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I'm a bit divided on my experience here. The highs were really high, but the lows were also really really low.
First off, service and the venue was great. My only complaint was how secretive the waitress was about each dish. I totally understand keeping the diners guessing on the ingredients, but felt we would've appreciated it more if they had told us after the first few mouthfuls, instead of making us wait till the menu was emailed to us. I mean if you're going to serve ants in the entree or tripe as a dessert why not brag about it????
Our starters and snacks and desserts were amazing, but the mains were a massive fail. I totally understand that the chef was attempting to play on
the sweetness in Thai cuisine's savoury dishes, however I don't think he quite made it. Duck and banana isn't innovative, it's just not right (but the duck was perfectly cooked) and the granita over our mackarel was far too sweet for the fish.
We also got the matched alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and the non-alcoholic ones are a MUST!!!! I dont often say this, but they were way better than their alcoholic counterparts. Brie and lychee? Who knew they'd go together. On the other hand though, whiskey and bread? Far too heavy handed.
I'm still undecided on how I feel about Nora, all I know is I walked away craving good, simple dishes that I could appreciate without thinking too hard.
You have to try this place!!
What you see does not equal what you eat.
This place challenges your taste / smell with textures that you thought you knew all into confusion.
Awesome food, 10 courses of clever and craziness.
I would highly recommend to have the non alcoholic drinks with your degustation as it compliments and enhances the food.
Good job!
Had an absolutely fantastic dinner at Nora. I can't decide if I preferred the degustation here or Vue De Monde. While the restaurant is much more low key, the quality of the food is extremely high as is the overall dining experience. The unique flavours, beautiful presentation and overall flow of the meal was fantastic. The service was the perfect level of attentive, but not intrusive. For those who enjoy Thai/Asian flavours, I highly recommend.
Faultless. Experimental. Classy. Unpretentious. Delicious. These are all the words I can use to describe our dinner last night at Nora. From the moment we walked in and saw that there were only ten table settings for the whole restaurant, we knew this would be a personalised, intimate dining experience. The staff were so attentive and served us with a smile the whole night. The chef was able to accommodate our dietary requirements fantastically, and every dishes was packed so full of flavour, and so creative that it just left us in awe. The alcohol pairing worked brilliantly and was well thought out. One of the best dining experiences you will find in Melbourne. Highly recommend!
Honestly the best and most surprising dining experience I've ever had. I need more words in my vocabulary to describe the journey we took this evening. Like closing your eyes and blindly jumping in to the clouds.
Booked this place with a group of friends. Was honestly expecting a bunch of random Thai dishes served fancy (didn't read up about the place prior). But boy were we surprised! This is what I'd imagine an Asian version of Heston's fat duck to be like. The drinks pairing was excellent and taste and texture of all the dishes were great. Half the time we had no idea what we were eating but they were all scrumptious! They send an email at the end of the meal detailing the ingredients used (most of which were a surprise). Would definitely recommend this place to anyone who is looking for an Asian inspired degustation. Thumbs up to the team at Nora!
Definietly a fine dining experience. A small place with an intimate feel, a perfect date night. Come with an open mind and open tastebuds and you'll enjoy every minute. As for myself i loveddd it.
Um... Ok...
Well as I walk to my car with a grin the size of the west gate on immediate reflection whilst I will say the mackerel and the Tom Yum were sensational.
I couldn't fault one dish, or any aspect of the entire experience.
Probably one of the most complete meals and meal experiences I've had in Melbourne, for the money, for a very long time.
And I'm kinda over pretentious meals so this speaks volumes in itself.
This was refined, fun, well priced but seriously delicious and inventive.
The team at the helm is pure talent.
The place was empty! It was a shock, but I loved being one of only 5 people in the room.
Will be back, many times over if it retains this quality, focus and finesse. Wow
A fascinating journey into the unknown! As soon as we walked into the restaurant we felt a lovely, calming vibe surrounding this petit place and then along came an element of mystery and quirkiness as we embarked upon a gastronomic Thai adventure! Expect the unexpected on this fabulous journey …… Chef Sarin Rojanametin, Jean Thamthanakorn and the rest of the Nora team certainly know how to enhance your dining experience with amazing flavours, ingredients and presentation of the dishes accompanied by impeccable, friendly service.
