nel. Restaurant reviews . (Restaurant) in Sydney (New South Wales).

nel. Restaurant

688 Reviews

348 Comments

Restaurant

Australian restaurant

75 Wentworth Ave, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

Description

Here you'll see all the information of nel. Restaurant, Restaurant in Sydney (New South Wales)

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Situation

Service hours of nel. Restaurant

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Comments of nel. Restaurant

J. T.

My friends and I have been to the Disney menu three years in a row now and each year, has been different from the last. It does not fail to impress! We loved the food, the creative ideas in the presentation and their amazing service. We can't wait to come back and try some more things out.

C. C.

Nel again impresses us with a superb menu telling a story from breakfast to supper. The ambiance and atmosphere was very fitting for this dinner. It was amazing to see how coordinated the staff were. The venue allowed us the diners to watch the chefs in action and I think that seperate this restaurant from others. I definitely recommend trying their future menus

S. L.

Food 3/5 Service 3/5 The restaurant is in the basement of a building, it's quite dark as you go down the stairs. We came on a Tuesday night, the service was inconsistent. It took about 3hours for 11 courses to come out which in my opinion is a little too long. The gap between courses could have been shortened, the first four courses were more like an amuse-bouches. They were very small and bite sized, not sure if they can call it an actual "course" as we used our fingers. We came for the Disney menu which had interesting textures and flavours. The first and last course were things that had to be eaten whole as there was an explosion of liquid, this was quite interesting. all of the dishes were inspired by Disney or Pixar. The staff explained the dishes very well, a few of them had accents which made it difficult to hear and understand. The first four courses were very small, the rest of the courses were small as well but not bite sized. The dish inspired by Monsters Inc Pixar tasted like tooth paste. The Aladdin inspired dish was very tasty along with the Winnie the Pooh one. Some of the dishes lacked seasoning but it's theatrical more than anything. The tables are seated very close together, unsure how that is COVID safe. We sat opposite the toilets on the banquets, I could the conversations of the people next to us, we ended up chatting to the people next to us. So it's not very romantic. They do have a great selection of wines, the cocktails looked delicious as well.

J. R.

It feels like forever since I’ve had a degustation menu and this venue was the perfect venue to experience it all over again. They challenge themselves to develop a unique degustation menu every ten weeks with an ever changing theme. The theme for us was ‘Once Upon a Time - Chapter 3’ and was inspired by Disney films, old and new. The venue itself is dark, intimate and cosy with an open kitchen to watch the chefs plate up some of the most theatrical and gorgeous dishes you’ll come across. The menu just lists the name of the dishes and you’re only told what you’re getting as the dish is placed in front of you. Since I eat anything and everything, I loved the idea of this and it kept me on my toes wondering what each dish was based on the name. We started off with ‘Day of the Dead’. Its movie, Coco. This was literally an explosion in the mouth with chimichurri being the dominant taste for me. It also had corn, sun-dried tomato, cocoa butter and parsley. Next up, ‘Dead Mans Chest’ inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean. One of the most delicious ways I’ve eaten squid and the presentation.. I mean, having your food served in a treasure chest is pretty special! ‘Mans Red Fire’ which is reference to The Jungle Book was definitely one of my favourite dishes of the night. The lamb was cooked beyond perfection. It was so tender, very butter-like.. no need to chew. 101 Dalmatians was the next movie and ‘Black & White’ was served to the table. Steamed buns with rosemary and olive butter. Simple, but delicious. My nephew is obsessed with ‘Moana’ so it was exciting to see ‘You’re Welcome’ come out next which was a beautiful Kingfish served with pineapple caramel, coconut, taro and jalapeño. You hear the words ‘Street Rat’ and you just know it’s Aladdin. Middle-Eastern flavours of dates, tomato and edible flowers which were just gorgeous. The presentation for this dish was my favourite, simple because of that golden lamp. Another classic, The Little Mermaid was next and the dish name was ‘It’s a Flounder’. The flounder was cooked beautifully and had a crispy top. The addition of the herb foam was brilliant. ‘Hundred Acre Wood’ inspired by Winnie the Pooh and his two best friends, was the winning dish of the night. I’ve never had pork as soft and tender as this. It just fell apart as I took my fork to it. There’s always the time and room for some dessert! For those who know me well, I just break out into song. Of course I was going to sing as soon as I saw ‘I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts’ on the menu. Inspired by The Lion King, this was my favourite dessert of the night. Served in a beautiful ceramic coconut bowl, this brown sugar, rum, honeycomb, kaffir lime and coconut creation was just so refreshing. There were so many textures, it kept every mouthful as exciting as the next. ‘Boo’s Best Friends’, inspired by Monster’s Inc was the next dessert. This was the most interesting dish of the night. It contained white chocolate, mint, cucumber, yuzu and fairy floss. I think I enjoyed it because I’ve never had a flavour combination like this and surprisingly, it worked! The last dish of the night was ‘Crème de la Edger’ which was inspired by The Aristocrats. These were similar to the first course where you eat it as a whole, so that the one bite just explodes in your mouth. I think it’s genius to start and end your dinner in the same way. These little balls of goodness contained nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, milk, cocoa and coated in biscuit. This menu was brilliant, well thought out and an absolute winner for me. I’ll definitely be returning when the next menu comes out.

M. C.

Fantastic experience from start to finish. All staff were very friendly and professional, and were passionate about the menu. The chef took the time to serve a couple of courses himself which is a sign of a great operation. Loved every dish. Cannot fault!

D. S.

We visited for the Xmas inspired 11 course degustation. The staff here are really lovely and really sell you the back story and experience of each dish. The food was all really good though serving could have been a little larger as after 11 courses we were a little surprised to leave hungry.

S. D.

Had a beautifully themed Degustation dinner this weekend at Nel. Expect a fairly hefty bill, but service and food are exquisite. You won't be disappointed.

T. F. &. D.

Great dinner, the pairing wines was ok nothing special. Not in a rush to return $850 for two.

A. S.

My partner and I went to nel. for the Christmas menu, which is what this review is based on. The menu works as a degustation, you can get it as is or with matching wines. We opted for a bottle of gamay and some cocktails. The wine was very average for something premium ($90), very tannin-y, not a lot of interesting flavour. The cocktails were nice, would recommend (especially watching them make it from the bar table we sat at, is like an apothecary back there). The food itself was disappointing. There are a lot of small bites, which is fine, however the flavour of the dishes seems to have been put on the back burner in favour of aesthetic. They are very beautiful, but when you get served what is effectively a small garlic bread in a plastic Christmas wreath, things may have gone too far one way. In the smokey salmon dish I found a small bone and in the Christmas crab dish a piece of shell, which also was disappointing. For a menu which we were told was something of an 'Xmas around the world', the menu seemed quintessentially Anglo-saxon, aside from a vaguely Indian inspiration for the first dish, another oddity. Service wise and ambience wise, absolutely no complaints. The staff are very lovely and accommodating, at no point do you feel uncomfortable or taken aback by the premium restaurant setting. The venue itself is dark and romantic which is really nice. Believe it is wheelchair accessible, but there are stairs getting in so those with disabilities may need to take a small stair elevator ride.

D. &. L. N.

Disappointing, a lot of fancy presentation but ultimately was lacking in depth and balance of flavour and texture. The Xmas courses were hit and miss for us. The wine pairing was the highlight. Was served by too many different waiters so it was a bit disjointed and lacked that personal service.

N. K.

Such a wonderful restaurant. The staff are lovely, and the food is always clever and tasty. I love that they cater well for those with food restrictions.

S. C.

Affordable and Fine Dining are not two words that you immediately associate together but Chef Nelly Robinson has combined them in style. It was my first time here to the 3rd incarnation of the Once Upon a Time menu and I LOVED IT. Every dish was so creative and delicious. My highlights were the slow cooked lamb and pork belly. The bite sized entree and palate cleansers were also so creative (but I'll leave that for you to discover) Cosy interiors conducive to conversations and great service Definitely will be going again

X.

Absolute hidden gem! A must try experience for all foodies that crave for new taste of fine dining experience. Entire staff was all on par. Will surely return. Great job Nel

G. B.

Tucked away downstairs on Wentworth St, it is a small space but used well with amply seating, a small bar area and an open kitchen. From the start to the finish all the staff were on point, friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and engaging. The food was a English themed journey with the chef's versions of many well known English meals from his childhood and life. It is clear that lots of thought and skill went into each course, however I found that the overall flavours whilst good were a little too subtle for my tastes. All the dishes were good but there wasn't any particular standout or hero dish, the most flavourful the Eel. Overall it was a good evening, and to be honest I would like to experience a different theme.

N. C.

Recommend the experience! After months of booking and changing, we ended up with the Christmas menu. The fan fare and the stories that accompanied the dishes, added to the culinary Christmas journey. The paring wine was superb! Most all wait staff were engaging and friendly, except for the wine connoisseur, who could not even crack a smile!

J. T.

Favourite restaurant in Sydney! Absolutely love their idea of changing the menu every so often depending on the produce / theme that they want to focus on - always giving me a reason to come back! Food is exceptional! Creativity is plentiful! Ambience is just right! Theatrics were exciting! What more can you ask for in a dining experience!

k.

It was excellent the food was amazing and the drinks were great. I have seen a few reviews that address the drinks packages as poor value but me and the group I was with thought it was good value you get 4 glasses of wine a glass of Sherri and a glass of cider poured to a standard glass or serving for each drink. We had a mix of both the classic package and the premium and enjoyed the options provided. I opted for trying some of the cocktails instead of having the paired drinks package and they were all brilliant as well. The food was delicious and between the 11 courses their was plenty of food to leave me full and satisfied at thw end.

F.

When it comes to degustation, it's really each to their own. All staff are trained to drop the exec chefs name at least once or gloat on whichever dish was served and telling you it's their favourite. The cocktails were great. And kudos for being creative with the dishes. It didn't wow me. Yes, some dishes have a lot of elements but it lacked flavours for the most part. There was only a few, the mains, which were better on flavour. There was two which was bland and poor in my honest opinion. It is a degustation restaurant with pairing wines. One of the mid to higher priced ones but it didn't win me over to go again. We went for the 'story of Christmas', aesthetics was good but wasn't that remarkable.

B. d. G.

Had the 11-course Christmas Dinner Degustation and it was delicious! Food was unique, well thought of and yummy! Service was also professional and attentive. The only reason why I’m giving 4 stars is because they made us wait too long between courses. I don’t know if this is normal for a degustation but our entire meal lasted 3.5 hours and there would be wait times of 10 mins between courses…. We left still hungry! 😅

T. B.

Our second visit to Nel was as impressive as our first! Service was super attentive, atmosphere lovely again and food incredible. The stories that accompany each course enhanced our experience and created a feeling of more than just a meal! Highly recommend the degustation and any wine will be a winner!!

s. s.

Host was very nice and wait staff were fantastic! Every single dish was amazing! I highly recommend this restaurant to my friends. Food presentation was so perfect for me.

B. 8.

Visited nel. a few times over the past three years and it’s always been a consistently good fine dining experience. You can expect a range of interesting courses, impressive wine selection and first class service. They offer a vegan dining option and can pair wines for you. Prices are reasonable for the experience and less than some other fine dining restaurants in the area. The restaurant is underground and has cool, industrial chic type vibes, some light music. It’s definitely not a stuffy restaurant and is perfect for dates/intimate company.

S. D.

The food is beautiful, but compared to peers at the price, its a bit average. Only one dish really stood out in flavor and execution. The biggest mood-killer is the awful acoustic space. When full, it sounds like everyone is yelling at full volume constantly. Listening to our waiter describe the dishes, over the rabble was a chore.

T.

