Review Nel. - Sydney

I was really looking forward to their tasting menu as I had heard good reviews. We dined with a group of 8 and tried their ‘once upon a time menu’. Being seated next to the kitchen, we found it quite annoying and distracting when the chefs would clap at the waiters consistently throughout the night whenever they needed food to be served to tables. The dishes were creatively presented however it lacked attention to detail. Unfortunately the flavours were confusing, lacklustre and surprisingly underwhelming. There were really only two dishes most of us thought were good. The first and last dishes were surprising- but not in a good way. Compared to other degustations in Sydney, the meals were served quite quickly and felt a little rushed. They played the actual Disney soundtracks in the background which really took away from the classy atmosphere of the restaurant. Beware for groups over 6 who dine on a Saturday as you will be charged 20% service fee (10% for groups over 6 + 10% on Saturday - ours ended up being ~$220). This should be made more clear on their website. We left not feeling satisfied and didn’t think it was worth the premium price. Sadly, would not recommend and would suggest you look at other options.

Thank you Nelly for giving us such a joyful feast and memorable journey. We are so glad that your establishment has managed to survive the challenging pandemic period. For a Saturday lunch time seating I was surprised that it was a packed house but happy that diners are back out to support the struggling hospitality industry. Merci to the strong French crew. Their professionalism and friendliness compliment the delicious food that comes out of the kitchen. Big shout out to the sister of Thoma, partner of Simeon, we rudely didn’t get your name but you are a STAR!

Always a great experience. We went in for the “Great British Menu” which started recently and were so happy with all of the courses. Especially notable was the Tomato Soup and the Buttered Cod. Every course is visually so impressive served on beautiful tableware - this did not go unnoticed. The service from start to finish was exceptional. I would highly recommend.

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.

Great food, great service. Guy at front of house was particularly impressive with his attention to detail and memory. A great meal overall. Ambience in the dining area was a bit noisy for our 6.15pm seating. Suggest the 2nd seating if you can eat a little later and want a more intimate experience.

We had a lovely special occasion lunch here and enjoyed the Disney themed menu. The Street Rat, lamb rib and Lovely bunch of coconuts were favourites. The mocktails were amazing too - we had the matcha pandan and the wattle carrot which were unlike anything else in the best possible way. While the experience was campy it was all tongue in cheek and very memorable. The service from everyone was top notch but extra shout out to our waitress (Ludo ?) as she was excellent and the bartender was also super helpful.

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

I have been to many fancy degustation restaurants but this has been one of the most pleasant and welcoming. I have kids who enjoy fine dining and Nel treated them like kings and queens, and made their experience so enjoyable. He catered for the big family and our reasonable requests were attended to with a smile. He and his staff were pleasant, unhesitating and willing in their hospsitable service. I really felt like the whole team enjoyed their job and what they did. Best of all the food was delicious xxx

My partner and I visited Nel's for our anniversary. I'm not going to bag the restaurant out totally, but I find this place confusing. Ordered the 8 course menu and enjoyed 4 of the meals, especially the crab, fantastic! I have been to this type of restaurant before and visited one in the Cross last year and loved every meal. The feeling with Nel's is that it is still finding it's feet and identity. Is it an intimate place for two or a nice meal for 6? Social/ intimate? Dress code, formal/informal? Served by 4 different waiters/waitresses which led to confusion on drinks and difference in service. The young French lady was great and then two mins later a random guy is beinging me sparkling water that I didnt ask for. I think a front of house dealing with customers from the moment they walk on an keeping an eye on the tables from a far could be a great addition. Maybe it is already there, but not on that evening. The menu price is expensive which is not a problem for when you come for fine dining and the experience. Just felt as though maybe the inexperience and with the business not being so old, that the price doesn't match up to the hype yet. However, give it time and take the feedback on board, it may get there. I wouldn't say I would never go back, but maybe in a years time I would go back to see if there is an improvement on my criticism shown. I can see from older posts that a potential can of worms could be opened.

Went to Nel for my surprise birthday dinner. Nice restaurant, warm greeting upon arrival. Really enjoyed the refined yet casual dinning, loved looking into the open kitchen & watching the chef cook & plate up. The food was very nice, I particularly liked the crab dish & the snapper dish. The apricot dessert was delicious too. Looking forward to returning & trying the new menu. Service from the young brunette lady was perfect. Thanks for a great night.

When we 1st step into the restaurant we thought it’s more casual dining and doesn’t have the fine dining vibe. Let just says ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ because as each dishes came out we wasn’t disappointed in taste and presentation. We enjoyed every dish and the presentation is just so unique!!! The service is good, the staff was very attentive. Definitely coming back and recommends to everyone.

Once Upon a Time was unfortunately one of the more disappointing degustations I’ve had. The experience, concept and service were fantastic - the waiter/waitress beautiful served each dish with the Disney tale that the dish was based upon. Portions were tiny even if it is a degustation and the taste didn’t compromise for the small portions sadly. The beauty & the beast dessert was very enjoyable (most satisfying dish of the night), but everything else didn’t have any wow factor except the presentation/concept. The desserts were only memorable thing in the degustation. You’re definitely paying for the flair and concept, but I expected better dishes and flavours.

