NOMAD Melbourne — Restaurant in Melbourne

After sharing my initial disappointment about our experience at Nomad, I was contacted by the Nomad team, who went above and beyond to make things right. They generously offered me a complimentary dinner for two. I must say, our dining experience at Nomad was outstanding in every way. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel genuinely welcome, attentive, and valued as guests. The service was seamless, friendly, and incredibly professional—every detail was handled with care and hospitality.

I truly appreciate Nomad’s commitment to addressing feedback and turning a negative experience into a very positive one. It’s clear that guest satisfaction matters deeply to them, and the service at Nomad Sydney exceeded all expectations. Thank you to the Nomad team for your care and generosity—I highly recommend Nomad and will gladly return in the future!

I am writing to express my deep disappointment following my recent visit to your restaurant. My family and I travelled from Sydney for a short trip to Melbourne, and we specifically chose Nomad because many of our friends highly recommended your restaurant. I had been looking forward to this evening for a long time, as it was my mother’s last night in Australia. I had spoken highly of Nomad and was excited to share what I hoped would be a memorable dining experience with her and my sister. Unfortunately, our visit fell far short of expectations. From the moment we arrived, the experience was underwhelming. We were shown to our table and handed menus without any introduction or welcome, which felt impersonal and uninviting. After being seated, we waited a long time for someone to take our order, as staff appeared busy and disorganised. When we finally placed our order—including food from the set menu and cocktails—the service continued to disappoint. Our food began arriving before our drinks, and when I mentioned that we had ordered cocktails and would also like to order wine, the staff member simply placed wine glasses on the table and left. Our cocktails only arrived after the food, and empty glasses were left uncleared for most of our meal. When the wine was presented, I was not offered the opportunity to taste it before it was poured. As per standard protocol in Australia, the person who orders the wine should be given the chance to taste it first before it is served to the rest of the table. Instead, our waiter simply poured three glasses without any acknowledgment. The most concerning issue occurred during the main course, when we were served undercooked chicken. When we raised this with our server, she dismissed our concern, saying it was “ok that way because if they cooked the chicken further I wouldn’t be able to separate the meat from the bone.” I am not one to tell the chef how to cook, but if a guest expresses concerns about food safety, the right thing to do is to offer a solution, not to tell them they are wrong. It was frustrating to be asked a few minutes later if everything was okay, only to feel that our feedback was not genuinely heard or acted upon. We clearly expressed that we wanted our chicken cooked a bit more, yet nothing was done and the server simply walked away again. Why ask if you are not going to listen? Is it just for protocol? This is not acceptable. Additionally, our wine was not topped up throughout the meal, and we had to ask for service. While I understand restaurants can be busy, a venue of Nomad’s reputation should deliver not just good food, but genuine hospitality and attentive service. This experience was extremely disappointing, especially given the significance of the occasion and the high expectations we had based on recommendations. I hope you will take this feedback seriously and address these issues so that future guests do not have a similar experience. Thank you for your attention. I look forward to your...

Nomad. The very name whispers of sun-drenched landscapes, of ancient spice routes and the unhurried artistry of fire. Tucked away in its bustling Sydney locale, Nomad delivers not just a meal, but an invitation to partake in a culinary odyssey, particularly through its generous "The Feast" offering, priced at a respectable $110 per person.

From the moment the Wood fired flatbread, our Za’atar arrives – warm, puffed, and fragrant with its earthy spice blend – you know you’re in capable hands. It’s the perfect vehicle for the vibrant Pumpkin hummus, fried chicken peas, issot pepper, a dish that manages to be both comforting and intriguing, its rich creaminess punctuated by the textural crunch of the chickpeas and a subtle whisper of heat. The Burrata, fennel jam, extra virgin olive oil provides a welcome counterpoint; the milky richness of the cheese beautifully cut by the unexpected, sweet-savoury tang of the fennel jam, proving that sometimes, simplicity, when perfectly executed, is the most profound statement.