An incredible dining experience in this unassuming restaurant in Carlton. Nora is simple elegance. The degustation was incredible with flavours and concepts I'd never experienced. The suggested wines were absolutely awesome and the service was on point. I would highly recommend Nora.
only know I need more vocabulary when I want share this amazing experience with everyone. Put it simply, food is so much better than dinner with Heston, and just as good as Vue de monde if not better. There is an element of surprise in every dish, each one of them is daring , creative, full of details and absolutely yummy. Especially the desserts , just magical. My top pick would be: Bangkok street caviar, childhood bread, duck dish, sake ice cream,potato skin dessert .Lovely staff made the experience even better too.
Try this gem yourself.
Remarkably creative! Nora is a standout that left us so pleasantly surprised and wanting more. The contemplation of a Thai degustation was intriguing in theory but just so superb in reality. Leave your preconceived ideas of appearance and taste of Thai food at the door and prepare to be blown away. Did we love every dish? Not quite, but even so, the culinary talents and creative energy and execution of Sarin and Jean were impressive and appreciated. The rest of the team were terrific too - respectfully friendly and engaging and overall, just delightful.
The food will not be for everyone but if you are adventurous and willing to place your tastebuds in the hands of creative wizards, you will not be disappointed. The restaurant itself is small seating only 16 at a time so bookings are essential.
Just so, so good.
I hadn't heard of Nora until a friend linked their Facebook post being humbled to be listed as one of the best Melbourne restaurants by Timeout (. It's a cosy little place and the full glass windows meant I walked straight past it initially trying to look for it. Inside is reasonably heated for winter and there's the choice of private tables, the voyeuristic counter and a communal table where couples avoid looking at the other couples.
Really interesting, creative food. Make sure you get the matched drinks-alcoholic or non alcoholic (we did both and they were both unique and awesome). The music comes paired for free. Amazing dining experience!
Very nice experience. The waiters and the waitress took the pain to answer all our questions. We love the fish the most. Beautiful with the watermelon. It is not only nice food, but also a nice experience.
We went for the earlier seating at about 6:00pm. The session lasted until around 8:30ish. We were very full, very very full. Probably it was because we usually do not eat as much in the evening. This reminds me why the Cantonese people go for dim sum in the morning as you will have time to digest. But if we ate in the morning, we would not be able to enjoy the wines. Some of the suggestions were very suitable for me who have low alcohol tolerance, and prefer to have lighter taste if it is not a 10 grade burning hot Sichuan style.
Really very good. Tiny restaurant with excellent and passionate service. Music is timed to each dish
Really playful and creative at same time
Bizarre wine pairing but works so well
Keep growing guys👍🏻
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Having eaten at Nora during the day, and therefore having experienced the clean and fresh flavours that form part of their brunch offerings, I was eager to see what the relatively new degustation menu had to say. It has much of a Scandinavian foraging vibe, with regards to both the decor and the food.
What Nora offered was a very interesting if not completely overwhelming meal. The chef made great use of some very unfamiliar ingredients, most of which were not identified on the night. A promised email containing the ingredients of the meal never arrived, so I'm still not sure of much of what we ate. Considering the price more of an effort should have been made to avoid such hiccoughs.
The matched alcoholic drinks was somewhat eclectic, comprising a combination of wines, beer, scotch and sake. The pairing was well done, although some of the pours were fairly miserly. More interesting were the matched non-alcoholic beverages, consisting of various fruit, vegetable and nut extractions that were clearly prepared with great care. The thorough explanations around the origins of the latter reflected the effort put into creating them.
While the service was very pleasant, we did have difficulty understanding much of what was explained to us due to one staff member speaking very quietly, and another somewhat unclearly. After having to ask to get things re-explained on a couple of occasions we just gave up on taking in everything.
My major gripe with the evening was that it was not only very expensive, but I also left feeling reasonably hungry. They do two sittings in the evening - one at around 6 PM and the other just before 9 PM. We took the latter sitting, so maybe I could have aimed for a late lunch beforehand to prepare me for the delay, but at $180 a head I felt ripped-off on leaving. The execution of the dishes was amazing, and although some weren't completely to my taste, were still an enjoyable experience. Nevertheless, for the exorbitant cost one shouldn't feel like stopping off somewhere else satiate the appetite after paying such a handsome amount for a degustation dinner.
