Norma's Diner — Restaurant in Joplin

I try to eat at small Mom and Pops when I travel as much as I can. This is a little hole in the wall, which was right up my alley. Pulling in I noticed a sign that looked to be a decade plus old, that said "voted best breakfast." We went inside the staff was friendly. Our waitress was friendly. The restaurant was clean. On the tables it says voted best in 4 states.

Well I had high hopes. Let me start by saying I did not get breakfast, so if that's what they hang thier hat on, it might still be good, but if lunch or dinner items are your thing. This place was a huge miss. I started out by ordering a menu item, that the waitress said we are out of, and then ran down a list of other things they didn't have either. Said things are hard to get right now. Food quality, I started with thier homemade ham and potato soup. Was very hot, but potatoes were not cooked, the cream base tasted like hot water, not one ounce of seasoning. Took two bites it was awful, and set it to the side, waitress picked it up, never even thought to ask, why I was throwing away a full bowl of soup. Got the open faced roast beef and mashed potatoes for my main course. Potatoes were decent, brown gravy was old, thick, had a slight scorched taste, just over all past its beat by time. Nothing special about the open faced. Two pieces of plain white bread, with what I would describe as three slices of deli roast beef warmed up and placed on top, covered in the same terrible gravy. My wife got a mushroom and Swiss burger and fries. The fries have a seasoning salt that they put on them, which were pretty good, probably the best food item served to us and that was not saying alot. My wife ate the mushrooms and Swiss off the top of the burger and gave the rest to me, she was not impressed. Nor was I the bun was hard, and the burger was a frozen patty burger that they cook up, and if it wasn't then that's even worse, because it was not a good piece of meat.

All of that being said the atmosphere was exactly what I wanted, the staff was pleasant. I was super excited when I walked in. Every piece of food I got was abysmal. Maybe we caught them on a bad day, maybe not, but not one person thought to ask me how my food or visit was so I could let them know. If your gonna eat here, try the breakfast might be the best part of the menu, but I'll never know, because i wont be...

The locals need to get out more because I was scammed by reviews. My fiance and I were seated next to a booth that was set up as a waiters station. During our visit 2 waitresses hovered by their work station while standing in a narrow walk way next to our booth. While our waitress was at our table it was a little overwhelming when guest tried to pass by as she stood there and tried to make room. My fiance ordered a breakfast plate with a side of biscuits and gravy. I ordered a bacon cheese burger with fries. I requested for my burger to be well well done and served on a dry bun. My fiancé was served his meal several minutes before I was served. He described his meal as tasting like a home cooked breakfast and enjoyed it but it was very greasy. The biscuits and gravy were mushy and flavorless. When I received my order, my bun was absolutely drenched in nasty yellow grease. I reminded the waitress that I had requested a dry bun. She quickly responded by saying they use the cooking spatula to top the bun on the burger. Without another word being said, she walked back to her booth and started talking to the other waitress. I then pushed my plate aside and had to get her attention to request a dry bun. Upon reassembling my burger I noticed some of the edges on my lettuce were rotten, my tomatoes were soggy and the bacon was short scrap pieces that contained more fat than meat. The patty looked and tasted like an unseasoned Great Value cheap frozen patty and was absolutely disgusting. My fries were not cooked all the way and were laying in a bed of grease. The seasoning must have been for decoration because they had no flavor. I probably won't be returning to Normas Diner. The decor is really nice and this place has the potential to be a really cool spot but the food quality...

This was my second time at Norma's...what a difference a few months made! I ordered their veggie omlete with hash browns and fresh fruit. First I received microwaved frozen blueberries, greasy ok hash browns and a DENVER omlete, ie with ham. Waitress #1 apologized and took the plate to the kitchen. Waitress #2 came back to tell me she took apart the omlete and there was only one piece of ham. This piece was like an inch long! Regardless, who takes apart a returned omlete after seeing that it was obviously incorrect?! Omlete and hash browns #2 returned when my fiancé was finished with his meal. The hash browns were charred on top and frozen in the middle. Omlete #2 was RAW!!! As in raw EGGWHITES running on to my plate after cutting into the omelet with a fork. At this point, waitress #1 was just as grossed out as I was and offered to take it off the bill. She asked if I wanted anything else or a third omlete. My fiancé and I explained that we are vets and fully understand the spectrum of extra ingredients that accompany food sent back thereby insulting and pissing off chefs. While we waited for our check, waitress #2 returned with a THIRD omlete. She flung it in front of me insisting I eat it. She also brought the check, charging us for both our meals. This was ridiculous and completely unacceptable!!! And they are pricey compared to the superior food and service at Granny Shaffer's in Joplin/Webb City and Pancake Hut in Carthage.

And my fiancé's meal? While the order was correct, the menu advertises made from scratch. The biscuits were definitely canned as was the gravy. Ew!

Before we paid our bill, my fiancé actually left a note on the bill. In our 13 and a half years together he has NEVER left a note. Will...