I feel kind of bad leaving a lower rating at a restaurant it seems everyone likes but I have to be honest when I came in for the Once Upon a Time degustation a few weeks ago I was quite disappointed. Whilst the food was very instagrammable and creative it was also not to my taste. For example the soup was very salty and many of the non-alcoholic drinks were equally overpowering with sugar, salt, and acid that did not feel like they complemented the dishes very well. Some of the other dishes just felt one dimensional, however there were a few that I enjoyed like the duck and most of the appetisers. For those reasons plus the fact that everything was presented really well I’m going to go halfway.

J. N. C.

A friend booked for us to try the once upon a time menu. The food and service was excellent. Our booking was at 9pm but were seated late because the table before us had not left yet, perhaps there were too many courses for the allotted dining time because we only finished at 12am ourselves. The service was fantastic, but at every course it was very difficult to hear the waiters' description of the course over the noise. I wished they had included the description of the dishes in the menu. My favourites from the course has to be the under the sea (spanner crab and prawn, macadamia puree, seaweed and tomato), and kiss the Tramp (mozzarella cream, pork meatball, tomato infusion, basil jelly and crispy pasta). The cocktails were very creative and all tasted delicious, we tried chips tea, wicked apple and gin-eee. The ice cream course was already melting when they brought it out which was slightly disappointing so I felt rushed to finish it. The scones were magnificent and so different, the use of charcoal was brilliant. I love that they used props such as the magic lamp and Peter pan flying over the clock plate with the children. Overall it was a very pleasant dining experience. I will come back when they unveil a new menu.

G. 2.

Fantastic place, food and service amazing. For $130 I’d come here again on special occasions. It does get pricey with matching drinks or non alcoholic pairing though. If your lucky after 6pm you can park right outside the restaurant.

9.

The food and non-alcoholic cocktail pairings were absolutely incredible!!!! The food was delicious and incredibly detailed, the waiters were really lovely and enthusiastic and the drinks were such a surprise they were paired so well and flavours were nice and fresh. All round just a great night.

G. T.

Absolutely fantastic experience. From the moment you walk in to when you leave the service is outstanding. The sommelier and the lovely German lady were super friendly and knowledgeable. 5 star service. Oh and the food! Every dish is a surprise and the presentation is awesome. The dégustation is beyond the flavour, it’s an experience, and the matching wines were delicious. Absolutely recommend it and I’ll be back for sure.

D. R. L.

Upon our arrival the staff where very positive and friendly. Excitedly, as each course arrived we thoroughly enjoyed all the flavours of the themed Disney tasting menu. Staff are very attentive and not to opposing. All in all a great experience.

D. M.

Great quality food and a lovely concept. Simple yet romantic setting for an evening meal to delight the taste buds. The staff were knowledgeable and helpful and the various courses came in timely succession. Don't expect a budget evening, this quality of food and wine pairing doesn't come cheap. Bookings are a must. Just one complaint and that's the number of bar/fruit flies clinging to the walls, anxious to to taste your wine the moment you take your hand off it.

D. B. V.

What an amazing place. Came with my husband from Melbourne to celebrate our pregnancy and we had so much fun! Service from the very beginning until the end was exceptional. The curses are beautiful! A complete Christmas journey, flavor and interaction with customers is outstanding! As I’m pregnant I couldn’t drink alcohol but they have a Non-alcoholic Gin and tonic that was very refreshing! Andrew (waiter) was funny and we loved he took the time to actually talk to us. Thank you so much for such an amazing experiencie in our babymoon. Hope to be back soon

J. T.

nel offers a set menu meal, with the dishes all set to a theme. The theme changes every six weeks or so, ensuring constant creativity in the kitchen and a good reason to revisit. Over several visits I've found the food to be consistently high quality, tasty and satisfying. As one would expect of restaurants of this calibre, many of the dishes are creative in flavour and form, but they are not simply reductive exercises in "deconstructed this" or "spherification of that". The drinks list offers themed and classic cocktails, Australian and international wines. Three drink pairings - non-alcoholic, Australian, and international - are available as well. The service is friendly, and the staff well informed about the food and wine they serve. The restaurant space is small but doesn't feel stuffy.

V. M.

Quite experimental in their dishes, the first two were savoury liquid and mousse in a cocoa butter shell! The rest of the dishes were vibrant and flavourful, edible garden was a stand out, as was the bbq prawn. The dessert was very unique using potato and another with corn. The staff were very attentive but that was partly for it table needing to be vacant in 90 minutes due to bookings. The food came out quite quickly and plates taken promptly so it felt very smooth. The restaurant was quite cold due to a draft coming in so not as enjoyable as it could have been.

M. B.

We were so excited to try their Disney inspired menu, but were left underwhelemed. Firstly, the restaurant was packed and the tables around us were within arms length. I don't understand how they could seat us so close to each other. We were going to ask to be moved somewhere further but realised it was at capacity. The dishes were not seasoned well and lacked flavour. The only good dishes were the biscuits and the dessert. There was something cold in the soup, and the fried chicken was a total miss (which was disappointing, because how do you fail on fried chicken!?). I must admit that the presentation was great, and so were our waiters, so they got an extra star. We knew we'd still be hungry afterwards so ordered ubereats from Butter down the road, which made up for the mediocre dinner.

G.

Service was fairly attentive and friendly; thanks Jess. Wine was well matched, but the penchant for American wines means some solid missed opportunities. Food was very well cooked and presented with a good level of variation. Meals and wines were matched fairly well in 4/6 courses. Decor was clean, well presented but a little bland for a themed restaurant. I would certainly recommend this place and would come back as well.

A. L.

Loved the Christmas menu - creative, delicious and paired well with the matching wines. The service was friendly and professional from the moment we walked in. Chef Nelly served us the fried chicken dish too which was a pleasant surprise. Thank you for all the work you do supporting OzHarvest. We will be back again soon. Highly recommended.

C. M.

Delish!!! Such a little hidden gem with great food inspired by the Chef's childhood stories. It was a great experience and the staff were wonderful.

E. L.

Love their special menu, it's very surprising in a great way!! The name of each dishes sounds a bit boring, but when they arrived, I said wow! When I ate it, I said wow wow wow! They determine to change their menu regularly, like every 8 weeks. I will definitely go again!

I. B.

Never disappoints, best restaurant in Sydney ! Every dish is a small journey and the night just takes you away! Can't find words to describe non alcoholic matching drinks, so well thought through and compliments every dish

M. C.

Went here for Valentine's and even got to see Nelly in person! He was running the show keeping things smoothly and chatted with all the customers while serving some food. It was my first time there, and the food was absolutely delicious with some being fun, intriguing and even harmonic. There's a while range of the 10 course/dish meal with the particular theme. The portions are not large but sizeable that at the end you are feeling quite satisfied. They even have the option of a paired drinks for each main dish which blends quite well for their chosen partner. I found the King Fish an absolute favorite and it was paired wonderfully with the Roussanne. Nel's menu will change every few months so I'm looking forward to the next visit

H. W.

I went to Nel to try their Once Upon a Time Disney themed menu. Every dish was based on a Disney movie. There were 4 Disney themed cocktails to go along the degustation too. All dishes were beautifully presented and tasted amazing, I can't choose my favourite dish. I liked being surprised at the special touches the waiters brought to each dish as they presented each course.

I. D.

Sometimes I like to just randomly try something new. I had never heard of this restaurant when my friend asked me to catch up here. The menu looked interesting and I liked their story ... it doesn’t take much to convince me does it? Well what a surprise! Very dim restaurant great setting. Not too crowded, as in the furniture are not super close to each other. We had the deguststion with wine pairing as well The cheese platter and some cocktails. I’m sold! It was hard to decide which one was my favourite but there were a few stand outs.. their ode to Bunnings sausage sizzle served in a daggy red/white background was amazing! I could have had more. The kangaroo tartare was surprising but Wow! Delicious. Definitely going to go back for the autumn menu. The least exciting dish was the bread actually. I felt it could have done with some delicious butter

A. D.

Food was fantastic and the concept of mixing fine dining and traditional English pub is just great. It is sober and cosy and the restaurant is underground which give a lot of charm to this place. The service was also perfect, waiters are professional and attentive.

C. K. “. C.

Great themed meals. Very creative how they present and cook the dishes. Felt a little claustrophobic though being underground/dim lighting etc. But was great to see the open kitchen, see the chef's at work.

A. H.

We visited for the Xmas inspired 11 course degustation. The staff were absolutely brilliant, really lovely and really know a lot about the story and the paired wins and what you are going to experience of each dish. The food was amazing !!!!

W. S.

Warm cozzy restaurant. Surprisingly great flavouring to match each dish. Tonight they had the 'land and sea' theme. I really like the seared king fish. Presentation and flavour made the freshness of the fish jumped out in the mouth. Second favourite is the fish pie. This is sort of like a deconstructed pie and the booth is really delicious. And the best thing is I get to see Nelly Robinson (top 300 chef in the world) in action. And thank you for the thoughtful desert for our anniversary. We really enjoy our dinner!

G. M.

Land & Sea Menu: I always love this place for the mystery of what the dishes will be and usually they are fantastic. This menu wasn't the greatest of the ones I have experienced but would recommend nel. To anyone looking for a fabulous fine dining experience with a twist. The menu is constantly changing and they are amazing at what they can produce.

P. T.

Amazing atmosphere and service. Food is so delicious and so creative. I visited for the Disney themed menu with my best friend for my birthday. We had such a good time! I can't recommend this place enough for not only for delicious food but an incredible experience.

C. C.

We tried the British Pub Classics which was an enjoyable experience. The starter was beautifully presented with a fog effect which was the winner for us .The food taste amazing and the way it was presented made dining with Nel more exciting compared to other restaurants. The service is great however the waitress who served our table wasn’t that great she was a bit rude and made a mistake with our drinks. The drinks were over priced compared to other places be ready to pay double.Food menu price is perfect and good Value. Highly recommended restaurant and will definitely visit again.

C. F.

It was an amazing night. I really enjoy it, the food was so good with the price ($135/ppl for 11 courses). Very good customer service !!! Highly recommend

P. D.

Nel Restaurant is highly recommendable. The staff are nice and friendly. The intriguing menu concept is nice; the taste and food presentation is fantastic👌🙌

c. m.

Very good restaurant with its 11 courses menu. Excellent service , verrrrry professional staff . It has been a good culinary experience . We will be back

K. P.

Interesting and delicious food. Tasting menu had a theme of the best of Britain with unusual twists - fish and chips, curry, trifle. The portion sizes were very small and my partner felt under fed. Matching wines were ok but the whites were all quite acidic. Catered well for pescatarians. Really delicious vegetarian options. Nice atmosphere. The head chef was personally serving meals and interacting with all diners. You can see the chefs in the kitchen which adds to the ambiance.

C.

Wonderful experience! Cosy and intimate basement design, which was not overcrowded. Great theatre with an open kitchen as well. The food was wonderful - tasted great, fantastically diverse and well presented. The wines were one of the best matched wine menus I have experienced. Reasonably priced considering the experience.

S. c. (.

Nel in Surry Hills really impressed, the menu is creative and there is plenty of technique on display. Although there is plenty of technique, taste and flavour combinations are the main priority and it is good to see they do not lose sight of this. They offer eight course degustation menus every 10 weeks and the current theme is "Australian" (until April 4). Since our visit was two months ago, you will find the options we had won't necessarily be available. However, given their chef and restaurant vision, we're sure the new menu would be just as good. The new bug dish sounds amazing. When we were there it was the "land and sea" menu. We had some amazing prawns, pork doughnut and even an edible garden. The Rye brioche was also a winner. The degustation also has the option of having matching wines. * They're currently promoting that $5 from every degustation will be donated to Rural Aid to support farmers The restaurant space is industrial and minimalist, with main focus on the kitchen and food. The service is what you would expect from a fine dining restaurant, with the waitstaff emphasising attention to detail. Thankfully, we visited using a discount from the fork. However it was still quite pricy, so keep in mind this is somewhere for a special occasion.