To put it bluntly, to really win me over Nora needed both a more reasonable price point and more substantial servings; at this point in time I cannot really recommend it as a destination restaurant for a special occasion. Some aspects of the evening came across as a tad amateurish, which is inexcusable at $180 a head, and one really should not leave feeling unsatisfied at such a price.
The food was really very interesting! I thoroughly enjoyed it! But, I enjoyed it more as an experience, less as a meal... The dishes here were artistic, creative, expressive of the chef's intentions and ideas.
However, despite having enjoyed each course, I did not feel satisfied at the end of it, which, to me, is an issue. I liked all the individual dishes to varying degrees, but, on the whole, I felt like the 12-course combination was missing something central to tie them in together, and to make it a satisfying dining experience.
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Probably the best dining experience I've ever had. The vibe of the meal was like being invited over to a close friend's house for a dinner party. The meal is playful with a creative use of ingredients in inventive and surprising flavour combinations. All beautifully presented with plenty of hidden surprises. The service is warm, personable and very informative. All set in a cozy environment that'd make you really feel at home. Thai versions of classic 80's disco music is the soundtrack of the night and recall my nights spent in hawker centres in Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
The experience of dining at Nora felt elevated far above just eating. Every aspect of the experience felt thought out but without any sign of pretension. The care of, not just the chef, but the service team as well, was palpable and you could feel it in every detail. From the playful homage to Marco Pierre White's legendary Tagliatelle of Oysters (not oysters at Nora) to the Thai Red Bull T-shirt on display at the shopfront, a night with Nora questions your perspective of what food is and can be, when it is made and served with passion.
Steve and I spent last Saturday night on a bit of an exciting culinary mystery tour - no menu, no choices to make and therefore identifying what goes into the mouth isn't always obvious. Nora offers two sittings and proceedings start when everyone is seated and ready so it's a bit like being at a dinner party except everyone is seated with their own dining companions in different areas. Steve and I enjoy a view up at the bar where the tabletop decorations consists of some tamarind pods, pandan leaf, coconut, lemons and birds eye chillis; an homage to our Thai adventure.
Nora was such a great experience. We had dinner here with the matched non alcoholic drinks. We are not big wine drinkers so it was nice to have this option. The food was really inventive, beautifully presented, excellent flavours and was an absolute pleasure to eat. Our waiter was very knowledgable about the menu and so lovely and the chef even came out to thank us at the end. I would highly recommend Nora, and already can't wait to go again.
I have already written 2 very good reviews with lots of details and Zomato app has close twice and deleted the reviews. I just don't have it in me to write a third one. Annoying
This place was great - I loved it. Wish I could post 15 more photos that I have.
Second time in and again it didn't disappoint.
They even remembered me from last time, waiters and chef, felt very flattered.
New dishes on the menu and again a little explosion of flavours in your mouth.
Great touch with the welcome drink.
Thanks again for the great dinner experience, to all NORA team
Nora was just perfect. The team was so friendly and kind. Loving the atmosphere of the place and the food. Had non-alcoholic drinks with our meal and those drinks simply were just amazing, unique and interesting. The dishes were full of surprises. Definitely coming back here some time later.
Good job, nora team
Went with partner for our anniversary dinner to Nora, we went for the 8.45pm sitting which is a bit late for dinner but we were finishing late at work.
We were absolutely blown away by the food, service and the place as a whole. From the moment we entered, their service was very attentive. Their innovation on food presentation and flavours was truly appreciated and left us wanting even more.
To top it all off the matched wines and knowledge their sommelier took our meals to the next level. The pairings were absolutely beautiful.
We didn't realise how soon it was past 11 and we were still up and loving every moment! Needless to say, we'll be coming back. Also highly recommend this gem of a place to people looking for a unique new experience.
Awesome experience last night at Nora. Innovative tasting menu well executed, great cozy atmosphere in the small space, exciting beverage matching including wine, beer and sake. One of the things we most enjoyed about our trip to Nora is that the menu is not going to appeal to everyone. Instead of going for the mass appeal approach and catering to every food intolerance fad out there, these guys are just doing what they want, and doing it exceptionally well! It's rare to find something truly different in this city, but Nora hits the mark!
Nora is just amazing. The owners, Jean and Tong, are the most lovely people who man this small space. They've recently converted from their daytime menu of charcoal tarts and fluffy sous vide eggs to a 5-nights-per-week, dinner-only restaurant. Recently, the place was renovated into a breathtaking space by local craftsmen. Be sure to check out their innovative degustation menu and exceptional list of natural wines!
