Nora Restaurant & Bar

Hidden gem in Bishop Arts. I’ve been a couple times now and the food nor their unique cocktails have missed. Pro tip for dog hoomans: order the lamb shank because it comes with a huge bone that your dog will love. There’s also a patio seating with a window that puts you right at the bar; great way to enjoy a beautiful day. The service of the bartender is also excellent- friendly and engaging even when juggling a lot. Very cute, chic vibe on the inside. Would be great for meeting some friends or a date. May be tough for groups as there aren’t many tables that can be brought together.

Nora is an upscale, beautiful restaurant in a very neat, fun, walkable little part of Dallas. Lots of cool little bars and shops around. It's a bit pricey, but I have zero regrets about going there. The food was delicious and different than anything I've had. I thought maybe it would be like Persian food, Mediterranean, maybe similar to Indian? It is all of those, but much different than I imagined. Everything was delicious. It was a great cultural experience. If you like experiencing different foods and new things instead of the same texmex, etc, this is for you!

By the time I get to Nora, I didn’t really realize that they were getting ready to close in about an hour after our arrival. I ordered food for my table and truly enjoyed the food, but I kept thinking about the Baklava that was on the menu. Unfortunately, as I was getting ready to order the dreamy Baklava, I realized that they were closing the restaurant. So, our server kept insisting that I should order the Baklava anyways. However, I really didn’t want to keep them waiting while I eat my dessert. So, I kindly declined. As I was sharing my disappointment with the rest of my table, I was telling them about Eleven Maddison Park, a New York City Restaurant that is famous for going above and beyond for their guests. To my surprise, as our server is bringing my check back, she casually just drops my Baklava in a Togo box with my receipt. You really don’t need to go to NY to experience that kind of care and attention. You can easily find it in Dallas! I highly recommend Nora!

Prime location in the eclectic Bishop Arts with a bit of parking behind it, the decor for this Afghan/Middle Easter/Indian restaurant is pleasant, as is the food presentation. The selection is obviously wide, though not deep. It is an interesting choice and good for small groups of friends, but rather average korma and Indian appetizer plate, which seemed to want a bit more attention to the spices. Qabili palao was lovely and their most unique dish.

We got the sampler, chicken on skewer, lamb korma, spicy chicken meatballs, simmered spinach over rice and a few other dishes. The place is beautifully decorated. The dishes well presented. The dining chairs are amazingly comfortable. Since the dishes are similar to the Nepalese Indian fare that my family frequently have, we couldn’t help comparing. I’m afraid Nora is no rival to our hometown Srinagar, but certainly not bad in anyway. We enjoyed our lunch enough.

The Ghabili palao I ordered was simply delicious. The flavors were rich and well-balanced, and the tender lamb complemented the fragrant saffron rice perfectly. The Chicken with Yogurt was absolute delight too. The cocktail was both unique and significant, crafted with care and attention to detail. I also tried Mantoo as the starter. It tasted unlike anything I had tried before. Although it was good but I may not be certain about having it again at this point.