Perro Blanco — Restaurant in Norfolk

What it's not: an authentic Mexican cuisine experience What it might be: an attempt to capitalize on a current cultural trend of mezcals and tequilas.

Nestled next to Toast in the railroad district, upon entering the vibes are immaculate. Walking through the outdoor entrance you find yourself in a small court yard with scattered flora and outdoor seating complete with repurposed cargo containers and various unique seating arrangements. It felt social and warm and beckoned you to share a quiet relaxing night out with friends or that special someone.

Once inside, the mood is mellow. The low lighting, the choice of lighting, the colors, all mesh well to create an environment that, while not distinctly Hispanic or Latino, tells you that was the intention.

The bar, as in most places, was the epicenter of activity. Grab a menu, pick your drinks and food, and order from the bartender. The bar was nice with wooden counter tops, corrugated metal siding, low lighting, decent decorations, and a neatly organized and expansive selection of spirits. The bartenders were delightful and knowledgeable at their craft.

We started with the "Flaming Motorbike Cage of Death" which had a Serrano pepper liqueur that was subtle yet brought the heat. Definitely a highlight of the night. And, a "New Boot Goofin" which was bartenders choice and ended up being a rum twist on an old fashioned that was underwhelming. For food we started with the Carnitas tacos and Chicken Tinga tacos all the way including pickled red onion, guacamole, and salsa verde. While good, they were nothing to write home about.

For our second round we ordered an Aperol Pupper and a chocolate martini (a tradition when eating out with my partner). The Aperol Pupper was a typical Aperol spritz with not much to note. The chocolate martini, while not on the menu, was something the bartender was delighted to make and did not disappoint with. It was not cream based, which is what we look for. While I don't know the exact ingredients used, it had strong but subtle chocolate and orange notes and was finished with a spritz of spiced cacao.

We finished up with an order of chips and queso (which might be one of the best quesos I've ever had).

Overall the service was amazing. There was a mix up with our order and the cook came out and apologized and offered to fix our order free of charge (although the bartender later added it to our tab). The bartenders were lively and knowledgeable making cocktails that were good and heavily focused on, of course, mezcal and tequila.

If you're looking to experience decent Mexican food and take part in the mezcal trend, this spot does the job. Just don't expect to be blown away or...

I am a fan of the owner's brands and frequent them regularly. Last night, however, Perro Blanco was soulless, dull, lacking, and pricey.

In detail, my guest and I were not greeted. Intuitively, we walked to the bar, where we found three disconnected Gen Z’s. One offered, “You order your food here, and what do you want to drink?” After ordering, we were provided a number and sought a table.

Our meals arrived soon after our drinks, followed by our dishes. Our server was utterly unengaged, offering no enthusiastic description of the food or its Ingredients.

My dish, the charred Romaine salad, was cold and lifeless, the same for my black bean side. My guest's miniature taco was presented in a plate absent any garnish and served lukewarm.

Another aspect that we pondered was the lack of music for two-thirds of our visit. Eventually, when played, the music lacked all connection to the interior’s theme and was barely audible.

We had to motion a server over to order more drinks when, after interacting with the adjacent table, she headed back to the bar without even glancing at us; our table’s dirty dishes pushed to the side, or our empty glasses.

After my guest lamented about the experience, I offered, it’s not the help’s fault, it’s a lack of training by management.

The highlight was the drinks, Palomas.

Regarding value, our four drinks and two appetizers, with a tip, totaled $92+.

In retrospect, Toast would have been the...

Perro Blanco is a new favorite for me in the Railroad District. It's a hidden restaurant and bar that feels like a discovery. (I wasn't even sure if it was open when I first arrived.)

Great tacos and cocktails - all tequila based with mezcal as an option if smokey is your thing. The carnitas was my favorite. They also have great vegetarian options that don't feel like a modification of an existing dish. I didn't try the rice and beans taco, but the oyster mushroom tinga was a great pick.

The hipster details are fun, with a corner mural that makes you a butterfly. Overall, this a place you can hang out at for a while if you decide to migrate from dinner to sipping a drink outside - either gathered around a fire in one of several burn barrels, or hiding away in a shipping container.

This is a great place to close out your visit to Veil Brewing across the street, or even enjoy a cocktail before dinner at Toast next door.

Just one down side - the chips and salsa are fine. Nothing to get too excited about there, but hey at $1.75, that's okay.

FYI: If you need anything before you arrive, you can text the restaurant, and they're...