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Almost perfection!
Food: overall there were 11 dishes. The first 8 dishes were ranging from great to out of this world. The fish with marinated watermelon would not be out of place in Noma or El Bulli, it was one of the best dishes I've ever. The dishes were very clear in their approach, it's clear exactly what the chef wanted to achieved and knew the exact technique to achieve it. I would rank the flavours and technique above Attica, and on par with Vue de Monde.
The last 3 dishes however were unbelievably bad. There was a dish called asian western muffin or something, which was almost inedible. The next dish which was a dessert was just a few dabs of goo, which didn't match very well. The final dish of the casava was simple but still underwhelming. I think diners only expect 1 of 2 things from a dessert, it either needs to be beautiful (instagrammable) or it needs to be really really delicious, and the final dishes here were neither. It was a disappointing way to finish an otherwise masterclass of dishes.
Drinks: the matching non-alcoholic drinks were much more interesting than the alcoholic pairing. Some of the flavour combinations were a revelations.
Service: friendly but a little amateur, but it was fine. Their website is a mess and twice I booked, the restaurant had to cancel my booking because the website wasn't updating. They were nice enough to offer me free drinks, so that was appreciated.
Decor: Maybe a little too simple for how exquisite and elegant the dishes are. I feel like the chef's table is much too bright. A couple of simple spot light to show off the food in a darker atmosphere would be better.
Conclusion:
Almost perfect food until the last 3 dishes. Matched with amazing drinks and friendly service and a reasonable price. It's a place with a lot of potential. I hope they develop and bloom.
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I’ll get straight into as words are precious; just like this place. I walked into Nora for a brunch and was welcomed by beautiful decor (spacious too!), lovely natural lighting and a warm and welcoming staff (Sam). What struck us was his knowledge and unobtrusive service; not overly eager to the point it's a put off but engaging enough so that we would ask questions.
I ordered the Maverick (Pork Jowl, asian style pickled cabbage). The jowl was juicy and tender and it wasn't really messed with which is what I prefer; let's the meat do the talking. Also enjoyed the pickled cabbage, it was a nice contrast. My friend at the Dear Mitchell which from a quick taste of it was eggs done good with an added texture of the salted shrimp giving it a crumbly feeling. We were offered the charcoal tarts which we did not turn down, we had one with Avo and Fetta and the other was a mystery but both were divine.
Bottom line here is that if you haven't been you should go. Great food and fantastic service in a beautiful cafe, what more can you ask for :)
Creative foods and beverages.. Love their services.. Highly recommended for someone who want to try something new, hot chocolate from ganache is a must to try.
COME HERE FOR the smoked pork hock (winter camp fire). Absolutely loved it - flavourful pork which is amplified by the cauli. Very refined. Definitely more to Nora than their famous baked goods. Food and menu ahead of it's time in Melbourne, still finding its niche
BUT only filter coffee is served. Menu is small, quirky and can be a little intimidating for the uninitiated
OVERALL a lovely unique cafe in Melbourne. With an open mind, you’ll love it as much as I did
Creative modern cafe... Healthy and clean menu. Not much drink and limited food menu to choose from. The table is little small to fit your dishes if you order a lot. Service was friendly but the food is little too clean for me.. Worth a try though.
I am a big fan of Nora's food philosophy. They make use of unconventional ingredients (such as offal) for breakfast, and present it a way that's visually appealing and delicious, which is quite a feat. Unfortunately, the food was let down by very slow service on the day we went. Despite the restaurant space being tiny, it was severely understaffed and the food took about 40 minutes to come out, in dribs and drabs. Hopefully this has now been rectified, because the whole eating the entire animal thing sits very well with me.
I think this is like another reviewer said, a place that I've been apprehensive to visit purely because I'd seen the menu and not been sure what to order or what the food was going to be. My husband and I went this morning and the place was a delight. The staff are really thoughtful, the food interesting and as my husband said its not just another smashed avocado on toast type place which thoroughly welcomed. We will be thinking about coming in for their Friday night dinner after this lovely breakfast. I recommend their chilled Chai if you like something that's not coffee and not too sweet. Also their charcoal tart was gorgeous.
