• CLOSED: Nourishing Quarter

  • (25)
    32

    Closed

  • White Vegan
Vegan
International
Asian
Fusion
Vietnamese
BYO

Small, quirky place with vintage great-aunt dining room atmosphere. Serves Vietnamese food with some South American ingredients like quinoa and chia seeds. Has rice paper rolls, noodles, rice, congee, taster plate, and more; gluten-free options. Dining times are arranged into two sittings per evening. Confirmed closed, Feb 2019.


Venue map for Nourishing Quarter
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25 Reviews

First Review by vegankat

KatC

Points +67

Vegetarian
17 Jan 2019

Different

All vegan. Different items on the menu. Closer to your vegetarian fine dining than cheap and cheerful. Run by the loveliest of people, worth supporting. The quinoa noodle salad was amazing!

Vegangypsy

Points +217

Vegan
02 Jan 2019

Amazing little restaurant in the heart of the city

I love this place! Food is always great, service is good, location is very accessible. I absolutely love the interior of this place and the quaint experience. For an interesting dining experience with great vegan food, this place is a must!

Pros: Quaint and charming interior, Great vegan food, Ideal for couples or small groups.

Cons: Expensive

veganvirtues

Points +2748

Raw
22 Aug 2018

Nourishing Quarter

Finally got to try Nourishing Quarter their food a mixture of Viêt and Indian Bogan Josh was nice. We had Bánh Khọt 6 veggie tarts with two dips and 2 spring rolls with dip. $18. The Khọt were delicious spring rolls mmmm.

Pros: 100% plant based, Staff helpful, Excellent food

WoodyAndBertie

Points +870

Vegan
18 Jul 2018

Odd but good

The booking system is a bit convoluted - you need to text in advance and then wait for their response the next day. Essential to book as the place only seats about 20 and even mid-week they can be booked out. However, once I got there it was a charming if odd experience. The décor is "junk shop quaint" mixed with QE2 fan club while the menu descriptions are baroque.
I chose the dumplings for starters - a good pick with zingy chilli, followed by what appeared to be mini-stacks of crunchy gluten and tofu along with rings of gourd filled with quinoa. No point referring to their website menu as the actual menu has many different dishes.
The above were very tasty and filling but the dessert - banana sago pudding was disappointing. I wish I'd gone for the vegan chocolate orange torte. All up three courses cost $53...and included a chat with the charming lady who does all of the front of house duties.
Tip: if you want an alcoholic drink then buy in advance. The restaurant is BYO and the bottle shop in the pub next door has a very limited range.
Recommended for being different.

Pros: All vegan, Great food., Odd but enjoyable experience.

Cons: The website menu is not up to date

Gravenhale

Points +1100

Vegan
06 Jul 2018

Quirky experience

This place is so different - everything from the food to the decor. The food is pricey but bursting with flavours. Really nice owner was telling us about this interesting vegetable called a loofah which he adds to the cheesecake (which tasted amazing!) If you want good vegan fine dining, this is the place to go. Also loved the creepy mannequin chilling out before the back room.

Pros: Unique, Delicious , Friendly staff

Cons: Expensive

legumessvp

Points +162

Vegan
27 Apr 2018

wonderfully nourishing

Through our Groupon deal, we were able to sample a variety of dishes offered. What differentiates this vegan restaurant from others is the absence of fake meat, which is fabulous as it demonstrates they have taken great effort to use only natural ingredients to tantalize our palate.

Pros: owner takes time to explain the dishes, no fake meat!

SweetestToast

Points +84

Vegan
18 Oct 2017

Cosy Parlour of Vietnamese Treats

Modern Vietnamese fusion cooking in a quirky, British home-like setting. I ate a banquet, which consisted of a variety of dishes, including rice-paper rolls, dumplings and noodle salad. All of the food was absolutely delicious. Service was fast. Drink choices were limited, but what was on offer (kombucha, drinking coconut) suited the food well. Prices are expensive and space is limited, so take that into account before you decide to visit. Definitely not a place for a casual outing.

