Duro Hospitality, the award-winning hospitality group behind a selection of Dallas’ most acclaimed restaurants (The Charles, Sister, Mister Charles, El Carlos Elegante), is set to unveil its newest concept Norman’s Japanese Grill, on Friday, August 1 in the heart of Dallas’ Oak Lawn neighborhood at 4002 Oak Lawn Ave, Dallas, TX 75219. Playful, imaginative, and rooted in reverence, Norman’s is a Western-inspired Japanese raw bar and grill that was influenced by the Duro Founders’ deep admiration for Japanese food and culture.
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 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.
Duro Co-Founders Chas Martin and Benji Homsey, have a long-shared love for the cuisine and culture of Japan, frequently seeking out restaurants from the region for both inspiration and enjoyment. “We wanted this to feel like the kind of restaurant someone like Norman would build with his own hands over time—something honest and full of soul,” says Homsey, “This is our tribute to both Western and Eastern cultures.”
The 3,100-square-foot space was designed to feel both inviting and architecturally thoughtful. Inside, guests will find seating for 70, including a 7-seat sushi bar, with an additional 35 seats available on the charming outdoor patio featuring an indoor/outdoor bar. One of the standout design elements is the sunken bar, a subtle detail often seen in traditional Japanese interiors.
At the heart of the restaurant is an open kitchen that brings two cooking traditions together: a large Argentinian-style wood-fired grill and a traditional Japanese charcoal robata. Guests can expect a dynamic mix of freshly prepared sashimi, handrolls and playful nigiri from the irreverent raw program, balanced by skewers straight off the charcoal robata and larger cuts of meats from the hickory wood-fired grill.
It’s a genre-defying menu that is technically excellent, yet it maintains a sense of levity and joy.
“If John Wayne were to open a Japanese restaurant this would be it.” says Co-Founder Chas Martin. “Incredible quality, yes, but not stuffy. Norman’s is all about that space in between elegance and ease—and making it feel like a true neighborhood spot where people can drop in often.”
The design of Norman’s is equally expressive, curated by See’s Design, led by Duro Hospitality Partners, Corbin and Ross See. Inspired by the aesthetic duality of the American West and post-war Japan, the space feels like a home that’s been lived in, collected over decades. The color palette is restrained—bone, tobacco, sumi ink, oxblood, and indigo—evoking both kimono dyes and cowboy boots.
Corbin See explains, “Think Kyoto ryokan meets Marfa bunkhouse. The materials are worn-in and layered: blackened steel, hand-planed wood, lacquered finishes, and vintage textiles. The interiors of Norman’s feel like a personal collection—curated over time by a man who once carried a leather-bound journal and a Nikon rangefinder.”
With Norman’s, Duro Hospitality continues its tradition of creating concept-driven spaces that feel both transportive and deeply rooted in place. It’s a restaurant built on story, craft, and character—a marriage of two cultures the Duro founders admire. Through thoughtful design, an inventive menu, and a spirit of cultural reverence, Norman’s offers something entirely its own: a neighborhood gathering place that feels familiar and surprising all at once.
Norman’s Japanese Grill will be open for dinner from 4pm to 10pm and 11pm on weekends. To make a reservation, please visit OpenTable.
About Duro Hospitality
Duro Hospitality is an award-winning Dallas-based hospitality firm renowned for creating distinctive, inspiring concepts in the hospitality industry. With a focus on operations, concept development, and design, Duro specializes in creating exceptional restaurants, bars, and hotels that elevate every aspect of the guest experience.
Founded in 2020 by visionary partners, Benji Homsey, Chas Martin, J Chastain, Corbin See and Ross See, the Duro team brings a wealth of expertise and experience to each project, while committed to creating concepts that are both innovative and timeless.
Duro’s current portfolio includes The Charles, Bar Charles, Sister, El Carlos Elegante, Café Duro, Casa Duro, Sister, Mister Charles and Norman’s, in Dallas – as well as The Chumley House in Fort Worth. In 2024, Casa Duro earned a coveted Michelin Key, while Mister Charles and El Carlos Elegante were recognized as Michelin-recommended restaurants.
Norman’s Japanese Grill
4002 Oak Lawn Ave | Dallas, TX | 469-960-6544
