderate portions and I was left still hungry, which is saying something because I have a small appetite. That's what the dessert menu is for! Their brunch and cocktail menus look amazing, so I'll definitely have to come back for both of those. Actually I vaguely remember having a strong cocktail (must have been the Jersey City one) but I'll have to drink it again to confirm. Being located in such a prime area, I'll make a reservation to Trou Normand next time, though we were able to seat six people without a problem late in the evening on a weekday.

    (4)

  • Kate M.

    3.5 review. Unfortunately a bit lacking. Having booked this place after rave reviews from friends, I was excited to try it out for lunch but found the food just a little better than average. Perhaps I need to come at dinner for the full experience with charcuterie and a few courses with cocktails? The space itself is really lovely, located basically inside the Yelp building. I didn't realize that there's a lovely outdoor patio- it's much bigger than expected, because you only see the bar area from the front with a few booth seats. The service is nice and the lunch environment outside is fun on a nice day in SF. I tried the pork burger with a side salad and thought it was just too salty overall. The pork patty is juicy and well seasoned but didn't work out that well with the tomato jam, mustard, and caramelized onions. Everything tasted good separately but the flavors were too strong overall. My friend also didn't seem overly impressed by her vegetable risotto. Oh well, maybe I'll come back for dinner and give it another shot.

    (3)

  • Jenny L.

    11.11.14 | bookmarked 10.07.14 The Sleepyhead. Described as a brandy Dark and Stormy. Say no more. Make one for me please. Spicy up front and refreshing going down. I like. yelp.com/biz_photos/trou… The Sleepyhead. Me every morning. The bartender/mixologist was very attentive. My water glass was never empty. After the Sleepyhead I wanted something similar, but off-menu. He made me a gin based drink with five other ingredients. Equally appealing, equally delicious (and I'm not even a gin girl)!

    (4)

  • Angela B.

    What's not to love??? Answer: nothing. Instead, let us enumerate things which one has no choice but to love. a) The cocktail list. Friends, there are ten bazillion craft cocktail bars and/or restaurants with high-end craft cocktail/spirit programs within spitting distance of my house, and while many are good, there are a lot of places recycling the same tired list that's been making the rounds since 2008 (maybe infused with something new & trendy). Not here. The list is fresh & original, with many offerings that highlight the brandy theme of the restaurant. b) While we're at it, the brandy library. Seriously. If you like good spirits but don't know much about/haven't had a lot of good brandy, ask your server for recommendations & try a few things. They are very knowledgable & apparently have procured a lot of one-of-a-kind selections that you might not be able to get anywhere else. c) The wine list. = curated. Not huge, but some very unique & fun offerings at reasonable prices. (We went with my bf's wine educator parents, & they were impressed. Like they say, it's not about how big it is; it's what you do with it.) d) Charcuterie. Such unique! So choices! Wow. Seriously, just get a giant board & let the chef pick out a bunch of stuff. Eat the pig jelly. e) All-inclusive gratuity. This is just so much easier for everyone, all the way around. The only trick is to keep in mind as you peruse the menu & prices that the tip is already accounted for, so if things seem 15-20% more expensive than you might expect, that's why. f) Great service (lest you fear that e) has resulted in apathetic waitstaff). No, it turns out that establishing what people are making for a night's work ahead of time actually does *not* cause them to do crappy work. On our second trip, we had particularly excellent service. Honestly, unless you don't eat pork/beef, you should really just go. It is awesome.

    (5)

  • Sean B.

    Love the space! The minimalist-Deco high-ceilinged interior is stylish, but not cold. And the back patio is fantastic! The breadth of the house-made charcuterie selection is also impressive. Unfortunately, the execution on it and the rest of the menu is way too fat heavy. We did the chef's choice 4 meat charcuterie and were shocked at how fatty it was. We either had to try to tear off parts of fat or just not eat it. We also ordered the goat, but it too was fat fat fat. Don't get me wrong, my 200+ cholesterol count attests that I love me some fat, but this was just too much. It was chewy and overwhelming. The veggies were super tasty (the artichoke hearts and grilled alliums (onions)), though were also drowning in fatty sauces. Not a fan.

    (2)

  • Judy L.

    The concept of this restaurant is awesome. Slow food, socializing, and a break from you're meal with a good brandy. The pork chop is out of this world. The tagliatelle is a must, Brussels sprouts are super tasty, and charcuterie plate is house cured meats and payed with fresh acme bread. Service with a smile is nonexistent, but great service sans smiles. Other noteworthy dishes include the black cod, sausages, arancini, and roasted squash.

    (5)

  • Cherylynn N.

    Trou Normand makes me wish I had a corporate expense account. For one, I would have enjoyed our overpriced $170 dinner for two more knowing that I did not have to pay for it. Ok, who am I kidding? I would need that corporate expense account to woo clients with fancy booze! As sister restaurant to Bar Agricole with a fantastic bar program making them a James Beard nominee, it was no surprise that I adored their buzzingly strong cocktails at Trou Normand. I had the Demsey: gin, calvados, grenadine, absinthe ($12: bit.ly/1nMV5kY ) and the Plaza: gin, italian vermouth, pineapple ($12: bit.ly/1u3e51A ). There wasn't much of it but do they pack a big punch. Along with your buzztastic cocktails, their charcuterie menu is not to be missed. Not only are their charcuterie made in-house but there are over 20 selections a day; the most I've ever seen for a restaurant. It doesn't come cheap though. Make your own combo with selections that range from $6-$12 each or choose a chef's platter for $21 - $63. We decided to make our own with dry cured belly, lardo sumac, chicken pate, dry guanciale & headcheese ($42): bit.ly/ZY8njl . Everything was top-notch but the dry cured belly and dry guanciale were my favs. Skip the chicken pate, it wasn't rich nor creamy; more like a chicken meatloaf. I wish they threw in some pickled veggies and cornichons to help cut through the salty richness. Unfortunately, the praise stops here. Their entrees are ridiculously overpriced for mediocrity. Over $30 for an entree with no sides? Their menu changes regularly but you can skip their Roast Pork ($32): bit.ly/1rHO3JD if it's on the menu. I was hoping for a crackly skin but it was just incredibly sinewy and flabby. The Pappardelle w/ braised pork shank ($17) fared better but wasn't spectacular: bit.ly/1oVr7MD . I wish the noodles had more of a bite to it but it was a bargain compared to the other menu items. We also ordered the Arancini ($7) which were like bland balls: bit.ly/1xAhrpC . For dessert, we ordered a slice of Mission Pie's Banana Cream Pie but it was an obviously old slice of pie ($8): bit.ly/1yGwwax . Our waiter took it off the bill but my picture of it was flagged and removed (by management?) on Yelp several days later for "misrepresenting the restaurant". Umm who served the old pie? Not moi. Shady. *Tsk Tsk* Equally unimpressive was the hipster 'tude service. The staff was absolutely wonderful at Bar Agricole; they were welcoming, attentive and swift. Did HR fall asleep at the interview table? With the exception of the busboys, the hostess and wait staff weren't at the least bit friendly and service was slow as molasses. We had to ask the busboy several times to chase down our waiter because he was MIA or too busy chatting with other servers at the corner. What annoys me is Trou Normand (along with Bar Agricole) will now be charging an 20% auto-gratuity on ALL bills: bit.ly/1zesKYV . We always tip a minimum of 18% but a tip should be earned NOT demanded. Besides, you guys aren't the French Laundry or a Saison nor is the service even close to that caliber. Don't get me started on the communal seating (no individual tables). The fact that you make reservations for date night and then have to share a table with complete strangers? Sorry sir, I'm sure you're a great guy but I give zero phucks about your toe fungus.

    (3)

  • Allan S.

    What a disappointment. The menu is unique and adventurous and was what brought us here, but the execution was a fail. We were seated quickly by the hostess, but it was 10 minutes before the server paid attention to us. Then 30 minutes to get our drinks. We ordered water along with our drinks but made two additional requests before it arrived. The mixed charcuterie plate was one of the best I've had, however the entrees disappointed initially. The beef Tagliatelle arrived without beef (apparently they ran out of the beef and forgot to inform the server) while the combo lamb chop and lamb leg were practically raw. Both went back. They prepared a pork Tagliatelle instead just for us and it was exquisite. They also brought us a large/double portion of the lamb which was cooked perfectly this time and delicious. Nice indoor space, but the outdoor area where we were seated was so loud we could barely hear each other talk - the acoustics are just terrible. The wine list is unusual for the Bay Area - almost exclusively French, Italian and Spanish. To their benefit they were apologetic about their failures and comped us the two entrees, but the noise in the outdoor back room will stop us from returning if that is the only space available.

    (2)

  • Luba Y.

    Big fan of Trou Normand. A bit pricey with their service fee is included in price philosophy, but still worth coming. All the meat and cheese is made in house and all of it is delicious. I love their chacuterie boards, as well as the cheese ones. Cocktails are top notch. Dessert is great too. I love the interior of the place. Staff is very attentive and pleasant to deal with.

    (4)

  • LeAndra M.

    Great cocktails and meat. I had the pork chop which was cooked to perfection...juicy, plenty of fat, and perfect char. If you're a veggie...very limited options, though they'll likely do the pasta veggie for you. If you're looking for an intimate place for a date or meaningful conversation, you won't get it here. It's community table seating. Big con was that the staff, excluding the bartenders, were remorse and seemed somewhat annoyed at having to be there. A smile and thank you would go a long way.

    (4)

  • Emma W.

    I like the decor of this location. It's got really deep couches which are really comfy too. We shared the charcuterie platter and it was truly deeeeelicious! The lemonade was pretty neat too - although a metal straw is not my choice of straw. Harrowing thoughts of dentist comes to mind and i don't know why!! Every bite of the platter was yummy and i like my salami. Even the hubbie loved it. The bread gets my 5 stars as it's proper bread! I'm in love with tis place - it amazing!

    (5)

  • Jeff M.

    My (very tasty) 6oz cocktail was $15 and took about half an hour to receive after sitting down. At the bar. Didn't seem crazy busy and staff were perfectly nice. My friends were given the wrong food order and the server didn't correct it. Several people wandered in looking lost because the host was gone most of the time we were there. It would be less annoying if the cocktails weren't insanely overpriced.

    (2)

  • Vivek S.

    Le trou Normand, or "the Norman hole," (boy does that sound better in French) refers to the tradition of sipping Calvados, an apple cider brandy, during the pauses of a multi-course meal. Is this tribute to North France nestled in the base of 140 New Montgomery worth a visit? Bien sûr. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is Four Barrel coffee and pastry (zzz), and only mouth-breathers discuss lunch ("OMG whatta salad..."), so let's focus on raison d'être of this spot: charcuterie. Back-breaking quantities of former animals are hefted in on the daily and prepped on an impressive slab in the back that doubles as a chef's table. Next to Uva Enoteca, this place serves my favorite meat boards in San Francisco. Salumi runs from $4-7 per plate, and there's also a selection of charcuterie and patés. Get the chef's selection: it's about $40 and joined with an appetizer it satisfied me and a date easily. And by satisfied I mean we loved every morsel. Even the mustard they served with it was out-of-this-world. Hell, maybe it's even better than Uva Enoteca. (My mouth looks forward to sorting out this quandary.) Cocktails are priced for FiDi, and rely on the drinker to enjoy brandy-based potables. If you don't, The Star Daisy is a excellent entry-level choice. Men are advised to drink the Algonquin. Old French Men are advised to grab the entire bottle of Calvados and glug liberally between drags of a hand-rolled cigarette. Santé. Obligatory Title Pun: Filling the meat shaped HOLE in my heart. Menu Readability: From the brush-line "mural" on the wall, to the stainless steel straws, the design of TN is a delight. The menus are no exception. Need to mention: They have a back patio! What this place teaches me about myself: I'd sign up to be an "Old French Man" any day. Are there night classes for that?

    (5)

  • Abby H.

    Bourdain did not lead me astray! If you want exceptional service along with your food and drinks in a beautiful setting, treat yourself to trou normand. Stopped in for a drink and some fresh ham...wow that ham. Grab a seat on the handsome leather bar stools, back patio or leather and stud wrap around booths that are great for large parties. Service is included, and they actually don't take advantage of the automatic gratuity. So sit back, relax and just know you'll have a great experience with that $15 cocktail.

    (4)

  • Kevin B.

    Finally, a cocktail lounge that lives up to the hype! Is this bar hidden? Yes Is the service stuffy? I'm afraid so. Are the cocktails expensive? Very much so ($11/pop). But is this a cool bar? Answer: most definitely! Be warned: if you want a booth, you'll need to make a reservation (yes, it's THAT kind of cocktail bar). My co-workers and I saddled up at the bar instead and ordered a pair of Hard Decks (which is essentially a Manhatten infused with a house-made ginger syrup). De-lish! One of the best cocktails I've had in a while. If you order your drinks "on the rocks," be prepared to have a titanic iceberg in your glass. Apparently, they make/shave their own ice in-house. They pretty much customize it to your glass and let it marinate in your drink. These bad boys don't seem to melt, but they def keep your beverage cool. Aside from the tasty cocktails, there's a cool energy to the space. They also have an outdoor area (if/when the weather is decent). I noticed some bar bites on the menu (charcuterie, cheeses, etc.), but we didn't have any on my most recent visit. I'll have to come back soon to try them out. And I definitely will be coming back soon. Although Trou Normand is a bit pretensious, it's still undeniably cool + a great addition to the SOMA bar scene.

    (4)

  • Annie Z.

    I really did not like Trou Normand =/ Their lunch menu is very limited compared to the dinner menu. They still had the pork ragu which i was super excited about, however the pasta dish came out to be mediocre at best. I think it was around $17 or $18 but it was way too salty and quite ordinary. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant. Additionally, they always have protestors outside during the day claiming labor issues with the restaurant! I haven't paid too much attention/researched it much but the laborers are very passionate about this and they've been there from right after this restaurant opened.. seems suspicious.

    (2)

  • Claire W.

    The quality of the food and drinks were amazing. The service was painfully slow. It took forever to even get water, not to mention refills on tea or anything else. The server made a big deal about splitting the check...which is pretty standard for restaurants last time I checked. The patio was beautiful, however!

    (3)

  • Michelle L.

    Wow, such a bummer. Bar Agricole is one of my favorite restaurants in SF, so I was more than game to try out their sister restaurant. I would give it one star, but the good will of the employees here is the same as Bar Agricole. The people working here want you to be happy and they try to be accommodating. Unfortunately, the environment at Trou Normond is nearly unbearable. Yes, the front room is lovely, as is the conservatory out back, but the noise is positively deafening. I mean, painful. I can't imagine having any kind of conversation in any space in the restaurant, even if you are sitting next to each other. Also, the seating in the front room is the strangest configuration possible. For nearly all of the seats, you either share an intimate booth with another couple, or four of you sit spread out facing into the bar area (and possibly looking only at the backsides of bar patrons). The environment was so unpleasant that we ended up leaving. Skip TN and head to Bar Agricole instead.

    (2)

  • Marlene T.

    Sit at the bar, have a sazerac (if its not on the menu, order it anyways). The charcuterie is awesome and always go for some greens. This place has wonderful options. That spreadable salumi is AMAZING. I'd come back for sure. Good bar food, good drinks, good atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Eden M.