The NOMAD charcuterie selection speaks to a dedication to craft beyond the kitchen, offering a pleasing array of house-cured meats that set a high bar for quality. A standout, however, arrived in the form of the Raw Yellowfin Tuna, broad bean tahini, wood roasted citrus. Here, the freshness of the tuna sang, its delicate nature enhanced by the nutty depth of the tahini and the smoky brightness of the citrus. It was a composition that felt both innovative and deeply satisfying.

Vegetables, often an afterthought, were given their due reverence. The Cauliflower blossom, truffle honey, pecorino was a revelation: the humble vegetable transformed by the earthy luxury of truffle honey and the salty bite of pecorino, showcasing a deft hand with flavour pairings.

The heart of the feast undoubtedly lay with the main event: the Charcoal Roast Chicken, harrisa, toum, guindilla. This was chicken elevated. The charring from the grill imparted a smoky depth, while the harissa offered warmth, the toum (garlic sauce) provided a piquant creaminess, and the guindilla chilli, a gentle spark. It was a robust, satisfying dish, perfectly complemented by the Fried Maris Piper potatoes, hawaij butter, coriander, crispy on the outside, fluffy within, and drenched in a fragrant, spiced butter that was utterly addictive.

To conclude, the Olive Oil Icecream sandwich, halva, pistachio, honey proved a surprisingly delightful finale. The ice cream, with its subtle, verdant notes of olive oil, was a fresh take on a classic, beautifully paired with the crumbly sweetness of halva, the crunch of pistachios, and the golden embrace of honey. It was a fittingly sophisticated end to a meal that, while not revolutionary, consistently delivered on its promise of excellent produce, respectful cooking, and a convivial atmosphere. Nomad doesn't shout; it simmers with a confident warmth, offering a feast for the senses that leaves you content and...

TLDR: Food was great, but front-of-house team can be more courteous. Review split into 2 parts - first on the food, then on service.

We went to Nomad to celebrate my friend’s birthday. We went for the a la carte and enjoyed the meal very much. 🥖Flat bread had a wonderful smoky aroma coupled with the wonderful fragrance of the za’atar. It matched very well with the eggplant. Very good! 🐄Beef tongue wasn’t what we expected - it was sliced thinly and was luke warm when it arrived. Did not understand the dish; not a fan 🧅Shallot Tart Tatin with goat curd was perhaps the highlight of the night. The shallots were beautifully caramelized on a thin pastry - so much flavour. The sherry caramel added that "something something" that keeps you craving for more! It was basically like a reduced french onion soup on steroids. Very happy! 🐖Dry aged pork was good - perfectly cooked and paired well with the caper salsa. Nothing to complain about 🍦Olive oil ice cream sandwich was pretty good - can really taste the good quality olive oil used!

⚠️Front of house team was discourteous

As we were getting through our mains, the male server told us that if we don't hurry, we will not be able to order desserts. When we tried to order the Pineapple Cake, we were told that we can't because it takes 30min to prep. When I asked why we were not informed when we were placing our orders at the start of the meal, server retorted, "Maybe next time if you are not late, you can order it." (we were only approx. 10min late)

I have not encountered as rude a response from any similar establishments anywhere in the world.

We went there to celebrate my friend's birthday. This is the first time when nothing was prepped for a special occasion we informed the team ahead of time. We were not expecting much - even a little candle would suffice. Yet, rather than preparing something special for her, we were rushed through our dessert with a server who kept reminding us that we were late. 2 hours is not enough to finish the meal - most of the tables around us were still eating close to 8pm.

I felt that an otherwise great work from the kitchen was made unpleasant by the front-of-house team which left a bad taste as we left. Dessert is supposed to be memorable. This one was memorable for the wrong reasons.

As always, I left the receipt for others to gauge the price. Sanitized server's name because it was the wrong one listed on our receipt. Server was...