The Once Upon A Time menu at Nel was sadly extremely disappointing. We’ve been to many fine dining places before and this would be the first time I’d complain that the portions were way too small. It was a degustation course sure, but each item was the size of a chicken nugget before we got to the duck and the dessert. <br/><br/>Firstly, the cheese crackers (in the book) started off great, it was umami, cheesy, crumbly & had a nice surprise which set the dinner up quite well. <br/><br/>Then we had a charcoal pork dumping. It tasted like any pork dumpling I’ve had before but the skin was thinner and black... so nothing special there at all. <br/><br/>Then we got to the most disappointing of all, which was a deboned chicken wing with a dab of peanut sauce. This chicken was oily and had no flavour what so ever. Not even a sprinkle of salt. The peanut sauce was even not enough to cover the chicken or add any flavour to the meat. It was thoroughly disappointing and we thought they must have made a mistake. <br/><br/>Also, I should mention we ordered 2 cocktails and one of them was wrong. Thankfully they gave the wrong one for free and we were given our correct drink. <br/><br/>Then the pumpkin bread was next. Served in a massive hollowed out pumpkin. I will say the theme and concept is very creative and cute but it did definitely compromise on the food. The pumpkin bread was enjoyable, as well as the pumpkin butter. It had an interesting flavour but the pumpkin bread was tiny between 2. It was like 3 nuggets of bread and a dollop of spread which wasn’t enough for everything. <br/><br/>After this was the venison carpaccio with rabbit popcorn. This was tasty. I did enjoy it but each slice of meat was as thin as tissue paper and would break apart when we tried to pick it up. I’ve had carpaccio cut much thicker than this. It was literally 1-2mm in thickness. Again the portion was tiny. <br/><br/>And so we moved on to a glittery broth/soup. It was just soup. Almost tasted like Pho broth. Sadly the concept here couldn’t elevate the taste. Not much to say here which really says it all. <br/><br/>Moving on was the fish. Sadly overcooked. You could just tell how dry it was when you’d cut into it and the nugget sized fillet doesn’t even fall apart. It also lacked seasoning. The purée on the other hand was nice to say the most. <br/><br/>From here, was the last main course of the night. We were still quite hungry and we don’t often feel this way, perhaps ever, when we’ve reached this point. A nugget sized, fried, shredded duck ball came out. It was probably the most flavoursome of the night, but again, not enough sauce and too small. Thankfully, a ‘hearty’ cut of duck breast followed. Perhaps the fried ball was a precursor to this dish. <br/><br/>The duck breasts were fantastic. Cooked perfectly. The jus complimented it well and the fennel was great. However unfortunately couldn’t win us over. <br/><br/>Then there were the desserts. An insanely cute melted Olaf came out. The yoghurt and garlic ice cream was interesting and quite nice. <br/><br/>Following this was a rose and berry slice of cake. It would have been up there as one of the heartier servings. It tasted lovely and the theme for this one was cute. <br/><br/>To finish, we had a Portuguese tart with blue cream cheese. It was a nice bite to end the meal but not special. <br/><br/>Lastly, we got a wood eye Camembert slice (just because we knew we were still hungry) the cheese was okay and the condiments were fine. I personally don’t like pickles with cheese so my partner ate it but it was definitely just a stomach filler. <br/><br/>Overall, the menu was not worth $135 per person. I feel like we paid more for the decor and presentation of the food. Unfortunately the theme has compromised with the food and the quality. May I add, the chef and portion was disappointing. We ended up spending more than we wanted to ($327) and it had to be the most money we’ve spent on the least food. To finish on a good note, their cocktails were amazing.

Uma culinária muito boa e bem apresentada. Elaborada e com uma inspiração British. Recomendo

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.

Been wanting to try this one for a while. Wife got us a table for my birthday. The degustation of british pub classics. Started with few small dishes, tomato soup, fish fingers, chicken kiev and porridge breads, continued with potted salmon, potato & truffle pie, full english breakfast, steak & chips and finished with lemon meringue pie and ginger parkin.. the only dish that i reckon could be better was the steak, it’s lacking bit of wow factors like the other dishes.

Really fun experience. The food was imaginative, tasty, funkily presented in good quantities. The staff were really friendly and professional, and it was nice to get served by Nel himself a few times. <br/><br/>Only quibbles are that the lighting is slightly harsh and that the wine mark-ups are as high as I’ve seen in a good while.

Recently visited to try their Once Upon a Time, Disney theme degustation menu. The whole experience was great! Although I wouldn't say the food was mindblowingly good, I did really enjoy a couple of the items such as the Under the Sea bubble. The experience was amplified by the Disney tunes playing in the background, adding that nostalgic element to the night. Absolutely fantastic!

This place deserves a great score for creative alone. We came specifically for the Disney inspired Once Upon a Time menu. Each course was inspired by a Disney movie, the association was strong on most courses. If you look past the novelty factor, as a tasting menu, It had some highs and some lows. My favourites were Bambi’s mum with the venison; Under the Sea with the crab & macadamia purée; Bippity Boppity Boo with the pumpkin & ravioli. On the other hand, the Mad Hatter’s Tea party, the red velvet cake was really dried & dense; the French Lumiere was like a mini cheesy bacon scroll, but dried. The service was a bit uneven, we ran overtime to when we were due to vacant the table, but there were long lag between when we were finished with a course & were the tables was cleared. There was also a fire alarm from the hotel upstairs in the middle of it all. Overall it was still an exciting night out.

I was tagged in this so many times on Facebook I couldn’t not book it. We celebrated my sisters birthday here and it truly was the ultimate but twisted Disney experience. . As we walked in there was Disney music playing, which set the mood for the dinner. It started off with “A spoonful of Sugar” which was a test tube of pineapple chaser caramelised with coconut oil and a bite of Tuna tomburi with wheat caviar. This was such a fun starter to get us in the mood.

