Iconic NOMAD opens in Flinders Lane
NOMAD Group, which owns and operates NOMAD restaurant in Sydney, will open its Mediterranean inspired restaurant and bar, NOMAD on Flinders Lane, for dinner on Monday 15 November. Having visited their Surry Hills restaurant, it's much anticipated for us, not to mention the rest of the Melbourne culinary scene.
NOMAD is located on the lower ground floor of the Adelphi Hotel (187 Flinders Lane, Melbourne). Owners Rebecca and Al Yazbek’s ambition is to create a restaurant with a focus on locality through both produce and place.
"It's been a long journey for the NOMAD team - relocating to Melbourne, multiple disappointments in regard to securing a site, a fire at NOMAD Sydney, relocating back to Sydney, and of course a pandemic and subsequent lockdowns. Most folks would have jettisoned the idea of straddling two states but here we are, about to throw open the doors of NOMAD for the good folk of Melbourne,” says Al.
Executive chef across NOMAD Melbourne and Sydney, Jacqui Challinor, has been working with new Melbourne head chef, Brendan Katich (ex Gingerboy and Ezard) to create a menu that stays true to NOMAD’s ethos. This will include woodfired flatbread, stretched to order, housemade charcuterie and cheese, as well as bringing NOMAD’s signature wood-fired oven to life in the city’s CBD.
Jacqui says, "With the exception of a few signature dishes, the NOMAD Melbourne menu will be completely new. I want our guests to feel like they're at NOMAD but be able to experience it a little differently. The heart and soul behind what we do remains: utilising the best Australian produce, the strong focus on in-house production, our charcuterie program and of course, cooking with fire. The kitchen centres around our wood-fired oven and we’ll be working on engaging with local farmers for suckling pigs, chickens, lamb, veggies and more which will become a daily changing offering.
“I'm really excited to explore what Victoria has to offer in regards to produce and hopefully with that, create something really special that is unmistakably NOMAD."
The drinks list has been created by NOMAD Group’s beverage director, Ged Bellis as he focuses on serving an extensive wine list from the best Australian small growers and producers.
Ged says, "Staying true to the NOMAD philosophy we will have a strong focus on Australian wines, with bottles from the Victorian regions a particular bedrock of the list. We will be showcasing small producers and working directly with local wineries whenever possible. This will be supplemented by some of the finest wines from around the world, with France and Italy particular favourites. Our by-the-glass list will be expansive, ever changing and exclusively Australian, including a range of premium wines served via Coravin."
Occupying a warehouse building in the inner city suburb of Surry Hills, NOMAD came to life in 2013 when Rebecca and Al wanted to fill a gap in the market for an inner-city cellar door. Their objective was to showcase Australian produce and wine.
Rebecca and Al engaged Melbourne-based architect Clare Cousins to work alongside them and transform the narrow Flinders Lane space into an elegant and moody 100-seat restaurant. With refined but raw details and a concealed entry, NOMAD Melbourne will forge its own look, feel and menu while maintaining its signature philosophy rooted in exceptional local and small-producer wine, produce and design.
Clare says, “Conceptually, we approached the restaurant with a similar restraint to the products of NOMAD’s kitchen. Superfluous materials left over from the previous tenancy were removed to reveal concrete columns and beams from 1938 which define the space. Around these structures, we’ve incorporated a variety of dining areas allowing for multiple experiences within the venue.”
Reservations are now open via nomad.melbourne
Open Monday to Sunday for dinner, and Wednesday to Sunday lunch.
Melbourne: 187 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 03 8419 2800
Website: nomad.melbourne
Instagram: @nomad.au
Facebook: @nomadrestaurant.au
NOMAD Group will expand in 2022, opening a wine bar and deli in Sydney’s Surry Hills, and a restaurant and bar in The Cathedral Room at Melbourne’s Queen and Collins precinct.