Norm's Wayside

Outstanding pizza and their fried pickle wedges are amazing!

I had to run out to Buffalo tonight, so, after driving by Norm's last weekend, and looking up what Detroit-style pizza is, we were intrigued and decided to give it a shot.

After reading leslee's review, I was more than a little apprehensive to go in. But, all the buzz on Google is good, so on a lovely late summer Friday, my friend and I went to Norm's Wayside. Walked in and it was both clean and busy. Not at all scary.

Re the service level, since it was a little busy, it took a bit long for things to happen -- we finally did get a waitress and she did bring us a menu. Regardless, perhaps my only significant criticism is that this is not a place to go if you're in a hurry.

We ordered fried pickles and a Detroit-style pizza.

The fried pickles (spears) were hot and yummy. The only downside is you get your choice of blue cheese or ranch, not both, and there's not quite enough dressing if you like a lot of dressing on your pickles.  (Also, there was neither salt nor pepper on the tables, but the pickles were adequately salted -- as Emeril says -- when they were "vunnerable" and fresh out of the fryer)

The pizza took a while to cook (as stated above, it was busy but not super-busy) and it came to the table hot and fresh. They even took a combo pizza and changed up the ingredients a bit (I don't care for ham on my pizza) without complaining. The two of us devoured a small -- the small could easy feed three if you aren't ravenous eaters and also order an appetizer... by the time we got down to the last 2 slices, we were already getting quite full (but we ate them anyway.... :-) )

Norm himself was there. He came in and out of the kitchen and office and talked to a few patrons, though he didn't come around to every table to say hi and ask how things were. Regardless, the waitress was consistently checking in with us.

One more criticism, is that there is only one free refill with a soda. I can see that at the bar (unless one was a designated driver) but not eating at a table. With the price of fountain soda, this perhaps is a little stingy.

Another positive observation --- we saw bikers eating pizza in the restaurant. I never see bikers eat at a bar, unless the food is really good, and I must concur, the food was good. In addition, a lot of pizzas were being carried out as we were waiting for our food and eating.

So, was it worth the special trip? Probably. Will I go there again when I am in the area? It will be on my list! If I could give 4 1/2 stars instead of 5, I would, the little tiny faults are things that are easily correctable.

Anyway, as for the previous review, I guess everyone's entitled to a bad night, but it sure wasn't tonight.... leslee, maybe you do want to give them another chance....