With such high expectations for this highly publicised Disney degustation, my partner & I were thoroughly disappointed with our $465 dining experience.<br/>For $91 per person for matching drinks, we were taken back that a drink didn't accompany the 'snack' portion of the menu - i wish our waiter informed us that the much publicised Aladin and/or Chip cocktail wasn't included in our set menu paired drinks, additionally each poured paired drink was a tasting size rather than a full drink and i feel like we definitely didn't get value for money in this area.<br/><br/>The venue was also a bit of a let down, this underground location was cramped leaving no room for any sort of intimacy as we were in very close proximity to everyone dining that night.<br/>- This small area was also an issue as we could overhear the schpiel of waiters prior to us experiencing it for ourselves.<br/><br/>Overall, our night wasn't magical, but more so a regret heavily felt in my wallet.

Modern Australian with basement setting & views of the kitchen. I had the Once Upon a Time Disney inspired degustation. Each course designed with chef Nelly Robinson’s favourite childhood Disney films. Kicking off with Mary Poppins inspired “Spoonful of Sugar” and finishing with “Seven Moods” of the Seven Dwarves, each dish was well thought out & beautifully presented. 🙂 I enjoyed most of the dishes. The stand out dish for me was “Bambi’s mum”, tender venison served with beetroot jus & crispy parsnip chips. The least favourite dish was “Mad hatter’s tea party”. The quirky looking petit cakes were cute with funky colours but they were dense & hard as they have been sitting around for days. The taste was weird as well. 😨<br/><br/>Great culinary experience, great service. It was a privilege to have chef Nelly worked the floor explaining some of the dishes that were served. Price was reasonable for the hard work they put into each dish but wine was overpriced. A glass of champagne was charged for $40.... 😬

When Nel.’s website says ‘Join us for a uniquely dining experience’ they aren’t wrong. Every 8 weeks at Nel. Chef Nelly and his team create a new degustation menu and last night was the ‘Once Upon a Time’ degustation menu. The food brought back lovely childhood story book memories. The attention and creativeness of each dish was impressive, the ambiance slick and the service impeccable. #nelrestaurant

So Nel definitely is a fine dine affair without any stress and pressure on the diners. Every dish is in essence simple and straight forward without having to really have a deep palette to enjoy. <br/><br/>We enjoyed what was the “Australian” themed menu and while it wasn’t exactly upmarket food, you can easily appreciate the effort in every dish. So if you looking into an experience and less of a meal - we have to recommend you Nel, I mean we’ll be going back for their “Disney” menu. <br/><br/>Just know your paying a lot for the “craft” or “cookery”, and as long as you know that ahead of time; you won’t be disappointed. <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

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. Everyone from Roy Ner (Nour) to Lauren Murdoch (Merivale) sitting beside her early mentor, iconic Sydney chef Janni Kyritsis, who cooked at Berowra Waters Inn, Bennelong and later opened MG Garage, was 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 when it opened in 2015, so I was keen to see how it’s eating now across a five-course menu that kicked off with a Pomegranate Spritz. The drink combined pomegranate arils, pomegranate syrup and Azahara Chardonnay Pinot Noir – a finely beaded sparkling wine. Robinson operates his restaurant on a nightly degustation-only menu that rotates every six weeks...

Made a reservation almost two months ago and went there on Wednesday evening. Had a great time there<br/>The service was good and food was fun and delicious <br/>For starters we had some finger foods like popcorn. <br/>The bread with walnuts was good and I’d love to eat it every morning for breakfast.<br/>The ham balls in the beautiful glass were tasty.<br/>I don’t like raw fish so no comment on that.<br/>Fish pie came with soup in a separate bowl. I ate the fish pie along as well as mixed it with the soup. The soup was salty so it was good with fish pie. But the fish pie itself was delicious enough.<br/>I normally don’t eat goat but goat eating hay was great. It was crispy and juicy. The source was good.<br/>The two desserts Peter rabbit’s garden and Shells on the sand were excellent! I really love them. As dessert they weren’t too sweet. It was refreshing.<br/>In the end we had a little treat- ice cream on a small cone. The staff made it for us on the table. We had 3 choices of toppings to choose from. It was fun.<br/>Overall it was a great fine dining experience for us. The only problem is that the portion of food is so small but it’s a tasting menu anyway. It’s more about experiencing rather than going home with a full stomach.

To be honest I was not quiet sure what to expect of Nel. I can truly say that this is my first fine dining experience in a Sydney restaurant.  Imagine a cosy little place at basement level with soft lighting and a perfect view of the kitchen.<br/><br/>The service here was mostly excellent except  for what I thought was a few downsides. There was only one menu provided for a party of 5 so I had to ask for more but we only got one more. Our server did not always sufficiently explain the dishes which could have made the experience so much better.<br/><br/>Our party of 5 often gazed in awe in the direction of the kitchen at how organised everything was and how meticulous the chefs prepared every meal. Nel served an 8 course menu: Land + Sea.<br/>1st Course: corn fields, river rocks in the wild, pine forest + tree nuts(braaied kangaroo. Well it tasted liked braaied meat and it was delicious. This was also my first time at eating kangaroo)<br/>2nd Course: pea soup ( the best I have ever had)<br/>3rd Course: seared local fish<br/>4th Course: fish pie<br/>5th Course: goat eating hay<br/>6th Course: peter rabbit's garden<br/>7th Course: shells on the beach<br/>8th Course:99er at the beach<br/><br/>Overall these guys sure know what the are doing and with a menu like above and food so flavourful, fresh and well presented it was definitely worth the experience.<br/> 

Great lunch at Nel, we had the special offer at Dimmi for 30% off the set menu. Well worth it and the food was good. Make sure you top your waiters.