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Not a place I'd go to every week, but I'm so glad this place exists!
I live 3 minutes from this café, and always tried to avoid it. My wife and I managed to eat everywhere but Nora for nearly a year. The decor looked inviting, but the menu felt intimidating, and the reviews on Urbanspoon amd Yelp! seemed to support this.
Anyway, I wanted to give it a shot, and I'm so glad we did. The people at Nora create food as art --- something they're trying to master, but also something they hope to push to evolve through their own creations.
There are lots of cafés in Carlton, Fitzroy, and Collingwood, and I'm familiar with most of them right now. Nora offers something different and unconventional. It's not a variation of avocado smash, pork belly served with coleslaw, fried chicken burger, or anything related to corn fritters. Nkra is truly different, amd if you're dying for something that isn't a rehash of the same-old thing, give Nora a try.
They only serve filtered coffee, and nothing espresso-based, but I'm OK with that because I actually enjoy the taste of coffee, and am not too fond of the cupsbof heated milk, with just a dash of coffee, that's popular in Australia.
I ordered a dish called "Churning of a Sea of Milk" (or something to that effect), while my wife ordered scrambled eggs (or maybe it was an omelette?) called "Mitchell's Eggs". I really don't remember the names, but the menu only has 6-7 items on it, and it shod be pretty obvious what I'm talking about.
My dish was incredible. I love daikon (Japanese radish), and the sweetness of the nashi (Japanese pear) went well with the cured salmon.
Overall, it was a wonderful experience. Next time, I'll give those Thai drinks a try and skip the coffee. If I wanted coffee, I'd just gp to Campos next door, or any other ho-hum café. Nora is special, and people should walk in prepared to try something new.
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The pandan iced coffee was delicious - didn't expect the pandan flavour to go so well with coffee. It reminded me of chendol which I absolutely adore. Would have been perfect if they offer a super size serving for it! Tried the lychee, chedder and vegemite charcoal tart but can't say I love it as I found it a bit too salty. But definitely a unique and daring combination. Definitely worth coming back to try out the other dishes.
UPDATE: 29/01/2016
Nora runs an intimate dinner every Friday night serving experimental Thai food (at least that would be how I describe it) and I finally dragged my lazy self to try it out after salivating at the pictures on Instagram for quite some time. The decor was simple yet gorgeous - plaid table clothes over the wooden furnitures, creating a very homely and inviting feeling once you step in. Service was exceptional from the get go. Props to the fellow who served us and everyone else (there were only four tables so he was the only one serving); he was charming, enthusiastic and attentive throughout. Highest praise goes to the chefs, the food was beautifully presented, the flavours and textures were well thought out and most importantly, every single dish was spectacular. While each component on the plate by itself may seem boring or plain, but when eaten together, it results in an explosion of flavours in your mouth. A highly enjoyable night that I would recommend to anyone.
I had the pleasure of dining at Nora's Friday night Small Dinner Club with a few mates. I can honestly say that they are effing mad. To be so bold with flavours and so unapologetic with how they run things really inspire a sense of wild wunderlust in me. True flavours of the East carried out with modern techniques of todays rock n roll chefs, Nora is a very pleasant surprise in the heart of Carlton. Thank you very much too.
We live closeby and we have been wanting yo try this place for a while, the thing that always made us hesitant was the decor. White on white on white doesnt really look too inviting - especially on those cold melbourne mornings.
We went in anyway this time, and was not dissapointed!
The food was amazing - i had the rice bircher , it was a perfect blend of healthy and decadent at the same time.
The fresh grates coconut, jackfruit slices and lychees together with black rice bircher was like a happy dance in my mouth.
We also ordered the duck sausage, it was delicious! Fresh, meaty and so yum! It was served with a home made bread.
Yum yum!
We loved thefood, the coffee and the staff- was obvious these guys loves what they do. However,still not sure abt the ambiance though- it could definetly do with some cozy chairs , bigger tables(?) , and maybe daily paper to relax and enjoy the amazing food and drink!
I really like the aesthetics here - clean lines, minimalist fit out, with meals and drinks served in slightly imperfect wabi-sabi style ceramics. The tea and hot chocolate were visual delights. I had the salmon salad, which was more an entree size than mains, it was light and the pickled sushi style ginger was a well chosen garnish. Overall, the flavours were subtle, and I have a preference for stronger flavour sensations. The shallot garnish on the egg dish packed a little more in taste. The service was very attentive and informative.