    This place is truly as good as it gets. The food, drinks and atmosphere are fawned over by everyone who works there. Everything, and I mean everything, is of the highest quality. After conversing with the bar tenders and servers I found that this place does their own butchering every morning. Their alcohol is bought only from small batch distillers and the bar is made out of reclaimed 100 year old marble. This place specializes in Pork and Charcuterie. Their Brandy inspired cocktails are amazing. They even freshly cut the ice with a bandsaw every morning! The Service: I have never had an unfriendly encounter. Everyone who works there is more than willing to spend time explaining aspects about the food and drinks. This place is an experience, something that is absolutely different in San Francisco.

    (5)

  • e w.

    This place would get 5 stars if it weren't for the absolutely terrible service. Even I could do a better job than what was happening, it was completely bizarre and threw off an otherwise perfect meal. But back to the food - we ordered the to-die-for meatballs, a summer squash plate (yum! but small), the large meat board and the cheese board (they need a large one of this too). Everything we tried (except for the green beans - and - $14 for green beans?! come on!) was fantastic. I will be back despite the service situation which I hear is epidemic -- maybe it's time to take the auto gratuity off the check?? Either that or train the staff. Let's start at the very beginning...

    (4)

  • Michael G.

    I came here for breakfast. I just want to be in this space. Huge ceilings & windows. The best breakfast sandwich I've had in San Francisco and enough food for two. Good coffee and exceptionally friendly wait staff. They let me sit here all morning working after my coffee. anyways. 9 stars.

    (5)

  • Mark B.

    Great outdoor space if you can get there in time to claim a table. The food turned out to be very average, with the exception of the charcuterie which was truly great. Drinks also good. We went back to give the food second try but didn't stay for dinner because the waitress kept grabbing our cocktails before they were empty. (You could see she relished doing it, as if it were somehow a badass move.) I guess that's what you get when the service charge is built in?

    (3)

  • L Stephanie L.

    My and my husband received a gift card for Trou Normand and we had high hopes! We didn't read up about the restaurant further than being a sister restaurant to Park Tavern (or something similar) as to not ruin the surprise. So, we booked a table for two for Valentine's Day (+ celebrate our first month of marriage) and it was... Somewhat of a disappointment. Here's why: 1. Trou Normand has communal seating. Even the intimate booths inside by the bar housed 2-3 couples. 2. It was a set menu. No 2nd option or option to sub something. The food that we liked was really good, like the entrée (lamb three ways - roasted was far best) and dessert. (Chocolate pot du creme is fairly hard to fuck up though, but the toffee crunch was a nice touch.) But... We're not really fans of 3 courses as it's always too much. And to tie in to the communal seating - when the main comes with three sides, you're literally sitting on top of each other. (One dude even dropped his plate in his lap because there weren't room. Trou story - pun intended.) 3. We didn't know how much the menu we didn't want cost until the meal was over. It was $110/person. (+ "Service included".) We got a LOT of food, but we didn't finish ANYTHING and we definitely didn't like everything. Not a bad price at all for the sheer amount of food we received, but I would've rather not wasted 40% of it. (Might one suggest a full and half menu option at least?) Overall, the food was good, service nice. We got a complimentary glass of cava as we were seated, which was cute. We just expected more. (Shame on us for not reading about it beforehand.) Worth to mention is that we booked through OpenTable who didn't mention there was going to be a set menu on the particular day. Had we called to make the reservation, things might've been different. Although if I book A TABLE for two, I expect a table where we don't have to share bump elbows with 6 other people. As a little last remark - gratuity is included in your final bill, but it's only 10%! So don't forget to bring some cash as to not to be a dick.

    (3)

  • SmOoOoteensie L.

    Came here for a huge party. The place is beautiful with a wonderful courtyard in the back. (Not really a 'courtyard' but... close enough) Came here when the weather was nice so sitting outside at 10pm wasn't cold, which is very rare for SF but we got lucky. The food were delicious, the staff was also very friendly. I've managed to go to these great places so far and I'm so thankful for it. The drinks are awesome!!! Make sure you're a little dressy okay? Better to be over dressed than underdressed, is what I always say :)

    (5)

  • Veronica V.

    Here's the deal, there are a plethora of amazing restaurants in San Francisco and each has its own charm to it. If exceptional cocktails and unparalleled charcuterie is what you're looking for, this is the place. We arrived a little early for our 6:30 reservation so we sat at the bar first and had a cocktail (try the brown derby), shortly after, the hostess worked her magic and found us a nice booth near the bar before our reserved time. For dinner we started with a small combination board and ended up ordering another one just because the first one was so amazing we wanted to try the rest of them. Our evening just started on a good note and ended on an even better one. If you're looking for awesome drinks, great food and impeccable service, this is it!

    (5)

  • Alice C.

    Addition to many of the new restaurants in the SOMA area, new American now basically means make your own cured meat, pate and pickles. Food ****: This is a place for small plates, shared a plate of charcuterie. The appetizers are decent size where you can share with a couple of friends. Main dishes are just a tad bigger. The best item on the charcuterie plate is the pate and the dry cure belly. Both the pork and rabbit pate brought me back to the country side right outside of Paris. Great balance of herbs and freshness of the meat. Their fresh squash with pesto was great. Drinks****: They have a great selection of libation. Wine, whiskey, sherry, bourbon and cocktails. The signature cocktail here is similar to what Bar Agricole has to offer, but a tad more sophisticated. Space/layout ***: Layout is a questionable here, you walk into a small space where the receptionist is, then that lead you into the L shaped bar/booth area. The high ceiling and the lack of soft material made this a terrible place for conversation. Then you will stop at a couple of high communal tables, then through another room of booth seating before landing yourself in the open patio/rear bar area. This area is covered, but even with heat lamp, this is not a pleasant area to have dinner as the alley wind quickly cool down your food. Service ***: The place is new, so I am a bit more tolerant on mixed up. Especially on drinks, my bf had to order his beer 2 time before it arrived 20 min later. I ordered a cocktail during entree, had to remind the waitress after the coffee and dessert arrived. They were nice to comp me on the cocktail since I waited more than 20 min for it. Oh... one of my cocktail glass has a chip on it. Overall, it is a nice place that still can be a better after working out a few operational issues. The food is great to share with friend over a glass of drink. Final bill for the 5 of us $200.

    (4)

  • David O.

    Absolutely amazing!!!!! Most delicious bone in pork chop, cocktails, and sides! The charcuterie was also a great addition. Excellent service. Make sure to have a reservation

    (5)

  • Maximillian M.

    That. Charcuterie. Though. WOW.

    (4)

  • Victoria E.

    You have ruined me for good, with charcuterie: a combination of house cured Italian salami and German sausages, French pates and Bavarian headcheese. This is a hogs heaven, and no other restaurants in San Francisco could compare. I traveled in time: at a distant past, I had arrived in Amsterdam with my French travel companion, from there I met up with a tall German boy from Dusseldorf, we smoked at the coffee houses until wee hours, and then stuffed ourselves with Belgium waffles after posing in front of the Sex Museum. In the morning, we rode the train to Bavaria, and from there I headed down south on train to French country, picking up some fresh baguette, and duck liver pate. I then continued my journey to Italy, in Rome two different Italian men approached and asked me out for dinner on different nights. In Florence a boy lived in Telegraph Hill backpacking in Europe knocked on my hotel door. A foreign land induced romance ensued. We took strolls in Florence and extended our journey to Venice where an older Italian woman at the farmer's market slapped my hand for touching her grapes before paying. That was a very warm late summer. I was barely 25, carefree and reckless, and at age 26 I had a quarter life crisis that changed me forever. At the time, I had not realized what life was about and what food, especially good food, could do to one's soul. The euphoria one achieves from having a satisfying meal at a beautifully decorated building, must be what Anton Ego felt after having ratatouille at Auguste Gusteau's restaurant cooked up by Remy, an anthropomorphic rat who was exceptionally talented at cooking. Food, perfect food, does that to one's body and soul. It transforms you, it takes you back in time, traveling through foreign land where food and people appeared in fragmented memories, unwarranted and unfiltered, they competed for your attention while you sipped coffee and drank water with gas while calmly chatted away with your new friend in the city. Such was a Monday afternoon where time had played a trick on me, all because of the fresh charcuterie served with crispy epi baguette. I had never been this impressed with charcuterie served in any restaurants on this side of the pond; it's not just that they served exceptionally good quality ones, but they are more diverse than Perbacco had to offer, which was centered around Italian style charcuterie, whereas here at Trou Normand, it had Italian, French and German. I wanted to try the cocktails, dine in the backyard courtyard, sample their dinner menu, and grab a cup of expresso while leaning against the counter. Yet I had no time to accomplish it all in such a short period of time. Lardo. Headcheese. House Cured Ham. House Pickles. Those are the must tries. I invited a friend for an afterwork cocktail this week. I'm having a bit of nostalgic moment. I miss France and Germany. This is as close as it gets.

    (5)

  • Alice C.

    I'm about to say "Worst service ever" but since we never got seated .. It might just be "over pretentious .. And bad service". We had a booking from 2 weeks ago..table wasn't ready and we were asked to get drinks from the bar while we waited. However the bar was full. The hostess then told us we should get drinks from the bar anyway and just stand around. Place was packed. And we weren't going to stand around juggling a drink to wait for a table. Fang and thirsty bear was a better option just around the corner.

    (1)

  • Sylvain K.

    OK so my rating might be a little tough but it's for the restaurant good. I'm French and I can tell you that "Trou Normand" is a serious thing in France. It is served during long meal (6 meals or more) to help guest digest and bring back appetite. All Trou Normand I had in my life were served with apple sorbet in a brandy glass. Yesterday Trou Normand was served without sorbet in champagne/dessert glass. So we thought it would be a good idea to share our knowledge to the waiter. Well he had no clue about what Trou Normand is and offered us to speak to the chef which we accepted with pleasure. We explained the same thing to the Chef, who told us that the owner of the restaurant who own another business where he sell liquors happens to buy a lot in France and got served a Trou Normand while eating at one of the place in France where he buys his goods. We had this discussion with smile and humor as it's not really big deal, we just wanted to explain that it is not what we expected (and by "we:, I mean Americans and French people) and wanted to explain how they could improve. The waiter was then pissed at us, speaking rude or not speaking, we don't know why. If you read this message, sorry we did not mean AT ALL to be mean. We still tipped you well by the way. So message to the owner, it is unfortunate to pick a VERY french name and don't serve french food (it's italian) and to don't serve a proper Trou Normand (at least give the possibility to your customers to have the sorbet). People in SF are foodie, they are culinary educated and I'm sure we won't be the only one disappointed. Santé!

    (1)

  • Kim N.

    Ive always been a fan of the Bar Agricole folks, so when they opened this we had to check it out. The old. Pac Bell building is sure transforming and this space on the ground floor is pretty cool. It is however much smaller than imagined. Met a bunch of old coworkers for a family meal. The large pork chop, medium charcuterie, rabbit confit, kohlrabi, pork belly and a ton of cocktails and calvados/armangac/cognac later we were pleasantly happy. We had this kick ass Ukrainian server who took care of us and entertained as well. The booth in the back gives you a view of the whole room and bar level-pass activities. Great space, drinks and boozes. 4.3 stars

    (4)

  • Daniel Q.

    Great food, nice patio if you have sunglasses, but the prices were expensive and the pour was definitely on the small side.

    (4)

  • Steve A.

    Absolutely incredible food. Highlights: The charcuterie plate; chef's selection - everything was out of this world. Pappardelle was incredibly flavorful. The meatballs were perfectly cooked. Definitely recommend the brandy servings between courses. It definitely brings together the whole meal. I would suggest doing this family style so you can taste multiple items on the menu. I don't think a single item disappointed.

    (5)

  • Christina L.

    okay, i love trou normand for the concept, the cocktails, the meats and cheese, and lunch items. my only only complaint is the prices. i know it's the middle of fidi, but my friend ordered a sazerac and it was $16!! all cocktails on the menu are $15, like what? and they come in supperrr small portions so iono if it's worth the assault on your wallet! but seriously - everything is quite deeelish and the patio out back is hard to beat!

    (3)

  • Laura H.

    Today's Friday extended boozy lunch destination was Trou Normand, and all told, I was super satisfied with the meal. We were seated on the patio, which was heated (great since today was chilly), and were immediately greeted and given some complimentary sparkling water. Our waitress came over immediately to ask for drinks, and the three of us ordered cocktails (we all settled on the Sleepyhead - armagnac, ginger, mint, cava). A few minutes later, we ordered our main dishes - which were sandwiches split among the table, and then a side of salt and vinegar housemade chips. The charcuterie plates looked amazing, and if I return, I'd for sure add that to my meal if I had more time. I was super disappointed when our sandwiches (which were warm) came out before our drinks, since I love being able to sip on a cocktail and enjoy some conversation with friends while I wait for my meal to arrive. The waitress apologized and was polite about it, but in my opinion that's kinda similar to serving an appetizer after a main dish arrives, something just isn't right! The sandwiches (I split one roast pork and one pork patty melt with a friend) were delicious and well portioned for a lunch menu, and pork in its many preparations seemed like the star of the menu as a whole. No complaints there! After we finished eating, we ordered glasses (alright, a glass and a half each) of wine, since we didn't get that experience of having drinks before the meal arrived. All in all, I'd absolutely return for either lunch or just drinks + apps. It wasn't super busy and the patio was a hidden gem amid downtown SF.

    (4)

  • Cade P.

    We celebrated our holiday party here last night. Super fun place, with amazing staff and cocktail options. The h'ordeurves offered was quite delightful with spreads of cheese, bread, charcuterie and other assorted goodies went very well with the old fashioned cocktails and excellent wine. I highly recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Stephanie C.

    The Place: Upon walking in, my group was wowed by the look and ambiance of the restaurant. We were sat in the back patio, which is absolutely gorgeous and would be perfect for planning an event. If you're seeking out a restaurant that has an intimate, sophisticated atmosphere Trou Normand is it! The Food: The menu may be small but the available options certainly stand out. It was really difficult to choose what to order because everything sounded delicious! What stood out to me most was the number of charcuterie options on the menu and since we could only order one I know i'll be back to try another. The charcuterie we ordered had many different kinds of pates and meats, which were all delicious. I'm just glad I forced myself to hold back; I ended up ordering the Meatball Sandwich for my entree and couldn't stop from eating the entire sandwich. It was that good and well worth the food coma afterwards. The Service: Our waiter was very cheerful and upbeat, which is rare to find and such a breath of fresh air.

    (4)

  • None O.

    Great food and drinks here! I loved the appetizer sampler platter! There are many big booths with comfortable seating if you want to bring lots of friends.

    (5)

  • Sam E.

    Original and delicious lunch spot with a great out door space. Held back a little by a slow kitchen and apparently disinterested servers but definitely worth checking out. If you like pork you will love this place!

    (4)

  • Edmond T.