Came here for the British menu set and I am pretty disappointed as it was my first time here as well. The food wasn’t my cup of tea and it sucks that it’s a set menu so we can’t pick what we want. I would come back to give them another go when they get a new menu. The dessert however was delish!!!!

One of the best and most memorable dining experiences I’ve had. The menu was innovative and well thought out and the staff were all lovely to top it off. Would recommend!

After a recommendation from friends who went a few years ago we were very excited to visit the restaurant. We both love fine food and Nel was apparently one of the place to go. Also, their instagram was beautifully presented (great marketing bty). I am sorry to say that the entire experience was a huge disappointment. When we arrived we found a compact and noisy room with a very unpleasant smell. The staff was friendly (except the manager) but very young, clumsy and inexperienced (including in the open kitchen). Where was the Chef? For the food, we found no flavours, the dishes were so unbelievably unbalanced that we started to laugh with my husband, thinking it was a joke. Everything is cooked in advance and then assembled on the night. Same saucers, presentation plates are reused from one table to the next (yes that plate with these tired onions skins and the lumpy saucepan for the trout rillette (that has bty nothing to do with a rillette. Not even sure it was trout given the colour and taste 😳)...I couldn't eat the first dish with the smoke in it (tasted like ashes) and what was supposed to be a crab cream with no crab in it but a piece of frisee lettuce and peanuts (...). I think the breaking point was when a piece of grilled cabbage arrived and we were given a nothing but a spoon to eat it and the waitress came with her half empty bottle of warm bitter beer to pour a few drops in my glass of wine (!). After the appetisers and that second dish we decided that it was just enough and a big waste of time and money for us and decided to leave. We went to talk to the manager who wanted to charge us for the entire dinner (2 menus at $118 and $90 for the matching wines). We refused to pay the full bill. He said that then we would be charged directly on our credit card $280 as their Terms and Conditions states that if you cancel less than 24h before, you will be charged $140pp. We finally managed to pay 'only' for 2 full menus. Looking at the positives, at least we had a good laugh but would recommend you go to YELLOW, BENTLEY'S or PILU RESTAURANT instead were you'll find a true magical experience. @nelrestaurant something must have gone wrong somewhere, and I feel sorry that we came at that point of your story.

The 8 course degustation idea was good but I found the execution was poor. The snacks at the start lacks texture, eg very hard cucumber, thick tempura. The mains got a bit better but not enough to rescue a poor score. You can find better food elsewhere at about the same price. As well the dim lighting was not helpful. Nel wasn’t working that night which may have some influence?

We dined at Nel. on a Saturday night for $118pp which gave us an exceptional 8-course meal. Everything took us by surprise and tasted amazing. Even though each dish is small, it is so well planned and every flavour compliments the other. We also ordered many different cocktails which were different and tasted as good as they looked. I would describe Nel as having a very low key and vibrant atmosphere, but the food was exceptional and the quality was very comparable to most fine dining places in Sydney. All the waiters are very friendly, explained each dish thoroughly and were always attentive to us, constantly refilling our water and clearing the plates. I think Nel. is amazing value for money and with a constantly changing menu, I'll definitely be coming back!

Great atmosphere and location. Tucked away downstairs of Wentworth Street, I would highly recommend, but more so with a partner or close friend. You’ll be surrounded by couples, went as a group and surrounding couples just stare at you. <br/>The tasting menu was good, a variety of flavours and very presentable.

Nel is a great fine dining experience for all occasions. The atmosphere was very relaxed and warm. The service was exceptional, every dish served came with a story and the waitresses did a great job of expressing the meaning behind each dish. Flavours were on point and the dishes looked beautiful. The whole course was very filling and the best dish was hands down the banoffee pie!! Unfortunately the lighting was very dim so my photos didn't turn out so great.. none the less, everything was great and I would come here again. 😁

Exceptional vibe and service! Presentation was also on point, definitely adore how they plated a few or their dishes entirely to reflect their produce of the certain dish. <br/>There are only set menu options for $108 PP which was great!! Only let down was pretty much the flavour combination and majority of the dishes lacked seasoning.

Great experience of trying something different. Every dish well presented , staff gives you a description, history about every course. Degustation Menu only. With additions like cheese platter or truffles available occasionally. Food tasted great, service is friendly.

Down the steps from a dimly lit door lies a bunker with a sepia glow, emanating speakeasy vibes and an open atmosphere. The walls are bare exposing piping and the kitchen is visible from every seat in the house, so there’s no hiding from Nelly Robinson and his team. We’re greeted by each staff member that’s walked past with a smile and had our bags and coats taken prior to being shown our seat. The kitchen glows as the chefs are busy at work and almost silent except for the occasional call for certain orders to tables. A kitchen like this is admirable as the staff works seamlessly with each other, nothing like what you see on Hell’s Kitchen, that’s for sure.

One of the best degustations we've been to. My husband and I went for our wedding anniversary and it was a great experience. The atmosphere is very inviting and cosy. Great wine list and impeccable service. We were impressed with every dish, not just the presentation but the flavours too. Great value for money and we recommend it to all our friends.

