Nora Restaurant And Bar - Dallas

Attentive service, delicious aromen, warm fire in the fireplace. excellent dining experience overall.

I went to Nora about a year ago and loved the food. Everything was terrific. This time, in early Nov., not so much. Some of the problems were not the restaurant's fault. Our host chose the wine and the starter. He selected the appetizer sampler. It was heavy and just OK. We were not given the option to choose a salad or any fresh vegetables. I would have preferred some veggies to the sampler. Our wine was champagne which was good, but did not enhance the food. My entree had lamb and eggplant with rice in a strong sauce. I could only eat about 1/3 of it and took home the rest. There I added tomato, green onions and spinach. That made it better. Also I had some mango chutney on the side. That added some sweetness and vinegar to the heavy dish. The green, liquid chutney at Nora is good, but acidic. I like both sweet and sour tastes when eating Middle Eastern food. Nora's Afghan bread was wonderful. A fellow dining companion had a chicken kebob with red bell pepper and red onion. The onion was not well cooked, too raw for her to eat. I might go back and order for myself to give Nora another chance. The first time it was so good. Come to think of it, our server was not helpful in suggesting the dishes that went well together, which would have maximized our dining experience. I don't think she knew what she was selling. Afghan food is not common in Dallas. We have to be educated. Both times I went to Nora the owner was there, sitting at a table. He could have been be involved in explaining Nora's food to diners and the cultural history. Lost opportunity, in my opinion. Afghan food is wonderful, if you know what you are choosing and eating. The decor of Nora has a few interesting pieces that appear to be Afghan. Pointing these unusual objects out, and describing them, would help diners to appreciate the dining experience more. The Dallas restaurant business is competitive. Selling your product and personalizing it is essential.

Food was good, but the service was very sub-par. It was a relatively unbusy time in the restaurant with 8+ open tables. Yet, they still sat us in the very back, most undesirable table by the restroom (and we had a reservation). Then, our server was inattentive and had to be flagged down more than once to refill water and wine. He also spilled the coffee as he was setting it down and didn't offer to clean up or get a new one.

My husband and I ate at Nora last week. We had heard wonderful things and it mostly lived up to the hype. The Kabul Mule was an amazing cocktail the cardamom vodka was a real delight! The restaurant was not super packed, so we were surprised with both our appetizers arrived and were practically cold. However, the braised lamb shank we split for dinner was beyond outstanding. While we were disappointed in the temperature of our apps, the overall experience was delicious and we would recommend this restaurant to anyone.

I was a little apprehensive when my fiancé said he wanted to try this restaurant that serves Afghan food! However I was totally surprised the food was excellent and the cocktails were amazing! You definitely have a new customer!