Norm’s Diner to Host Exclusive Top 10 Takeover Dinner on July 24

Tickets go on sale July 3 for subscribers, July 4 for the public.

A beloved neighborhood gem in Detroit’s West Village is about to take center stage in one of the city’s most anticipated dining events.

Norm’s Diner, known for its nostalgic charm and made-from-scratch breakfast favorites, will host the next Top 10 Takeover dinner on July 24. The event is part of the Detroit Free Press and Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers’ long-running dining series, now in its 11th year. Norm’s earned its spotlight after being named the No. 3 pick on the 2025 Detroit Free Press/Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Top 10 New Restaurants and Dining Experiences list.

Tickets for this special dinner go on sale at noon on Thursday, July 3, for Detroit Free Press subscribers and at noon on Friday, July 4, for the general public. They are $63 per person, including tax, gratuity, and a $3 donation to Forgotten Harvest, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting food insecurity in metro Detroit.

What makes the Top 10 Takeover series so special is the exclusive experience it offers. Each dinner is a private event, often held when the restaurant is closed to the public. Guests enjoy a curated menu and personal attention from the kitchen and staff. This unique format allows diners to connect more deeply with the restaurant’s story and the people behind it.

Norm’s is leaning into its strength for this event: comforting brunch fare with elevated touches and local ingredients. The four-course menu begins with brûléed grapefruit topped with demerara sugar and crème fraîche whip. The second course features a fried green tomato with charred scallion remoulade, baby greens, and a poached Michigan egg. For the third course, diners will enjoy a classic BLT with Nueske’s bacon, heirloom tomatoes, and herby mayo on thick Texas toast. A vegetarian version replaces the bacon with avocado. The meal ends on a sweet note with a slice of chess pie served with buttermilk custard, berries, and chantilly.

Dining critic Lyndsay C. Green praised Norm’s for its commitment to quality and craft, noting that “nearly everything is made in-house,” from the biscuits to the lox, and ingredients are sourced locally whenever possible. She wrote that even a simple egg salad is elevated by using farm-fresh eggs from Michigan.

Since its creation, the Top 10 Takeover series has celebrated Detroit’s best dining experiences while giving back to the community. A portion of every ticket sold goes toward helping those in need this year, through Forgotten Harvest.

Whether you’re a loyal Norm’s fan or just looking to try one of the city’s most talked-about new restaurants, this is a chance to enjoy great food, meet the chefs, and support a good cause all in one unforgettable night.