Food: Because it's fine dining, the portions are obviously small, but I found the 8 (first 3 shared) course menu to be filling. I thoroughly enjoyed tasting new flavours and combinations ("Egg Hunt" was cute)<br/><br/>Service: Friendly and attentive, staff gave explanations of each dish. If you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary, let the staff know (we got asked, though) and you'll get a slice of complimentary cake.<br/><br/>Ambience: Dark, relaxed, slightly noisy because of banter competing with music.<br/><br/>Overall: I would recommend to try Nel at least once for the experience.

Celebrated monthsary, serving 8 course meals plus cheese board and a bottle of red wine 🍷 . I enjoyed the night with creative and unique flavours and dishes, it is definitely wows me. Great staff and comfy atmosphere. I recommended to pay extra for cheese boards. So worth it. 😃

Nel is probably the only fine dining restaurant I have been so far that lacks both the appeal and the taste. There are great ones - Tetsuya's, Sepia and Bennelong. There are also creative, solid but not exceptional ones - Est, Ester, Automata, Lumi, etc. <br/><br/>At Nel, I did not manage to taste any creative, solid or appealing dishes and some of them was badly done too. Besides the starter Jamon Iberico, the rest were forgettable.<br/><br/>For instance, there were dishes where they were sum of a collection of unrelated ingredients (Snapper) where I wondered why the sepia and grapes were added because they did neither enhance the taste nor the overall looks of the dish. What makes it worse is the fish was overcooked.<br/><br/>Furthermore, while the daikon/Watermelon was refreshing, the addition of the avocado was strange because it stifled its sweetness with its strong milky undercurrent. <br/><br/>The roasted pork belly was absolutely average and the sour milk did nothing to enhance its taste too. <br/><br/>The desserts were also average and seemed like you could find them at the supermarket. Disappointed. <br/><br/><br/><br/>

Lovely flavour combination and presentation. Friendly service. Menu says 8 course although the first one consists in 3 small snacks. Average decor and room space. Overall, nice restaurant, worth a try!

We went here for a date night & the place certainly lived up to expectations!<br/><br/>The food was so delicious & their wine list impressive!<br/><br/>The petite fours in the book was certainly the cherry on top of our experience!

When I first arrived at Nel., the atmosphere felt very sophisticated, dark and romantic. The whole restaurant had dimmed lights so taking photos of the food wasn't the easiest and turning on flash would just ruin the atmosphere. I had the Christmas degustation menu which is basically the same as their usual menu but just a tad more expensive. Food came out relatively fast so I was happy about that. I love the creativity that goes into the dishes at Nel. and mixing different textures and flavours is something they are really good at.<br/><br/>My favourite dish was the spanner crab with the tomato water. Holy moly. This was beyond words. Basically they give you the spanner crab and a test tube with tomato water which you pour on top. Genius. The tomato water was so refreshing and it was also slightly cool so you get all sorts of things going on in your mouth, making it confused but ecstatic at the same time. An unforgettable taste experience that you'll be telling your grandkids about.  <br/><br/>The saffron pasta was my least favourite as it had a strange sour taste to the dish which I don't really know if it came from the ricotta or the saffron. <br/><br/>Both desserts were fantastic and once again consisted of different textures like crunchy, soft, chewy, cold and everything you can imagine. At the end, we were given little Christmas goodie bags that had mini treats inside which I thought was very cute and sweet because they hand pack it in front of you.<br/><br/>Overall Nel. was an incredible dining experience and I am definitely returning. It's a must try!

Worth the price to try. We tried the 8 courses menu. The most exiting dishes are in the main section. Really like the crab and cod with soup. So yummy

The staff are very friendly, efficient and knowledgeable and the food looks really pretty and the ambience is top notch. Unfortunately it's another example of where the chef is more focused on the look of the plate than the taste of the food.<br/><br/>I found the combinations of ingredients to be very strange and the taste was just bad. I left hungry and stopped at Hungry Jacks for a meal.<br/><br/><br/>

nel. Restaurant would definitely have made my list of top 5 eats of 2016 – if only I’d gotten round to putting up this post before the end of the year!. I have been to nel. Restaurant 3 or 4 times now – in fact it was DS that first found it when it opened a couple of years ago. I’ve gone back so often because of two reasons – the menu changes every 6 weeks (!!!) and I think it’s such good value for fine dining. The current 10 course menu is $108, with an added $90 per person for matched wines.

The rustic interior features bricks and timbers, creating a relaxed atmosphere. The restaurant's focus on presentation was consistent throughout our 6 course lunch, which was also impressive in terms of taste. Our favourites - the snapper and the mutton. I'm not a huge fan of red meat but the delicious pearl barley was a perfect accompaniment to the mutton - red meat rarely tasted so good! The overall experience was very enjoyable, however slightly larger gaps between the tables would have been more ideal for private conversations or intimate meals.

Absolutely blown away by its innovative and beautifully crafted 6 course Christmas menu. Less than 2 years old, Nel will surely be another up and rising star in the fine dining culinary world. Let the pics speak for itself.. highly recommended for all foodies.

I remember I loved coming here because of that throwaway line from American Psycho when Louis Carruthers says to Bateman, "we're going to Nels".<br/><br/>I was happy to check out Nels' and I wasn't disappointed! I loved the thai curry pops amongst other things! Will definitely come here again to try their changing degustation menu. Very polished, unpretentious atmosphere, love it!