J. N.

Was a unique experience and definitely worth an experience. I think the starters were the most inventive and interesting flavours. Although the starters were the highlights of the course, the mains were still enjoyable. All dishes were visually appealing and each had their own twist. The Tim Tam at the end was decadent, it lacked the passionfruit tang and the structure to drink with milk.

T. L.

Thank you to the chefs and staff at Nel for delivering such a wonderful service to my partner and I for our anniversary. The food was well executed with wonderful flavours tantalising our taste buds. 😍 Your staff were so attentive and friendly which is a bonus! You should be proud of what you have built here! 👏👍

H. S.

I had the absolute pleasure of dining at Nel with my husband on Thursday night. We have eaten out at multiple venues post Sydney lockdown and been somewhat disappointed. Not with Nel! The food was really special, and wine matches -perfect! Our waitress paced the serving of this incredible degustation meal to suit us and at no time did we feel rushed. Front of house/ sommelier was very knowledgeable and engaging, without pretension. 10/10 food, service, experience!!! Will go again and thoroughly recommend 🤩

C. C.

Interesting gourmet food with a menu that had been thoughtfully constructed ... but in a couple of dishes, it didn't quite work together. Atmosphere is relaxed but far too dark, so we could hardly see our food & had to use our phone light to see the menu & food! Friendly, helpful service.

N. H.

We had a wonderful time at Nel last week. It was the perfect way to celebrate a couple of milestone birthdays, an anniversary, and a few significant life events. We were well looked after, the food was put together with such imagination and care, and the matching wines were lovely. Thankyou Nel for helping us make a memorable occasion even better.

D. L.

We had a great time at Nel, the food, service and background music were amazing. Only feedback would be - if the restaurant had been decorated in classy/elegant Disney props I think that would have topped it off eg. Arabian wooden market cart (reference to Aladdin). For the wife (she's a massive Disney lover), it would definitely have felt as if she had completely walked into a whole new world. Everything was great overall, just missing that one ingredient that would had made it an 11/10.

M.

Been here many times now, with friends, families, anniversaries, birthdays, celebrations. Nel Restaurant has never disappointed us, it’s innovation in different style of food is unparalleled. Keep up the good work!

H. R.

So to start with lets list all the exceptional areas where Nel showed its skill and passion; -Service was all smiles, they have all been trained to the highest level and take pride in what they do, this was a joy to witness (albeit the storytelling - more of that later). The barman was exceptional in his skills. The cocktails were innovative, tasty and highly quaffable and moreish and exceptional in their value for money. -The ambience in the restaurant is warm and inviting like intimate dining at home, no fuss or frills on the table, so as to keep the focus on the food. -The plating was exceptional, from the colours and choice of placement on the dish, to the crockery that has obviously been meticulously chosen to bring out the best in the food. Stand out dishes; - Smoked Eel, an inspired creation with its smooth unctuous smoked eel and the jellied cubed bites with the heat from the crumb and the wonderful taste left behind of the fresh tarragon. It was nothing short of divine. - Leek & Potato Soup, was a delicate delicious balance of soft and crunch created in a unique way, with exceptional plating that didn't miss a single detail of flavour, whilst still holding those memories dear of a thick, delicious, no fuss Welsh classic, on a cold day. - Fishcake, this was no ordinary fishcake, it was packed with flavour and yet delicate at the same time and with the roe popping in your mouth and the micro herbs adding to its delicacy, it was a delight on the tastebuds and the bisque....well, I could have drunk a pint of that! Any high end French Michelin chef would be proud of that magical bisque! So having waxed lyrical above, there were a few things I found to be less than expected and these are the reasons for my 3 star score; -The tables where we sat by the kitchen, were uncomfortably close, I know it’s meant to feel like bunker-esq intimate space but that shouldn’t mean I can feel the breath of my neighbour!😂. I found this seating spacing intrusive and almost awkward at times as my neighbours conversation was louder than mine. Seating elsewhere was better spaced. -Alcohol paring was expensive and disappointing, when your alcohol costs more than the food, you set expectations...... -My husband and I felt the portions were tiny, whilst elegant and beautiful of which no one can deny, we had cheese on toast when we got home as we were still hungry and no, I do not consider either of us to have over the top appetites! 😂 -As a Brit, who loves a good background to what I am eating, I found the stories repeated verbatim (which I could hear echo'd all around as the waiters presenting others food were so close!) like lines from a play to almost be dare I say it, slightly patronizing and insincere maybe due to it not being their memories. -The courses, felt rushed, we had barely put cutlery down and our next course was in front of us. Courses that disappointed: Welsh Rarebit was cold? personally my memory evokes hot oozy strong cheese, so this course challenged my tastebuds and for me personally was an unfortunate start. -Pork pie felt like it was missing a jelly alternative or something with that texture that is so synonymous with a British pork pie. -The Fish and Chips, were crying out for that taste of vinegar to catapult me back to the seaside, I wanted to feel that fresh sea salt air dancing on my tounge with the wonderful clash of sharp vinegar on cracked lips to take me sharply back to sitting on the beachfront wall, full of sun and sand in your hair! -The Steak sandwhich was provided with no steak knives, I had to tear my steak with a standard knife, 8+ wagu, shouldn't it cut like butter? The red peppers also dominated my palate and felt like the odd man out and ruined the dish for me. -Crunchie; no gold leaf in sight - was it forgotten or has the recipe been changed from the website image - it lost all sense of that beautiful cadbury milky crunch that catapults the friday crunchie feeling, as the honeycomb was so sparse and the chocolate so dark and overpowering! At $527 in total, personally felt it was on the high end.

R. G.

The Disney inspired menu was a wonderful and novel experience. Some of the dishes were really clever! If it ever comes back, we will definitely go again.

P. S.

Four and a half star dining experience but would be fair to say that it falls just short of a chefs hat restaurant. Some dishes lacked execution, such as the sticky date pudding - It just needed a bit more old fashioned sticky date! The menu rotates every six weeks and we got a taste of head chef Nelly Robinson's childhood, with contemporary takes on classics like the chippy tea, Beef Wellington and the aforementioned sticky date pudding. Presentation was great and the open kitchen creates a very intimate atmosphere.

J. M.

Getting a Lancashire lad to cook pomegranates is a bit of a stretch, but despite being more about pork fat than these 'winter apples', chef Nelly Robinson rose to meet the challenge. Joining me at Nel Restaurant in Surry Hills was an all-star audience of Robinson's peers, seated along two tables stretching the length of the intimate, basement space. For me, it was the first time I’ve been back to this restaurant since my initial review back when it opened in 2015, so I was keen to see how it’s eating now across a five-course menu. We kick off with a Pomegranate Spritz, a summery indulgence that combines pomegranate arils, pomegranate syrup and Azahara Chardonnay Pinot Noir – a finely beaded sparkling wine. Robinson continues to operate his restaurant on a nightly degustation-only menu ($118/8-course) that rotates every six weeks, plus a three-course ($78) lunchtime menu. Pork fat and POM Wonderful pomegranates from California were both employed in our bread and butter offering - freshly cooked crumpets liberally smeared from quenelles of pomegranate and bacon butter. As we scrape salmon rillettes from rounded river stones onto fennel and pomegranate crackers, we hear how Israeli-British chef Yotam Ottolenghi and his popular cookbooks were a driving force in getting pomegranates onto our tables. If you eat pomegranates at Xmas time – and their vibrant magenta hue certainly lends itself to the Xmas table – they are likely to be imported fruit from the Californian picking season that runs from September to November. The southern hemisphere picking season runs from February to May. Their sweet and sour flavour, colour and texture make pomegranates worthy additions to dishes like Robinson’s snapper tartare. Surrounded by pool of yellow capsicum gazpacho, the bright pomegranate arils are also a nice tart counterpoint to the slightly creamy raw fish. Pomegranate also makes a good marinade and baste as we see in Robinson’s beef short rib. Here the beef has been marinated and glazed in pomegranate, treacle molasses, soy and a little star anise, using its acidity to cut through the fatty rib. Presented against black garlic, onion and textural mushroom slices, it’s rich and satisfying in a small portion. Portions, by the way, are something Robinson gets exactly right on this multi-course meal. Appropriate portion control ensures I approach my pretty dessert with relish. It’s right up my alley too - an elderflower soubise with strawberry and pomegranate sauce made with the same sparkling wine as our opening cocktail, garnished with bright white meringue.

W. T.

Nel is a small intimate restaurant in CBD in a very convenient location with central station 5 minute walk away and Goulburn St Parking station just 2 in minutes away with cheap all night rates. Entry to Nel at street level, and then you go down the stairs to the restaurant. Also there is a lift for the disabled or frail. Once there the restaurant is very cosy with an open kitchen giving space and being able to watch the action. The night we were there the dinning area was 90% full , yet the noise level was low so conversation was easy. The staff made us feel welcome and relaxed from the moment we stepped foot in the place, and were attentive all night. The 8 course degustation was an awaking of the senses to the delights of flavours , textures, colours, vision and taste, all downed with a good wine selection. For us we left Nel a little over full however very satisfied with the whole experience

C. W.

We had a fabulous time on Saturday evening, the food was delicious, fun and exciting. Our lovely Canadian waiter was charming, entertaining and informative. We will be back.

H. A.

The amount of thought that goes into the menu is amazing. Attended the Disney themed degustation and was amazed with every meal that came out! Each meal can't with a little story and explanation. Definitely worth going and I'm looking forward to the next theme

A. L.

Delicious 8 course menu which is sensibly / reasonably priced with really amazingly delicious desserts! Very attentive service and were accommodating when one of our friends joined us for a couple of drinks at the end. All in all very enjoyable (the restaurant was full too). One thing I would say as feedback is that the mocktails we had were too sweet.

S. S.

This is an excellent and innovative restaurant, with fantastic gourmet offerings and a willingness to experiment and take guests on a thoroughly enjoyable culinary journey. The cocktails are also a must to try, and the service is personal and professional.

K. J.

Brilliant dining experience. Food meets art. And the Sommelier was brilliant. She was so passionate about her wines. Always a great night.

A. T.

We loved Nel. My first time here and I will be coming back especially after learning they have a different menu every 8 weeks. The different courses were excellent and entertaining. After eating your first starter that resembles a marshmallow / coconut lamington but tastes like tomato soup you know you are in for a treat. I don't want to spoil it too much. I hope you get to enjoy it as much as I did.

L. Z.

Highly recommend, set menu, food is delicious and service is good , price is reasonable, will definitely be back next time !

r. m.

We had an outstanding evening on saturday. The wines and food were exceptional. Who would have thought a simple crumpet could taste soooo good. From the food to the service it doesn't get any better. Thankyou

N. S.

Fantastic place to go to experience some Something deferent if u love food tasting 😀 It is set menu always so I’m always surprised of what plate will be next 😀 This time the theme is for movies see pics for more They change the theme every some months so nice to visit some times during the year

S. T.

Never been to a degustation this good and creative especially for the money and I cannot stop recommending nel. to my friends and family. It truely is a cut above what I've tried so far in terms of creativity, aesthetics and even price. Every dish was memorable which is something I find hard to say about other tasting menus. They also catered for my vegetarian partner which I also got to try and it was not an afterthought substitutions the vegetarian dishes was powerful in flavour and matched the regular set menu. I've very keen to go back again to see the new Chirstmas menu when I get the chance. The staff were very accomodating and friendly and we definitely part of the magic that night. All in all, having been to a few degustations, for the price and the quality and creativtiy of the food I haven't found anythign that has toppled nel., it's definitely become one of my benchmarks that other place are measured up to.