As an aside, the food descriptions and general musings in the menu were truly something else. Give them a read if you ever get the chance.

Pros: 100% vegan, delicious food, Fast and friendly service, Cosy and unique setting

Cons: Expensive prices, Limited seating, Small drink selection

AmberVP

28 Oct 2017

When I visited for a special night out the staff were friendly and attentive. Also the food was very good.

VeggT

Points +70

Vegan
06 Sep 2017

Great little place

Had one of their degustation menus and was pleased with everything they brought out. Quality ingredients make for a slightly pricey adventure but worth it 100%. Left surprisingly full after light portions.

Blats

Points +34

Vegan
19 Apr 2017

Tasty but expensive

We got the 45-dollar banquet last night and I was still hungry afterwards !! Food was tasty however, especially the crispy tofu noodle salad, and super-healthy too. Great to have an all-vegan option in Redfern but be warned, this place is not cheap !

LeilaMasson

Points +88

Vegan
02 Dec 2016

best vegan food in Sydney

We have been to NQ several times during our 1year stay in Sydney. The food is fresh and delicious, the service friendly, the decor quirky. It is not the place for a quick bite, but so worth the time you spend there. I especially love the eggplant/tofu stack which is the best dish I have ever tasted; second most favorite is the rice noodle salad. Will try to squeeze in one more visit before we move to Berlin (Veganville).

Pros: best vegan food ever

Wuji_Luiji

Points +2512

Vegan
04 Oct 2016

Great food, friendly service

We had a delicious meal and staff were friendly. Make sure to book in advance.

DrCatnip

Points +56

Mostly Veg
16 Sep 2016

Impressive feast!

Such beautifully presented and delicious yet healthy vegan food! So impressed - even my meat loving friend enjoyed it. The Angel rolls have an interesting shape and the ancient pearls are yum. The caramelised layer tofu thing is incredible! Could eat it all day! And the pho was lovely and light. Has a cosy casual atmosphere but the food is almost fine dining - can understand why it's more expensive because the quality is there. Would love to visit again.

Pros: very delicious and healthy food

Cons: location is city fringe so a little out of the way

chelseyprior

Points +175

Vegan
23 Jun 2016

Eclectic Vietnamese-South American fusion Vegan restaurant

Dining at Nourishing Quarter is definitely an experience!

Bookings are essential with only a 6.00pm or 8.15pm sitting available.

The food is an interesting fusion of Vietnamese and South American. It's healthy, well presented and delicious.

The menu may seem a little overpriced however top quality ingredients are used so it's worth it.

The décor is an experience in itself and the menu, designed as a theatre program, makes for an interesting read.

Must try:
- The Three Sisters (rice paper rolls)
- Pho-ever more nourished soup with buckwheat and purple sweet kumara noodles (Vietnamese pho noodle soup)
- Passage to India (curry dish)

There was only one vegan dessert option during my visit - a frozen berry cheesecake (ordered in). Wasn't great..dessert doesn't seem to be their thing. The main dishes and entrees are worth visiting for though!

Pros: Cute and quirky vibe, Great food with an interesting fusion, Healthy

Cons: Cramped seating, Limited desserts

TrudiH

Points +149

Vegan
19 Jun 2016

Delicious and quirky

Wholesome, fresh and nourishing are three words I would use to describe the Nourishing Quarter. The food was delicious and the staff were all lovely. The atmosphere is a little odd though..but I think it adds to the charm.

Pros: Soo tasty

Cons: No wine on the menu!

Tiny Kitten

Points +60

Vegan
26 Nov 2015

Nourishing Quarter

The food is very tasty & delicious, however every-time I've been here the service has been excruciatingly slow.

domkeykong

Points +25

Vegetarian
19 Sep 2013

Refreshing!

A nice and quirky place that's worth the effort to get to. An eclectic interior with interesting dishes that aren't the same as everywhere else.