We came here for the $69pp lunch and it is absolutely beautiful! It contains 5 courses and everyone is surprisingly wonderful. After paying the bill there is also a chocolate sausage for free, which is better than the dessert included in the menu😋

Dinner degustation at Nel is $98 pp and changes every 6 weeks. These photos are from way back in May so the menu has definitely changed since then. When working Chef Nelly seems so intense.  He prowls the kitchen like a corporal scrutinising every dish as it’s plated. Occasionally, you’ll hear him clap twice when a dish is ready to be picked up for serving. Speaking of plates, the food is served in some of the most quirky ones I’ve ever seen. The fact that they’re custom made for the restaurant certainly adds to its uniqueness. Take the Duck, parmesan arriving in a stark white tiny cup with a duck foot stem.

OMG, I loved this place!<br/>I chose the degustation menu with pairing wines.<br/>The food was faultless. I particularly loved the pork crackling and beer which was so clever and tasteful!<br/>The paired wines were very eccelctic and well chosen.<br/>I also liked the fact that the kitchen was open and you could watch the chefs working.<br/>Staff was very attentive.<br/>I had the best time!

Beautiful decor and fabulous staff. Plenty of staff on duty so you were never left unattended. We did the 8-course degustation with wine. The food was beautifully presented and very creatively put together. The wines were really great. Amazing atmosphere. Only thing I could say was that I think presentation and creativity outperformed the flavour of the dishes. There wasn't anything WOW about the taste of the food which was a bit disappointing

I was very excited to go to Nel but felt very uncomfortable from the start - walking passed homeless people and an overwhelming stench of urine near the front door and then be greeted by pretentious staff.  The food is lovely and it is expensive. I found it to be a restaurant of more about bragging rights. A real dilemma on those that 'have and have-not' on a few levels that it can't get my recommendation. There are just as good if not better restaurants if you want to treat yourself.

I'll preface this review by saying that before coming to Nel I had already been to Sepia and Lumi the night before and for lunch that day respectively, so the bar was raised very high..<br/>Despite that, I had a thoroughly good 8 course dinner here. It might not have been quite up there but it was very close. The staff are excellent and the ambience in the room was quite cosy and romantic. <br/>The dishes were all very good, with great flavour and textures. The desserts were very good too and the added theatre of the petit fours presented in a mini sweet shop display was a great creative way to end.

Dined here last week and what a lovely experience it was. Food was really good and the wine match was perfecr for every course. I highly recommend Nel and although I wasn't wowed by any one course, it was a great experience and I will go back soon.

Went to Nel in April. Loved loved loved everything on the table!! Also The best cocktail I have had. I had 2 of those last time! We have been recommending Nel to so many of our frds since. Went there again tonight. We were both a bit disappointed. The food are not as good as they were 6 months ago. Or maybe the food from this season just simply don't suit our appetite. I think it is very gutted to change to menu all the time but some signature ones should stay because ppl like me are loyal on food. I like the food adventure but i prefer more on the food that you know it is going to taste superb 100%.Last 2 photo were my favourite from last time. I really hope I could try them again in the future

One word: AMAZING. Nel runs a tight ship in his kitchen. We went there for the dinner degustation. Each dish is prepared beautifully and served at a good pace - our table was right in front of him found him checking how everyone is going in the dining room. The flavours and textures were balanced, presentation was awesome! We will be back at the next special occasion.

My partner and I had the 8 course degustation with wine matching. Service was friendly and fast, the food was perfectly wine matched (I normally do not like red but have now changed my mind after having the matching)<br/>My favourite dish was the veal with saffron and tomato! Sizes of the dish were just right, we left full and satisfied.

Bianca: Descending the steps into Nel Restaurant you could virtually be anywhere in the country, a warm and dimly lit bunker-like setting, opens up before you. With exposed pipes and brickwork and an open kitchen that takes up the entire length of the restaurant. Chef Nelly Robinson was at the pass, quietly and calmly directing orders to the staff. With a single clap, servers promptly collected plates and rushed to gracefully place dishes upon tables.

I thoroughly enjoyed Nel! 8 course meal executed very well! I have always wanted to try it whilst I'm here in Sydney but never got the time, luckily this time round I made a reservation. So many different flavours and textures I've never had before. I loved the peppermint chocolate dessert! I couldn't fault any of the dishes and enjoyed watching the chefs do there thing in the open kitchen. Such a good affordable restaurant :) worth the try.

Loved this place - very interesting menu and low key venue without a pompous vibe, we felt at ease and the staff were excellent at explaining the many delicious dishes brought to us. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fine dining experience but not  to spend an outrageous amount.

Finally got my act together to come here. In an obscure location in the basement, its a world away from the rush & madness of the outside world. Stripped back walls, industrial lighting makes this fine diner a really cool & relaxed place. Its small & cosy with warm friendly service. The food is exceptional - an amazing value for 8 course degustation with the option of matching wines. Each course is meticulously prepared & plated, each with its own story. The presentation are fun & creative but that doesnt mean the flavours aren't there. An amuse bouche of goats curd has a crispy pastry enclosing a soft explosion, chased down by a clear tomato consomme topped with vibrant basil oil in a test tube. The popcorn chicken is served with classics like asparagus, creamy veloute & chives with the option of adding freshly shaved truffles. The veloute is phenomenal. Desserts are fun & refreshing. Even the cocktails are delicious & pretty. An amazing experience & highly recommended.

Phenomenal. Date night was an absolute treasure. Probably the best value degustation in Sydney. Love the intimate setting underground in a little bunker type space. The food was so full of flavour and faultless. Highly recommend.,

After reading so many amazing reviews from my fellow bloggers. I decide to check out Nel for an anniversary dinner. I see Head Chef and Owner Nelly Robinson running the kitchen so I can't help but keep looking his way to see what is going on. There's the choice of the $98 per person degustation or you can add wines for another $80.

