Norman's Japanese Grill — Restaurant in Dallas

I waited to review Norman’s until I’d had a second dining experience, which came last night. I have to say, there was a sharp contrast between my first and second visits when it comes to service and hospitality.

On my first visit I sat indoors, and the service was impeccable—like the team had trained for this exact scenario, size, and scope. The patio was closed due to the temperature that evening, so everything felt perfectly dialed in.

Last night we chose the patio, and the difference was obvious. Like many patios, it felt as though we were a bit forgotten out there. We ordered four small plates; they arrived quickly and were excellent, but water refills lagged and it took about fifteen minutes after we finished before anyone came back to take our next order. By the time they returned, I didn’t even want to order anything else.

Now, about the food. Despite the service issues during the second visit, the dishes were excellent on both trips. The Carbonara Udon remains a favorite, as do the skewers and the meatballs. I’m not usually a fan of pay-per-bite sushi, but my lady is, and we tried several of those bites—each one tasty but offering little to no real sustenance.

The one thing I still haven’t had is the 20-ounce steak with optional nori butter. I’ve heard it’s one of, if not the, best items on the menu. I do a lot of big presentation steaks at home, so I have to be in the right mood for a restaurant steak, but I’ll make a point of coming back specifically for that—and I’ll be sure to sit inside for the full experience.

If you love Duro Hospitality, you should definitely come here. Just be ready to wait for an indoor table or plan on a 90-minute patio experience where you’re in no rush.

One last note: the valet is an absolute disaster. The lanes for parking and moving cars are far too narrow and it’s a total cluster. I drove my brand-new 911 last night, and they parked it who knows where—it took fifteen minutes to get my car even though I texted for it ten minutes before leaving. My suggestion: use a ride share, hire a driver, or park on the street and walk if you want to avoid a parking experience that can crush the evening.

Overall? Norman’s is unique, tasty, and fun. I just didn’t love the big variance between my two visits, and there isn’t anything on the menu (yet) that calls me back for frequent visits like some of my other favorites. Still, it’s absolutely worth your time and dollars...

A fun Texas twist to some Japanese classics.

We stayed on the app menu during our time, and everything we had was delicious! Thank you to Austin for all the great recommendations- we were never steered in the wrong direction.

The hummus and gyoza chips were the perfect start- don’t underestimate their ability to pack a little kick. But still just as delicious! I will say, for the amount of hummus you get compared to the chips- you may need to ask for more chips. :)

The Korean chicken was SO GOOD as well- not sweet and the sauce was super light so it didn’t drown out the flavor of the chicken. These packed the perfect punch of spice but matched perfectly with my drink. This plate is a perfect shareable for three people!

The octopus and steak screwers were amazing. Dare I say I liked the octopus more?! They were sold out of the chicken, so this forced us to be more adventurous- and we were pleasantly rewarded.

The asparagus and beans were an added touch. The sauce on the asparagus was light and sweet. The char on the beans added a nice smoky flavor and Texas charm.

The dumplings were by far my favorite- amazing! If you are not into spice, this is perfect for you.

The drinks were very delicious and unique. There is something for everyone. If you are into sweet, they have it. If you have a whisky wish, they have it. If you need a nice glass of wine- they have a wide selection. We also tried some of their sake as well.

Lastly, and quite possibly the best part of every meal, dessert!! We ordered the cheesecake and the chocolate ice cream. The ice cream had a pear pairing and it was super delicate! The cheesecake was paired with a crunchy-chocolaty side that gave it a more crunchy texture. Both were amazing and we devoured these even after eating all our apps.

Beyond the apps, they have a a beautiful list of sushi options. Even though we didn’t have any, I could over hear people discussing how delicious those dishes were.

Overall, the atmosphere was perfect and fun for a Friday Night near downtown. Not too loud on a completely full night. The managers rounded on us frequently. Each dish that was delivered to our table was introduced, so we knew exactly what we were getting and the overall flavors were unique. If you are looking for something different, yet fulfilling, this is a fun stop to visit with friends or congregate after a day in the office.

Will...

We got very lucky and just dove into the last three available seats and had a great time dining at the bar in the thick of the action. I like that this small venue is both warm and lively at the same time. Our service was attentive and shared details on the array of items we ordered as we wandered around the menu and shared orders. This is definitely an experiential dining procession, and it’s best to try and put n your whole order, as u can add later if u want. Temps were good, crispness in right places and freshness abounds. We really enjoyed all the twists and turns in their unique takes on some traditional offerings, but I wouldn’t personally look to this sitdown as my go-to sushi house, as it’d b like having having caviar, escargot, lobster tail and crème brûlée every night…it’s just that rich, savory and decadent with every bite here. Not a bad thing when ur aiming to go big, but wow they pack it all in w every bite. A small example would be the nigiri, where even the sticky rice will be accented w herbals or citrus, so your not going to know what’s coming w each new slice of the seas coming ur way. Admittedly, I’m prolly a bit more traditional sashimi and nigiri type, where the freshness and flavor profile of the fishies are what I’m interested in most, but this joint is definitely a place to experience when ur interested in getting out of the usual lane. If I had any preferences to share it’d be to find a way to deliver more moisture in the meatballs, and to stay away from any mayo-esk contraptions on the sides…ur flavor profiles are too dang creative for that. What a night…glad we made it by…thanks...