Pros: Variety , Quirky, Tasty

Cons: A Little Pricey

johnboy

Points +22

Vegetarian
05 Jul 2013

Fantastic food

In my opinion, this is probably the best vegetarian restaurant in Sydney. In fact, it's vying for the top of my list of vegetarian restaurants Australia-wide.

I particularly love the Pho, the Amaranth and Quinoa Noodle Salad and the amazing (non-cheese!) Cheesecake.

The prices are above average, but it should be obvious to anyone tasting it that the food is far above average. The quality of the ingredients, delightful combinations and attention to detail are remarkable.

I can't wait to go there again.

In terms of quality of cuisine, the closest contender (in my experience) is Shakahari in Melbourne. However, while Nourishing Quarter's food is on (or above) Shakahari's standard I find Shakahari has a less cramped and more refined dining atmosphere and overall provides a more "classy" dining experience.

If the dining experience was a little more refined at Nourishing Quarter I think any lingering doubt that it deserves the title of "best vegetarian restaurant in Australia" would be banished from my mind. To achieve this I see little option but to relocate to a more spacious location.

Pros: Amazing food.

Cons: Seating is a little cramped.

Tiggy

Points +15238

Vegan
31 Jan 2013

Not bad but overpriced

My memory of the first time I went here a couple of years ago was that it was amazing: the food was interesting and the servings were a decent size and the decor was amusingly kitsch. I don't know if my memory was just vague, my tastes are different or whether this place had actually changed but this time I wasn't so impressed. I went with my partner and a friend and we were seated in a cramped space with some objet d'art (part of the retro decor) blocking us from easily accessing some seats at our table. Dishes are expensive - AUD16.50 for starters and at least AUD22.50 for mains. The menu did not seem as extensive as I remembered and consisted of takes on standards like Pho, seaweed salad, etc, although the Sacred Khot was delicious and interesting. My partner enjoyed the Bun Rieu in Amaranth noodle soup, remarking particularly on the tomato broth. Despite the nature of their meals, my partner and friend (who ordered Pho) were given only spoons and had to ask for chopsticks. My quinoa noodle salad was very spicy. The staff were pleasant and attentive and had no trouble with requests. I was looking forward to having a vegan dessert but then I noticed writing on the blackboard saying: "Sorry no desserts. Back soon." Maybe it's just too everywhere now, but the retro decor, which I had initially seen as distinctive, now seemed a bit laboured and formulaic. Another development is that it is now necessary to book a specific sitting, of which there are two (6pm and 8:15pm), rather than a time to come in.

Pros: Some interesting dishes, Attentive staff

Cons: Cramped space, Expensive, Too many pictures of the Queen

cha222

Points +141

Vegan
06 Sep 2012

This place may become my favourite!

We went there on a Saturday night with 4 people. It's a small place so you should book before coming. We were outside, in their small courtyard: we had blankets and a gas heater and didn't feel cold at all. Nice decoration, friendly staff, very healthy and tasty food. I love it!

Pros: healthy cuisine, tasty cuisine, funky place

Cons: some dishes were a bit long to be served

rachelsd

Points +52

Vegetarian
17 Jul 2012

fantastic healthy food great atmosphere

I had an entree size congee and two of the rice paper rolls. All were excellent. The restaurant is charming. You do need to book even on a weeknight.

Pros: excellent food, healthy, great atmosphere

Adam Guthrie

Points +20

Vegan
03 Mar 2012

Great whole food love the raw cheese cake

My wife and I ate here last night after discovering it on happy cow. What a great vegan resturant. Loved the food so wholesome and nurturing. The staff very friendly and passionate about the food they serve. It's so refreshing to eat in a place we people really believe in what they are doing and live by the philosophy of whole food. It creates a very loving vibe and exprience. The raw cheese cake was the best, the tast lingered long after we left the restaurant. I love the fact it had no dairy or eggs but had the same, if not better consistancy, when we asked "are you sure there is no dairy in this?", we were told the ingredients - avocado, lecithin, cacao, stevia and agave. Man a gilt free cheese cake, we are definatly going back for more.
Updated from previous review on Saturday March 03, 2012

Pros: Great whole food, happy passionate staff, Great raw cheese cakes , A place full of love and good vibes

Maddi

Points +551

Vegan
29 Sep 2011

Favourite restaurant in Sydney

During a recent trip to Sydney for my 30th birthday, with my husband and 5 friends who range in eating preferences from vegan to omnivorous, we checked out a lot of veggie and vegan eateries and I have to say Nourishing Quarter was my absolute favourite.