Always one to be looking for a place to try, I heard on the grapevine that Nel. might be worth a visit. So I made the booking and let Mookie know that we would be dining out. We set off we drove an area of the city undergoing a slow transformation, Nel. being and example of this transformation. We almost drive straight past without realising when I suddenly notice the discrete neon sign. I look to Mookie and say “I think it must be in the basement”. We park and head over and it turns out Nel. is indeed in the basement, but don’t let that put you off this little hidden gem.

Booked Nel for 5 people last night the service was impeccable and each course was interesting highlight would be the Easter egg which was a scorched quail egg, the eel with venison and mushrooms was a nice combinations of textures of flavours with the eels saltiness balancing out the dish. Really enjoyed the duck ravoli with hazelnut reminds you of chocolate although it's savoury. The snapper was slightly overcooked but nice tandoori spices. From the desserts pumpkin pie dessert casing has no flavour but texture of waxy white chocolate however goes well when combined with the crumble & cacao nib icecream. The petit 3 were all delicious my favourite was the chocolate encase in pastry. We had a NZ Pinot Gris which was zesty with a hint of oak and Pinot Noir don't remember which one...They also serve the end of meals sweets with sparkles for bday dinners which was a nice touch.

Nel was adventurous, risk-taking and really didn't know what was coming next during the degustation. The payoff however that night didn't totally work. The dishes showed more technique than flavour combination. The kingfish tandoori was the highlight. That said, the experience is well worth the try and there's no doubt Nel has alot to offer with their ever changing menu.

Had a great anniversary dinner here the other night. Service was friendly and attentive and the price is so good compared to other restaurants of this class. The entrees were a bit hit and miss but the mains and desserts were delicious. I wish we didn't go for the black truffles for the lamb though. Didn't really add much to the dish. The atmosphere of the place and the music selection is nice too. Would definitely come back.

Came here for a team lunch and devoured the 3 course set menu. <br/>The service was excellent and the courses came out quite promptly. The portion sizes were not massive, but that's expected when you have multiple courses to get through.<br/>Do have a look at the mocktails. I tried the tiki and adored it.

Looked promising, dishes had a Japanese influence to it. Great starters but the mains were a complete letdown. Entire meal took about 3 hours and we told them to serve all 3 desserts together because it was getting late. The starters were good and well timed in between. The 1st main came promptly, 2nd main took about 30min to come and 1st dessert came 45 min after we finished the 2nd main dish.  We had to prompt the wait staff to clear our plates too.  The mutton with asparagus didn't go well together, mutton was also quite tough. The chef's constant clapping to call the wait staff was also quite annoying. Will not come back.

Full of surprises and friendly staff. Very unusual ingredients and combination in all dishes. Found potion slightly large so got quite full by the time we got to the mains. Good value $98 degustation. Cocktails on the expensive side and too sweet.

Lovely experience. Good value for lunch. Food is fresh and well presented, service friendly. Will definitely will be back as the menu changes weekly for lunch.

Really well priced for a mid week lunch but hit and miss and they don't quite have the bread service down pat<br/><br/>Clearly striking for a hat, well on its way ☺️

Good food and value! Service was good and the menu was very creative! <br/>

Nel is just absolutely perfect.<br/><br/>It has a casual vibe as you enter the downstairs-restaurant, however the dishes are nowhere near casual - Each dish presented so beautifully with high attention to detail - and tasted equally Amazing as well.<br/><br/>We were taken on a food journey, my partner and I, which was an interesting one as it felt like a combination between UK flavours with an Australian Modern twist - to start with we had a jelly-like cube of light mousse made from parmesan and vinegar, then later followed by a “taste of pimms” crab that tasted so fresh & interesting, snapper with eggplant which just melted in your mouth, egg mixed with potato, spinach, mustard and truffle (my highlight of the night) which was presented in this awesome glass bowl, surrounded by a nest of herbs.. and the blueberry buffalo yogurt dessert as well being in the same glass bowl, the flavours of this just exploded in my mouth…. I did not want this to end.. What playful combinations, and interesting mix of ingredients that all go well together. Truly a work of art. <br/><br/>Also - You also only pay $88pp for an 8-course degustation - which is pretty reasonable, and not so painful when receiving the bill at the end… So definitely worth coming here for dinner if you are into fine dining! they have a lunch menu as well so its on my list to come here one time to try out their lunch food. So very impressed :)

Easily one of my favourite restaurants, see reviews of individual courses in photos below. Affordable fine dining at its best.<br/>Instagram @evaaah

I’ve been hearing great things about Nel. and thought a lunch would be a nice introduction. I wasn’t disappointed. Reviews talked about the great value for high-class degustation. For lunch, that’s four courses with an extra treat at the end. I sometimes think I’m just going to take one or two photos of a meal, instead of one of each course. It ends up I exercise control and not take a photo for one course (in this case, a delicious pea soup) and then end up taking photos of all the rest anyways. Sigh.

My absolute hands down favourite restaurant in Sydney - absolutely LOVE it here and recommend it to everyone I can!  I come every month and wont ever stop!

Amazing Adventure. Loved the decor and being able to see the kitchen in operation. Nelly and his staff are friendly and really on their game. The food was delicious, challenging and interesting with unique combinations bringing surprise after surprise. Wish we were locals so we could come back every month and experience what is new and exciting.

They only have the tasting menu available so people with good allergies would need to ask as the staff do not ask about any allergies. Every dish was very creatively presented and the service was great.

