Nel Restaurant

Nel is a destination restaurant from owner-chef Nelly Robinson, who worked under Nigel Haworth at the Michelin-starred Northcote Manor in northern England.

The menu is an 11-course degustation, with optional matching wines. And while the presentation is modern and sophisticated, the core inspiration behind Nel is decidedly playful.

The Poisoned Apple, for instance, is a starting snack of aged-cheddar-bavarois (Bavarian cream) set on a sphere mould, frozen overnight and dipped into red apple jelly. The resulting red “apple” is served atop apple compote on a pillow-like plate.

In the Mr Potato Head – named after the beloved Toy Story character – a hollowed-out potato is cooked in duck fat before being fried for peak crispiness. Jamon-infused cream is then folded through the potato, which is finished with chilli, spiced basil cream and dehydrated jamon.

Because the menu is seasonal, dishes change often. Highlights include slow-roasted pork jowl with an assiette of seared mushrooms, herbs and flowers, and a ratatouille spin-off made with layers of confit vegetables and lasagne sheets, and topped with cheese foam and basil dust. And for dessert, honey-soaked sponge cake drizzled with honey curd, and served alongside a pot of honey and sorbet with bee pollen.

A full vegetarian tasting menu is also offered, and dietary requirements can be catered to upon prior request.