KU
Kat Unfiltered
Jul 19, 2026
What a fantastic way to kick off our first night in New Smyrna Beach! We had dinner upstairs in the Treehouse Bar, and everything about the experience was wonderful.
Our waitress, Bri, was friendly, attentive, and made us feel so welcome. We each tried one of the specialty cocktails, and they were absolutely amazing. Every cocktail coming out of the bar looked beautiful—it was hard not to want to try them all!
We started with the coconut shrimp, which is an absolute must-order. It comes with a mango dipping sauce and a coconut curry sauce. Both were very good, but the coconut curry sauce was incredible.
For dinner, I had the tenderloin with green beans and the potato cake. Definitely get the potato cake! It’s creamy mashed potatoes with a crispy panko crust, and it was so good.
My husband had the ribeye topped with Gorgonzola cheese and bacon, along with green beans. The steak was huge and packed with flavor.
Between the unique Treehouse atmosphere, beautiful cocktails, delicious food, and great service, Norwood’s was the perfect place to spend our first night in New Smyrna Beach.
GS
Glenn “G-Man” Seltzer
Jul 18, 2026
Really cool place. Has 3 distinct area. We had a reservation for the enclosed and air conditioned dining room. There's also a ground level covered and fan cooked area, and of course super cool tree house dining area. If on a weekend, recommend you make an online reservation, because this place is very busy.
Now, the review. Service was excellent. Our server was willing and able to take good care of us. Also, the atmosphere as fun, but just as little noisy due to the large crowd.
Now, for the food. The appetizer we ordered, coconut shrimp, came with a delicious mango and sweet chilli sauce. Very good. But the main courses, could have been better. I ordered the seafood pot pie. Very little shrimp (4) and sea scallops (2). And, they could have been prepared better. The scallops were mushy, and the shrimp were chewy. I expected better. My wife had a grilled seafood combo. Same as mine regarding the scallops and shrimp. She asked for her green beans to be soft, and they came out barely steamed. She sent them back, but 5 minutes later, got the same result.
We'll go back again, but may just order several appetizers, as ours was good, and others looked really good too.
If you’re in New Smyrna Beach, do yourself a favor and make a reservation at Norwood’s Restaurant & Treehouse Bar.
From the moment we walked in, we knew this wasn’t just another restaurant. We chose the smaller bar area instead of the larger dining room, and I’m so glad we did. It was cozy, charming, and had such a fun energy. The vibe alone makes you want to stay awhile.
The real stars of the evening were bartender Jamie B. and Alexis. Their hospitality was next level. Jamie knew exactly what to recommend and paired our meals perfectly. It’s rare to find someone who knows a menu that well and genuinely enjoys helping guests have an incredible experience.
I ordered the Tuna Stack, my husband had the Almond-Crusted Grouper, and we started with the smoked fish dip. The house-made crackers that came with it were absolutely amazing—fresh, crisp, and unlike anything we’ve had before.
We’ll definitely be back. If you’re visiting New Smyrna Beach, put this one at the top of your list—and if you can, grab a seat in the bar and ask for Jaime B. or Alexis. They made an already fantastic experience even better. They both work together on Sundays btw.
A restaurant experienced from the rooftop can draw much attention, but consistency brings guests back. Norwoods had notable reviews and was recommended by the locals and so it became a natural choice for a dining experience. Their menu had some unique options with an exciting atmosphere as you walked in. The treehouse dining above you and nautical themed inside making you feel like you’re in an Oceanside restaurant. Unfortunately, the first hint of disappointment occurred with the serving staff, who was mostly friendly, but lacking in organization and knowledge. The server dropped a plate on the table foreshadowing the rest of the experience.
The kitchen unfortunately proved to be a greater disappointment. The seafood pot pie which held great anticipation, came out tasting more like tuna noodle casserole than a pot pie. The seafood and grits was under seasoned and lacking craftsmanship. This happened from a combination of pre-packaged ingredients, breaking sauce, and fried oakra that was flavorless, soggy and unintentional. I found particular distaste with the fried popcorn style garnish on the dish. The biggest disappointment, perhaps, was the appetizer. The scallops which deserve tender care when cooking as they’re delicate. They came wrapped in bacon which was overcooked leaving some charred bacon flavor overpowering the overcooked scallop. The dish served along with Asian fusion yakisoba noodles didn’t seem to settle on a clear identity.
The overall vision here had clear direction but it seems to have set sail without it’s crew. We did not have any drinks or wine selection but this restaurant appears to have the atmosphere for an enjoyable drink but I would not come back for the food.
The craftsman’s verdict: a well developed vision with a crew that doesn’t seem completely on board yet.
47/100
-The Uninvited Guest
Wonderful dinner last night at Norwood’s in New Smyrna Beach.
My son-in-law had never been to this restaurant before, so we chose to eat in the Treehouse section, which is up inside a beautiful, huge oak tree. They had live music playing, which was really nice.
We made reservations but ended up arriving a little early. They did not skip a beat and accommodated us immediately. We started out with a server named Sarah. She was very patient with us as we waffled back and forth on choices. We finally settled on an appetizer of zucchini bread. It was to die for. It was like having dessert first!
Before the main courses could be delivered, however, I heard rumbling, checked the radar on my phone, and saw that there was a thunderstorm coming. I asked the hostess if we would be allowed to go downstairs into the main restaurant, and that was immediately arranged.
Once downstairs, we had a second server named Kylie. She also didn’t skip a beat and made sure that our entrées got to us promptly. She was very attentive during dinner, as well as pleasant and helpful.
We had the fried shrimp, which was very delicately breaded and fried, and it was delicious. My son-in-law had the pork chop and commented on how flavorful the glaze on top was. We ended the dinner by sharing a piece of Oreo cheesecake, which was very good.
Norwood’s is one of my favorite restaurants. I have been coming here for years. In fact, I have been coming here since the 1960s, when the restaurant was a screened-in fish camp with bare concrete floors, Formica and chrome tables, and mismatched chairs. In those days, we went for the fingerling catfish.
It has changed so much through the years, but it remains one of the must-do experiences in New Smyrna Beach.