Skewers News

Dallas Middle Eastern restaurant Nora makes triumphant return

Nora Middle Eastern

Nora

A beloved Dallas Middle Eastern restaurant is back: Nora Restaurant and Bar, which closed its location in Bishop Arts in May, has found a new home.

The acclaimed eatery from chef-owner Matt Pikar will re-open at Sylvan Thirty, in the former Whisk Crepes space at 1888 Sylvan Rd. #F120. According to Pikar, it'll open in early fall.

Nora closed its location at 205 N. Bishop Ave. after six years, once the lease expired in May. (The space will soon be home to Elia, a Greek restaurant from the owners behind Selda Mediterranean.)

Bishop Arts was a second location for Nora, which originally opened in 2012 at 1928 Greenville Ave. in the space that's now home to Hide bar. Nora relocated to Bishop Arts in 2019.

Pikar also owned a restaurant called Afghan Grill, which he opened in 2007 and closed once the lease was up in 2014.

Nora was famous for dishes like chicken korma, dolma, ginger shrimp ceviche, and steamed beef dumplings with yogurt and tomato sauce, plus stews, kebabs, and lamb chops.

Some of those dishes will definitely remain. But Pikar says he'll be unveiling a new and upgraded version of Nora, with a focus on tapas-style dishes, burgers, and a seasonal menu.

"We want to do small plates and change the menu every four months to include continental food and burgers," he says. "We want to offer food for everybody, whether they want pasta or a burger."

He'll also have a full bar with cocktails such as the orange blossom margarita with orange blossom water, agave syrup, basil, and mint; or the chai carajillo with chai, Licor 43, espresso, and rum.

Whisk Crepes had been in the space since 2015, but relocated to 408 W. 8th St. #102 in Bishop Arts in January. A little trading places going on.

Pikar chose Sylvan Thirty because he wanted to stay close to his regular customers.

“We’re a neighborhood restaurant, so a lot of people from Kessler Park, Bishop Arts, and downtown come here,” Pikar says.

bishop arts openings

Closing News

Longtime Dallas restaurant Sevy's Grill to close after nearly 30 years

Photo courtesy of Sevy's Grill

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A longtime Dallas restaurant is closing in 2026: Sevy's Grill, which has been open at 8201 Preston Rd. near Preston Center for nearly 30 years, will close on June 27, 2026.

According to a release from the owners, they're closing due to what appears to be an increase in rent.

"After months of negotiations, we were not able to come to a mutually beneficial agreement for our fourth 10-year lease," the post said.

The restaurant is located in Preston Sherry Plaza, which was acquired in September 2025 by Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate. Somebody gotta foot the bill.

Sevy's says they are looking at other locations.

"Our focus now is to finish these next 6+ months taking care of our guests and staff at the same caring level we built our brand on: Warm, professional service, consistently good food and a comfortable ambiance where the guest is always first," the post says. "First on our list of priorities is taking care of our guests in December and all the wonderful celebrations of family, friends and business groups. We do still have some availability for reservations, including our last New Years Eve at Preston Sherry. Come celebrate with us as the exciting anticipation of a new year for all of us."

"Our second priority will be the search for a new location to continue doing what we love," they said. "We are already reviewing possible sites and will keep everyone updated regularly."

Owned by chef Jim "Sevy" Severson and his wife Amy Severson, the restaurant has long been a neighborhood favorite with a lively bar scene, and was nominated in CultureMap's 2018 Tastemaker Awards for Best Neighborhood Restaurant. They were a frequent choice for winemaker events and are also known for the longevity of their staff.

"Eight team members have been with us all 29+ years, with an average tenure in the kitchen of 15+ years and a Management team that you all know," their post said. "Come support our staff as we celebrate the next 6+ months.Thank you again for your support through all the normal challenges of running a restaurant as well as economic downturns, market bubbles, Y2K, and of course the COVID era. As I tell my family and friends to “enjoy the ride in life”, wow, what an amazing ride it has been for us! And as always, Sevy’s Grill is here for you."