    Cocktails: 5 stars well made bourbon drinks - but if you like fruity drinks it might not be your spot Ambience: 5 stars - cool spot for Friday night but should try make reservation before 8pm. We had a 9:30 reservation so by the time around 10ish restaurant was half empty. Also a lot of the tables are communal tables. Patios will be open in the next week or so. Food: I really enjoyed the pork belly dish ($10) - 3 good pieces of pork belly perfectly crispy skin and nice five spices flavor well balanced by grape fruit and some arugula. 5 stars Main dishes are a la carte (no sides). Pork Chop ($24 - 5 stars) was grilled perfectly, slightly pink in the middle, super juicy. Sole ($19 - 4 stars) was a whole fish with cream sauce, de-bone table-side if requested. Was very fresh. We ordered a side vegetable which was nicely prepared ($9). Overall - 4.5 stars. Great service. Great vibe. I would go back to order cocktails eat at the bar and order the pork chop and appetizers.

    (4)

  • Kevin J.

    I have the say that this will be a gem well talked about in future conversations about libations and adventures in edible delights. This place reminds me of a New York City apartment with a San Francisco chill vibe. Make sure to get friendly with the mixologists and they won't steer you wrong. Trou Normand is truly magnificent. Grab your cocktails and reminisce about past and future travels as you're transported into another level of elegance with leather tufted booths and concrete countertops. Enjoy and tell your friends. Or don't for that matter - we want to save the best for ourselves.

    (5)

  • Corey D.

    Very disappointing. I ordered the brunch poutine waited around an hour for it only to receive a tiny plate of potatoes and 1 egg. Would not recommend this place to anyone, there are much better places.

    (2)

  • Reina D.

    I recently visited Trou Normand. I wish I could rate in multiple categories instead of one overall score. The charcuterie was fantastic, I will definetly have to have it again! The Pork Ragu was delicious, cooked perfectly. 5 stars all the way. Our server was very attentive and friendly. The only complaint I have is with the female chef, she was yelling and clearly making the servers nervous. She looked agitated and unhappy, making the atmosphere tense. At one point our server apologized for her saying that she was having a bad day. That was clear, maybe she should have taken the day off instead of stomping around belittling people. I am giving Trou Normand 3 Stars overall. It would have been 5 had it not been for Cruela Devil in the kitchen.

    (3)

  • Amber S.

    5 stars for Trou Notmand because I know I will be coming back many many more times! Jared served me the nicest vodka soda I've ever had in the Bay Area. Perfectly chilled glass, beautiful metal straw, lime twirl and rectangular ice! That alone will keep me coming back. Not to mention, I'm oddly a fan of their simple yet refreshing green bean basil tomato salad, had a bite of the panzenella salad and the bread was delicious too! Will definitely be back for their charcuterie platters, pasta and definitely want to try the roast chicken next. Thank you James for being our wonderful server. Love this new neighborhood gem!!

    (5)

  • Alex H.

    Make no mistake, the food is quite good (four stars) and the charcuterie (best copa in town?) stands out. With that said, everything doesn't quite fit together. The back room is beautiful, but large common tables at this price point doesn't sit well with me. If dinner is going to be North of $100/pp I don't want to be seated with strangers. The service doesn't match the price either, too over the top and forced; a well practiced welcome and introduction speech from our server at a mile a minute is just annoying. I appreciate the effort, but a little restraint would go a long way, but maybe it was just our server. For the price I expect more elements or sides to be included with an entree order. We ended up sticking with charcuterie, small plates and sides because the entrees seemed like an afterthought. If your'e going to charge $20-$40/per plate for an entree it should be a composed dish with more to it. I'll be back for a Tru Normand ($6!!!) and charcuterie, but the service, seating, and composition needs to improve before I'd make this a place to eat a full meal on a regular basis. Lot's of things make this a worthwhile place to check out, but for me, it's just a bit presumptuous and rough around the edges at this price point. Also, for a place with a French name that specializes in charcuterie allot of the menu reads Italian.

    (3)

  • hugo V.

    Food was good but the place was not clear about the service charge included on the bill. I dont mind to tip 20% and a little extra but you sould be CLEAR

    (1)

  • Angelica C.

    I've been here for lunch and dinner and would definitely recommend to anyone who loves meat. I recommend the charcuterie plate. Dry belly - good Dry pancetta- must order Duck pate- must order Pork ragu - favorite Pea - ok More but I don't remember. Lunch tab was $51 for two ppl and I was still hungry.. Dinner tab was well over $100 for 3 ppl

    (5)

  • Vicki L.

    The hostesses were warm and welcoming. The bartender never said 'hello' or 'thank you'. Great drinks, fabulous tunes playing.

    (3)

  • David H.

    This place is awesome! Now keep in mind they have hours for dinner service, but cured meats and other assorted goodness (cheeses, pate, etc) are available outside of those hours. Came here with the lady on a Monday night (reservations are a plus) and enjoyed the small charcuterie plate and some cheese. Really flavorful, and good variety, and well priced for the quality (guanciale was my favorite, followed by the pate). Also got the pork chop and a side of polenta, which were decent. Now the only complaint I have there is the pork chop literally comes as a pork chop. No sides, no fuss, but I sort of wish there was a side that came with it and I didn't have to pay extra for my side. That, and the pork chop, while it was cooked to perfection and had a great flavor profile, was just a bit too salty for me (and I like salt). That is probably the only knock I have on the place, and the only reason it is not 5 stars for me, as I paid like 36 bucks for a pork chop that was just too salty. Other than that, this place is great for an after work drink, and also great for a date night if you're in the area!

    (4)

  • Christina S.

    This is one of those moments when I wish I could split the rating between service and food/beverage..... Food was great! Drinks were tasty! though small and pricey. Service was so-so, and then the bartender took away my dates drink before it was empty. We were like, Hey, what's up? And the guy looks at us, goes, Oh, huh, yeah, sorry, and then he walked away. Would have been a no tip moment for sure, but there's no tipping at Trou Normand. So I guess that means we just don't go back. :(

    (3)

  • Melinda V.

    Was excited to try this place after reading all the fine reviews. Turned out not to be all that for me. Although we were happy to get seated early (we arrived 1.5hrs earlier than our reservation time since we had hoped to hang at the bar but it was full), we were not too thrilled to be sitting in a table scrunched in between a party of 2 and another of 4 in the outdoor glassed area. We have no issues with communal tables but this was too tight of a squeeze. First of all, parties like to try things and they tend to order multiple dishes at once. Well there is hardly any table space for that. Secondly, it's sooooo loud outside. Between the # of people, the music and the bar action out there, my husband and I found ourselves yelling most of the time in conversation. Perhaps the same table should only fit 6. Less people, more table space. Service was a bit slow. They unapologetically forgot our lardo toast starter then gave it to us after our mains arrived. I bet the server didn't hear us order it cuz of the noise. Sadly, we did not like the toast when it arrived. Greens sandwiched between thin layers of fat on toast is just not our thing. Everything else was just OK (papardelle, expensive sausage plate) including the much-heralded charcuterie plate (we've had better).

    (3)

  • Mary H.

    Been here 5 times for dinner, this is why!: Cocktails: - Algonquin and the Sleepy Head are my faves. Crisp, light, well balanced cocktails. - my man likes the beer, enough said! Charcuterie boards: - 1 small charcuterie board (chef's selection) with bread is plenty for 2 people (if you order 2 sides). - I'm a charcuterie beginner; it's fun to try things out that way. - mustard is DA BOMB! Veggie sides: - with 2 people, we usually order 2 vegetable sides. It's farmer's market fresh produce, enjoy and keep supporting local produce! - Shishito peppers with eggplant, curry and yogurt was out of this world! - squash with pesto was gorgeously cooked, every squash had it's distinct flavors come through. Mission pie: - had I think the strawberry or rhubard, it was perfect and we wanted more. :)

    (5)

  • Jenny M.

    SO Good!! Very cool interior -- reminds me of 1950s New York with the tall ceilings, comfy, leather booths, and marble bar. I didn't try the cocktails but the food was amazing. I highly recommend the salami/pate starter and the pork shank -- it falls off the bone. Polenta was super good, as were the artichoke hearts. This is a great place to take pretty much anyone -- works for a lunch meeting or a date. The service was really good too, I'll definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Judy D.

    The cocktails at this place are amazing. The food is OK. The price? Very expensive, esp. as they now include 20%+ tip in the price. We had the small charcuterie. The bologna, salumi and pate were delicious, tho very small portions. The dried pork belly was inedible -- nothing but flavorless fat. I did not think it was all that special. Had better in many places for much less. We also ordered the tagliatelle with bolognse and the meatballs. Flavors were very good, but the pasta was a bit over cooked. Given the shared lineage with Bar Agricole, the cocktails were the star. I had a Sleepy Head to start, and a Brown Derby for dessert. Both were amazing. This is definitely the best cocktail place in the city (well, tied with Bar Agricole). But given how expense/mediocre the food is, I would say it's more a place for drinks/snack then dinner.

    (3)

  • Patrik D.

    Really super cool place! Had lunch here great sandwiches. Coffee was awful, the beans that they use probably bad and cheap or barrista dont good. Staff attentive but not so happy, felt like a sad bunch of peple. Would go back for dinner next time i SF.

    (4)

  • Dino R.

    This is a very high quality foodie restaurant that is good if you're looking for expensive very nice appetizers and cocktails. It semes they have a unique dinner menu for each night. I went last night (Monday) and they only had 3 entrees available. I had the rabbit pate and pork belly salumi, the salmon, and a boothby cocktail. The charcuterie options are definitely the focus of Trou Normand and are a very worthwhile adventure. The salmon was good but $25 is a bit over-priced for just a hunk of fish (no sides). The boothby was very good but again $12 seems a bit steep. Don't come here if you're very hungry! You could easily spend $50 and leave unsatisfied. I sat outside at a communal table, which I suppose some people may not like but it was very pleasant for me- my neighbors gave me their menu when mine was whisked away before I could order a second drink. They have many heaters but it can still get a bit chilly.

    (4)

  • Yane N.

    We were looking forward to going to Trou Normand after having read many great reviews. The food was ok, but the service was surprising. I have never been provided with the appetizer after or at the same time of the main dish. Maybe an off night, but there is no reason to go back and find out. Did like that the tax and tip are included in the bill.

    (2)

  • m h.

    Sorry to see others are still reporting the service is slow. This place has so much potential to be packed every night. I am heading back for a second visit tonight even after, on our first visit, it took 45!! minutes just to get a cocktail. Our server (who was finally assigned to us after we asked) was lovely and attentive but she must have been completely over worked. The food was VERY tasty, so it's worth if to go back but hopefully they are getting the service sorted out. I agree with others, I did NOT expect a communal table situation on a patio outside. I didn't mind sharing a large booth inside, but the outside seating felt cramped.

    (3)

  • Jenny G.

    When you reserve a table, they should tell you if they are going to put you in the communal space in the back that feels like a janitor's closet, sterile, no warmth, surrounded by people who keep asking you to move to accommodate their party. Charcuterie plate overhyped, you can do the same thing at a Whole Foods wine bar Salmon too salty Very strange vibe of corporate trying to be hip

    (1)

  • Hillary H.

    This joint is GREAT!!! It has a very modern feel with a touch of old school. Each drink is made specifically by hand, including the ginger ale. A few people with us ordered, and each plate looked delicious. There is a great patio on the back side, definitely going to check this out on my next Trou Normand run!

    (5)

  • Alison R.

    $2 For an Americano- yes please!!! Love it great spot for a client lunch or after work HH. A nice back patio which looks fantastic. I agree with another Yelper this does feel very European. I'll be back...often!

    (5)

  • ari b.

    I would return because I felt like the food we are was mainly delicious. Both pasta dishes on the menu and arancini were rich and satisfying. As were the pork meatballs. Charcuterie was hit or miss. Pork pate was my highlight. Head cheese and especially pancetta were misses. Pancetta was a hard miss. I liked my cocktails and the cheese board was good as well. The service was very much lacking. I'm not looking for my server to be my best friend. It would be nice for them to be attentive and quick and seem to give even half of a fcuk that I exist on the planet. I didn't mind the communal seating and found the outdoor space to be lovely. Again, For me it's the food that would bring me back. But I can't rate the restaurant as highly as if I had felt welcomed and cared for. Perhaps next time it will improve.

    (3)

  • Samantha P.

    There's 2 great features about this restaurant that makes it perfect for a business lunch, drinks: It's inside a beautiful building, and the high ceilings of the bar and restaurant add to the drama; and there is a terrace area. I came here on a date, and as my date was 45 minutes late, I had a great chance to enjoy their signature cocktails (plural) and check out the other guests and make new friends. The drinks were strong, and the bartender observant and generally attentive. The other guests, I was there around 6:45-7pm, were lingering from their cocktail hours so mainly still business types. A good vibe, not a loud din initially, as the evening wore on, the place picked up. The tables around the bar range from huge slabs where you'd have to shout to the other side to be heard, so not meant for or conducive to canoodling or business sotto voce conversations. Then, there are some smaller tables nearer to the door. So, should figure out in advance where you will be seated. My date and I ended up ordering the medium size charcuterie platter. Tasty, except for the "lardo", really looked like and tasted of fat on bacon. So, if you like that, it's good. The other meats, the pates, rillette nice. If you think you're going to get saucissons to write home about, you won't. But, you'll satisfy that need for fat and salt. I'd come back. It's a solid place.

    (3)

  • Mario S.

    Douchiest service in all of SF! This is not a review of the food or cocktails, since I didn't have em. This is about the way they treat their customers. Called ahead of time. Specifically made reservations for a window seat for a dinner date. When I showed up, they tried seating me at the communal table but I asked about the window seat since I had a reservation specifically for that table *and* there was a draft at the table. Rather than apologize, I was told rather rudely and abruptly by the hostess that this is just how things work there and that holding a reservation for a window seat meant nothing. I think Seinfeld said it best: youtu.be/4T2GmGSNvaM "But the reservation keeps the car here?!" "I *know* why we have reservations." "I don't think you do. If you did, I'd have a car." Either way, it's shocking how obnoxious people in the service industry can be. Especially given the presence of consumer sites like Yelp, especially given their presence in the same building as Yelp! This hostess I talked to in particular should *not* be working in the services industry. If I wanted to pay a lot *and* be treated like crap, I'd go to the DMV!

    (1)

  • Julie B.

    This is a great spot for a group of people who love food. I went with a couple friends on a Thursday night. The decor is minimal, but warm. I loved the artwork. There are only a few tables, and all of them are large wrap-around banquettes that could accommodate 6 easily. The cocktails are fun, and inventive. There are a few overlaps with Bar Agricole, Trou Normand's sibling. The flavors meshed well with the menu offerings. The charcuterie is a must, but not so much the cheese. All items are put onto one large board, with accompaniments. Our server kindly brought us more bread after we ran out. We also tried a few salads and sides, and were entirely satisfied. Perfect for a casual night out with friends.

    (4)

  • Michael E.

    I love it when some place takes you by surprise in the best possible sense. We booked an early dinner last Friday. By the end, we were like "Wow" that was impressive. The charcuterie plate is a as good as others have described it. The pasta dishes we ordered were delicious and generous in size. The kale salad is also recommended. Cardoons - I'm not so sure. The wine list is focused and reasonable. The vibe was good with a mixed crowd. We sat in the front near its expansive bar area. Looking forward to checking out the patio on a warm day. Great new place.