It's a little off the beaten track but well worth making the effort to find (close to Central Railway Station, and easily walkable from the CBD once you know where you're headed). It's a fab funky little cafe with really eclectic decor and the fusion of South American and Asian food ideas works better than you could imagine.

Portion sizes are reasonable and the prices very much so. The menu covers spicy soups, Asian-style rice paper spring rolls, South American-style fritatas and so much more... While not exclusively vegan the theme of the food does lean that way, with the only dairy products being optional extras.

Everyone in the group really enjoyed their meal (including my friend's partner: a Venezuelan-born UK-based steak chef - a compliment indeed!) and after having lunch there we returned that evening for dinner and loved the candlelit ambiance in the outside courtyard and chilled out vibe with byo wine.

Finally have to mention the owner Lam who also waits tables and obviously loves chatting to customers - a really friendly and interesting guy who is clearly committed to his restaurant and making the whole concept work.

If you do not go here you a missing out on a fabulous experience :-)
Updated from previous review on Wednesday September 28, 2011
Updated from previous review on Wednesday September 28, 2011
Updated from previous review on Thursday September 29, 2011

Pros: Amazing food, Great atmosphere, Very reasonable prices

Cons: Not exclusively vegan, Quite small inside

LindaK

Points +15

Mostly Veg
17 Jun 2011

Delightfully good

It's not often I am moved to photograph my meal before eating but Nourishing Quarter delighted all of my senses. Not only was to the food beautifully prepared and visual appealing, it was nourishing (as the name implies), delicious and satisfying. Each dish was not so much brought to the table as offered like a gift. The ambience is comfortable yet eclectic and the staff are welcoming and hospitable.

Pros: Food beautifully presented, nourishing, delicious

Cons: not open for every meal, every day of th

sarahwade

Points +72

Vegan
18 Oct 2010

a refreshing change

I'd been waiting for this place to open for ages because I'd tried their food at Kings x markets and new it was good. As you walk in the door, you are welcomed by the wonderful owner Lam Dinh who is so knowledgable about food and what makes a meal 'nourishing'. The decor is superb and they have spent months searching for all the bits and pieces in op shops and antique shops and they even have an old school cash register that works!

I had a noodle dish which was a traditional Vietnamese noodle with a healthy twist, I think it was called Bung Rieu and it was made with quinoa rice noodles. Delicious. My friends tried the Sacred Congee (a hot porridge made with red quinoa, tofu, fresh herbs, veggies - also delicious) and a few of the tapas style dishes. All the food was beautifully presented and tasted great.

We shared a piece of raw cheesecake for dessert and you can select from a wide range of loose leaf organic teas - i had a peppermint!

My only regret is that I no longer live in Sydney and I can't go there more often!!

Pros: Ambience, Friendly Staff, Great Food

Cons: They need a website!

vegankat

Points +20

Vegan
10 Sep 2010

great experience!

I have dined at this restaurant 3 times since I found out about it. There are so many good things to say about my experiences there. Firstly, the service is really nice, very hospitable, friendly and genuine. It is true personalised service.

Secondly, the design is really nice. It has a definite retro feeling- from the furniture to the music softly playing in the background, it had such a warm atmosphere.

The food is delicious. Lots and lots of gluten free and delicious vegan options. I want to try everything on the menu. The Pho is really nice as is the vegan cheese cake.

Highly recommended! :)

Pros: healthy food, beautiful service, nice atmosphere




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