Sweet & sour bite-sized reviews
By Brooklyn Rodgers | September 25, 2025 | 4:08 PM
Inspired by Brian Reinhart’s D Magazine “Rants and Raves”, and thanks to my newly overloaded schedule, I present Bite-Sized Reviews. Despite my inexcusable absence here (a blog I only hold myself loosely accountable to), I haven’t stopped eating. If anything, marathon training (catch me in December at the BMW Marathon) has me eating more than ever- about a million calories a day- and forming even more half-baked, passionate takes on Dallas haunts, both new and old.
Disastrous Mouthfeel at Norman’s Japanese Grill
I wanted to love Norman’s. The Western-Japanese mashup felt right up my alley: I love anything Western design (see: my apartment) and thought it could be a fun twist like Las Palmas’ cowboy décor.
The problem with Duro Hospitality is that while their concepts and interiors sell, the execution doesn’t. Sister and El Carlos Elegante left me the same way Norman’s did-disappointed. The service is forgettable, as in they forget about you, and the food, though good in theory, often falters despite the stunning Marcelo Andres plateware.
The corn & miso ravioli arrived lukewarm for both me and my dining partner. The corn-cheese combo was fine, but without any acidity, it fell flat, and by ravioli three, we were over it. That’s forgivable- I’ll happily pay $26 for handmade pasta, even if it’s lackluster. The real crime? The garnish of dried peas. Each bite of soft, semi-cold ravioli was accompanied by the very real fear of crunching into a rock-hard, flavorless pea. One of the worst mouthfeels of 2025.
Elsewhere, the nigiri was solid but high priced, and the handroll diagram was unnecessary and patronizing (just let the server explain it, which they do in addition to the cheesy printout).
Verdict: I’ll keep my loyalty to The Charles, but the rest of Duro’s offspring is off my list.
Mango Sticky Rice Ice Cream at Van Leeuwen’s
As a mango sticky rice superfan, I was fiending for this feature. Sadly, this flavor is nothing special. Instead of a bright mango sorbet swirl, it’s a dairy-based mango flavor that loses the tartness needed to balance the creamy coconut “rice” flavor. Next time, I’ll stick to Botolino, where one scoop mango sorbet + one scoop anything white beats out Van Leeuwen’s a million to one.
Dorilocos Nachos and Tacos at Ruins
Ruins’ hype isn’t new, but worth restating: there’s no better late-night food in Dallas. The Dorilocos nachos: meat, veggies, cheese sauce, all in the bag, are life-changing. Add tacos, and you’ve got the city’s best after-midnight meal.
The Standard Pour takes second place in late-night eats purely because their food is hot and salty, but for flavor, Ruins wins- even if Deep Ellum’s construction and 10pm road closures make it harder to get there.
Draft Beer + Hot Honey Flatbread at Bar W
Pizza and beer are a simple joy. On Bar W’s patio, with fall creeping in, it’s unbeatable. The hot honey pepperoni flatbread is indulgent and borderline healthy because of the honey. Bonus: the chicken Caesar salad is its sexy skinny cousin.
$18 Sandwiches at Georgie Butcher Shop
As a newfound sandwich lover, Georgie Butcher Shop pisses me off. $18 for a small, shitty sandwich? Their “spicy” chicken salad isn’t mildly spicy or even flavored. I fed some to my wiener dog, Fish, who agrees.
For a place with fewer than a handful of sandwich options, they deliver on none of them. If you are a true chicken salad lover, the Cajun Chicken Salad sandwich at Trades Deli on the other planet that is Bishop Arts might just be worth the interplanetary travel.
One Million Dips at The Standard Pour
Shoutout again to The Standard Pour: hot food, often fried, and more dipping sauces than anyone needs (three kinds of tomato sauce alone). The perfect spot for dining while blacked.
The Bam Bam at Kith
I’ll be sad (but not surprised) when Kith inevitably closes before its lease is up. Until then, the Bam Bam soft serve- cold, creamy, and loaded with crunchy cereal bits- has me hooked. Bonus: It’s currently the only fresh ice cream in Knox Park. Cauldron doesn’t count, because rose-shaped ice cream is a bastardization of dairy that should not exist.
Exactly Three Porn Star Martinis at Milli
Milli is saved! Yes, I signed the petition. If there weren’t bad clubs worth saving in Dallas, there wouldn’t be any clubs at all. I love Milli in the post-ironic, non-ironic way: there is no more fun than getting a $30 Porn Star Martini and spilling it all over their tiny dance floor while you think about why you waited so long to get in, and where the hell you’re going next. (Spoiler: not Lowest Greenville). Probably home.
Anything at Bowen House
Especially during their Happy Hour, which is probably also the only time you can get a seat as a walk-in here. I love how bothered the staff appears to be to seating you, serving you, and interacting with you in general. I love that they have a sort of secret backroom the size of my laundry room, but with cloud wallpaper like a bizarre nursery. Spoiler: the backroom is about as exclusive as Double D’s VIP list. Just call and ask for a reservation.
That’s a taste of what I’ve been eating and drinking to close out summer. If there’s nothing to complain about, there’s nothing to write about. Cheers!
Brooklyn in Dallas 