    (4)

  • David L.

    The bomb! This place is one of the two best charcuteries in the Bay Area. Go hungry. There are so many dishes that you need to try. And, bring friends or business prospects, who you want to impress.

    (4)

  • Amy N.

    Love the ambiance, high ceilings, wall decor, and lofty feel to this place. Drinks are good. However, not a fan of the food. We ordered the chicken pate, 2 types of salami, and the bratwurst/sausage dish. Although none of the dishes tasted bad or anything, it just didn't blow my mind. The chicken pate was a bit dry to me. Also, definitely be prepared to rack up a bill if you're hungry. However, service is great. I would come here purely for drinks.

    (3)

  • Justin B.

    Met some friends at Trou Normand for dinner and drinks this week. The restaurant is located right next door to the Yelp HQ in downtown SF. I'm sure I'm not the first one to think this was a bold spot to launch a new venture...you'll definitely be getting some reviews. Anyway, the drinks were great (Old Fashion), seating was comfortable (leather booths you can dive into), and the atmosphere was urban and masculine. I ordered the Pork Chop which was delicious despite being ever so slightly on the drier side of perfect.

    (4)

  • Andrew D.

    My Open Table reservation didn't mention anything about communal seating, however we were put at a communal table in an undesirable location (only table in the room). To make matters worse, the seats were quite uncomfortable. I don't mind communal seating, but I assume that I have a private table if not told otherwise! The rest of the table was empty for the first hour, so the room lacked any atmosphere and felt dead. An hour into our meal, a large party was seated at the rest of the table - the quiet room became way too noisy. The food was good, with one frustrating exception. Our piece of pork chop was about 70% fat. Our server told us their meat is farm raised, expected to have more fat, and they don't trim fat. She didn't admit that much fat was a problem(!), though she offered to send it back so we could order another dish (which we did). Don't bring me a piece of meat with more than 50% fat and then defend it!

    (2)

  • Stephanie L.

    This is a cool place for drinks. It's low-key and has great drinks. The set up is more tailored towards a restaurant feel (i.e. a lot of booths) and doesn't translate well into a "night-out" feel, which is okay by me! There is bar seating available. It's still relatively new so there's not too much of a crowd right now.

    (4)

  • Pete T.

    I really don't like giving slightly negative reviews, but we walked away from dinner just feeling "meh" all around. Do note that my reviews generally incorporate "value/price point" relative to experience and food. Although the food at Trou Normand was solid, but everything was way overpriced for what you get and overall service. Location/Venue/Space: 3 stars Was here on a Saturday night so not as busy. I can imaging this place being busy as an after work cocktail and charcuterie and would work out well. Minimalistic decore but elegant. The outdoor area where we sat could be nice on a warm evening or day time. However, the heat lamp outside was way too hot, and when they turned it off and wind blew across, then area was too cold. It was a constant adjustment and in hindsight, we should have sat indoors. Service: 2 stars This was perhaps the slowest service I've encountered at any restaurant let alone one at this price point. It took 10-15 minutes of getting there before even greeted by a wait staff. Even then, we had to hail someone. It was not even a busy night being only 1/2-2/3 filled. After ordering drinks, it took another 10 minutes. On a follow up drink order of Cuvee which is just pouring into a glass, it took almost 10 minutes. It eventually got better with wait staff clearing, etc. but for the price point and a not busy night, my group was sorely disappointed. Food: 3 stars As people mentioned, the chucaterie and cheese options were tasty. The sausage dinner for over $20 was okay, but was just 2 sausages on a plate. My friend said pork chops were good, but at like $35 for pork chops, it's pricey. Go there for some appetizers and drinks, but not for a full meal. Drinks: 3 stars The quality of drink choices were good. We enjoyed all our drinks, but they served them in small glasses, that tried to make it more elegant but again, I felt they did it to serve less quantity and once again just felt like they were skimping on quantity. Quality of drinks would be 4-5 stars, but based on shot sized volume at the price point, again, I was disappointed. Value: 1 star For our group of 4, we spent nearly $400 with each only having a couple drinks with slow service, small drink pours, solid food, but just wasn't worth the money. There are just so many more options in SF that I would only go there for a drink or two for what is decent ambiance. Overall: 2 stars Service and

    (2)

  • Nathalee M.

    Finding this place can get a bit tricky. Once walking in you have a choice to either sit outside in their communal tables or inside. We sat outside, and just to add it was our first time so we ordered a tab bit of everything so we can try the menu. Between the three of us we ordered their cheese & meat plate, ragu, salad, ham sandwich, and of course drinks to go with it. We heard about this spot when getting a write up in the paper, and we had heard about from our customers who have been here.

    (5)

  • Eddie E.

    If you're looking to receive your check alongside of a black-and-white postcard of a nude female sporting some impressively untamed armpit hair, this is the place for you. The food is also very good.

    (4)

  • Philip L.

    Like their proprietary Calvados (brandy), this place sparkles with youth, elegance, and also uniqueness. I just looked it up on wikipedia, and "le trou normand" is the tradition of drinking calvados inbetween or after courses. The calvados is supposed to keep your appetite or digestion in a favorable disposition. For me, this tradition is really more an excuse to extend a wonderful meal or evening. So while I'm not sure if my digestion was improved, I can say visiting Trou Normand after dinner made me feel joyful and happy to be out late at night. 11 pm on a Thursday, the vibe is relaxed, not pretentious. The space is tall ceilinged (spacious), simple, warm, and minimally elegant. The touches are all there: the carefully laid wood floor, a feminine but not sexual form that maybe picasso could have scrawled there after a free drink, the stools (please put purse hooks!) and booths with city street lights pouring down upon them. For me, I wouldn't say this place reminds me specifically of New York, but it is elegantly art deco. Good spaces draw good social interactions. So be ready to have a nice time here. The bar staff were all straight-out knowledgeable--they knew precisely where everything was sourced (which is important for a bar like this)--not intimidating or annoyed, but slightly formal and warmly friendly. There was great care in all the bar items--the barware--you will love touching and sipping from it--even the thick cylindrical water glasses (filled with surprisingly cold water). You can even appreciate the ice, which comes in beautiful blocks that are hacked away into precise chunks that chill your beautiful cocktails. We had tastes of Calavdos (am I wrong to think $5 is a good deal for this?), a whisk cocktail containing Calvados (wonderfully smooth), and samples of cognac and armagnac (you can finally figure out which one you like more). If you are open, why not resist the temptation to order the same old glass of wine? Try some of the rare and carefully obtained brandies they have worked so hard to bring to you, practically halfway across the world. Have a sip of the old world, in an art deco bar, in one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world. After a drink, If you sneak past the bathrooms, things are still under construction. There is a beautiful city courtyard--a space surrounded by tall, brick walls to form a protected area. It's still under development, but you can see the continued care and investment Trou is making here. They seem to be planting citrus trees, herbs, olive trees, maybe a ginko tree?--all practical, producing elements that I imagine will be used in their drinks and food one day soon. You will think: I never imagined being in the middle of the city, there'd be a space like this... For now, on its opening, I'd say it's a spectacular start. A lot of love and hard work, clearly. The team working late night knows what they're doing. I'd go now before the word gets out and this place gets too popular...

    (5)

  • Tonia L.

    I think this place is amazing! Best pork roast ,I've ever had. It's cooked to perfection. I love that they butcher the animal and use every part of it.The brocoli rabe toast with the very thin slice of lardo underneath is divine,im usually not a fan of the taste or texture of fat. Food service and ambiance made for a perfect evening.

    (5)

  • Stephanie B.

    Awesome place. We saw this on Best Bars in America and wanted to try it out. Great craft cocktails, super yummy food and great service. I had the tagliatelle which was delicious and my husband had the pork meatballs with the roasted potatoes side and everything was delicious. All of the drinks were unique and good too and the waitresses are all knowledgeable about the liquor and tastes and can give you suggestions based on your preferences. Make sure to sit at the bar for at least a bit to watch the bartenders make the drinks - makes you truly appreciate the art of mixology.

    (5)

  • Amado P.

    Came here for lunch and would return anytime. This was on a Friday and seating at the outdoor patio area was easy. The lunch menu was simple and everything looked good. We settled on the sausage sando and the pork burger. Both meals were tasty and filling. No need for more and the setting was perfect for conversation. The wait staff was efficient and business like. The tab includes the gratuity which I like, especially when the servers do their job part to make lunch enjoyable for their customers.

    (5)

  • John S.

    Perfect new addition to the financial district with great cocktails, food, and service! We stopped by on Thursday night and the manager (Robert?) worked with us to get a last minute table for 6 at 8:30. Unfortunately after a few more rounds of drinks for my coworkers we showed up as a group of 11. Robert the manager didn't blink and let us know he'd make it work. Somehow he did, rounding up some extra chairs from the basement. We tried several cocktails, apps, sides, and mains and weren't disappointed. 4 stars for the food and 5 stars for the vibe and service. The did a great job with the decor and the restaurant just has a great feel.

    (5)

  • Benjamin B.

    We had a great diner. They have communal table in the back (table for 8 to 10), it's kind of pleasant and it was not an issue to have another couple seating at the other extremity of the table. We are located in a quiet area, but I can see the first dining room to be a little noisy (vibrant/lively). About the food, I am French and I loved their Charcuterie (very genuine and original). We also recommend sharing the Pork Chop: it is a massive piece, but so well prepared it worth the steep price. It was the first time we experience to have the bill including the service (didn't notice in the menu and there was no details in the bill). I don't know how much % it was, but I didn't mind given the quality of the food and service. I can see it could be an issue in different circumstances.

    (4)

  • Amy J.

    This review is more for the $ category. This place should be $$$ rather than $$. Not sure if lunch is different, but I dined for dinner and menu was closer to the $$$ price range. Food was good enough but nothing really memorable; best part was sitting in the patio area with the clear protective tenting (a treat on a clear day when it's typically too windy to sit outside).

    (3)

  • Heather U.

    Lots of scrumptious meats of all shapes an sizes and varieties by their butcher Seth, equally amazing and unique vegetarian sandwiches, every dish is full of interesting flavors. The food here is rich in flavor and is what I would describe as upscale comfort food with a French American twist and a modern flair. Beautifully high ceilings, huge windows providing lots of natural light, classy, old timey booths and a decent amount of bar seating. Drinks are on point and they have a decent selection of cafe drinks as well.

    (5)

  • Carol C.

    everything is still new; need improvement on service

    (3)

  • Travis G.

    New restaurant with potential. Interesting sandwiches, great old fashion sodas and interesting decorations. We were the third customers for lunch every so things may change as this restaurant matures. The lunch menu is very small which is nice for a light lunch. Be sure to order some of their appetizers to share for a group with larger appetites. The sandwiches were served on great fresh thick bread. My only complaint was my ham sandwich was served with an absolutely absurd amount of butter on both sides of the bread, yet the mustard was served on the side. Be sure to ask for condiments on the side or they may put way too much! The service was good and our waitress even helped us keep track of time so we wouldn't be late back to work.

    (4)

  • Michael A.

    I had a great time here. Great atmosphere, great food, great drinks... wait, did I have drinks? I think I did anyways. I would like to come back here again and give it another shot. The small charcuterie plate was actually pleasant for being "small" ...pause... great polenta and great pork. yay!

    (4)

  • Sarah H.

    WOW WOW WOW - I loved this place. Simple little downtown / Soma bar. Amazing staff, drinks and food. We loved their manhattan cocktail, my husband loved the handmade pasta and I adored the cured meat. The crowd was cool and buzzing. We sat at the bar and soaked up the Saturday night ambience. Friendly people. We would definitely come back and recommend this place to all our hip friends. Love the decor and the artworks. Great for groups or couples. New watering hole yippee! Sarah

    (4)

  • Arvindh K.

    Welcome new entrant to the Soma/FiDi area. Sister restaurant to Bar Agricole, with similar drinks. Not giving 5 stars due to lack of vegetarian food options and relatively small seating space. They're soon about to open some outdoor back patio seating which may help. Worth a return trip.

    (4)

  • Thomas M.

    The food was very good. The charcuterie was flavorful. The polenta was cheesy and creamy and delicious -- really, really amazing. The sausages were quite tasty. Our server was fine, sort of "all business," but that was fine. This restaurant has one fatal flaw: the noise level is intolerably loud. We went as a group of four friends to catch up with each other. You could barely hear the person sitting right next to you, and it was utterly impossibly (IMPOSSIBLE) to hear anyone else at the table. In my opinion, this is a bar, not a restaurant. When we go out to a restaurant, we want to be able to have a conversation. You can't do that here.

    (2)

  • Jonathan M.

    Solid meats, and a great area out back to sit and relax. If it's a nice day, definitely head to the back patio, you will forget you are deep in the financial district for a little while. If the meatballs are on the menu, go for those, or the sausage sandwich is always solid. We tried the meat board, it was great if you have a wide pallet, otherwise it is best to specify what types of meats you want on there so you don't have any wild pate surprises.

    (5)

  • Clutch R.

    Not good for breakfast. Slow, bad service. Coffee had to be thrown away it tasted so bad. Can't speak to any of their other menus.

    (2)

  • Bri R.

    Wow!! This place completely lives up to the hype. Sal (Head Chef) is seriously a genius. My husband and I went here last night for his birthday dinner. We were very excited due to all the reviews and articles on this place. We started off with the sage salumi and Arancini. Both were incredible. The Arancini had a sausage or some pork in It but not overpowering. We then had a mixed green salad grilled peaches and almonds. So light and refreshing. The dressing was a very faint vinaigrette which was perfect on that hot night. Next up was the trout, pork chop and squash with pesto. WOOOWWWW everyone needs to order the Pork Chop. I am not one to order this often if ever and I was blown away. The seasoning and light broth sauce on top was so rich. The meat was tender and juicy. The trout was delicious too. Not fishy. My favie was the squash. The pesto they make is addicting. We ended it all with two pies from Mission pie, the Peach Raspberry and the famous Banana Cream. Thank you Trou Normand and Sal for making my husbands birthday that much better.

    (5)

  • J.J. L.

    Le Trou Normand has a French name and offers calvados and normand ciders but there is where it stops for the Normand inspiration. I had the meatballs with a rich tomato sauce and I tried the pappardelle. Both were well executed dishes. There is an extensive wine, cocktail and liquor list, a bar or counter, a front room, a back room and outdoor, covered patio in what used to be the corner lobby/side space of the neo-gothic Pacific Bell tower on New Montgomery Street. I will definitely go back and try the black cod and other items on the very interesting menu. This place gets very busy on a block that used to be very dull.

    (4)

  • Molly B.

    Service: attentive, prompt, knowledgeable Food: fresh, light, original Wine/cocktails/beer: amazing

    (5)

  • David M.

    When my 75 year young Canadian mother says "I think this is now how I prefer to eat", I know I've made a good choice for our Mother's/Father's/Birth/day (s) dinner. We always try for the actual date, but I never know where they are and vice versa. Stellar charcuterie, only found here beautiful cocktails, a classic, gorgeous space..... oy. Don't be put off by the meat reputation if that's not your thing- we had a delicious whole trout tonight that was maybe our favorite. Summer squash with pesto- perfect. Etc. Team Vogler.

