Norma Manis of Norma’s Cafe Passes Away at 80

Lemon meringue pie from Norma’s Cafe

Rick Lopez over on on Oak Cliff People is the bearer of bad news:

Friends and family have confirmed today that restaurateur Norma Manis died Saturday afternoon.

A memorial service is still in the works for the pie-making darling who opened Norma’s Cafe with her daughters — including the Davis Street location that celebrated its 55th anniversary two years ago.

In an interview with Oak Cliff People two years ago, Manis told reporter Georgia Fisher that she wanted to be remembered for her last venture, Mama’s Daughter’s Diner, which she opened after selling Norma’s Cafe in 1986. ”Norma quit her job,” she said. “I’m not Norma anymore. I’m Mama. I sold my name when I sold that business.”

Acquaintances say Manis, who is survived by three daughters, had been in a coma after suffering a stroke recently.

I can’t find a photo of Norma anywhere on Google. If somebody has one and would like to share, feel free to email it to me. For now, though, I’m going to use this pretty picture of mile-high lemon meringue pie to represent the wonderful woman who brought these to Dallas. Teresa Gubbins once called Norma Cafe’s lemon meringue “a towering construction with a tall, firm hood of meringue and a lemon custard base that brings a happy little pucker to your lips.”

Thanks for all the happy puckering, Norma. We owe you a big one up there.

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