D. Y.

Echoing a lot of others. Beautiful venue and concept. Staff friendly good service. Food was just average. Small portions and expected to be more delicious given the $$.

J. V.

Great food and service experience! We loved the modern vibe to the ambience and the little details given to each dish.

M. K.

Service was excellent and the food was fantastic too. The course is very well structured. The value is great given its price. I would definitely come back.

A. R.

This is only my 2nd visit to Nel and it was as amazing as the first. Food, people, experience just wonderful m. Could not recommend highly enough.

B. D. T.

Has to be my favourite restaurant in sydney right now. From the moment you walk in you are taken on a journey. Each course was amazing and they change the menu every six weeks... I'm coming once every 6 weeks!!!

I. S.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and the whole Nel experience. Truly unbelievable. Food was awesome. I’d give it another star if I could.

B.

I was very content with the experience overall. The courses were very original and the flavours mixed well together. There was not one dish that I disliked, neither was there a dish that I found strange to pallet. I left feeling neither full nor hungry so the amounts were just right! The service was excellent and the staff were really friendly. I could not fault the staff apart from one incident that change my whole experience. I don’t blame the staff but the management. When we arrived we were offered sparking or still water. Only these two options. Little did I know that this was not complementary. I would not have minded as it was only going to be a couple of dollars but it wasn’t until the end of the meals that I found out that jug of water cost me $12 f’ing dollars!?! I can understand the cost of the meals as the combination of the chef’s experience and skills, preparation and the selection of the menu is definitely worth the extra money. However, where did this water come from that cost $12? Were the water molecules hand selected from various archaeological ruins around the world and then combined to complement the meals and cleanse the pallet. I don’t think so. What is worse is that I found out it used to be $15 for the jug of water so they still think a discount of $3 is justified? I mean, come on, get real here. This is just taking advantage of your clients. It wasn’t until we finished the jug of water towards the end of the meal that the staff offered water again. This time 3 options, still, sparking, and this time, tap water. I would have twigged if tap water was an option from the beginning. Like I stated before, being a classy restaurant I can justify the expense of the meals and I was well aware of what I was paying for. But the jug of water was uncalled for and for that I cannot give this 5 stars as I felt shafted.

T. R.

Amazing food !! Staff are amazing really helpful in explaining each dish , and amazing friendly service The presentation was incredible Defiantly will be back !!

B. S.

Really enjoyed all the dishes at nel. There were some playful dishes, many had ingredients and textures that you wouldn't think to put together, but works really well. While the service was friendly it was a tad inconsistent. Our initial waiter said there were menu options, but he never came back to discuss it so we dismissed it, only to learn from other reviews that there was an extended menu option. The couple next to us was also offered more of the delicious bread, but we weren't. Aside from that, really delicious food. Everything was tasty, well worth a visit!

M. N.

Excellent, fantastic food and wine. Great knowledgeable staff. Nothing to dislike.

I. B.

Good experience, the dishes have creativity and good presentation but not tasting good. Some dish presentation of Disney set are not same as Instagram post.

M. M.

It a small space downstairs but cozy place. Food was good.

J. T.

It was such an amazing experience - from the spectacular everyday good re-imagined to the amazing service we had all night. We had the Great British Menu course which was so delicious from start to finish, so perfectly thought out on what should come before or after each meal. Will be eagerly waiting for the next menu for a return visit.

t.

What an absolutely beautiful experience- the menu delights and the staff were lovely. A truly magical evening 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

E.

3 stars where most of the rating goes towards the service and presentation. There was nothing amazing about the taste except for the Beauty and the Beast themed dessert (pictured). The first “eat me” snack and desserts were decent, but everything else was very mediocre. The soup was bland and not “very hot” at all as warned by our waiter. Fish was tender but had zero taste. Worth going to have an instagramable meal, but definitely not worth the price.

G. M.

Went for the British menu. This was my second time at Nel. The first time was 5 stars (although small pours on the wine). I hate to leave an average review for a nice place but we were all a little underwhelmed. There's something about eating one chip with a tiny piece of battered fish on top that just doesn't sit right - no matter how good that chip was. The pork pie was nice (all pies are nice mind) but not as good as the classic. And the jam roly poly was basically what it said on the tin but with a different fruit; just not as inventive as I hoped for. Some of the courses were delicious and different like the leek and potato soup, steak sandwhich, and the crunchy dessert. The cocktails were really excellent and the service was great too. Overall, a bit of a miss and we had to get a snack afterwards! But... we'll probably be back as it's fun and not too expensive considering the effort that goes in to it. Giving a 4 star as it's the average of my two visits.

M. C.

Really great food. The degustation menu was amazing and really artistic. Also love the open kitchen from where you can see the magic.

C. R.

WOW! The Great British Menu was amazing! Everything from the music, to the fun facts about each dish, the presentation and the TASTE! Will definitely be back to try another theme!

K.

This place is amazing! The menu changes regularly and the food is always delicious. The chefs use interesting techniques to create dishes and the staff are really friendly. I have been to Nel at least 3 times in the last 6 Months. I highly recommend this restaurant.

A. B.

What a place! I'm so happy I've discovered it accidentally. My husband and I had our first post-covid date night out in the city and it turned into the most wonderful culinary experience. We felt well looked after from the moment we entered the restaurant: I really appreciate little things such as taking care of your coats, showing you to the table, introducing other staff members that will take care of your experience... waiting staff and customer service at the restaurants in Australia can be funny, and at a lot of places I visited it was deflating comparing to the way it's done in the Mediterranean or in North America. Not the case of nel. ! It was a perfect balance of being friendly, attentive and timely without being too posh, stiff or pretentious. Big thank you to the amazing gentleman who was recommending wines to pair with our food (I wish I remembered his name!), we went for the premium selection and it was incredible. And the food... oh, the food! We visited in September 2020, so the Alice in Wonderland menu was on. What can I say, this is not food. This is art. Thank you. I will recommend your restaurant to all visitors to Sydney who want to understand the Australian love for food.

R. &. J. T.

Had the most wonderful dining experience at Nel on 5th May 2021. From start to finish we were invited to eat the most amazing 11 dishes all with a wonderful history behind each dish. We thoroughly recommend a meal there as the staff were friendly, professional and sincere. To the chefs we say 'thank you' for all your culinary skills.

R. C.

Disney themed dinner was fantastic. Food was great flavours and the theme of each dish was a perfect match to food

R. R.

Possibly the single best meal I've had in Sydney and I've eaten at a lot of the best restaurants. Amazingly inventive, incredibly delicious, great use of textures and flavour combinations and visually stunning. And I actually felt for $130 a head it's actually quite reasonable for the 10 small courses given what I've paid at other places. I'll be back every 3 months without fail for the menu updates :-)

J. R.

Each item from the Great British menu had a story, and was great experiencing tidbits of Nelly's life through his dishes! The service was great and it was awesome being near the kitchen and seeing all the action.

C. H.

My fiancé and I had an outstanding dining experience at Nel, whilst visiting Sydney. We had the pleasure of booking the last night of their ‘Land and Sea’ menu, and every one of the 11 dishes was creative and delicious. If we must choose, our favourites were the ‘One fish, green fish’ main, and the ‘Mango Tango’ dessert. Most importantly, all the staff are welcoming, friendly, and our experience would not have been the same without them. Thank you for the great night, we will certainly be back again!

B. M.

Another brilliant degustation by NEL. Cant wait for the next menu. The most wonderful food and staff. Highly recommend.

L. H.

Amazing experience! My wife and I had the Christmas menu. The wait staff were super helpful, friendly and organised, and every bite a pleasure. My only suggestion for improvement would be to have a cocktail drinks pairing as I am not a fan of wine, and their excellent cocktails would be even better if curated. Will definitely return.

K. L.

Outstanding - I honestly don't know how nel. flies under the radar. Delicious food, presented cleverly with wonderful service - highly recommended.

K. H.

Nel is our favourite Sydney restaurant: every time we've been (and we can't help ourselves, we've been a lot!) we've found the food is so tasty, it's just the right amount and there's a story to go with it. Wonderful wine, cocktails and mocktails to round it out. The perfect dining experience, every time.

K. Y. S. P.

The food was great, very unique however the 3 stars is for the service. It seemed like they were in a hurry with the service and did not give us enough time to digest and enjoy the food. They were also in a hurry to ask us to leave, gave us the receipt and eftpos machine without us asking for it. The service seriously killed the experience. Really a shame.

L. W.

5-Star is not a high enough rating for this restaurant. The food was impeccable, the wines to match complemented and enhanced the dish. The staff are gorgeous in their self-presentation.

T. S.

Went there for my partners 20th birthday, the service was great and the the way the tasting menu was designed was genius. The land and sea degustation really celebrated the flavours of the main elements of each dish, the concepts and creations made the menu exciting and mysterious. Would recommend to everyone I know, it was a great experience.

S. G.

Service was amazing, most of the food was spot on however, they missed the target ever so slightly on a few things like the cut and cooking of the beef and seasoning of some dishes. Overall it was great value for money, 11 courses for $135 is tops.

M.

What a gastronomic adventure right from the start until we walked out from the establishment! Friendliness and attentiveness were the highlights of our anniversary evening. Staff was good with our less than 2 years old daughter. Food wise, can’t fault them at all!

A. L.

We booked a dinner here as a couple as a celebratory experience and chose to do the wine pairing to go with the Australia themed menu. Every dish was incredible - so hard to pick a winner, would eat them all again, but can’t help but go back to the potato scallop! So much flavour in a bite! The wine pairing was really well done and is worth doing if you’re a wine lover. Service was excellent throughout. Loved that the head chef (?nelly) himself was on the floor serving dishes/drinks and clearing up. Loved to see his passion and drive for perfection.

D. W.

Great selection of tasty food, paired with fine wine. Wait staff were knowledgeable, attentive and engaging throughout the experience. Gluten free options (Coeliac) were well managed and full of flavour.

C. S.

Such an amazing restaurant. The food, the wine, the experience. Will keep coming back!

L. L.

What a wonderful experience! We were gifted a voucher to Nel from a chef friend and they did not disappoint. We tasted 'The Story of Christmas' menu; the atmosphere, food and staff were divine. We had a lovely experience here! Thankyou to the team for a fantastic evening.

F. N.

Great food and wine! I’m more a fan of savoury than sweet, but the mango dessert was to die for. Staff super friendly. Will come back in April when the menu has changed!

L. C.

Went with the alcoholic and non alcoholic pairing. I have been to few degustations before. Fan of Disney-loved it. Two courses were my favourite Donald and Roses. Would love to see them as a main. Really enjoyed all of the food. There is always going to be some sort of unusual paring so if you’re not up for that, go book a standard three course elsewhere.

P. G.

Fantastic food and service

C.

The once upon a time menu was interesting. Each degustation course was different and unique. The food was tasteful and left the palate wanting more. The service was mediorce the night we dined. One waitress was on the ball and was friendly and helpful while the others seemed very overwhelmed and we stressed(the poor things). This made the atmosphere a little unpleasant, rushed and not relaxed.

t. f.

Can't recommend this place enough! The food was a contradiction, delicious English cuisine. The arc of the tasting menu was perfectly calibrated, with amusing bushes at the start, divine surf then turf in the middle, and sultry sweetness at the end. The service was exceptional, friendly, warm and professional. The price is very reasonable for a tasting menu, way lower than most lesser places in Sydney, and the menu changes every six weeks, certainly giving me another reason to return regularly.