    (5)

  • Leila B.

    Its a very nice hip place. The drinks are very good. I enjoyed the Algonquin. I ordered the salmon and summer squash and the hubby ordered half chicken. The salmon was DELICIOUS! All was very good. While I wasn't a fan of the inside seating arrangements, (shared a booth with another unknown couple) we still enjoyed our experience. Next time we will have a table outdoors. I hear its nice.

    (4)

  • Andy S.

    Amazing service. Pate is delicious. The wine selection is thorough. Not only that, but it's designed so well that you feel fancy just sitting at the bar.

    (5)

  • Nicole E.

    What a great 'local' to have! Eric is still pouring excellent drinks & we love the relaxed vibe. We happened to meet Jed this week & he was super friendly & welcoming also. Their morning pastries are great & I've heard they do a great coffee...if nothing else judging by the fancy coffee machines they have.

    (5)

  • Jon N.

    I went with some coworkers for lunch on a Friday. The decor and high ceilings give a great atmosphere; cool light fixtures and paintings on the wall. The service was excellent. Our food came out quickly and our glasses were always full. Our server was really friendly. I had the P.B.L.T. (a pork belly sandwich) and was really pleased.

    (5)

  • Jen S.

    This place has great potential! Gotta go back for more chacuterie, and the cocktails we had were fantastic - definately on par for the underground cocktail wars that seem to be going on in San Francisco! The place itself has a cool vibe with high ceilings, minimalist decor and large booths. I see this place getting really busy, quickly, especially for the afterwork crowd, so go now before it gets discovered. I will back for sure, especially when I saw that tasty chop being delivered to the table next to us, just as we were leaving....

    (4)

  • Emmy P.

    Took our team here for lunch. We shared the charcuterie board. It was great! Various salumi, prosciutto, and pates were artistically arranged on a wooden board, a small plate of meet gelee on the side looked like a piece of amber jewelry, very alluring! I also ordered a pork belly sandwich. But It was too fatty for me. Both interior and exterior of this place are impressive: Main dining hall features high ceiling, tall windows, marble tables, a huge black and white painting of a nude lady above the bar counter. Very retro and classy! Behind the main dining hall, there is a glass-roofed patio surrounded with lavish greens. Such a relaxing garden setting is hard to find in financial district. To get the patio, you would pass a hallway, two workers were there preparing or aging the meats, interesting to watch.

    (4)

  • Hao T.

    Food here is semi decent. Nothing really all that great or that stands out as being amazing. The pork chop we got was about 40% fat. Way over priced for the quality of food. Would I come back, no. And my other friends that were with me agree.

    (2)

  • Dionne M.

    I had a piganism!! So many tasty pork dishes, the small pork chop was delicious and the Charcuterie plate we ordered was great. The service by the hostess and our server was great. The busboy not so much, in fact I asked that he not serve out table, his attitude was not something I wanted to experience throughout the meal. All in all I enjoy the food and the service and plan on going again. It can get loud probably because its busy. Bring a sweater just in case you are seated at the communal tables in the back. Oh Yeah the commual tables be prepared.

    (4)

  • Peter L.

    We came for lunch and it was good. The cocktails were not just your standard fancy spirits, but were precisely mixed for a very full range of flavors. Well balanced. The charcuterie was amazing. Beautifully presented on the wood board with meats and cheeses and other stuff too.

    (5)

  • johnny X.

    5 stars for the food, perfectly balanced menu. We threw a corporate event and we literally didn't have to do anything. Engaged and excited staff made this a hassle free experience that allowed us to focus on our attendees/staff. The cocktails? Buzzed to the right level of warmth.

    (5)

  • Martin C.

    ambiance and service 4 to 5 stars...food (not much to choose from) 3 1/2 stars...will I come back ...? yes ...for cocktails and cold cuts ONLY

    (4)

  • Rick H.

    Trou Normand really does charcuterie right. The medium platter was awesome with several kinds of pates, guanciale, head cheese and meat aspic. Ok, you gotta be a real charcuterie-head to get into this stuff, but if you are it's great. Of the entrees, the tagliatelle with pork daguerreotype was outstanding. This is not a place for veggies. But, this is a great place to nosh with friends for hours.

    (4)

  • Bernard W.

    Amazing spot, killer food, great find.

    (5)

  • Yin L.

    Amazing - best food I have had in SF in a while. Charcuterie plate was delicious and I was worried in the back of my mind that we'd ordered too much meat but then the lamb porterhouse arrived and it was SO GOOD - my concerns were unfounded.

    (5)

  • Aruna P.

    Average at best. I came here for the rare calvados, and not that rare, not that interesting. The charcuterie was ok. I prefer fatted calf or boccalone. The flavor is more authentic, and better spiced. The duck has was disappointing. Small plate, flavor profile was ok. Absenthe is the place for duck hash.

    (2)

  • Patrick R.

    It's truly the "best charcuterie plate I've seen in SF I'm addicted. Trou Normand takes its charcuterie seriously, and chef Salvatore Cracco is absolutely amazing. He learned the ropes at Oakland's Adesso--considered by many charcuterie connoisseurs to be the Holy Grail of stateside pig cutting--before beefing up his butchery skills at Bar Agricole and taking the reins at its downtown spinoff. Though Cracco isn't the type to boast, I'm sure that he'll admit that Trou Normand's variety is the largest he's seen in SF. Averaging about 20-25 items on a given night, the charcuterie, salumi, and combo boards take up an entire page of the restaurant's menu. The staff is so friendly and helpful I really feel at home when I'm at 140 New Montgomery St. Even though Trou Normand is a recent addition to the local scene, the charcuterie has already become a calling card for Cracco. Michael Bauer called it "meticulously crafted," while Anna Roth said she was "rendered speechless by a few of the items."

    (5)

  • Laura H.

    I've been here only with a larger group. We've sat out in the back (thanks for the glass enclosure, by the way!), had drinks and charcuterie / cheese plates. So that's all I can talk about. The food and drinks that I've had are good, don't get me wrong. And I get that they've added a tip into the pricing. However, I still think it's a little too pricey and I have had to wave down a server too often. We probably will still go back because we love sitting outdoors.

    (3)

  • Debbie L.

    Had a nice lunch here and the charcuterie was good but it was really the squash sandwich that stood out. It was excellent. Not a lot of variety but perhaps that's bc it was lunch.

    (4)

  • Mark Z.

    $9 for one canned beer? Okay, you're not tipping because they include tax and tip in the tab, but $9 for a can of beer!. If you have money burning a hole in your pocket, go here. Why the 2 stars? Nice atmosphere. Yes, their charcuterie is good, but the service is "uninspired" - I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that there is no monetary motivation to provide customers with good service - they're getting a "living wage" tip whether the service is great or terrible. Oh, almost forgot the hostess. When I came through the door, her reaction seemed to be annoyance at having her conversation with another employee interrupted. Not welcoming.

    (2)

  • Josh Q.

    Awesome spot that has excellent pork dishes. I had the tongue & cheek, a well-cured pork belly, an amazing tagliatelle, and possibly the best roast pork I've ever had. One note - starting this year their prices include service, so no need to tip unless you want to. The prices seemed a bit high to me but make sense with this service component added in.

    (4)

  • Tomy T.

    The restaurant game, especially in SF, is a tough one. As locals, we have a high set of standards that I think we come to expect at restaurants. So when a new player comes to town, I think it's safe to say that we all cast a critical eye - kinda like the first impression of a first date. I have to disclose that the owner did contact me and was genuinely concerned about the service that we received on that first "date". I admire that he didn't try to wave off my comments like I was crazy but took them at face value (have you seen some owner responses on here??). So tonight, I gave Trou Normand another shot. And it was so worth it. They have obviously made some changes in how they service their customers. Our server Amanda was lovely - she's very knowledgeable about the wines and she obviously knows what she's doing (she has an impressive resto resume!). I hope that when you go that she's your server. I don't know that it was possible but the food seemed even better this time. It was so great the first time but this time I felt like the quality was beyond superb. All the charcuterie is made in house and rivals some of the best I've had in Europe. It's a great location close to FiDi with a nice back patio (try to reserve this if you can) which is nice during the warm summer days we're having. I'll definitely be back again.

    (5)

  • A. B.

    Service, service, service you are elusive in this place. Great ambiance decent food but boy does the service REALLY suck. Had a great time with my people, hence the two stars....

    (2)

  • H. L.

    Yummy food and great atmosphere! Others reviews are correct about the layout being a little odd: equal seating inside to outside. We sat outside, which was cozy due to the warming lamps. FYI - the tables are communal. They were out of cider, boo, but the Rose was tasty. Not too sweet. The red wine from Italy had a very fruity flavor. The main focus of this place is the charcuterie. Lots of meats to choose from. We got the oregano salami, chicken pate, and creamy cow's cheese. All were tasty. The sage jelly is great that it comes with. We also got the pork ragu and chicken pasta. Both had great sauces with a depth of flavor. Plus, the pork belly with pepper is delish. It's like a bacon salad. Overall, this is definitely a place to check out.

    (4)

  • Char S.

    Came in for lunch with a group of 8. I called when they opened at around 11am to make a reservation for a 12:15 lunch. Luckily they could fit us and also seat us out in the patio. We ordered the charcuterie plates for our table and I ordered the grilled trout. The charcuterie was delicious! I usually don't like cold cuts but the chef choice plate was yum! For an entre, I ordered the grilled trout ($22) which was also delicious. Overall, I thought it was a perfect place to have a casual business lunch. Their lunch menu that day didn't include the bolognese so definitely will have to return to try again.

    (4)

  • F. P.

    Cool space from the Bar Agricole folks. Think there were some hits and misses but overall, I enjoyed the dinner. The good: the charcuterie plate. Huge, first of all ... but if you love meat, you must get this dish. The so-so-: the pork chop entree was also huge but slightly overcooked (not just mine but others at the table also had that same impression of their pork chop as well). The bad: so frickin' loud. We were sitting that the large corner table for a group of 10 and literally shouting to hear each other (and frankly, only heard half the things that were being said). Just not a conducive space - they probably should split that into two smaller tables. But service is great and so were the cocktails. I enjoyed the Bombay (armagnac, vermouth, curacao, absinthe) .. until I discovered the Algonquin (bourbon, lime, pineapple gum, vermouth). Slightly sweeter than my usual choice but man, it was good. Btw, there was full-bodied bottle of pinot from the Sierra foothills that was one of the better wines I've had in recent memory. Of course, it doesn't help that my memory isn't that great ... completely forgot the name of it. Sigh.

    (4)

  • Kamish H.

    Update: A Trou owner read my review and sent me a very thoughtful e-mail about trying Trou again for a better experience. That's awesome customer service!

    (4)

  • Miles S.

    Good good, reminds me of Truc Vert on Audley St, London. Slow service in back garden though. Really .

    (4)

  • Cooper E.

    Very underwhelming on the food side. I saw a lot of positive reviews for the charcuterie plate so I had to go try. We ordered a beer and a glass of wine- opted out of cocktails and the traditional Trou Normand. Drinks were fine- hard to mess that one up in SF. Charcuterie was great in portion but tasted like air. I am the type to always finish my plate but ended up pushing that and the rolls aside. The space is beautiful, perhaps take some tips from the French on how to amplify flavor. Hope this place turns around!

    (2)

  • David Y.

    Best charcuterie plate I've seen in SF, quality country French food. Generous portions, delicate flavors and careful treatment of the fresh and local. Couldn't ask for more. Sick mocktails also

    (5)

  • Clogozm C.

    Sssh... this is where I meet all my first dates. ;P This place has a great bar and you can order charcuterie with your drinks. I like coming here because it's conducive to conversation. And I finally came here for dinner too. I was told to order the pork chop. Excellent recommendation. Love this place.

    (5)

  • Adele A.

    Pretty dang delicious, everything we got was quality and yummy, albeit smaller portions. We were seated outside for our dinner reservations, the patio is definitely brunch-worthy, I'll be back.

    (4)

  • marlene w.

    The food was really good, especially the giant meatball, but the drinks were the stars! That wonderful handmade ice cube, the Armagnac tastes in between courses. Definitley plan to return.

    (4)

  • Laura S.

    Having had an utterly underwhelming meal at Bar Agricole, I was wary of trying Trou Normand. I'd say come for the pork, stay cause you've had a few too many. Whist Cocktail--too dry and too boozy Sleepyhead--winner, bit lemony (despite lemon not being listed in the ingredients) and very drinkable Hawaiian--my drink was a delight: strong, sippable, not too sweet, sour or boozy, with a nice little bitterness. The Medium Charcuterie plate quietly disappeared into our four mouths with melty delight. There was nothing we didn't like, even the rosemary scented aspic, but the Dry Pancetta was the favorite. While the lardo was deep & earthy on it's own, the Lardo Toast made better use of it's fatty qualities. Dripping warmed lardo under sweet tomato salad, made me forget that I was in public as I made war on the sinewey meat. Too much pure fat to eat on your own...but almost impossible to share because you can't really cut or bite through the stuff. To be shared with good friends with clean hands. The Tagliatelle with braised duck was too salty. The duck was moist and made a perfect ragu, the pasta was chewey, but the overload of salt made it less than perfect. Similarly, the creamed corn was sweet, fresh and tender, and so salty that I wanted to pick out the pancetta. And the pork chop. I'm a little conflicted about the pork chop. I'm not sure that I've ever had pork that was more moistly pink, more caramelized on the outside, with more sop-worthy sauce. But for $22, I'd like a pork chop that is at least 50/50 Meat to Fat. Not kidding, there was about 2 inches of pure snowy white, lip moistening, gut loosening fat around the pork chop. I think they could up the ratio a bit without losing quality. We already had the lardo--for the entree, we thought we had ordered the meat. We were seated outside, where it was much too windy for the heat lamps to keep us warm (they're putting in a retractable wall in 6 weeks). They were accommodating enough about moving us inside. Another blip in the service was that our waitress got progressively more spazzy throughout the night. She started out friendly, maybe a little eager, a little quirky. Progressed to saying how caffeinated she was...and finally, simultaneously apologizing and calling attention to the glass of Calvados she had given each of us at the end of the meal. Bringing it up again as she brought the bill, and the receipts for signature. If you like fat, and a strong cocktail to cut that fat, get some hedonistic friends together and see if you can get a booth. 'I apologize for nothing'

    (4)

  • Van-Anh N.

    Very cool vibe. We had a group of 6 so had a big long private area close to the outdoor area. As other reviews state, their charcuterie plates are awesome as are their cheese plates. They didn't have gluten free crackers but brought slices of plums out to substitute. I had the daisy cocktail (gin based) which was very well made. Fantastic service and very knowledgeable and helpful waiters and servers!

    (5)

  • Milan T.

    Had a very good first experience at Trou last night. Quaint little spot in Soma with great ambiance, a modern feel, and a beautiful outdoor patio. The food is really top notch with a great selection. Definitely try the charcuterie plate! The service was a bit slow and a few things were left for want.

    (4)

  • V B.

