NOMAD Melbourne

The notorious Sydney restaurant made the journey south with a sleek subterranean diner on Flinders Lane. Nomad Melbourne brings with it all of the components old the original along with that little flare of Victorian style. 

Led by Nomad group executive chef Jacqueline Challinor and head chef Brendan Katich, the kitchen is centred around the open grill which lends its smokey and aromatic flavour to every menu item that kisses its flames. 

Of course, the famed Nomad flatbread dusted by Z'tar is readily available, an absolute mandatory starting dish and can be paired with a raft of the smaller-plate selections be it house-made duck mortadella, the burrata with fennel jam or the wood-roasted eggplant with walnut agrodolce and tahini yoghurt. 

On the larger side of the menu, main dishes range between local Victorian dry-aged pork, an absolutely revelatory shallot tarte tatin, and spicer numbers like the barbecued spatchcock which is served up Harissa, Toum and Guindilla peppers. 

Channelling a uniquely Melbourne feel despite its origin, Nomad's dimly lit underground space provides a lively yet tempered environment; the kind of well-curated space where sinking a few pre-dinner and post-dinner cocktails feels absolutely organic. 

Image credit: NOMAD Melbourne (supplied)