B. A.

We had the degustation Disney theme meal and honestly, whilst the food was nice, it was not spectacular. The only Disney theme was the fancy names of meals. The meal would have probably been better had the rest of the bill not left a bad taste. Firstly the home made sparkling water was something like $18 a bottle, it’s a soda stream, sparkling water, we had about 4 of those between 6, and we were a table of six and copped a $130 service charge! We got a $300 bottle of red which was VERY ORDINARY bottle, I dont understand why the need to overcharge so much! I personally would never recommend this, we did come home and have a toasties! there are a lot better places. The staff were amazing!

J. L.

It was alright. Some dishes were great but others left me wanting.

K. L.

Wonderful fine dining experience! They also surprise us to celebrate our special day!

J. H.

Delicious food beautifully presented, excellent service. A bit short on the matching wines so would just order our own wine next time.

l. b.

The Christmas menu was amazing, as was the service! Can never fault Nel.

N. K.

We dined at nel. recently for my husbands birthday. We have visited nel many times and it never disapoints. The restaurant was buzzing, staff were attentive, food was out of this world, wine on point - we even had a personal hello from the head chef nelly. We love coming back as it is always consistant. Thanks again for a wonderful dining experience.

D. M.

Amazing food, wine and exceptional customer service. I highly recommend

S. Y.

Very crative and taste different but nice i bought from groupon to try

C. R. D.

Definitely give Nel 5 stars for the delicious food! It was an incredible experience for our taste buds.. only critique is they charge through the nose for a glass of wine.. I don’t mind paying for it ($17) if they actually gave you a full glass..it was a mere mouthful. Glad we weren’t the only ones thinking this as the couple next to us had the exact same opinion. .I would recommend purchasing a bottle then at least you know exactly the amount of wine you’re going to get! In any case will be back for sure 😌

I. B.

Christmas dinner !! Worth every bite 😍 should have many hats ! So exited to have this as my local!

X. S. M.

This was our 2nd visit to Nel, and once again they didn’t disappoint. They have an amazing team of staff, that go above and beyond to ensure your experience with them is remembered. And now with the menu changing for Chapter Three, we will be back after 29th June to be amazed, once again. 😎😎 6 Star service is a definite.

P. M. (. f. P.

NEL is my favourite restaurant in Sydney!! Nelly Robinson is such an amazing chef, I love seeing his visions come to life every menu he makes. Truly inspiring.

D. J. B.

So... nel for me was relatively average. There was only one dish I felt didn’t need seasoning. I wanted to salt almost everything. Our party was seated on a table next to the toilets which unfortunately meant we could a) smell it all and b) it was quite the thoroughfare as this is also right next to the kitchen entry. The service however is definitely 5 stars. Nel delivered food to your table and it’s clear he is very passionate. The sommelier was great though if interrupted he did get quite thrown off. Everything came out very quickly which was great because I was starving. Though I was still hungry at the end. Nice atmosphere. I have no issue dropping a wedge on amazing food. However I don’t feel it was money well spent on this occasion. Wouldn’t visit again.

D. K.

First time to this restaurant and couldn’t have left more satisfied. The service was great and the food was Devine. The wine was top quality and the cocktails were amazing. We will definitely be back. Safe to say this our new favourite restaurant in Sydney.

Y. S.

This is a restaurant that is exciting yet humble. A refreshing take on Modern Australian cuisine (and one that refreshes each month), with intricately presented dishes that tell a story but does not compromise on flavour and texture. The menu harmonises and respects the ingredients and the origins of each dish.

K. F.

Excellent food and amazing service. We had a great evening and enjoyed every single course in the Great British Menu. Highly recommend! Thank you team Nel.

C. M.

The Australian menu was fun, food was nice but not overly memorable unfortunately. A quick improvement can be achieved through greater attention to the tableware and table setting: - The lamb was served to my husband on a defective plate that wasn't flat, it rotated and acted as a turn table as he was eating the food. The knife provided to eat this dish was a place knife with a very dull edge. - The 'bug' and pasta was served in a small deep bowl and a knife an fork was provided. The bowl provided minimal space to manouvre the cutlery.

M. H.

An amazing tasting menu that really makes you blown away by food in general. The menu was amazing, along with the service, venue and overall experience. I would 100% recommend nel. to anybody who wants an amazing night.

t. m.

We booked a dinner here as a couple as a celebratory experience and chose to do the wine pairing to go with the Australia themed menu. Every dish was incredible - so hard to pick a winner, would eat them all again, but can’t help but go back to the potato scallop! So much flavour in a bite! The wine pairing was really well done and is worth doing if you’re a wine lover. Service was excellent throughout. Loved that the head chef (?nelly) himself was on the floor serving dishes/drinks and clearing up. Loved to see his passion and drive for perfection. Only very teeny criticism would be that with the pairing there is no drink to go with the ‘snacks’ (essentially first course) which means either go without for the first 15/20 mins of your meal or buy an additional one. A glass of bubbles or pre dinner cocktail would be the icing on the cake.

T. I.

Restaurant was beautiful but lacked staff: topping up wines was slow, there was no front of house upon entry, etc. Now the food. The pea soup and fish pie were very good. Good seasoning, great texture, nice presentation. I just wish they were served slightly warmer, as that would have made them more fragrant. The kingfish with tandoori spices and the goat main could have been more heavily spiced, and whatever came under the fish was so acidic it really didn't do anything for me. The desserts were the highlights. Great textures in both the carrot cake and the shells, although the shells dessert was just a tad too sweet, but a very good end to the meal. Oh and another thing. Serving single malt with a bit of water is pure class and I highly respect any restaurant/owner that correctly serves single malt, but I digress. Overall was pleased, just improving the little things here and there would have made this meal much better.

H. Z.

Tried 'Once upon a time' menu last night. Really a good one! Friendly staff and amazing food!! Each course has its own name and idea, which is fantastic, Love it! Definitely will go another time! Worth it!

J. C.

Great concept and venue, food was good (though some repetition) but brought out very quickly and not with the drinks so we were constantly interrupted with hard to hear narratives. A good night but $$$ overall with steady water top ups that probably could be included for the price.

G. M.

TL;DR - Quite simply, the best meal & dining experience we've ever had. From the first phone call to try and squeeze in a table because there were no online bookings left, to the last dish of the night, everything about this place was genuinely first class. I was fortunate enough to speak with Nelly, the head chef & restaurant owner on the phone, who explained that whilst they didn't have space to accommodate my wife & I on a table of our own on her 40th celebrations for a last minute 7:30 sitting, he would ensure we would enjoy a similar or better experience sitting at the bar. He was true to his word. The service, chat, dish deconstruction, presentation, environment and of course the food, were just outstanding. The degustation menu was a holiday & Home Alone themed selection of festive favourites, with some awesome treats & surprises along the way, coupled with some unique wine tastings. Thanks to Nelly, Holly & the rest of the team for making our visit an unforgettable experience. Don't think twice about booking here. Just do it.

G. H.

We were fairly late (our fault) to sit down... but told three times - we need the table at 845 (2 hours) from starting We were then rushed through every course - note that we finished and overtook others who had started before us.... the matching wines were nice but minimal amount given for $90 One meat dish was really fatty and tough. The meal was nice but not mind blowing. The presentation of the dishes was exceptional though and really well thought out. Very creative. Lovely ambiance in the restaurant. Would be nIce for a special occasion if not so rushed. Not sure I’ll return but thank you. I would also note that the chef Nelly visit most tables to serve food but not ours - a disappointment Ooh and lovely bathrooms

K.

Great food, good service, love love love! Came here for lunch, menu only $55 so it's a good way to try this pace if on a budget! Update 24/10/20- came here for the Once upon a time theme degustation and I had blast. Amazing, creative, tasty food, each course was a surprise and so not expected. ( can’t really tell from the menu!). Had Disney music playing in the background and I really just wanted to belt out those familiar tunes. I felt like a kid again. Servings not massive but it was just right so you didn’t feel the need to roll out of there and undo your pants. Service was also amazing and so attentive and they really knew their food and drinks!

C. M.

Food was awesome no complains about it but I feel like the time between each course was a little too quick. We haven't finished the wine yet and they start pouring the next one and bringing the food out. So my partner and I quickly finish off the wine and i end up feeling drunk and after leaving the restaurant I vomited. I also feel they can lower the music a little. It's fine when its less people but once the place starts filling up it's actually quite difficult to hear what the staffs are saying.

M. Y.

Had a wonderful time last time I was here for the Christmas menu and look forward to going again in a week. It’s a whole different experience to your normal sit down dinner. Very accommodating to vegetarians. The cocktails were a beautiful touch to the themed food.

B. W.

We came here at the start of the year (2017) and thoroughly enjoyed the tasting menu. Food not only tasted amazing but was also well plated and presented. Kitchen was efficient and the evening flowed at a nice pace. We asked for a substitution as we couldn't eat oysters and the replacement dish was actually a highlight for the night! Waitstaff explained all the dishes and were friendly. Loved it.

T. A.

It was a choice I never regretted. Taste, service fantastic. I will visit again.

S.

What an absolute amazing experience. My partner and I booked the Disney “Once upon a time” menu last Friday night, the food and ambiance was incredible as well as the paired wines which were really well matched. I also cannot speak highly enough of the staff members and their dedication to fantastic customer service. The whole experience at Nel is one that I will never forgot.

L. H.

In my group we had two people with different dietary restrictions and they were able to cater to us no problem on their tasting menu (we noted in on our booking and they asked us again before we started the meal). The food was all very delicious, and I really liked how the chef presented all the dishes. The dishes were all very creative and modern. My only criticism would be that perhaps our server could have spent more time at each table, it seemed like she didn't have enough time to spend with her guests.

J. P.

I absolutely loved this restaurant. We had such a great experience. The food was amazing, the service and staff impeccable. Loved the atmosphere. Highly recommend and we will definitely be back!

F. M.

Had a great time at nel last night for their "Once Upon a Time - Chapter 2" degustation with the premium wine pairing. Food was delicious, wine pairings were lovely, restaurant felt clean and safe to be eating out despite Covid, and we all left feeling comfortably full. The only detractors were that I felt rushed with being the last sitting for the night, and our som seemed a bit distracted.

A. M.

Absolute perfection! The food was exquisite, the wine was immaculately paired with each course, the dessert was out of this world. Exceptional consideration of vegetarian diners. Absolutely gorgeous staff throughout every stage of the dinner. Cannot wait to dine there again!

W. K.

We had the Land & Sea menu which was delicious. Love the taste of everything we had. I would recommend you eat something before you go as it was not particularly filling. Timing of the meals was ok. We had a couple sit next to us later who were given their meals before us so I suspect a mix up. Also, towards the end when they were preparing for the second session of the night we were kind've forgotten. Wine list was definitely on the pricey side.

S. B.

Very enjoyable experience, lots of thought went into the menu, great flavours and lots of variety throughout the courses. Service was very impressive too.

K. H.

Very Special place. Where art, food and science collide in a magical way.

G. G.

My husband and I travel internationally a few times a year and we would select a fine dining restaurant to visit in each city we travel to. Nel was the restaurant we selected during our recent trip to Sydney based on the collective reviews which have read. We were not disappointed - the food was delicious and was uniquely presented. It was our first time trying kangaroo meat and we appreciate how tender the meat was. We enjoyed the desserts a lot! One suggestion I would make is to have the server speak a little louder and slower when explaining what the dishes were. At times, I thought that the explanations were a little rushed and I did not get what he was trying to say.

S. B.

Food was amazing and captured the traditional English pub theme with modern cuisine flare. Does get busy though, so you may get different wait times between courses. Encouraging applause from the kitchen when eating often. Recommend the potato pie, stunning.

M. T.

A tantalizing experience of food, such inventive dishes originated from aussie classics. Valentines dinner was amazing! Even though we arrived exceptionally late the service was faultless. Actually enjoyed how fast the courses came out, just how we like it - one after another. Definitely a winner for us.