    Even if you loathe lamb, give theirs a chance. They do it three ways, one is bound to stick.

    (5)

  • Erin W.

    Delicious dinner of roasted trout with a side of onions and other spring veggies. Loved it. And the gin-based fruit cup mixed drink had a flavor that made me want to order another one, and another one...My dining companion got the walnut pie and ice cream - seemed to love it. I also liked the casual setting...just a great local place to know about as someone who works downtown.

    (4)

  • Jan M.

    Fantastic setting, but we were parked in the tent out the back, which took some of the shine off. The service was reasonable but the food average at best. Probably won't return, but pleased to have tried.

    (3)

  • Julien S.

    So we met some friends here for drinks last night. We've ordered most of the cocktail menu (we've tried 11 out of 16). Even though everything was good, there has not been one cocktail where I thought "Wow, this is amazing". It was nice and the service was good. I also liked the originality of the cocktail menu: mostly calvados and armagnac which fit the theme pretty well. In addition to the drinks, we also shared some pickles and a cheese plate and again, everything was good. Just not exceptional, which I expect given the tab.

    (3)

  • Renae K.

    FOOD - delicious SERVICE - awful The food was really great, especially the salmon and all the pork dishes. However the servers were rude and unconcerned with the interests of their guests. For this reason I likely won't return. Too many amazing options in SF to frequent a restaurant where my happiness is low on the totem pole.

    (3)

  • Rafael R.

    A beautifully designed space in the updated 26 story historic tower at 140 New Montgomery, with custom built chocolate tufted leather banquettes that line the perimeter walls, gorgeous stone tabletops with concrete tiling & cabinets in the oak/walnut style that appear on old iceboxes, the simplicity of the design is a standout . Two Calder "The Circus" style pictures greet the visitor upon entry. The greeting hall includes an espresso machine, presumably for those who need a quick fix as well as the hostess stand. There was a sprinkling of art throughout, all with the theme of nude women. Above the bar, in the same style is a mural by New Bohemia Signs of an Ebecho Muslimova. I overhead the diners seated next to me at the bar commenting that they found it "unusual". One painting appeared Picassoesque, another, adjacent to the bar, as an "Endless Summer" style reclining woman painting. All were either pointing to the heavens, or to the admirer, although not to those seated next to me. To begin my dining experience at Trou Normand, which refers to a customary spot of brandy by the French, I ordered the chicken pate, which was more country style and a touch on the dry side, than traditional. While I enjoy both preparations, I wish it had been noted as such on the menu, as I would have opted for an alternate starter. The country pate came with a side of epi bread. For a moment, by heart stopped, thinking it was from Bouchon, but it did not have the same delicious consistency as the Keller epi. Grain mustard and a consume style gelatin accompanied my starter. My main course, which was not timed well, as it arrived after only a few bites of my starter, appeared. The Mortadella Sandwich was simple, but the cuts of meat were delicious. I enjoyed each bite of my sandwich while admiring the vintage Infinity SM 115 speakers that filled the space with soft music. The charcuterie plates are the standout at Trou Normand, which is brought to us by the same owner as Bar Agricole, Thad Vogler. While I enjoyed both items ordered, New Montgomery Street is fairly congested with sandwich shops of all varieties, from the line inducing Sentinel to the more simple The Melt. Outside of the decor of Trou Normand, I didn't find the any of the items significantly worthy of a return lunch visit, although I would like to see the space at night and will return for dinner.

    (3)

  • lisa l.

    Great service and lovely patio. Perfect spot to drag ourselves to after a looooong night (hello mimosas). Croque Madame was nice, but a bit heavy handed with the mustard. Perfectly poached eggs with crusty bread.

    (4)

  • Tevro R.

    Awesome! Came in alone hoping for a seat at the bar for dinner and the bartenders totally kept their eyes out to make sure i nabbed the next available. Started with a Brown Derby bourbon/grapefruit/honey cocktail - tiny portion but delicious. Got the pork meatballs for my main with a side of Brussels - the meatballs were fluffy delicious and dosed with just the right amount of marinara. The wine list was pretty limited, but the gruner vetliner on offer hit the spot. Service is included in the price!

    (4)

  • Livia M.

    Super tendy bar in the downtown SOMA district. Very well made cocktails and drinks with attentive service. On the expensive side but you get what you pay for and the experience was worth it.

    (5)

  • Roy C.

    Loved the minimalist space with high ceilings -- felt like I was in NYC after going to some art galleries and having conversations about existentialism. Charcuterie Platter= I was a bit disappointed in the lack of cured meat selections. I felt like most of the choices were terrines and pates (which, don't get me wrong, are awesome). Still, it was a good charcuterie that complemented our wine really well. Pork Belly = Very tender and nicely crisped. Rabbit Boudin Blanc = Huge disappointment. There was way too little rabbit, way too much filler. The flavors lacked, the texture was mushy, and it just didn't have anything tasty going for it. Apple Pie = Delicious warm apple pie. -------------- All in all, Trou Normand is a great spot for some wine and charcuterie. I honestly think I just picked the wrong main dish, so I'll probably give the food another shot.

    (4)

  • Ben G.

    Fan-friggin'-tastic food, both the pasta & sandwiches and the homemade charcuterie. Their meat sauce with tagliatelle and dried cures (salumi) were flawless, the cold zucchini & basil soup a touch overseasoned. The service and space are spotty. They should turn the host duties up to an eleven when your customers are crossing a picket line of protesting union workers. Instead the host was all 'tude and took five minutes to seat us, even with a reservation. The seating is mostly shared, and therefore annoying. The bread should be served with olive oil or butter, and the place settings should include salt & pepper. Please ditch the meat glue (aspic) served like charcuterie butter. That stuff is gross, even when called for. The indoor space is pretty but needs ventilation. Walking through the charcuterie station is gorgeous & cool, but probably unsanitary.

    (4)

  • Mimosa A.

    New amazing restaurant - a delight to all the senses. Located in a historical building downtown - pending a back patio that will be spectacular come summer. Thoughtful, well planned out - art on the walls and big booths for communal seating as well as comfy bar stools. Cocktails - well thought out, nicely presented. Many containing calvados - their bar's namesake. Also lots of bourbon and creative ingredients. Food - We had several vegetable sides: Cabbage - hearty, thick, satisfying Spring Onions - probably the best dish of the evening Polenta - creamy, cheesy, delightful. Pork belly was also to die for. Done by the creator of Bar Agricole, this place is another win. Do yourself a favor and check it out!

    (5)

  • Melanie C.

    This is uber hip. As in, yep SF is turning NYC edgy posh. I know Derek Zoolander would eat here. Aside from its oozing hipness, the food is pretty good. Simple preparations, quality ingredients, no extraneous garnish - ever. You want fish? It's fish on a plate, nothing else. You want pie? It's a slice of pie from Mission Pie on a place, nothing else. And so on.

    (4)

  • Ryan D.

    I've been here three times now and each and every time has been absolutely incredible in its own unique way. The first time, I came with some work friends during the day for a quick lunch. Cocktails: on point. Charcuterie: on point. Salads and sandwiches: on point. The staff was detail oriented and attentive, never missing a beat even when business picked up during our meal. Each one of us felt cared for and tended to, despite our large party size. The second time, I took my lady on a date and had the pleasure of sitting out on the back patio area. They have a dedicated bar in the back so no worries on a long wait for cocktails. Even though the tables can end up being slightly communal, the vibe is still very intimate. The wait staff again was amazingly attentive and sweet to us, knowing we were having a date night. The head chef even came out and talked to us about our meal. We felt so special! The third time, I took my roommate out for his birthday. Basically, repeat everything I listed above but add a few more special moments, and you've got what our crew listed as the best dining experience we've ever had - honest to god. I know this place is new - I get that. It's easy to try and be critical and tear a new restaurant apart. But there's no reason to here. These guys get it. Go there and allow these passionate people to invite you into their humble abode they call Trou Normand.

    (5)

  • Richard F.

    Fun place with great drinks, great food, and great people! Terrific space, too! Love the way they spin the large ice cubes to fit the glass; inspired me to get a large ice cube tray and now I'm doing it at home! We had a rez but ended up eating at the bar; loved everything and had a blast. Reasonably priced, too...

    (4)

  • MandM P.

    Visually interesting place filled with techies who all look and stand the same. Food for people who are bored with regular food aka a bunch of obscure ingredients with unusual names that even I, the seasoned foodie and trendy restaurant owner hadn't heard of. All in all no bad flavors, but to me it was I like I had landed on a different planet and was being introduced to a quite a few things that are similar to what we have back home. A one tripper.

    (3)

  • Candy C.

    The drinks and the service were good, the food was just ok. Drinks: *Star Daisy: Sweet, delicious, sneaks up on you. *Mojitos were really good too. Food: *The charcuterie plate: I liked 2 out of the 4 meats. *The grilled pork chop - Although it was cooked well, there was an overly thick strip of fat on the pork chop (about a third of it was fat) and it lacked seasoning. * The pork tagliatelle - also bland, pretty boring, actually. * Roasted sunchokes, and roasted asparagus.Well seasoned, perfectly prepared. Atmosphere: * It is VERY loud inside - which was actually the lesser of two evils. We were seated outside, and it was FREEZING. The server said that they were in the process of getting a new heating system. I would only consider coming back for the drinks - in the summer.

    (2)

  • Kirsten P.

    I was trying to plan a nice dinner for my boyfriend and myself. I booked reservations off their website for 8:15pm. When we arrived we were promptly seated outside at a table for 8. We sat in the middle of the table so we could be somewhat excluded from the tables close around us. They brought us warm water without ice, and told us to move to the end of the table so that a party of 6 could be seated at the same table as with us. I've never been to a place that people were forced to share a table. We each ordered a cocktail. I ordered the tequila cocktail for $12. It was in a normal sized glass, but when I pulled out the huge ice cube from the glass, there wasn't even a full shot left in the bottom. As far as the menu went, there were only 6 entrées to pick from ranging $20-$40. The sides were ordered separately, and ranged $10-$20. Nothing looked appealing, so we ordered 2 appetizers to share. So $60 later, we left still hungry and without even a buzz. Overall, the place was extremely loud, the staff was impatient, and the food and drinks are not worth the price. The 1 star was given for how easy it was to make a reservation.

    (2)

  • Topazskye L.

    We had the small charcuterie selection between the two of us and it had a good variety and it tasted excellent. I think the small charcuterie plate is a good portion for two people and I am glad our server recommended going for this size as my husband, who had eyes bigger than his stomach, actually wanted to go for the large charcuterie plate. The small plate has about 4 selections on it and it is served with bread. We also had the pork ragu and I absolutely loved it. Portion was on the smaller side for this. The restaurant was nice and trendy and we sat on the inside. Service was attentive and friendly. We would come back again.

    (5)

  • H T.

    this is a cool spot. my friend and i came here last fri for a quick drink and eats before seeing ODC at the yerba buena center. the drinks here are fabulous and feature a lot of armagnac and calvados. to eat, we shared the carrot salad, the barley, braised cabbage, and pork shoulder. the portions were actually very generous at the price point. i love the space and the high ceilings. be prepared to share tables w/ other people if you are in a small group. it just makes the place more convivial.

    (4)

  • Marilyn T.

    I loved Bar Agricole, so I was excited to check out their mixology. The space is surprisingly small and feels very bar-centric but has a great vintage feel. There literally are only 5 booths in there (I hear they're communal), so definitely make a reservation. The menu changes seasonally but was very meat focused with charcuterie, salumi, and mains all directed towards carnivores. Drinks were well crafted, and my favorite was the boothby: bourbon based with a slight hint of citrus and bubbles. In between courses, you have to go with their namesake, the Trou Normand, as a palate cleanser. Added bonus: house sparkling water. Food: 1. Charcuterie plate: big plate with pork belly and various other meats. It comes with an epi baguette (acme?) with a strong stone ground mustard that I loved 2. Lardo with carraway: melts in your mouth, nice carraway flavor 3. Porcini salami: subtle, great with mustard 4. Finocchiona: wild fennel pollen sounded pretty amazing, and this was also a very well seasoned meat 5. Arancini: 4 freshly fried balls of rice, not as cheesy as I would like 6. Lamb ragu: tagliatelle with a slight hint of mint, lots of pecorino, and a lamb ragout, probably my favorite of the night 7. Asparagus: thin, roasted with brown butter, tender. A tiny portion but really good 8. Sausage plate: Merguez was very flavorful, but I loved the currywurst. It had lots of great curry flavor and was balanced nicely by the mustard and sauerkfraut 9. Lamb mixed roast: various lamb parts with great textures and different preparations. The entree portion is great for sharing Dessert: Affogato. Done. $5. Amazing espresso and vanilla ice cream, probably my favorite simple dessert. It's not exactly vegetarian friendly, but you could probably figure something out with a combination of sides. We definitely went protein style, but the epi baguette was a nice surprise/accompaniment for the meats. The meat heavy menu goes well with the cocktails, and I loved that none of them were too sweet. Trou Normand has a very unique feel and a really nice addition to the Financial district.

    (4)

  • Stacy M.

    My review of Trou Normand is mixed. The small charcuterie plate was delicious and wells worth the $21.00 price tag. A chef's selection of 4 scrumptious salumi and pates with amazing bread. I would've preferred some cheese to the animal fat gelee that they offer as an accompaniment. It would also be nice to pick what you get, but it was all still very delicious. Our braised pork pappardelle dish was also tasty, but could've arrived more hot than lukewarm. There are no sides and it's a decent sized portion for $18.00. I wasn't impressed with the red wine selection by the glass. I also was less than impressed by the snooty hipster vibe that pervades at this restaurant. It was less than friendly, laissez-faire and chilly service. Literally chilly, since there is zero space inside the restaurant so you're stuck outside on the back patio at a communal table freezing your buns off. It was a very pretty atmosphere and they had two talented guitarists strumming some of our favorite gypsy guitar, but we weren't comfortable and were very cold. Our heating lamp was out and one of the servers made one attempt to fix it and then never came back or tried to remedy it. I probably won't be going back. Too many other great restos in SF with great food and service.

    (3)

  • Ted R.

    I'm not as enamoured with Trou Normand as many others are, or as I thought I would be from their press and reviews. The concept is a good one, but that's about all it is--a concept. In reality, it's extremely noisy, very crowded [almost all communal tables, which doesn't sit well with my friends and me], and quite pricy for what it is. Now, I realise that there is no tipping at Trou Normand, and that the higher menu prices reflect that, and that's the way the restaurant business is heading. However, I really bridle at paying $15 for a cocktail (OK, so think $12 + $3 tip) that's barely two or three swallows. As for the food, very tasty, no complaints there, but again: $30 for a (beautiful) pork chop, but that's all that's on the plate...one pork chop. Everything else is ordered as a side dish. I think for $30 a chop could come with at least a few green beans or mashed potatoes. I'm glad I went, I glad I tried it, but probably won't go back again anytime soon. Truth be told, I prefer Bar Agricole.

    (3)

  • Robert H.

    Had a birthday celebration here last night and was a little skeptical.....but it exceeded our expectations 100 fold. The food is AMAZING and the atmosphere was up beat and fun. Heads up they do a lot of communal seating but totally accommodated our request for a private table. The service was as awesome as the food!

