About Us

NORMAN’S restaurant located on Orlando’s famed "Restaurant Row", is the namesake legacy of Norman Van Aken, the founding father of “New World Cuisine”, a celebration of Latin, Asian, and American flavors.

As a restaurateur, chef, author, and James Beard recipient of “Who’s Who in America”, Chef Van Aken is “Florida’s Culinary Icon” pioneering a new visionary way of cooking in America. He is the only Floridian chef inducted into the prestigious James Beard Foundation’s list of “Who’s Who in American Food and Beverage”. In 2019, NORMAN'S Orlando was a James Beard Foundation restaurant semi-finalist. 

NORMAN'S restaurant design includes a glass-enclosed wine cellar boasting an extensive list of varietals. NORMAN'S has an elegant main dining room, two private dining rooms, and a sultry interior lounge. NORMAN'S also offers beautiful al fresco outdoor dining and an additional bar on the Terrace. The Terrace comes alive with live music and a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights. 

Both the main dining room and the Terrace features Chef Van Aken’s signature New World Cuisine, as well as his newest culinary creations featuring a variety of fresh seafood, steak, chicken and pork entrees.