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We arrived at the cafe after the strong recommendations of a friend. The venue was not busy on a Tuesday at lunch time which was quite bizarre to see.
We were greeted warmly and seated in a prime spot by the window so we had the chance to both enjoy the interior decor and be distracted by the ongoing traffic and passers-by.
Small inside and very inviting. Colourful stools and tiny cute wooden tables; the whole venue reminds of a children's book with its large table full of products that are used for the menu items.
We were approached by our waitress promptly and were given menus and sparkling water (huge thumbs up). We ordered our Colombian batch brew (the venue does not offer espresso based coffees) and their hot chocolate. Both came quickly. Coffee was clean and flavorsome served in a nice dark blue mug. The hot chocolate arrived with a rich amount of ganache and cocoa nibs on the bottom of the wooden cup. Our waitress poured the hot milk on top while explaining confidently what was it made of and how to drink it. Such a great taste with great ingredients and awesome presentation. If there is one drawback that I identified in the hot chocolate is the temperature which is warm after mixing the ganache with the milk. The venue needs to find a way to manage that.
We asked our waitress her recommendations on the 7 item menu. She wisely suggested the eggs (their way) and the pork hoc and the bread with 9 continents as a starter. Our starter came and we were so pleased with the result. Their beautiful homemade warm bread sliced nicely for the 9 different continents to try. My personal favorite the ricotta and onion purée. Unbelievable ideas, great taste, texture, presentation. The salted shrimps with the creamy custardy eggs was an incredible combination finished with fresh, Asian vegetables. The pork hoc was served with an amazing cauliflower purée. Every single mouthful was all juicy, crispy and fresh.
I have to admit that I was not very happy with the small tables because it was slightly uncomfortable having to sort out where we should place everything in order to make it work. I guess it is excused due to the decor of the venue which even though small is quite spacious.
Another "thing" that I didn't enjoy in there was the smell of cooked oil from the cooking of the food. It is quite heavy and it hits you as you walk in.
Overall, this place provides a great culinary experience. Thai inspired food, very unique and completely different from what you would find anywhere else in Melbourne for brunch. Worth the traveling from wherever you are. A must visit brunch spot.
Only had chance to try hot chocolate which is full of flavour and so creative, there is chocolate ganache and cocoa nib in small bowl and steamed milk will be poured over, stir until ganache melted, then enjoy...
While unusual, Nora provided one of the most interesting food experiences I've had in Melbourne in a long time! I was hesitant to order a charcoal tart, as I had no idea what to expect, but when presented with my lemongrass and ginger tart, upon recommendation by a lovely staff member, I knew I had made the right choice! It was delicious and perfect with my chai served in a bowl! Great to see interesting places like Nora pushing the boundaries, and I'll definitely be back to try other flavours of the delectable charcoal tarts!
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Nora is like a foodie spa stripped of the pretentiousness of wannabes and a great haven for those looking for food that makes you smile and feel good afterwards. You get the feeling that people leave Nora with a smile on their faces. It also avoids the problem of many modern restaurants in not feeling welcoming and being too busy. I go here as much for the cleanness of the design and sense of calm. It is reflected in the food which looks like art. The coffee is also great with a smoothness which is welcome in the morning. Jean's distinctive charcoal tarts are also always a delightful blend of surprising flavour combinations.
Nora is rare in that it is clear that it has a philosophy of food and this is translated in the whole dining experience. They want you to recall good experiences especially from your childhood. Each person will have their own perspective but I can can certainly say that eating at Nora takes me back to happy thoughts and good memories!
I would recommend the signature 2010, a black rice porridge with southeast Asian fruits and nuts with the occasional burst of caramel sweetness from palm sugar. This dish is invariably well balanced and satisfyingly so.
The menu is constantly changing and is wide enough to satisfy your breakfast, brunch or lunch needs. Whilst Jean and Tong are self taught the food is not lacking in technique and awesome presentation.
As you can tell from this review I always come here when visiting Melbourne and would recommend Nora to locals and visitors alike.
