Sunday, October 24, 2010

Nova

NOVA is another new restaurant in the gentrified Oak Cliff area, just a short distance from other greats such as Bolsa and Tillmans in the Bishops Arts district.

It has a casual 50s diner feel, I had heard it was an old dairy queen in years gone by and more recently Kavala which had closed before I got chance to visit.
However Kavala chef Kelly Hightower eventually replaced the spot with Nova and foodies have been talking about this "gastro pub" since it opened 8 weeks ago.

We had a birthday party of nine which would cause seating problems in this new and popular place thanks to the no reservations policy. (grrrrrr) However, the feisty Scottish co-owner, John, kept us entertained and in the loop throughout the wait..... the well stocked bar and impressive wine list helped a lot too.
I would return just for their Pimms cup. Yummy
Once seated the drinks kept flowing. Now a dj had set up playing quiet trance tunes whilst SKYY vodka girls handed out free samples and they could do no wrong.
happy!

Well not quite. There were a few blips on the landscape as appetizers threatened to dampen our initial buzz. First they were out of hummus,and the chorus of disappointed groans (we were hungry after our wait) attracted Scottish Johns attention. A moment later they had whipped up a fresh batch of hummus to calm the masses (and impress me).
But wait..next there were no Mussels either and our expectations for the rest of the evening started to plummet
We sat back, downed a few more SKYY infusions and expected the worst.

How wonderful it is to be proved wrong. Dish after dish of amazing (and I mean amazing) foods arrived making us all OOooOo and AhhhHHHhh throughout the remaining evening.
The appetizers that did arrive included the Blow Torch Salmon with Yuzu Miso Glaze ($9) which melted in my mouth and the House Smoked Salmon Potato Skins Horseradish Creme Fraiche ($7) putting the gastro well and truly into the pub!

Blow torch salmon and house smoked salmon potato skins
As for the entrees:
People who have travelled to Japan exclaimed that the Tempura Udon with Shaved Sirloin, Tempura Mushrooms and Vidalia Onions ($12) blew away even their culinary experiences in Asia. The
Grilled Center Cut Pork Chop with Tomato Sage Brown Butter and Stone Ground Heirloom Grits $21 impressed hubby into silence, bar the occasional lip-smacking
My Jamaican Beer Can Chicken ($14) was quite simple delicious.

Jamaican beer can chicken
The chicken was moist and tender, the jerk spice had a nice kick and the coconut rice and (fruit) salsa was the perfect accompaniment.
John checked on us throughout the meal and it felt like he genuinely cared that we had the best experience possible...which we really did!
I would recommend this new joint to anyone and I will most certainly return, especially as remodelling of the patio continues and seating will get easier, as I'm assuming the  popularity of Nova will not lessen any time soon!


Nova on Urbanspoon

4 comments:

  1. Susan Im not a "fruit on food" fan . I never order the pineapple pizza! But this just WORKED!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well from one brit girl to another ..pineapple on pizza is just plain wrong this food looks great.I'm at the Drum and Monkey in Harrogate this weekend, listed in Tatlers fave restaurants outside london, will let you know how I get on x

    ReplyDelete
  3. I want the pork! I'm glad things worked out well.
    John sounds like a bonny lad (hehe)

    ReplyDelete