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From top: Fritto Misto, edamame hummus at Norman's Japanese Grill. The sushi bar at Norman's. B enji Homsey and Chas Martin — the minds behind Duro Hospitality's brilliant eateries The Charles, Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante, and Sister, among others — have consistently opened standout restaurants that are transportive. Their British-inspired concept, The Chumley House, opened in Fort Worth last fall, and the experience has stayed with us all year. Thus we anticipated all the more Duro's next Dallas restaurant, Norman's Japanese Grill, a Western-inspired Japanese raw bar and grill in a cozy, playful setting. Here's the backstory, according to the Duro minds: "Norman's is based on a story about a WWII veteran from Texas, who was stationed in Japan during the postwar U.S. occupation. There, Norman fell in love — with the Norman's Japanese Grill The Latest Cool Restaurant from Duro Hospitality Corbin See and Ross See of Sees Design, the 3,100-square-foot space has seating for 70, a seven- seat sushi bar and sunken bar, and outdoor patio. It's meant to feel like a lived- in home built over time — specifically by Norman — and is drenched in hues of bone, tobacco, sumi ink, oxblood, and indigo. One can sense the Kyoto ryokan meets Marfa bunkhouse atmosphere that Corbin See describes. N o r m a n 's h a s a n extensive menu of sushi, handrolls, small plates, crudo, and noodles, but the heart of the restaurant is the open kitchen with its Argentinian-style wood- fired grill and traditional Japanese charcoal robata. We recommend starting with the edamame hummus ($14). Served with wonton chips sprinkled with shichimi togarashi and topped with a plum chutney, it's the perfect mix of sweet and salty with a kick of spice. The Korean fried chicken is another favorite small plate with chef Benjamin Norton's mother's gochujang recipe and pickles ($19). For sushi, we opted for the fatty bluefin tuna - Otoro with shredded foie gras ($16 to $36) and smoked king salmon nigiri ($9 to $26), as well as the Oh' Godzilla handroll — a delightful bluefin tartare, hokkaido uni, and Ossetra caviar creation ($18). Handrolls come with a piece of nori and a little cartoon depicting how to use the nori to enjoy your bite. "Don't Overthink It" is the first step. Since it's Duro, there are three noodle dishes on the menu: corn and miso ravioli ($21), shrimp and longaniza sausage dumplings ($24), and udon carbonara ($25). Of the three desserts ($14 each), we tried two. The Japanese cheesecake with yuzu cream, mango, Asian pear, and cocoa crispies was a standout. Ube ice cream with pickled cherries is a light but flavorful option. And we'll be returning to try the dark chocolate gelato with Castella cake, candied gooseberry, matcha foam, and matcha tuile — and maybe we'll bring Norman. Norman's Japanese Grill, 4002 Oak Lawn Ave., normansjapanese.com. By Megan Ziots. Photography Samantha Marie. "If John Wayne were to design a Japanese restaurant, this would be it." — Chas Martin country, its cuisine, its craft, and most importantly, a woman. This neighborhood spot is a Wes Anderson-inspired homage to his extensive travels and nostalgic memories of his Texas roots." Designed by Duro Hospitality partners 60