Delicious meal with faultless service. Normally I'm fearful when there are no choices on the menu as I have a few intolérances, but not only could I eat every dish, every dish was a joy for my palate and I was perfectly replete at the end of the meal. I am keenly awaiting next month's menu. It was more playful in flavour than the Fat Duck and the value was as exciting as the care taken just in choosing table ware and decour. Recommended so highly I have brought three groups of friends this month alone.

Wow. What an amazing find just a stone's throw from Central Station. The food was meticulously presented, the staff were engaging but not forward, and the overall night was quite an incredible surprise.For a special birthday night, we decided to celebrate by sparing no expense and meeting with friends for the degustation menu including the matching wines.  Total cost per head was $168.00.  There is no doubt that this s a special restaurant. The food is simply out of this world....amazing taste explosions such as the trout, miso, hollandaise, radish and vanilla corn entrée.  The vanilla corn was silky and more-ish.   The main meal of beef with coffee, macadamia, and king oyster mushroom was genuinely tantalizing...only complaint was one piece of beef was a little gristly.  The beetroot with white balsamic, black rice crispy and popcorn, was not my favourite..but it certainly became a talking point.  But finally the desserts and the little morsels of truffle/rabbit plus "green peas & ham" kept us on the edge of our seats.And to top off our evening Nel came out from behind the kitchen bench and sat and shared his travelling plus food experiences.  Really took the dinner from a 4.5 to a 5.0.  We felt terribly spoilt.

Interesting and tasty food with so much creativity! This is what we call food cooked with love and heart. We are looking forward to the next visit sometime soon!

I'm moving work locations starting next week, which means no more Surry Hills lunching. I've been making the most out of my remaining lunch opportunities by trying out all the places on my hit list; one of these being newcomer, Nel. Restaurant on Wentworth Avenue. The small underground restaurant space is at basement level, with an open plan kitchen where you can watch all the action happen. The lunch set menu is fabulous value at $35 per head.

Meal was very good, except for the staff has a very rude post-sale attitude. The head chef for the night was also very rude to junior staff.

Restaurant Nel is a Tour de Force. Pity the chef skills are high, but balance and nuance are limited. More attention to how flavours work would make this restaurant a winner. Service could improve but is not dismal.

This restaurant is relatively new and after reading some reviews, it was in my Wishlist and I managed to quickly tick this one off today! I came here for lunch with a friend to celebrate a few occasions and we both walked out happy.<br/><br/>With the $35 lunch menu, the food we had was visually impressive and tasted just as good. We had green pea and ham; kingfish, lemon, cucumber & parsley; then I chose the <br/>Miso cod, sesame, daikon, edamame and eggplant as my main while my friend had their lamb belly which was also delicious. For dessert, it was carrot, vanilla, ginger & mint followed by cute, warm Eccles cake. <br/><br/>Service was also friendly and professional at the same time and I can't wait to come back to try their dinner menu!

Amazing Value. Went to Nel last Friday for lunch - 4 course degustation for $35 pp. It is beyond me how they manage to output such innovative top quality food at such an affordable price. The serving sizes were very generous and the staff were just amazing; very knowledgable, friendly and excited about they food they were serving. Cannot wait to go back.

Wow. Loved the creativity, the presentation, the flavour of the food. It was a feast for the eyes as well as the tastebuds. Fine dining without the price tag or pretenciousness. Love it. Will be back.

Beautiful food, excellent service and topped off by the fact Nelly came and had a chat to each table at the end of the night. We'll be back very soon!

nel recently opened in a bunker location underneath Central Station Hotel in Surry Hills and it is definitely something good...The restaurant popped up on my radar a little while before opening and I was keen to try it as soon as my scheduled freed up a little.

Took Melbourne foodie friends here and we all loved it. Would easily return as menu changes every month. A lot of attention and craft goes into every course. The service is swift but friendly. Small complaint would only be that the noise level in a fully booked restaurant means you can't really hear what the waitstaff are saying about each course as it is presented to you. Nice clean kitchen operation.

Fantastic food, service and ambience and reasonable prices!

Simply fantastic. The food is inventive, delicate and most importantly delicious. I'd go back anytime.

Special treat. No way the fault this place! Took my fiancé here for his birthday and it was our first degustation experience (yes, we haven't been privileged enough)! Had the tasting dinner with matching wines (menu is seasonal), service was great (perhaps a tad rushed) but overall awesome experience! Thank you Nel!

Here’s my take: Nel Restaurant’s about serving…post-modern Australian cuisine, influenced by his UK stints and his childhood memories. We’ve got a British chef on our shores folks, I’m liking the sound of that. Add to this a pricetag of only $88 for their 8-course, seasonal degustation dinner, and you’ve got a curious fellow who’s still hungry to discover more. It’s time to visit Ned’s hideout. I mean Nel.

Great tasting menu and wine. EXCELLENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great service, good wine list, interesting crockery, great flavours - only thing I would say is a little more time between courses. Def check it out.

Loved it buttt.... I loved the food... just wished there was more of it!<br/><br/>maybe more bread (bread was yummmm) but they took our side plates away, so i felt bad asking for seconds...<br/><br/>ended up eating some korean chicken wings after the degustation meal with matching wines..

Birthday Dinner. What a lovely dining experience! Each dish is a work of art that's full of flavour & good taste.. I won't hesitate to recommend this restaurant to anyone who loves good food!!

Nel is a big tick from me. Absolutely gorgeous food and wine - the four of us were all delighted with the 8 course dinner menu from start to finish, I am already trying to think of an excuse to go back again.