N. T.

What a place! Nelly has absolutely smashed it out of the park. If you can get a table, you will not have a better experience for fine dining anywhere else. This is the only place you should consider. The menu, the explanation, the use of local produce, the stunning visual creations with the dishes and the wine pairing. Not to mention the exceptional service. Do yourself a favour. Get there.

K. W.

Great setting and interesting degustation menu. Unfortunately main courses were served cold due to sheer volume of people in the one sitting. Place would massively benefit from focusing on the customers that are there in smaller numbers rather than trying to cater for such a large volume of people at the same time. Overall not blown away, for a degustation type restaurant and the prices they are charging, it’s not even on the same level as other places in and around Sydney.

Y. G.

Great customer experience through the whole dining process. Introduction of the courses and great presentation of dish. It is full of surprises and the mains are delicious. A great place to date and talk a bit with your significant other. Chippy tea and beef Wellington is my personal favorites.

R. L.

One of my favourite restaurants. Nel had a deal on during Christmas which made it an easy choice to pick. Great food and great staff. The restaurant was pumping the air conditioning, so be prepared to bring a coat even on a warm day. I would take my partner there a second time.

P. H. T. N.

Just had an amazing 8 course tasting menu! Each and every dish was creative, well presented and incredibly flavourful! Fantastic service and good ambiance - although the overall lighting could be improved a little (some spots a bit dark and some too bright). We will be back for sure!

S. E.

OMG....this place is to die for....love the degastation dinner...the staff were attentive to very detail....they all knew what was in every course....these were presented beautiful such that you felt guilty eating them... As for the Sommelier......very approachable and professional with a fantastic depth of knowledge. Can't wait for our next date night..

K. M.

I stumbled into Nel two years ago on my last night visiting Australia. I cannot wait to enjoy this culinary experience again when I return this June. The staff was friendly and professional (and didn't call attention to my way too casual outfit--I'll be more aware and appropriate next time=)); the food was a delicious adventure. It was a tasting menu, so yes the portions are small. However, the courses add up to a satisfying and filling whole. More importantly, each dish is carefully & creatively prepared--and it shows! It was fun to just sit back and let the meal unfold, to discover new things along the way. What a culinary journey!

M. T.

This is a restaurant that is exciting yet humble. A refreshing take on Modern Australian cuisine (and one that refreshes each month), with intricately presented dishes that tell a story but does not compromise on flavour and texture. The menu harmonises and respects the ingredients and the origins of each dish.

T. D.

Nel Restaurant was amazing. Service and atmosphere was great compared to other fine dining places in Sydney. Food was delicious and the dining experience was very enjoyable. Special thanks to our hostess on the night Raz*. We arrived late to our booking and she was very accommodating. Hostess was able to create a personal experience and went out of her way to assist us on the night. I would highly recommend friends and family to Nel because of this.

R. V.

One of Sydney's hidden gems. Having eaten here on a couple of occasions (and being thoroughly impressed on both visits), it still surprises me that this restaurant seems to fly so far under the radar. The food is some of the most creative and well-executed in the city and is easily on par with, if not better than, most two hatted restaurants. On the current Australian menu, only the smashed avo underwhelmed. It was not necessarily a bad dish, it just didn't hold its own against the other outstanding dishes that were sent out, including a very clever and extremely delicious take on weetbix and milk and a salmon dish with consomme that highlighted the talent in the kitchen. It was also refreshing to see the head chef/owner go from overseeing the kitchen, to greeting and engaging with guests, to moving tables, topping up glasses when other staff members were busy and even hunting down bottles of wine when needed. A display of true hospitality that is often missing these days. If you are after an interesting, well-crafted and delicious degustation, Nel should be at the top of your list.

D. M.

Nel is the best! This place will become an institution within the culture of Sydney. We've always found the food inventive, quirky, tasty and a little cheeky which suits us to a tee. We keep coming back to taste the new menus and will continue this tradition to come.

H. T.

Nice but not exceptional or amazing. The duck and the dessert were really good the rest was OK. Portions are small but you get quiet a few. Service is good but wouldnt say that the price is justified for what you get

J. C.

Excellent staff and service , fantastic food preparation and attention to detail however the particular flavours that my wife and I had were not great. The night I went it was an English inspired set menu and there were many excellent reviews for the restaurant on the booking website and on Google so I decided to give them a try. I'm not sure if it was just the set menu that is on at the moment but it just wasn't for us.

P. W.

An easy five starts. Food was excellent and very creative from start to finish. Service was faultless. Great wine selection including several wines by the half bottle. Was full on a Tuesday night but didn't feel like we'd been squashed in. This restaurant is going places. Will go back.

M. B.

My wife and I booked for the Christmas 8 course degustation for our wedding anniversary. Overall for the money being spent and based on our experience it is hard to recommend even though the idea and novelty are top notch. When booking we filled out the dietary requirements as required. None of this seemed known when we arrived and we let the staff know again that one of us could not have dairy. There were two occasions when this was missed and one where the kitchen and waitress mis-communicated and one of the dishes was served incorrectly. None of this is a major problem but for the price being paid simple things like this should not happen multiple times. Service was attentive in filling up glasses and bringing the food out. The job of communicating the story of the dishes for this Christmas theme was ok but sometimes a little disjointed. The food: Dish one was a pork sausage roll. One came with mayonnaise which I just removed for my wife. The dish itself was decent, however, both were lukewarm when arriving. Dish two was the chestnuts on an open fire. This was actually a profiterole with cauliflower puree resting on chestnuts. Nice flavours, shame the chestnuts are just used as an ornament and not for eating and once again the food seemed lukewarm. Dish three was the mushroom stout. Good flavours, hard to eat without a spoon as the biscuit for dunking continually breaks apart when trying to scoop the food out. I just used my finger to get in there. Dish four was warm bread with bacon butter. Nice flavours and the dish was hot. Dish five was a Christmas reef salad mostly watermelon and tomato. Fresh and flavoursome. Dish six was wood-fired salmon with a green sauce to mix the fish in. The best dish of the day for both of us. Dish 7 was Quail two ways. The first was almost like a mini taco. Did not find much flavour in this dish. The second was the quail breast with some puree, cabbage and carrot. My quail was nice, however, my wife had a few fatty pieces that could not be cut and considering the small size of the quail this did not leave much left to eat. Dish 8 was the first dessert. Yellow snow. Rice pudding, mango and some lovely crunchy pieces. A very nice dish. Dish 9 was the second dessert. Marshmallow, three gelatos and chocolate bar. Another nice dish that mixes all the flavours together nicely. Dish 10 is the last dessert and a small coconut ball with passion fruit and white chocolate. A nice sour hit to end the meal with a candle on the side of the dish as the anniversary acknowledgement... We also had one nice mango mock-tail. Overall a mixed day of service and dishes. All up the bill was $270.

S. A.

What a fantastic unique dinning experience. We enjoyed the Australian - theme eight course degustation and are looking forward to trying the new current menu. They only offer the degustation and all the dietary requirements are taken care of. Wine list is good and compact. If I had to fault anything than the basement location could be improved. Service is faultless and the chef/owner Nel is on the floor himself. They deserve their hat status!!

L. Z.

Tasting menu was enjoyable but dessert was the star

D. H.

Great service and wine menu in a lovely, elegant downstairs venue. Very clever degustation menus.

K. S.

Delicious food and fantastic service!! Loved the experience.

B. M.

Best restaurant We have been to in a long time. From the moment we walked in it was a journey. The dishes on the menu were beautifully explained by the attentive wait staff. It felt like we really knew about the chef, his friends and how he grew up. It was nice and refreshing to have a restaurant menu where the food dictated, educated and surprised your senses. Go there.......now. We will be back time and time again as the menu changes every 6 weeks.

R. D.

Very accommodating! We had the tasting menu amd they made modifications for my dietary rewuirements while my friends had the traditional menu. The matched wines were delicious. Sometimes hard to hear the descriptions of food over background noise, but generally good ambiance and attentive staff. Great night

S. R.

Can't recommend this place enough! The food was a contradiction, delicious English cuisine. The arc of the tasting menu was perfectly calibrated, with amusing bushes at the start, divine surf then turf in the middle, and sultry sweetness at the end. The service was exceptional, friendly, warm and professional. The price is very reasonable for a tasting menu, way lower than most lesser places in Sydney, and the menu changes every six weeks, certainly giving me another reason to return regularly. The chef Nel does for English cooking what Rene did for Danish. Book a few weeks in advance as this place is popular and will only become more so.

L. I.

Had an amazing evening here enjoying the Christmas degustation menu and matching wines. My favourites surprised me a little... being the melon pops, Santa’s cookies and milk and mince pies - they were just so original and tasted so delicious. Festive bird and Christmas dinner really felt like a European Christmas in Oz.

J. R.

YES you need to go! There's obviously a reason why Chef Nelly is on the top 300 in the world list. And to be honest.. if I had his expertise and following this is exactly what I would do. Get a funky venue, awesome charismatic knowledgeable staff and create one themed personal menu for people who don't know what's best for them. All for an "it's a special day today but you will still be able to afford food the rest of the month" price. THANK YOU TEAM! And the wine was beautifully paired with the christmas menu. Can't wait to be back and try your next menu.

A. S.

An amazing experience with the most delicious food and a staff that were passionate about the food they served. Highly recommend and look forward to coming back!

T. G.

Great atmosphere, great presentation. The degustation started strong but towards the end we were a little disappointed. The main reason was the main, the duck was the only real meat (poultry/game/red meat) dish and it was very nice but just tasted like a really good roast, no wow factor. The other disappointment was that there were two desserts plus petit fours. It seems a bit of an overkill and that they could swap out a dessert and add some more meat to the table. Otherwise though we had a great evening with wonderful service.

K. R.

Chef Nelly adds flair and fun to high quality favour and presentation. Degustation menu changes regularly, with fun themes showcasing very clever, beautifully cooked and presented creations. Great service service too. You can get cheaper high quality degustations in Sydney but the differentiator here is the creativity and fun.

Z. O.

A modern English menu with a delicious twist. Degustation left all full and happy, some of the flavour pairings were unusual and out of the box, definitely worthy of multiple visits. Lovely staff.

A. H.

The location is blink and you miss it, next to the Central Station hotel. I came here at a recommendation from Timeout and was really surprised at how lovely it is. The service staff are quite lovely, and they take into account any allergies quite easily. The noise is a bit loud when restaurant is full, even though we had the advantage of not being in the main floor area. That area looks too close together.

T. G.

Great variety of Asian inspired tasting plates. Stand out was the sea urchin plate which was a special for the night. Was an added bonus that the chef came to deliver it to our table, Andy I think it was, and he was super hot too which was cool. Remaining dishes were fresh, creative and matched perfectly with the wines served.

W. C.

The menu harmonises and respects the ingredients and the origins of each dish. Set up in the basement of the Central Station Hotel, Nelly Robinson's establishment was the highlight of a recent trip to Sydney. We enjoyed it so much we dined there on the following night where Nelly was kind enough to offer us an alternative set of dishes that was a 'preview' of the following month's menu

S. B.

A great, unique fine dining experience. The closest, so far, to the European Michelin food concept in Sydney.

S. L.

Such a great restaurant and experience. Really enjoyed that there was a story behind all the courses. Service was amazing as well

M. E. B. W.

Chef Nelly and his team survive and delight with every new course and every competes for culinary perfection. We went for Valentine's day dinner with friends who had been before and not only was it the best meal I've ever experienced, our friends said it was the best they've yet had there. In short, Go! You will not be disappointed.

