Nomad Melbourne

Overview

Filling the shoes of now-closed CBD institution Ezard, is the first Melbourne outpost of Sydney's much-loved Mediterranean restaurant Nomad. Owners Rebecca and Al Yazbek have transformed the Adelphi Hotel's lower ground floor into Nomad's new 100-seat southern iteration, replicating the ethos of the original, while championing a whole new menu filled with local produce.

Celebrated executive chef Jacqui Challinor has been working closely with Nomad Melbourne's new head chef Brendan Katich (Gingerboy, Ezard) to develop the eatery's signature offering, centred around house-made cheese and charcuterie (think, duck mortadella and trout basturma), and the kitchen's prized wood-fired oven. Fans will find just a handful of menu mainstays, backed by a lineup of brand new dishes, with plenty of locally-sourced meat and veggies cooked over flames among the mix.

You're in for plates like baked jersey milk ricotta with ortiz anchovies and fire-roasted peppers, barbecued spatchcock finished with harissa and toum (Lebanese garlic sauce), and the dry-aged pork cutlet teamed with a salsa of golden raisins and capers. Dessert might see you tucking into wood-roasted pineapple cake elevated with yoghurt sorbet and rose el hanout. Otherwise, the $95 feasting menu features a generous parade of nine dishes to share.

A sprawling wine list focuses on homegrown drops, with Victorian wineries and smaller producers given lots of love. And an extensive all-Aussie pouring list will rotate regularly, offering the chance to sample new wines with every visit, including premium creations served via Coravin.

Sharyn Cairns

Top Images: Interiors, Sharyn Cairns