    (5)

  • Alex S.

    Great new spot in SoMA. It's at the base of the old PGE building which Yelp just took over. The menu is small but amazing. Great variety of deli meats to choose from. I've only been for lunch but have been back 2x nice in a very short period of time. The prices are reasonable and the service is great. They also just opened up a great backyard patio that is a real treat. Their cocktail menu is well crafted and delicious.

    (4)

  • George M.

    This place is small inside but the outdoor patio is awesome! I highly recommend getting the charcuterie board...their mixed drinks were really good...their Algonquin and boothby drinks were really good. If you want a table inside, you should make a reservation, but otherwise just sit in the patio and enjoy it!

    (5)

  • Beril Y.

    Very different concept than all the other restaurants and tapas places around the fidi. We simply went there to indulge in charcuterie plates and drinks. I have to say their pasta with walnuts and the sausage is great too. Decoration is simple but cool and the building itself is a unique one in the area.

    (5)

  • P J.

    Had a bad experience with the wait but the GM fixed it all! Thanks!

    (3)

  • Tapan B.

    Sometimes you go to a place that should be a smashing success -- great location, nice ambience, wonderful server, good menu -- but somehow it just doesn't add up. Dining at Trou Normand was one of those experiences. Let's start with the good. Our server Alice was just simply smashing. She had a wonderful sense of drama and flair. We had a hard time determining whether the food or Alice was the best thing about the evening! The charcuterie was good - decent sized, fresh and tasted good. For my main course I had a sole. The fish came without deboning -- a fish knife would have been helpful. The flavor was unexceptional as was the sauce. And I found a sticker on the lime/lemon that accompanied it. Tacky! I'd go back only if Alice were my server again but that's a pretty weak endorsement for a restaurant when the most memorable piece about it is the person who served you.

    (3)

  • Tyler M.

    Lives up to the hype. Superb cocktails. Excellent (albeit extremely limited) wines by the glass. Charcuterie made in house was outstanding.

    (5)

  • Heidi C.

    I REALLY wanted to love this place. I would give 4 stars for ambiance and 4 for food. The service is really where it suffered. We made our reservations 2 weeks in advance coming from out of town. Upon arrival the host was kind and seated us almost immediately. We were seated at a community table which i thought was a little weird but still fun. Our waitress came over shortly after to take our drink order. Poor girl looked like a deer in headlights when we asked her about the different cocktails and what she recommended. Drinks came about 20 minutes later (i understand they are "craft") didn't mind the wait. Really my issue is that the menu has about 8 items on it, and she was pretty clueless about all of them especially the Charcuterie.. we ended up ordering the chefs choice mainly due to her lack of knowledge. The busser/food runner delivered the food but did not explain what was on the board. This was chefs choice so we had NO idea what we were eating. Everything was pretty tasty but still felt like a guessing game with each bite. Fast forward 25 minutes, the host (manager?) came by and we were able to order another drink from him. Just feel like this could have been a much better experience...

    (2)

  • Zuck L.

    Nice food. Good environment.

    (4)

  • Gina T.

    Four Barrel Coffee. A knowledgeable and experienced barista. What more could you ask for? A great cappuccino for any SF coffee snob.

    (5)

  • Ryan M.

    Now a believer in Brandy and great artisan food. Eric the bartender is great.

    (5)

  • Amy M.

    Everything we had was cooked perfectly. Also, it is pretty amazing that the booze comes from barrels handpicked in France specially for them meaning this is the only place your gonna have that specific alcohol. We started with the large Charcuterie plate: tongue and cheek (amazing), rabbit pate, mortadella, ham, and ciccioli served with spicy mustard. Hands down favorite of the starter was the pork belly confit with orange and cilantro, but the salad with both roasted and fresh carrots, dried apricots and almonds is also a must. After our Trou normand, for the main course there was grilled pork chop (juicy and flavorful), rabbit legs (my favorite), polenta, roasted asparagus with brown butter and lemon (tasty), grilled spring onions with sherry vinaigrette. All very good. As for dessert we only had a choice between banana cream or strawberry rhubarb pie from Mission pies. My only complaint was that the drink menu leaves something to be desired-focused on Armagnac, Cognac, and Calvados, lots of old fashioned type cocktails I guess to be expected from a restaurant theme based on the tradition of drinking calvados between courses. I also liked ambience, the communal seating at the tables and want to check back when the climate controlled outdoor seating opens.

    (5)

  • Veronica R.

    Our experience started off OK sipping a couple of cocktails at the bar while waiting for our other friend to arrive. When we were finally seated we started with a bottle of wine that we brought and ordered a small charcuterie and salami board which had a selection of 4 items - good to share for 2 or 3 people. The main courses we ordered were just OK - nothing worth coming back for especially for the price. On top of that - you have to order your sides separately - which in other restaurants cost as much as a main! Why not just serve it together?!? I would've given this place 1 or two more stars except for the final part of our experience - which in my opinion was rude and unlike anything I've ever experienced. We passed on dessert but we were actually going to order a bottle of bubbly except the woman at the front came up to our table and asked if we were going to take any longer because another party needed our table. (We were seated at about 6:35 or so and this was at around 8pm) REALLY?! We're spending on your overpriced, mediocre food and on top of that you're practically kicking us out??? UNBELIEVABLE!! If you overbooked that's not my problem. As a paying customer I should be able to sit at my table for as long as I'm ordering. And just for that - never coming back.

    (1)

  • C F.

    Emailed reservations for 8 and they accommodated and then some. Surprise dinner for my wife and literally one email back confirming and the service was impeccable then on. Go here now. Cocktails are the best in the city. Food is legit. Outdoor seating for a big party doesn't get better than this. They know how to do it.

    (5)

  • S C.

    Service was pretty poor on a Friday night for a late dinner. They were nice about helping us figure out which dishes my friend with a nut allergy could eat though. We ordered several apps and entrees. All were fab but EXPENSIVE. I might go again if someone else is footing the bill, otherwise no go.

    (3)

  • Jonathon V.

    Definitely a foodie restaurant, with a correspondingly high priced menu. While I enjoyed my food, the waitstaff was horrible. It was a very busy day and it seemed as though they only had one waiter. When we entered, there was nobody to greet us and we had to wait a few minutes before anyone noticed us. They squeezed us into a table, and then promptly forgot about us. I had to flag down a waiter to ask for a menu, and then flag them down again when we wanted to order. Hopefully others experience better service, but I am not a fan of being forgotten.

    (3)

  • Ashley N.

    Wow, I seriously adore this place. Gorgeous décor, great menu. Very creative cocktails, not the old standards that you see on every craft cocktail menu. Many Armagnac based cocktails, but they all are very different and delicious. Try the Sleepyhead! One of the best cocktails I've had. Our bartender was incredibly knowledgeable, and obviously cared very deeply about the quality of the product and of service at the restaurant. We took all of his recommendations and were not disappointed. The charcuterie is a real focus and they butcher in house. We had the rabbit pate and it was phenomenal. I can't say enough great things about this place. We will definitely be trying the sister restaurant Bar Agricole next time!

    (5)

  • Peter C.

    Very Interesting place. Never been to anything like it. The food was mostly very good, all hand made. A very original idea, cured meats are the star of the menu, but I would have liked too see a larger selection. The sample menu on-line seemed to have a greater selection than the Monday I was there for lunch. A lot of the food is small so you have to order several items. The prices were good for a upscale place located in the famous old PacBell Skyscraper. I think it would have been cool to have it open to the lobby, but I don't own the building so..... Very unique place. I'll be back someday. p.s. free sparkling water was a plus. Valet parking would be nice. Had to walk a ways. I give it 3.5 stars but Yelp won't let me post like that.

    (3)

  • Katee D.

    This was my second time to this restaurant- the first for a noisy, disorganized lunch in the backroom/patio and then again last night for a 2 person patio dinner at 6:30. My friend and I were escorted to the insulated back patio and seated at a sharing table beside the bar. Please keep in mind there was no one else back there. We ordered wine and appetizers and my friend moved to sit beside me as we were both freezing under the heat lamps. Well you would have thought she had asked to sit and eat naked. There was another larger party of 6 seated at our table and for some reason our seating situation was a problem for the hostess so they all stood around staring at us. They were finally seated. The wait staff/hostess came by literally every 5 min to ask if were were finished and you just got this sense they wanted us out. We ordered salads as an entree and I asked for fresh pepper. The attitude and smart response back from the waiter was the final straw - asking sarcastically "is there anything ELSE?" Give me a break - you serve wine and salami and cheese- get a grip. Find happier wait staff who don't all have chips on their shoulders. Say your $$ -eat and drink elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Leigh F.

    This type of menu, charcuterie, is not even my thing. At least I didn't think so! It was delicious, and the meatballs were some of the best I have ever had. Kudos to Thad. Will definitely return.

    (5)

  • Jenner P.

    Although our pork jus and pasta were a little salty, the overall impression of their food was "fresh, well-prepared and delicious". These people clearly know how to handle their meat. The tenderness and flavor of all meats tried (charcuterie, pork loin, sole, ragu) was exceptional. Meat lovers, including a recovering Texan like me, will enjoy that perfect doneness to their pork products. The barley side was nice and chewy, for those who like hearty grains. The recommended pea side was a surprise hit with our pea-hating friend and the rest of the table. The menu seems limited to what is good now, so will not be the most extensive menu you have seen. But, there's nothing dialed in about it. Nothing seemed too heavy or had too many ingredients, yet all dishes tasted rich and well-developed. We were able to wait a reasonable amount of time while savoring smooth drinks but wouldn't expect to have a hurried meal here. That's ok. We have enough hurried meals in our lives.

    (5)

  • mike s.

    Fun place for a breakfast meeting. Cool vibe and look forward to the patio opening. Good vibe.

    (4)

  • Kate M.

    I went here with my husband and sat at the bar for dinner. The food was great and the cocktails were even better! Go early if you don't have a reservation - or you will be waiting!

    (5)

  • Olivia T.

    such a gem! after my first trip, i couldn't wait to go back so i went back the next day. cocktails are amazing, for something refreshing, the sleepyhead is amazing, but honestly of 6-7 that i've tried, every single one was great. also, if you're sitting at the bar, eric, the head bartender, will make something custom to your liking. and the food - out of this world. their charcuterie plate includes some of the best bites. particularly the ciccioli and the porcini salami, even the ham is the best ham i've ever had in my life. the first night, i had the coppa, which is unbelievably tender and juicy. then the next day, coppa wasn't on the menu, shocker! turns out since they use the whole animal, if they run out of the shoulder, you've got move on. so we ordered the pork chop. i typically find pork chop dry and boring, but this one was big, thick and juicy. perfectly cooked, probably the best one i've ever had.

    (5)

  • Vincent D.

    Got the Charcuterie plate for 2, pork chop, and squash. Loved the Char plate, pork chop was good too, but probably would get something else next time. Great vibe, ambiance, and service. Good cocktails too. Will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Fernando Y.

    Pleasant, beautiful and pork meatballs. Start with the pork meatballs, order the pork meatball as main dish and then ask for it again for desert. They are unbelievably good!

    (5)

  • Beatrice W.

    3.5 stars - Review of cocktails only. My favorite drink by far I can't remember the name of (I'm writing this review a couple weeks later), but it was made with armagnac, vermouth, and cherry liqueur. The cherry is what made the drink, and it was deliciously deceptively boozy which is why I recommended it to my buddy who had to study for a final exam that same night. :) I also tried the Bombay (armagnac, vermouth, curacao, absinthe), which was good but not as memorable. The El Morocco (armagnac, port, lime, pineapple, bitters) was also good but you have to like the sweetness of the port (it's not for me personally.) Overall I consider Trou Normand's cocktails to be well-balanced and well-crafted; every single person in my large party received a very well-made drink. But because most of the ingredients are standard, there's only so much complexity to each drink. The cocktails are $12, plus they charge tax at the bar even if you're standing and didn't order any food, which is one of my pet peeves. So if I'm just looking for a drink, for $13 before tip I'd much rather go to a specialty cocktail bar that has house-made infusions and bitters. But if you're looking for a place with solid cocktails as well as delicious charcuterie and a classy ambiance, Trou Normand is your destination.

    (4)

  • Darin E.

    On my first visit I was able to have some drinks and order a small charcuterie plate. When I left 2 hours later, I had found my new favorite spot for food/drinks. With just a short stroll from my office, I now have one of the best options in SF at my finger tips. Their bar executes so well it's just scary. All the drinks I had were really balanced and delicious. I also cannot think of restaurant who makes and serves such high quality salumi. The rabbit salami was my favorite. (Since Incanto closed) I cannot wait to return with friends in tow! I can see myself dragging colleagues here for a solid business lunch.

    (4)

  • Andy W.

    Birthday dinners are difficult. It's your special day so everyone wants you to pick the place but you want to make everyone happy including yourself so the food needs to be good and the service needs to be even better. After all, it's your special day so you want to make sure they take good care of you and your party. Lastly, prices has to be reasonable so no one in your party will be all bitched out when the bill comes. After spending days looking for the perfect place, I found Trou Normand. It's a nice place but casual at the same time. They have food and a bar so everyone is covered. We didn't order everything at once and just ordered course by course. The charcuterie blew our minds so we ended up ordering more for the next course and went light for entrees. It was a lot of meats so we ordered the green bean salad and panzanella salad. Both were great. It was refreshing and full of flavor. Great in between course to have after all the meats. Before we ordered entrees our server came to our table with glasses of calvados. He brought a glass for each of us. It was a gift to celebrate my birthday. What a generous gift! He said Trou Normand is to have calvados in between courses. My entree was a bolognese pasta and it was great. At the end our server brought out a piece of pie with ice cream and a candle for me. It was the best way to end a perfect night. Everyone was happy and I felt special on my birthday. Birthday dinners might not be so difficult after all. Thank you Trou Normand!

    (5)

  • Ashley C.

    We happened upon Trou Normand on happenstance for cocktails and a light meal before an evening flight. We were pleasantly surprised. Their cocktail list was a little intimidating. It had a lot of cognac and bourbon drinks which I typically do not like. Our server was helpful and pointed me to the Sleepyhead. It was very nicely balanced and a good introduction to a new drink. My husband enjoyed both of his drinks even the Old Fashioned was in the top three Old Fashioned drinks he has ever had. We also ordered some charcuterie to share with our drinks. It had nice cheese and meat items. Although delicious, the portions, however, were very small particularly for the price. We also ordered the arancini and the tagliatelle to split. The pork bolognese was very, very good and a good value at $16 for a fairly large plate. It was very basic and rustic Italian. I found it hard not to compare this to my fancy tagliatelle dish I had at an Italian spot - and this dish won hands down. This is a solid 4 to 4.5 spot. Great cocktails and good food. The excellent service is making me round it up to 5.

    (5)

  • Robert T.