D. L.

Didn't leave feeling sad, but spent over $300 and didn't feel that the meal was up to that sort of standard for a two person degustation with drinks. Duck was VERY good, felt weird eating venison and rabbit on a dish called "Bambi and Thumper" really not how I want to remember a great disney movie.

S. A.

A..ma.. zing.... Will definately be back. Original and delicious!!

S. L.

Good food but I think for the price and given we were a group of 10, the portions should have been a little more generous.

A.

Had the pleasure of trying their Disney themed menu with wine pairing. The kind waitress allowed my friend & I to split the wine between us two - the service provided was amazing however the food didn’t live up to my expectations.

L. &. T.

Wonderful experience at nel as always. The British menu was a great journey and looking forward to trying the next menu

E. Z. (.

It is definitely a unique dining experience if you are looking for something different. The tasting menu takes you through a variety of flavour and texture profiles. Worth a visit if you are looking for somewhere fancy to take your date, but prepare to fork out big bucks for very little food, stretched out over a 3 hour period.

B. J.

My favourite. Exclusively degustation menu can be modified for gluten and dairy free if you advise in advance! The wine list is extensive. Nelly is so friendly and warm, the kitchen is open to the restaurant and the atmosphere is cosy and romantic. In my opinion it’s one of the best value fine dining spots in Sydney.

T. Z.

Wonderful experience, amazing to see the entire kitchen and chef Nelly hard at work. At nel every dish is a unique creation. The same can't be said for many of the other, more expensive fine dining options around Sydney. Ridiculous how the menu changes so regularly, so much work must be put in to each version.

B. G.

Such an amazing experience

Y. G.

Great customer experience through the whole dining process. Introduction of the courses and great presentation of dish. It is full of surprises and the mains are delicious. A great place to date and talk a bit with your significant other. Chippy tea and beef Wellington is my personal favorites.

J. C.

Excellent staff and service , fantastic food preparation and attention to detail however the particular flavours that my wife and I had were not great. The night I went it was an English inspired set menu and there were many excellent …

K. W.

Great setting and interesting degustation menu. Unfortunately main courses were served cold due to sheer volume of people in the …

L. C.

Amazing experience. Food was exceptional, bursting with flavor. Couldn't fault the food or service. It was a nice surprise. Would definitely return. Menu changes every 6 weeks.

G. D.

Incredible food. Amazing experience. Can not wait to go back!

L. I.

Had an amazing evening here enjoying the Christmas degustation menu and matching wines. My favourites surprised me a little... being the melon pops, Santa’s cookies and milk and mince pies - they were just so original and tasted so delicious. Festive bird and Christmas dinner really felt like a European Christmas in Oz.

L.

One of the best experience I had at a restaurant. The theme was cute and food was matched well with their selection of drinks. Will definitely be returning.

G. M.

TL;DR - Quite simply, the best meal & dining experience we've ever had. From the first phone call to try and squeeze in a table because there were no …

W. C.

The menu harmonises and respects the ingredients and the origins of each dish. Set up in the basement of the Central Station Hotel, Nelly Robinson's establishment was the highlight of a recent trip to Sydney. We enjoyed it so much we dined …

W. B.

Nels never fails to impress, beautiful food and excellent service

W. M.

Absolutely Fantastically Incredible!!! The most incredible tastes and smells tee’d with fantastic wines and cocktails our evening was one that we shall never forget, the combination of our excitement and curiousness for the incredible foods leaves you with brilliant tasting food but leaves you thinking how did Nel do it!

M. G.

Had a wonderful dinner here a couple days ago - the lamb tartare and Sunday roast were highlights of the 8-course degustation meal. The setting is a bit too dark for my liking but doesn't take away from the wonderful experience. Pricing is on the higher end but worth it.

B. D.

I had such an enjoyable time at Nel that I immediately needed to correct my previous 4 star review. On Saturday night I was floored from dish one, my expectations were blown away with how much I enjoyed each dish. This being especially impressive given I’m not huge on my seafood and this menu featured seafood heavily. Pound for pound Nel is incredible in every aspect: amazing service, casual atmosphere, outstanding and creative food, great wine list with plenty of variety. I’m already booking my next visit so I can see what the Nel team come up with next! Highly recommended, easily one of Sydney’s best. Thank you Team Nel!

L. G.

By far the best restaurant and dining experience in sydney,. Every dish is thought out and takes you to another place. There is so much thought into the flavours, appearance and balance of each dish. The service is also exceptional. I'm never disappointed when having left this place.

M. S.

I was brought here as a surprise for my birthday and had a wonderful time. The food was theatrical, beautifully presented, whimsical, witty and above all tasty! Being a Libran, I like things in balance and Nel. showed me those qualities. My favourite courses were the pea and ham soup (the fresh peas punctuated the smokiness of the ham beautifully) and the seared kingfish (so fresh and gorgeous). Oh, and the carrot sorbet was a highlight too (now I know why Bugs Bunny was so happy all the time). We were well treated by the staff and the venue is a good looking space that made me feel cooler than I am. I think the young ones call it #gramworthy or I call it #selfieyourfoodtomakeyourfriendsjealousandmakeyoufeelbetterbutinfactyourarenotevenappreciating-whatisinfrontofyouandignoringyourdiningpartner-butiguessthatsokbecauseyourarebothtransfixedbyyourphones (ok, that was a dig at the other table).

K. C.

It’s an experience. Food is of a high standard as expected as is the wine. Very professional and helpful staff. Just needs a wow ... maybe I’m a jaded Sydney foodie ... the highlight was the passionfruit Tim Tam, tin can bread and Bunnings hot dog (!) ...

P. D.

Stunning food. Flavours and presentation were exceptional. Staff was exceptionally friendly, attentive and knowledgeable. Highly recommended. 5 stars.

K. L.

Dishes were fun and creative. Not all of them were excellent but I’d like to return when another menu comes out. Service was great.

J. T.

When I walked in, I really wasn't expecting much. The service wasn't that good and the waitress was rude. The ambiance gives off an earthy feel-good vibe. I found the entrees to be somewhat agreeable to my personal flavor-profile. 3 stars.

S. W.

nel. Is a funky boutique dining experience located on Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills in a New York style underground bunker setting. Perfect lighting with touched of copper and a great look into the kitchen from the pass. At the helm is owner and chef Nelly Robinson and in my opinion, he is one of the worlds greatest chefs. Nelly changes the set degustation menu every 6 weeks so be sure to come again and again as no two visits are the same. Nelly is super creative and this shows in his menus as you my have to use a small trowel to discover a truffle dish or discover that the candle burning on your table is actually chicken broth that you can dip your bread roll in on course 6. Behind Nelly is a super talented and friendly team. They will make you feel like family from the moment you arrive.

H. L.

Very Nice restaurant. Food is served on a very timely manner despite the number of courses. Great value for money as well. Cannot recommend more.

M. L.

Spectacular dining spot! I cannot wait to come back to try the 4 course lunch menu. An explosion of flavours together with really warm service made this a night to remember. Set in a beautiful location away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this place is the most exciting dining experience all year. Visually stunning presentation, and very affordable. To top it all off the lovely chef Nel came out to say hi to us, which was very special. I can still recall the mouth watering amuse bouche (both a play on parmesan). The Kingfish tandoori was so unique- it was rare and I dont recall ever having a fusion of Indian with French technique in cooking. Truly truly innovative.

J. F.

Amazing degustation in quaint modern atmosphere. Wonderfully friendly servers and a charming sommelier. Get the paired wines!

L. L.

We did the Disney degustation and it was amazing... I won't say much more as I don't want to ruin the experience for anyone else...I also won't post photos as guessing what the dishes will be is half the fun....

L. C.

Amazing experience. Food was exceptional, bursting with flavor. Couldn't fault the food or service. It was a nice surprise. Would definitely return. Menu changes every 6 weeks.

V. K.

Such an amazing experience. Wine pairing Christmas menu was incredible, staff very knowledgeable. The food presentation and taste was perfect. I was blown away.

K. G.

Easy puns are abound when reviewing what has been described as a "bunker style" restaurant - but this new offering in Surry Hills deserves far more. In a sentence - The concept itself is simple, honest and delivered to near perfection at absurdly good value. Chef Nelly, of UK origin, recreates some of his fondest childhood food memories as well as key British dishes learnt throughout his culinary career. The monthly / weekly rotating dinner / lunch menu is built on those ingredients which are seasonal and inspiring at the time of menu creation, presented in modern and flavourful ways. Already a talked-about favourite is the ham + green peas, completely reimagined from his mother's recipe. As a fan of offal I find it purely delectable but also accessible to the more squeamish diner. The taste is on-point but not over-bearing, the texture is like a grown-ups dream of a chicken/fish finger. This is one dish which has persisted throughout the menu iterations (and hopefully continues to do so for the procrastinators amongst you). The courses which followed were just as impressive - consommés light, deep, punchy and slurped to the last drop as well as a risotto (vegetarian option) which did not disappoint for texture and taste (a rarity these days - it is often the lazy non-meat offering). Desert was equally sublime, not at all too sweet and a perfect capstone was provided by the sticky-sweet eccles cake. Service was excellent and attentive, the venue remarkably quite and intimate. You will feel very much transported from the throngs of Sydney's CBD - great use and exploitation of the below ground level space. A single unfortunate note was that this was an alcohol-free endeavor, but a wine-matching with two offerings per course will definitely be had on the repeat visit . A price tag below $100 for 8 courses (food only), means this is actually feasible and If only it could be managed for every menu change. That said, if a taste-tester is ever required; I'd be more than happy to fall on this grenade (sorry - couldn't help it).

S. M.

Sexy little basement. Wood, warm brown tones, soft lighting. I have eaten here 3 times and each time the menu was completely different. I'm definitely due back soon, Nelly! x

C. I.

INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME. Food is outstanding, with unique combinations and that both excited my tastebuds and we’re delicious. Service was also phenomenal. Although the menu is expensive it is worth every penny! This is my new favorite spot in sydney

D. O.

Been here a few times now and it's great. Sometimes the items are a bit hit and miss but full marks for changing the menu often and working it to the themes they're going for. Always nice to see what they will come up with next.

N. S.

The food is surprisingly good. The crab with macadamia and pea was exquisite and the apricot with fromage blanc was delicious. Service is equally exceptional. The wine selection is decent. Highly recommended!

R. T.

Tasty menu with a Christmas theme, great cocktails. The space was comfy, basement themed. Close to parking in the CBD.

X. Z.

Pros: Great value for money. Very cute and creative tasting plates. Waiters were friendly. Cons: The lighting was too dark. From the outside, the restaurant looked like an art gallery.

W. N.

This is a restaurant that is exciting yet humble. A refreshing take on Modern Australian cuisine (and one that refreshes each month), with intricately presented dishes that tell a story but does not compromise on flavour and texture. The menu harmonises and respects the ingredients and the origins of each dish. Set up in the basement of the Central Station Hotel, Nelly Robinson's establishment was the highlight of a recent trip to Sydney. We enjoyed it so much we dined there on the following night where Nelly was kind enough to offer us an alternative set of dishes that was a 'preview' of the following month's menu. It is evident that Nelly Robinson takes pride in his profession but he also came across as genuine and humble. As far as fine dining goes this is up there with the best of them. We hope that he joins the food scene in Melbourne some time in the future... We look forward to dining there again

D. N.

Wow. We had a veg and vegan degustation, they nailed it. Super creative, perfectly balanced flavours. Wines were carefully selected and brought it all together. Excellent service too. We'll be back

L. G.

Amazing experience at the Disney themed dining experience. Absolutely loved it and would highly recommend anyone wanting to come to this restaurant. The service was great, food creativity on point and taste was delish!

I. w.

Food was great! 5 stars. I gave it 4 since I wasn't thrilled with the matching wines, but I guess thats really down to personal preference. Would definitively come again but wont do the wines.

