The chef behind Sydney restaurant NEL is heading to the coast, with two new dining concepts set to open from the same oceanfront site overlooking Cronulla Beach this September.
Nelly Robinson is preparing to open a new chapter in Cronulla, with NOA and its more casual sibling Little NOA set to launch this September.
Nelly and partner Danielle Richards-Robinson are opening the two concepts from the same site overlooking Cronulla Beach, bringing together a full-service restaurant and a relaxed oceanfront terrace offering burgers, cocktails and walk-in dining.
The opening follows more than a decade at NEL in Surry Hills, where Nelly has built a reputation around immersive degustations, storytelling and an approach to dining that extends well beyond what is on the plate.
At NOA, however, the format will be considerably more flexible.
“You might come in for a steak and a glass of wine, or spend the afternoon sharing snacks before finishing with our chef’s menu. It’s your experience. We simply help shape it,” Nelly said.
A more flexible approach to dining
Rather than building the restaurant entirely around a degustation, NOA will offer an à la carte menu alongside an eight-course chef’s selection.
Guests will also be able to experience a Champagne and caviar trolley, build a personalised cheese board in the restaurant’s dedicated wine room and order dishes finished tableside.
The idea is to allow diners to decide how far they want to take the experience, whether that means settling in for a full menu or stopping by for a steak and a glass of wine.
That flexibility is also reflected in the food.
Menu highlights announced ahead of the opening include Pork & Truffle Hot Dogs with apple, Bug Toast, rib-eye, whole fish for sharing and Nelly’s Banoffee Trifle.
There will also be some of the more playful elements associated with his cooking, including liquid nitrogen fairy bread and interactive seafood dishes.
Bringing the restaurant closer to home
For Nelly and Danielle, who are both Cronulla locals, the opening is also an opportunity to create the kind of restaurant they felt was missing closer to home.
“We’ve always believed Cronulla deserved a restaurant experience that could sit alongside Sydney’s best while still feeling completely local,” Danielle said.
Nelly will lead the kitchen, while Danielle will oversee guest experience, design, marketing and partnerships.
The venue has been designed by LikeMinds and will also include two private dining rooms.
The aim is to take some of the creativity that has defined NEL and put it into a restaurant that can work equally well for a longer dining experience or a more casual visit.
Little NOA goes casual
Sharing the same site, Little NOA will operate as NOA’s more relaxed oceanfront terrace, designed for walk-in dining.
Guests will be able to come straight from the beach for burgers, snacks and cocktails, with bookings not required.
Little NOA will initially open Wednesday to Sunday from midday until late, before adding weekend breakfast from October.
NOA will serve dinner from Wednesday to Saturday, with lunch available on Saturday and Sunday.
For Nelly, the ambition is not simply to create somewhere people visit once for the experience, but a restaurant locals return to regularly.
“If people leave saying, ‘I’ve never dined like that before,’ we’ve done our job. But more importantly, I want them to come back the following week. That’s what great neighbourhood restaurants do.”
NOA and Little NOA will open at 1/8-18 Kingsway, Cronulla, NSW.