    Also posted to open table: the food was delicious as were the drinks. Unfortunately this was all negated and then some by what I would consider as the worst service that I have ever encountered. It's not so much that the staff was mean but I have never felt so ignored or forgotten when I have dined out. It would be one thing if the wait staff did not come by to check in but they DID ask multiple times if we were okay or needed anything and we did ask for items (the first time our waiter came by 30 minutes after we ordered and was surprised our food hadn't come out yet- instead of following up on this he disappeared. A separate waitor asked if we needed anything and we asked for more bread for our charcuterie board-he disappeared and never came back. When I flagged a third waitress down she brought our bread in 5 minutes and mumbled something about being busy). For a $200+ dinner I honestly expected more. My sister and mom were visiting from out of town and we wanted to take them some place nice. Unfortunately we all walked out disappointed. The biggest joke was on us as the gratuity we thought about reducing was automatically added in to all bills regardless of party size (we had 4 people) so there was no accountability or reason for them to provide good service when they were getting a full tip anyway. Very disappointed. Very.

    (1)

  • P D.

    I did not understand what the hype was about.. Drinks were ok, food nothing great. Very pricey for what is offered...

    (2)

  • Rebecca C.

    Great new spot in SF opened by the same people behind Bar Agricole. If you come, try sitting in the front room where it is more atmospheric. Even better, take seats at the Bar and chat with one of the founders of the restaurant, Eric, who is super friendly and knowledgeable. Trou Normand is known for their meats, and they butcher everything themselves. The charcuterie plate has many options beyond the typical cold meats offered by other restaurants and wine bars. Try Lambrusco (sparking red from Italy) which suppose to be one of the best wines for Charcuterie. The sausage plate was solid but not exceptional. very flavorful. Roasted Allium (roasted spring onion, fennel, etc) was an interesting side dish that complements the meats quite well. Eric was so generous that he offered us a taste of Trou Normand (a digestive before desserts). Potent. Definitely different from the wimpy cocktails that I usually gravitate to. Affogato was also quite good for dessert. The Teutonic Pinot Noir from Willemette Valley was great. Lovely evening!

    (4)

  • Jess C.

    Trou Normand is a small restaurant on New Montgomery - quaint and cozy with high ceilings, large booth seats, and a number of bar seating. I was surprised to find a reservation very easily at the last minute during OpenWorld and stopped by for dinner. The menu is VERY limited (there are about 5 appetizers, 5 mains and 5 sides), with a strong focus on charchuterie. If you're hungry or vegetarian or trying to go no carb, I would not recommend Trou Normand. It's ideal more for 2-3 people to catch up over a drink and charchuterie. DRINKS: Previously I had tried their cocktails, they look pretty but I prefer Novela for something nearby. Their wines by the glass are fairly limited and from what I recall mostly Italian. I enjoyed the Nebbiolo but it was a little steep ($15). FOOD: Tiny portions, expensive and limited in options but packed with flavor. * LOBSTER SAUSAGE ($22?) - 3.5 STARS: Pork casing with egg whites, lobster and fish on the inside, served over buttered greens), I think this was like $22 and it was slightly bigger than an Aidelle's sausage. It was pretty good, interesting and very different than anything I've ever had. It sort of reminded me of a better quality Chinese fishcake. * SHISHITO PEPPERS ($7?) - 4 STARS: Amazing shishito peppers mixed with sauteed peppers, eggplant and a side of creamy yogurt sauce. This is one of my favorite shishito pepper dishes but it felt like there were literally 6 shishito peppers on the plate. SERVICE: Well it was atrocious and slow. I mentioned this to another waitress, and after I brought it to their attention he made a concerted effort to be nicer and even comp-ed me a glass of wine. I wouldn't be surprised if he spit in my food. No points docked here.

    (3)

  • Ed E.

    First I would like to start by saying that I did t eat here. My fiance and I only went for drinks. I found this bar searching for mixology bars. Sooo disappointed. I tried asking for something that wasn't sweet, and was whisky/rye based. The bartender (not a mixologist) tried to force something of the menu on me. Since I didn't want something sweet, he said he would check his book. I stepped away from the bar to use the restroom and came back to a Manhattan. Way to get creative. It was fine... At best. My fiancé asked some sweeter so the bartender reco

    (2)

  • Michael S.

    tl;dr - house-made charcuterie and salumi, whole animal butchery, craft cocktails - service, stretched thin, ranged from competent to friendly to rude - creative carnivorous menu, with some food prepared carelessly- service compris (no tipping, no service charge) - unbearably loud interior I was early for dinner, so sat at the bar and ordered a French 75 over, which was nicely made and served over a cute rectangle of ice. It took a while to get the drink, which was puzzling, since the bar wasn't busy. My companion arrived and we were seated at a table in the front (the patio is much quieter, by the way). We ordered lardo with radishes (which came with some rosemary-infused lard). The cava was tasty and pricey. The next course was taking a long time, and we must have been eyeing every plate that passed with obvious longing. The server came to say that he had checked on our dishes, and they were being plated "right now." Since another ten minutes elapsed, I assume he was humoring me. Well, they should have taken another five minutes for the sausage plate - as late as it was, it had what otherwise would have been a lovely, dill-laden, rabbit boudin blanc, disagreeably raw in the interior. That was a major turn-off, hard to recover from, and following on the heels of the waiter's aspirational proffer made me regret that I would not be able to show displeasure by reducing the tip. My companion's braised veal and agnolotti were good, but the agnolotti were on the crunchy side of al dente. We asked for water ("still or sparkling?"), twice, and when none was forthcoming we flagged down the hostess - who brought water, along with a lecture about how one must specifically request it. Now, I am sure hostesses aren't hired for talent or brains, but a modest amount of hospitality is always good for someone in that position. I explained that we *had* asked for water, *twice*, so if she detected impatience and entitlement in my tone, she was correct. Okay, Trou Normand, I gave you a try. I am not inclined to return. I am enormously sympathetic with the trend toward service compris, or a fixed service charge, but it's clear that there are occasional downsides to it. Apparently a cultural shift is required - not just on the part of patrons, but staff as well.

    (2)

  • Joco F.

    My review is only for the bar area so please keep that in mind. I went here with several friends for a happy hour. The room has a very clean sleek look with beautiful large leather couch booths giving it an old school feel. We came without reservations so we came early because we had heard it fills up quite fast not to mention the bar area isn't very large. We ordered several rounds of drinks along with a small cheese plate and a large charcuterie plate. As advertised it was some of the best if not the best cured meats around. If you've had Adesso then it's better than that and I love Adesso. The service was tremendously friendly and willing to take their time to share their thoughts and knowledge about what we did and wanted to order. My only issue which is very minor and really isn't an issue is that the cocktails all were all served in Sherry glasses. At least all the ones we happen to order. I wasn't sure if this was how every cocktail was served but we tried about 5 different ones and they came in the same glassware. We didn't have an issue with this but I can see how some people might. I actually liked it personally but I can see how some people might have issue with this. I look forward to coming back and having dinner here along with another run through their delicious cocktail menu.

    (5)

  • Scott S.

    I wanted so badly to four star this place. The menu screamed scrumptious the cocktails sounded inventive. So what turned this place south? Service. Let's start with our dippy waitress/hostess. First thing she explains citrus to us. I'm sorry do I look like I or anyone in my party of sophisticated foodies needed an explanation on how citrus works? Seriously my dogs know this. We order appetizers which come out before our carefully selected cocktails. We had to ask where they were. Then some doofus clears my drink but fails to ask if I'd like another. Hello do you not want to make money? We order wine and drinks and get no drinks. Main course comes and still no drinks. We had to beg for them. The food was excellent, inspired even but decimated by the incredible indifference we were subjected to. The icing on the cake is service was included. I hate that with a passion. I'm not a cheap tipper but being forced to subsidize a no nothing slacker just because burns me to the core. How else can you express displeasure for bad service other than letting someone know that in the worlds of service I've had better at Taco Bell. So in short never going back ever!! A shame because every bite was delicious but ruined by the piss poor service! Don't waste time or money eating here until they get their shit together. I rarely write a bad review but damn that idiot almost wrecked a nice night out.

    (2)

  • Michael F.

    Ummmm very very fine. The drink were very top notch. So glad I had no car so I could have two. The star if the show was the starter plate of meats with the aspc. Outstanding. Waitstaff I found very good and attentive but I am so easy to please with good food and cheer. We did the patio and didn't find it loud at all. Price for 2, one starter, two mains, 4 drinks, we were enjoying about $110. Will do again when in the neighborhood

    (4)

  • Jean Y.

    I liked the interior of Trou Normand a lot, including the large wall-sized sketch of a naked lady with her back turned towards the viewer. It's a bit cozy but not cramped. Most of the tables here are booths, with a larger communal table in the back room. There are also seats available at the bar. My friends and I shared 5 types of charcuterie, which were mostly $6-$7 each. They were served with bread, butter, mustard, and spreadable pork jelly. All were good, although I prefer the charcuterie at Beast and the Hare. * Pork chop - $26 Best thing we had! Every bite of the pork chop was deliciously succulent. The meat to bone ratio on this pork chop was very high. Note that the pork chop comes on an plate by itself, completely ungarnished and without sides. * Bucatini all'amatriciana - $14 This tasted fine, but the sauce was lacking in heat, although the server told us it would be spicy. The pasta was slightly overcooked. I like the bucatini all'amatriciana at Gioia Pizzeria better. * Roasted sunchokes with braised porcini -$12 Very tasty. Good combination of two ingredients I like. * Arancini - $8 Most of the arancini I've had elsewhere has been too mushy, but this was perfectly crispy and split in half at the touch of a fork. The rice was perfectly cooked, with a bit of ground meat inside. * Lamb lardo - $8 Not too gamey for lamb, but this dish didn't really stand out to me.

    (4)

  • Drew P.

    Solid food, with a decent bar. Great location, with an enclosed patio that's better than the main room because it's easier to talk without all the echoes. There are a lot of communal tables, so it's a great place for large groups. I went there for dinner, but I imagine the happy hour is pretty good (as long as the bar can keep up with orders). PROS - Great food, and the charcuterie menu stands out - Service charge (i.e. gratuity) is included CONS - The menu is a little short and heavy on meats TIP Don't be fooled by the sticker shock of the menu. Considering that gratuity is included, it's not any more expensive than other restaurants in the same category. Still expensive, but not ridiculously overpriced.

    (4)

  • Cat C.

    What woman can resist some meat (tehehe..well..)?! Meat..good! Fresh meat...even better! Yelp buddy Janice C. and I met up for lunch here the previous week. I've had it bookmarked for quite sometime and glad that she suggested TN. I love the decor of the restaurant..and yes the huge painting of the naked lady's backside..but I hate the whole big booth table seatings and seating in general here. Janice and I shared the smaller table with another couple, and it wouldn't have been so bad if we had to sit facing them, but we had to sit next to them in the same side, same booth..it was just a little awkward. The bar is the only seating where if you are a small party of two you could probably get away without any awkwardness. Anywhoo started off with the arancinis ($6), and shared my tagliatelle ($14) and her sandwich ($10). The arancinis were fried to a perfect golden brown. The balls were perfectly sized (that's what she said..hehehe..) and had the right amount of yummy ground meat n them, not overly cheesy either, well balanced. Next came our main courses. I loved my super fresh tagliatelle! The noodles were cooked perfectly, the pork red pepper ragu was so flavorful and they put the perfect amount of parmesan cheese on top. The dish was a little bit salty and I tasted more tomato sauce than any red pepper but it was still a very good pasta dish. Her sandwich was a salami and coppa. Again, the meats were excellent as they were very fresh and not too fatty or overly salty. The bread was nice and soft and filled with lettuce, however, it seems that they like to put mustard on a lot of their sammies (not my thing but it didn't ruin the sandwich for me). The sandwiches look so lonely on the big plate they are served, so I think a small side would be nice or even for them to include a pickle for pickle lovers on the side (again, not my thing, but just saying). I enjoyed my lunch here with great company. I would love to come back after work sometime for a drink and to share a charcuterie plate..or perhaps an entree..meat, more meat, this girl loves her meat! I have a dirty mind a lot of times, but at a restaurant where they serve everything meat...you make it too easy for me to not have a little dirty humor in there...thank you Trou Normand!

    (4)

  • Hazel C.

    This avid Instagrammer follows all sorts of cool cafes and stores on IG, with Four Barrel being one of them. Four Barrel posted a pic of an event being held at Trou Normand, and it noted that for $30 you can have coffee cocktails and snacks. Unlimited cocktails? Yes, please! I got tickets for me and my husband at Eventbrite and, boy, were we glad that I did that! We just fell in love with Trou Normand. This special event was held at their outdoor patio. It's such a cool place. Six large communal tables made out of polished stone sat under a plexiglass(?) canopy, so you have this nice open feeling, but you're protected from the elements by the roof. The sides are open and flanked by tall plants on large pots, and there are space heaters above your head to keep you warm on those chilly San Francisco nights. I can just imagine how fun it'd be to have breakfast and lunch out here on nice, sunny days. The weather couldn't have been more perfect though that evening, as it was still in the high 70s when the event started at 8 pm. The bartender mixed up a Brown Derby for each of us and poured it in a beautiful mini Coupe glass. Yum! Love the bourbon, grapefruit and honey combination. It's a strong drink, so I had to order some food to balance out the alcohol/food ratio in my stomach. We had not eaten dinner yet, so we ordered the Pappardelle with Braised Chicken Ragu. Pasta was perfectly cooked and the Chicken Ragu was delicious! We were also impressed by the charcuterie platters, salumi slices and arancini plates they brought out. I just had to have another drink to keep the ideal alcohol/food ratio in my tummy. I ordered the Delores Garden Swizzle. This concoction of Demerara Rum, Lime, Creme de Cacao and Four Barrel Cold Brew was poured in a Collins glass and stuffed with crushed ice. Another wonderful drink, but the Brown Derby was my favorite that evening! We will definitely be back! The service, the food, cocktails, and the ambiance of the restaurant, both inside and out, are all great reasons to return to this place. Thanks Four Barrel for the introduction!

    (5)

  • Julie L.

    Love love looooooove the charcuterie selection. The board we ordered was so delish. Meats and cheeses were fresh, perfectly sliced and super silky. Extra bread is definitely needed. Their prices also include service charge so it saves you the trouble of tipping after.

    (5)

  • Arthur Y.

    Brought the team here for a lunch - an easy decision because we're in the same building. Really nice inside. Feels very European inside - high ceilings and white marble. Tables are a little high relative to the seats in the booth, but it still feels clean and airy and nice. Service was solid and the food was good as well. We split the mixed greens salad, arancini, duck pate and salt&vinegar chips. All solid. Mostly sando on the lunch menu and one pasta - tagliatelle. I tasted my colleague's pasta and it was pretty damn good. I got a pork belly sando on ciabatta and it was phenomenal. Expensive relative to size, but a nice experience none the less.. House made charcuterie looks awesome, need to come back for that.

    (5)

  • Amy V.

    Super stellar place with NY esque vibes. If you can grab a seat at the bar never let go, but do know the outdoor patio (with live jazz) is some of the best. We snacked on charcuterie and cheese but all the dishes coming out of the kitxhne looked amazing.

    (5)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 12

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Brunch, Dessert
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Hipster
    Noise Level : Average
    Music : Background
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : No
    Best Nights : Tue, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Trou Normand

Share with your social network

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

© 2024 Restaurant Listings. All rights reserved.