J. F.

One of the best in Sydney. Friendly and knowledgeable staff guided us through an absolutely mouth watering 8 course menu that defies description. Each dish more delicious than the last!

H. P.

Oh how I wish I could give Nel. six stars! Nel. is everything a restaurant should be. It's unique without being confronting. It takes things you know and are comfortable with and twists them and makes them a new experience. Based on a traditional English menu, you'll experience meals like beef wellington and rhubarb crumble in a way you'd never imagined. Nel himself comes out of the kitchen and chats to guests.

L.

One of the best experience I had at a restaurant. The theme was cute and food was matched well with their selection of drinks. Will definitely be returning.

C. C.

Great food, great exp. Only negative was 1 of the waiters couldnt recommend a red wine.

C. A.

Great service, creative presentations of delicious food with Disney music in the background..makes for a fun dinner out!! The Moana cocktail was delish!!!

L. R. T.

Fantastic find in an off-beat area of town. Calm, intimate venue. Had the 5 course degustation menu - fantastic starter marshmallow fluff of parmesan and tomato, cod main and chocolate caramel and sorbet pud stood out. Gorgeous wines to accompany. A real treat, highly recommended.

E. T.

Mindbogglingly creative, tasty and well presented food, which takes you on a gastronomic journey made from the freshest seasonal ingredients! Great atmosphere, very attentive and knowledgeable staff. Definitely coming back!

F. K.

There was really no wow factor at all. More unfavoured dishes than favoured ones. I did however really enjoy the beef and "autumn leaves" dessert. The chocolate danish and sweet treats were terrible.

H. N.

It was an fantastic fine dinning experience. The decor was well placed out. The wait staff are extremely friendly and helpful. The food was absolutely amazing.

C. R.

The menu is changed every few months so others may not get to sample what we did, but standouts were many - the cuttlefish, pearl barley, fennel and liquid nitrogen frozen tomato was superb; the pork, jamon, prune & artichoke was sensational.

H. J.

Disney theme. Very good try on the interpretation of the theme. Some of the courses felt incomplete to call as a course though eg porky pies, tic toc and french lumiere. I respect that it may have been complicated and there was skill to make it, but the experience from the course in terms of flavour and textures was good but almost ordinary :( One course had just a cheese scroll with chicken fat candle. I was confused by this. The chicken fat candle wax was clever but again the flavour and texture experience was just ok. Spoonful of sugar, under the sea and Bambi’s mum were the courses that felt complete which showed nel. can definately pull off worthy courses. We enjoyed the night overall because the service was good and the Disney take on the food was interesting.

J. B.

One of the best priced degustations in Sydney. In saying that it is quality and worth every cent. Amazing flavours and dishes that will blow your mind.

D. L.

Fantastic degustation menu and matching wines. Service was excellent.Took us about 3 hours to get through it all but we were in no way rushed.. Chef Nelly knows his stuff. Recommended!

D. S.

Always incredible and the staff are just SO DAMNED LOVELY. The meals are portioned so perfectly.

D. P.

A really good surprise. I hadn't heard too much about this place, and was a little concerned about the fusion and trendy aspects of the menu, but it delivered a great dinner. Would definitely go again

D. J.

Our food was excellent. We had quick service from hostess, bartender and waitress. Reasonable prices on all items.

L. C.

Bought it from Groupon and the food was amazing!! Visually appealing, great portion and the taste was superb. The atmosphere was cosy and intimate. Highly recommend!

A. T.

Fantastic degustation. Incredibly creative and well thought out dishes with beautiful presentation. One of may favourite meals I've had in Sydney (topping several 3 hatted restaurants).

C. S.

One of the best fine dining experience I've had in Sydney. The Christmas menu was divine. Same level as est. and Tetsuya, or even better...

V. X.

Great service and food at this underground restaurant. There aren't too many tables but it has a NY bar vibe which is quite nice. The degustation changes based on seasonal ingredients.

P. L.

Best service I have experienced in a long time . Food and wine matched perfectly. Food was beyond expectation.

J. C.

Amazing experience and delicious food. Definitely not a cheap night out, but if you're looking for a fine dining experience with character then Nel's is a must.

J. T.

Great restaurant with a lovely tasting menu that is truly Australian-inspired. Portions were just right. A very satisfying meal.

S. T.

One of my top ten dining experiences, without the top ten price tag. Great for an intimate dinner. Arrive early, and have a drink at the bar.

T. H.

My favourite restaurant in sydney. Chef came out and shook our hands at the end of the night. They always deliver amazing food that leaves me with overwhelming happy feels.

P. R.

Had a beautiful dinner. Amazing food and wines. More for a special occasion dinner as its a little $$$. You get what pay for though.

R. “. X.

Fantastic restaurant with a delicious 8 course menu and fantastic ambience. Been here twice now with different menus and it's been sensational both times. Highly recommended

A. E.

The best degustation in Sydney no question.

G. C.

The tasting menu is great and the matching wines a treat. The staff are so attentive and on the ball. Thanks for a great night. X

E. V.

We have been here twice and we have fallen in love with this place. The food takes you on a journey and the whole dining is just an amazing experience. Do yourself a favor and go to Nel!

I. L.

Twist on the classic English cuisine: we thoroughly enjoyed the experience from the moment we walked in: the staff, the service, not to mention the excellent presentation of the tasty morsels! Will come back for more

M. N. J.

Great dining experience! Unique, delicious food. Service was great. I can't wait to go again. Highly recommended!

M. B.

Amazing ! I booked with Dimmi with the reduction and wasn’t disappointed! On te contrary we were amazed by the quality and the originality of the food ! The place is quite small so it is feels very intimate ! Would definitely recommend this place !

A. M.

Really great atmosphere and most importantly excellent original food. Kitchen ran like clockwork and service staff are top class.

E. A.

We went here for the English inspired Christmas desugstation and was absolutely amazing we are now booked in for the Australian inspired menu and can not wait,definitely recommend this place

G. H.

Very enjoyable dinner.

R. M.

Great food but absolutely disgusted by the pricing and margins that were charged for their premium drink package.

N. P.

Pricey pricey place. Good food but not excellent (just my opinion). Definitely not value for money. Friendly staff and a unique experience.

S. w.

Incredible food, loved it!

H. P.

Really interesting experience. Also really good customer service. Shoutout to the guy in the suit sipping on a glass of wine behind the scenes

K. K.

Stunning food, exceptional and humble service, relaxed and down to earth atmosphere. Already looking forward to our next visit.

A. L.

$$$ expensive but creative menu. Good for special occasions

N. G.

Great food and atmosphere. Loved the Australian-themed menu. Highly recommended!

M. M.

My favourite place to eat in Sydney

N. C.

Very good service, nice cocktails. There was a sewage problem on the day we dined, we could smell sulphur throughout the evening.

M.

Had the degustation menu for dinner. Loved everything about the food, service and ambience. Highly recommend it for a special treat.

N. S.

We return every time the menu changes. Always amazing food and service!

C. E.

Food was great, loved the open kitchen and the head chef being present and visible. Good value for money, will definitely go back

D. L.

Great food, awesome experience. The layout of the place is really cool too, very trendy yet intimate.

E. G.

Very nice food and the staff was very accommodative

A. C.

An amazing tasting experience. I will return for sure.

D. G.

Delicious - unique - brilliant! We loved every mouthful and will be recommending nel.

L. W.

Delicious! Excellent service. Great private setting. Tasty cocktails!

R. R.

Great place, all very clever but more importantly oh so tasty! Great staff and if you have not been..... go.

L. W.

of beer ok sometime a litlle noisy Try the pie with mash and gravy, delicous Very good restaurant upstairs, but need to book in advance.

E. T.

My favourite restaurant in Sydney. Head Chef Nelly Robinson is an absolute master in his craft!

M. D.

Always amazing and creative. We love eating here, it’s a big favourite

L.

Some dishes were a hit/miss but overall great experience!

J. A.

Amazing food and best restaurant experience. Nel is #1

J. W.

Food and service are at another level at Nel. The food and matching wine are spectacular.

G. D.

Incredible food. Amazing experience. Can not wait to go back!

F. C.

Amazing. Just amazing. Great food. Great service. A great restaurant. We will definitely be back.

s. m.

Modern degustation. Pretty good with obvious Noma-esque influences. Prices are fair if high. Lunch special makes it more approachable

s. d.

Great customer experience through the whole dining process. Nice and great presentation of dish

R. B.

Sunday roast was absolutely delicious. Great atmosphere and good service.

S. G.

Fantastic food, very reasonably priced considering what you're getting. Will definitely be back!!

S. K.

Yum Sunday lunch :)

N. E.

An absolute favourite, we go for every new menu release and are never disappointed.

E. N.

Great food. Next time will try the matching wines

J. G.

Wonderful food, wonderful staff and a stunning venue. Can't recommend it enough!

A. C.

Degustation at its finest. Pricey but certainly worth the experience. Don't go without matching wines ;)

J. M.

Too experimental, feels like the chef wants to show off. Flavours and service are average

M. M.

An excellent dining experience, highly recommended !

K. P.

Beautiful experience, excellent food presentation and great value!

C. K.

One of the best digastations we have been to. Great food and outstanding wine selection

J. A.

Wow! The chefs here have exceptional talent and the service was impeccable! What a fabulous night.

A. J.

Amazing dining experience. Service was attentive. Food was interesting and tasty.

J. M.

Amazing!!

P. C.

Amazing!!

S. E.

If there were more stars, I'd add it on. What an exceptional experience - I just want all my family and friends to be able to enjoy this x

C. W.

Favourite restaurant in the world!! Just the most amazing food ever, so creative

R. L.

Pricey but good collection of different textures and flavours all interestingly presented.

J. C.

Excellent restaurant with amazing food! Perfect portions and the food was very creative

a. y.

Food is great and the staff are very friendly and accommodating to our dietry requests.

H. H. (. W.

awesome,nice and quiet place in Sydney city area with great accomodation options for single travellers.

L. B.

Went here for a work dinner. Food and service was excellent.

S. G.

This place is amazing! Delicious food beautifully presented, excellent service.

A. B.

This was an amazing experience. Staff where amazing, the place is beautiful and the food is just art. Amazing.

D. (.

Fantastic food. Great service. Well priced degustations.

M. R.

Excellent service. Meal was exquisite wine choices delightful

N. W.

A rollercoaster experience of flavours and textures. Mesmerising! The service is attentive too.

P. H.

9/10 for creativity, 5/10 for flavour... I just wish the scores were reversed.

A. D.

Exceptional food and great atmosphere. 2nd time here and cant wait for next time

A. B.

Food, wine and service all beautiful! Will definitely be coming back :)!

L. J.

Fantastic dining experience. Food divine. Service exceptional.

J. P.

Delicious food. Outstanding venue. Simply superb

M. C.

First class! Incredible value in this weight division and a real jewel in Sydney's crown.

C. B.

Superb service and spectacular food and cocktails!

M. D.

Great experience and food

S. Z.

I have been here 4 times and have been impressed every single time. I would love to visit again.

M. F.

Nel. is definitely my favorite restaurant. The staff are very knowledgeable and are always friendly and attentive. The menu is always fun and full of surprises you just never know what to expect. Food is of course delectable and very well presented. It's always an enjoyable experience dining at Nel. I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone.

B. K.

Fantastic experience. Amazing food and top service.

S. H.

Great food, great atmosphere and staff, great time.

L. M.

Amazing food and the service was fantastic.

D. “. T.

Just brilliant, I recommend Nel highly enough

N. T.

Thank you to the chef for your kindness and magnificent food

L. G.

Delicious and amazingly presented food with equally fantastic service

M. L.

Amazing service, and the attention to detail for the food was incredible.

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