Netflix Bites — Review by Mikey Chen
Dallas, United States — American/Fusion
Mike Chen visits Netflix Bites, a themed restaurant featuring dishes inspired by Netflix shows, located in Dallas. Despite initial skepticism about gimmick-based dining, he found the food surprisingly excellent - the onion dip, smash burger, and especially the pickle pizza from Chef's Table were all standout items. The afternoon tea service with quality pastries and friendly staff rounded out a positive experience that exceeded expectations.
What was great: Onion dip with caramelized and crispy onions, smash burger with crispy edges and melted cheese, pickle pizza with potato chips and dill, scones and pastries, attentive and nice staff
What could improve: Cucumber sandwich was just okay, need to be a Netflix fan to fully appreciate the themed experience
The Dishes
The menu at Netflix Bites is cleverly themed around various Netflix properties, but the food itself delivers genuine quality. The onion dip appetizer, inspired by the film Glass Onion, features a generous amount of both crunchy and caramelized onions mixed into a creamy dip. Served with crispy chips, it surpassed expectations as a surprisingly excellent appetizer. The WWE Smashburger is a double patty creation with melted cheese and crispy edges that rival many dedicated burger joints. The crust is perfectly seared and the cheese is gooey, making it a genuinely impressive smash burger.
The standout dish is an unconventional pickle pizza with fresh dill, potato chips, and caramelized onions, featuring a recipe from Chef Ann Kim of Chef's Table. The brick oven crust is airy and crispy with a well-developed undercarriage. Topped generously with parmesan cheese that adds a nutty flavor, the combination of crunchy chips, crispy pickles, sweet caramelized onions, and aromatic dill creates a surprisingly harmonious and delicious pizza that works better than expected.
The Bridgerton afternoon tea service includes cucumber sandwiches, smoked salmon cream cheese sandwiches, fresh scones with jam and butter, a banana caramel tart, and black tea. While the sandwiches are merely adequate, the scones are genuinely impressive and homemade-quality, and the pastries are excellent. This should ideally be ordered before heavier foods to properly appreciate the delicate flavors.
The Experience
Netflix Bites occupies a unique venue with multiple floors and interactive elements. The two-story layout includes downstairs live action games (costing 45 dollars to participate), an arcade with games themed to Netflix shows, and upstairs dining with a bar and pizza oven. The atmosphere feels surreal and immersive, surrounding diners with familiar Netflix branding and imagery. The staff is notably attentive and friendly, providing excellent service throughout the meal.
Value and Pricing
Netflix Bites operates with premium pricing typical of experiential dining venues. While specific prices aren't detailed in the review beyond the interactive experience cost of 45 dollars, the food quality justifies the expense. The novelty factor of dining in a Netflix-themed environment with quality food and attentive service supports the pricing structure.
Notable Moments
I was fully ready to just knock this like a local McDonald's. But the dip was good, the pizza was good, the burger was good, the pizza really surprisingly good.
Mike's initial skepticism about theme restaurant food gives way to genuine appreciation as each dish arrives. The pizza mix-up where he initially thought it might be from Stranger Things rather than Chef's Table provides a humorous moment. The afternoon tea service in a Netflix setting feels unexpectedly charming and delightful.
The Verdict
Netflix Bites successfully executes the difficult balance of delivering both an immersive themed experience and genuinely good food. This restaurant is best for Netflix fans who want an Instagram-worthy experience combined with quality cuisine, though the food stands on its own merits even for those less interested in the show references. The combination of excellent appetizers, burgers, pizza, and pastries, coupled with attentive service, makes it worth visiting even if you're not a hardcore Netflix devotee.