18 February 29 - March 6, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents dual hama jalapeño is a clean and simple roll with a double-decker of raw yellowfin tuna, avocado, jalapeño and siracha, all marinating in a shallow pool of yuzu ponzu sauce. What stuck out to us the most was how fresh the fish in each dish was. It’s flown in from around the world — salmon from New Zealand, tuna from Hawaii and everything else from Japan. You can tell with each bite that every ingredient is meticulous, from where it’s sourced to how it’s plated. The most popular dishes here, like the Shodo Roll ($53) and the bluefin tuna tower ($28), are sure to turn heads and earn brag- ging rights. At this point, it’s common law in Dallas for your dinner plans to be secured with a reserva- tion, so we were surprised to find a quiet din- ing room during our visit. Had we, for once, beaten all of the trendy influencers? It may be slow now, but once Instagram gets a hold of Shodo’s artistic plates and sleek dining room, reservations will be a hot commodity. Shodo Japanese Kitchen, 1628 Oak Lawn Ave., No. 110. Tuesday – Thursday, 5–9 p.m.; Friday – Saturday, 5–10 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday. ▼ FIRST LOOK THE FLIP SIDE B-SIDE COFFEE IN OAK CLIFF IS A HIPSTER COFFEE SHOP FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. BY CARLY MAY GRAVLEY B -Side Coffee, the latest spot to open in the Elmwood neighborhood in Oak Cliff, is not the kind of place where you’ll want to pop in, order a coffee and walk out. You’ll instantly be compelled to sit and sip your drink in its beautiful and relaxing lounge area and chat with other customers. Despite opening in early Febru- ary, the cafe already feels like a social hub of the neighborhood. Located in the spot previously occupied by Peaberry Coffees and owned by the build- ing’s landlords, Whitney and Caleb Marsh, B-Side Coffee is instantly notable for being the only cafe in Dallas that offers Big Bend Coffee Roasters, a line of organic and fair trade coffee from Marfa, Texas. B-Side serves a standard selection of cof- fee drinks (lattes, espresso, etc.) as well as specialty lattes like The Kennedy with sweet cream and whiskey flavoring. It also has a di- verse selection of syrups from common fa- vorites like vanilla to dulce de leche. There’s also tea, matcha and hot chocolate. The food menu is impressive as well, with breakfast tacos and sandwiches (like this massive chicken salad croissant sandwich) made in-house, as well as pastries and des- serts from local bakeries. Since they close at 7 p.m. — later than most coffee shops — they double as both a place to grab a cup of coffee in the morning and dessert after dinner. The first thing you see when you walk into the shop is a record player to your im- mediate right and a solid selection of al- bums. The baristas are chatty and down to talk about what’s new with both B-Side and the happenings in the surrounding neigh- borhood. If you tell them where you just had dinner, for instance, they want to hear about what you ate and how you liked it. We were also greeted by Whitney Marsh, one of the owners who invited us to check out the lounge and dining area. Everything about the space is thoughtfully curated, from the ornate floral wallpaper to the trinkets on the shelves. There are corners where you can work and study, a long table to hang out with friends and even a corner with toys and an adorable, Wes Anderson-esque tent for kids. A projector played chill lo-fi compila- tions when we were there, but the lounge would also be the perfect place to throw a movie night if they’re ever so inclined. In short, there’s something for everyone here. And judging by our interaction with Marsh, who chatted with us about the neighborhood and her hopes for this busi- ness while we had our coffee, that’s the idea: a coffee shop for both the whole family and the whole community. B-Side Coffee is newly open and is adjust- ing its hours and menu items they go. You can follow them on Instagram for updates. B-Side Coffee, 2105 Edgefield Ave. 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Courtesy of B-Side Coffee The interior design is almost as warm and inviting as the coffee itself. City of Ate from p17 •WELCOME DRINK UPON ENTRY •ACCESS TO VIP LOUNGE WITH EXCLUSIVE VIP ONLY RESTAURANTS •VIP PRIVATE BAR & VIP RESTROOMS BE VIP BE VIP Saturday, MARCH 2nd DALLAS CITY HALL PLAZA A D BRUNCH EVENT UNLIMITED BRUNCH BITES & SIPS FROM THE HOTTEST BRUNCH SPOTS