One of my favorite cafe to go, best tarts in town! The brunch there is very nice and unique as well, friendly owner Jen and Tom, and lovely staff
A Chronicle Of Gastronomy
+4
Jean and Sarin have created an interesting space full of bright colours and simple furniture at Nora. It’s almost part-cafe part-art gallery with a table adorned with the ingredients used for the charcoal tarts available that day. Seating is limited, giving it an air of something really special. Nora is located right next to the post office. I didn’t see any signage indicating its location clearly (or maybe I was too distracted by the brief interlude of warm, sunny weather during my walk), but the presence of outdoors tables gave me a hint...
Love love love. Love the cute space!
Love that everything is made onsite.
Love that Jean and Tong have opened Nora!
My only regret - not having more tarts and treats on my last visit.
Amazing. So far my best, "well-crafted", breakfast, ever. Not the usual one, for sure. I understand the difficulty for some people to enjoy this kind of cooking way. Sooo different, you need to come in this place "open-minded" to taste something unusual, but so interesting and exciting.
I come from Europe, I honestly believe you are doing something really outstanding here. I will come back often before leaving. The coffee is also terribly good, from Small Batch. Good readings. Service is friendly, don't be afraid to talk with them. Keep going, please :)
Totally amazed. I had the flour, salt & water and a charcoal tart, both were outstanding. Wonderful coffee and lovely staff. Can't wait to return.
Love. I'll start with the staff: sweet, attentive, informative. No cafe wankers glaring at you with contempt or that look that says "Oh honey what a novice coffee choice".
The coffee is ace.
Every dish makes you want to be a food-instagramming looser: it all looks a dream.
Most importantly, the food is amazing. You don't need to be a foodie to understand it. It's all delicious regardless of whether you remember what was in it or know what it is.
Great addition to Elgin St. Great fitout and really friendly staff, but most importantly the food is really interesting with flavours and textures you won't find anywhere else. The charcoal shelled tarts are amazing, and worth trying just to see how beautifully they are plated. Coffee is a touch weak for my tastes but decent, and sparkling water on tap is a lovely touch.
Nora's really pushing the boundaries...and that's great! I love the concept, the food, the chai, the decor, the staff!
It's not for everyone though: if you are not ready to reconsider your idea of food&drinks, stick to the boring Brunetti a couple of blocks away!
LOVE IT!. Whenever I go to Nora I feel like I've travelled 30 years into the future. These guys are ahead of the game. I've tried most items on the menu and have loved them all! I really hope Nora isn't forced to compromise too much, that would be disheartening. After all, Melbourne is the food capital of Australia, we should welcome and support new business like Nora who take culinary risks and push the boundaries!
BTW - best flat white I've ever had.
Good overall. Just tried the coffee, the coffee is quite rich. The service is brilliant.
Refined. Oma. Love. Had the eggs (asian style / sous-vide) #ridonk great texture and subtle flavours. Love. Filter coffee je'die. Staff: excellent and cool. Will defs be travelling Northside for this place again!!!! Wuuuuuu!!!
An elegant, playful and totally original addition to the northside cafe culture. I had my first breakfast at Nora today, and it was kinda...fascinating. I had the chicken with peas and crunchy kale, my boyfriend had the bacon with onion and pea shoots and we shared a coconut charcoal tart. The presentation of everything was perfect - modern, colourful and effortlessly cool. The food was delicious and inventive, it's obvious that bringing Nora into fruition has been a labour of love.
Now I love a good cafe; Mixed Business, Hammer and Tong, Twenty and Six espresso, Martha Ray's, Kettle Black to name a few favourites, but I suspect if Nora keeps its vision clear and strong it will be in a league of its own.
If you are looking for a basic breaky, this ain't the place for you. Leave all your preconceived ideas of breakfast, lunch and tarts at the door and just trust them, they know what they're doing.
We shared a dark chocolate, honey and sesame charcoal tart at Nora. Disappearing before midday, these artisan tarts, made with a signature coconut charcoal base, have been wildly popular in Melbourne since popping up in select cafes.
