Many accolades have followed since Petra and the Beast’s opening in 2017 in a converted gas station: Esquire’s Best New Restaurant list in 2018, the Bon Appetit Top 50 Restaurant list for 2019 and several James Beard nominations including Best New Restaurant, two nominations for Best Chef: Texas in 2022 and finalist for that same award in 2024.
In her post, Norris notes that the larger space she moved into in Lakewood in 2023 changed the dynamics of her concept. Looking forward, she will focus on her "core values as a chef and a team" instead of meeting the demands of a larger audience.
The Dallas Observer named her Best Chef in 2022, cited her allium fried chicken thigh as one of the best things we ate in 2024 and has consistently placed Petra on the annual list of Best 100 Restaurants in Dallas, to name just a few examples of the local and national acclaim both Norris and Petra and the Beast have received.
Originally, Norris thought her restaurant might last six months; instead, we all were privileged to enjoy seven years of house-cured meats, handmade pasta and unique and creative use of fermented fresh and locally sourced ingredients. We can’t wait to see what Norris’ next iteration will be, and we anxiously await what will come after a hopefully brief hiatus from the North Texas culinary scene.