Melbourne is consistently on point with food trends - instagram-worthy food like fluffy hotcakes accessorised with a colourful array of edible flowers and fresh fruit; frozen yoghurt dispensaries popping up on every corner, both north and south of the river; cold pressed juices and healthy smoothies served in mason jars; and the latest one to start making an appearance on menus - things made with food-grade edible charcoal. Charcoal food products are becoming more mainstream - what, with charcoal brioche buns encasing meat patties, ice creams scooped into charcoal waffle cones; and now, after supplying select cafes for a short while earlier this year, Nora has opened shop in Carlton with a range of their signature charcoal tarts. While the charcoal shells provide a striking contrast against the various fillings, the charcoal aspect does not literally translate through to the taste of it. Flaky, crumbly with a lovely residual chewiness to it, the shells are incredibly interesting, but o
Nora doesn’t feel like a cafe. With a bright, white and minimally decorated entry, with just the few pops of colour here and there, you might think you’re in some gorgeous homeware retail shop instead of an eatery. Even the menu is accompanied with a ‘look book’, that provides blown up macro shots of the food, and tiny little previews of what the dish might look like. It’s like as if food and fashion met each other and had a baby. I visited Nora with a couple of colleagues before heading into work, and the 5 of us quickly occupied most of the small cafe, which had quite limited seating. Would definitely recommend keeping your numbers low if you're intending to visit, you might not fit otherwise! The small menu made it quite easy to order since many of us were there; we almost got one of everything!
Great concept of highlighting the heritage and source of the produce with a slight fusion twist to produce some interesting surprises. Great service and cosy atmosphere.
This dinner was so much fun! The staff were great. Excellent, attentive service, but not intrusive or overly formal. The food was so creative and fun. Not to mention delicious! Thai-inspired fine dining that really worked. Again and again I was shocked by unusual sounding flavour combinations that actually worked. This place really blew me away. Something completely different from the usual fine dining scene. I would definitely recommend!
I was given a voucher to eat at Nora for my birthday and, having never heard of the place, was a little skeptical.
2 hours and 12 courses later, I can safely say Nora is unbelievable. Courses included a mix of rice, meat, fish and sweets - all of which were very interesting. Foods you'd expect to be very savoury were sweet and vice versa. Get ready for an experience!
The service is excellent too.
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Like Thomas Harris's Red Dragon, Nora has undergone a transformation. From the cosy café, it has now transformed into one of Melbourne's best fine dining destination.
In a city that is saturated with amazing eateries, it takes something special for a new restaurant to stand out, and Nora does just that.
The venue is very intimate, seating fewer than 20 diners. Everyone gets the set menu, which has to start at the same time. You will understand why that is the case as the courses start to come out.
More than a meal, we were treated to an experience. One where every detail has been carefully and artfully thought of and put together. The blurb on their website claims that Nora offers Thai food, that has been pulled apart and put back together. And, in many ways, that was what we were treated to. Classic Thai ingredients, traditional cooking techniques and the flavours we all associate with Thai food, just not the way we expect it to look.
At Nora, not everything is what it seems, or maybe I should say, NOTHING is what it seems. The most amazing part of the experience is the surprise element, so I don't want to give away too much of the menu.
The dishes are innovative and yet pay tribute to Thai cuisine in every way. Every dish was delicious, finding that sweet spot where flavours and aesthetics meet. Every course has been given a name, which is just as whimsical as the food being served. Some examples are "Tagliatelle of Oyster Not Oyster", "Too many Italians and only one Asian" and the pick of the lot, “Daft Punk is playing in my mouth”.
The service was exceptional and our waiter was very passionate about the restaurant and the food being served. They have a very small team at Nora and every member of that team was busy at work that night.
Overall, this was one of the best experiences we've ever had in a restaurant, anywhere in the world. For a bit of local perspective, Nora is right up there with Attica and Brae as Australia's best.
We will definitely be coming back here.
Little tip: pay attention to the music.
Restroom review: Simple but clean.
COME HERE FOR the smoked pork hock (winter camp fire). Absolutely loved it - flavourful pork which is amplified by the cauli. Very refined. Definitely more to Nora than their famous baked goods. Food and menu ahead of it's time in Melbourne, still finding its niche
BUT only filter coffee is served. Menu is small, quirky and can be a little intimidating for the uninitiated
OVERALL a lovely unique cafe in Melbourne. With an open mind, you’ll love it as much as I did
Outstanding degustation. Every course was wonderful. Far better than other more well known foodie degustations.
Honestly the best and most surprising dining experience I've ever had. I need more words in my vocabulary to describe the journey we took this evening. Like closing your eyes and blindly jumping in to the clouds.
Wow what a great experience. Went for the 10 course menu and we enjoyed every dish. We also enjoyed the non alcoholic pairings.
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