Nu Nu

From the minute you set foot inside Nu Nu restaurant at Palm Cove it’s clear that you’re in for a rare and memorable treat.

For a start there’s the stunning beachfront setting, with a splendid palm-tree framed view of the Coral Sea. Bifold doors open onto a timber deck that is perfect for dining under starry skies and inside is a lush tropical themed split level dining space with an entire roof garden of hanging ferns in one section.

This exclusive yet laidback mecca of fine dining has guests travelling from everywhere to experience the creations of its chef, derived from local seasonal produce of the highest quality. If it’s too hard to decide which of the dishes to choose, recommended is the degustation menu, an ideal way to sample the exquisite fare on offer.

For the full experience go for the matched wines, selected by the knowledgeable in-house sommelier (who is also on hand to advise the best boutique wines to go with any chose dish).

Meals begin with crispy shards of cassava and a glass of premium sparkling wine and from there the culinary adventure is underway. Earthenware plates and bowls of delicacies like BBQ reef bugs on veal and tendon dumplings with pickled shallots and XO consomme, smoked red emperor with peanut and papaya relish, pomelo and salmon pearls and white miso rubbed Wagyu rump with apple, fermented seaweed, crisped oyster and ginger caramel, accompanied by the house bread which is a must try – a conceptual sourdough cob baked in Murray River salt and olive oil.

The wine list is first class – an extensive carefully curated menu derived from the best wine regions around the world, from the foothills of the Victorian alps to the Loire valley, Basque Country and Italian wine varietals to the best boutique Australian drops.

In addition there’s top shelf spirits, whiskeys from Ireland, Scotland, USA and Tasmania, sherries, ports and liqueurs.

Cocktails are also a treat just right for the setting  – think Vanilla Ginger Mojito, Plum and Sorrel Sour, Seasonal Sorbet Martini, Nu Nu Iced Tea and the hard-to-go-past Barry Manilow special – Music and Passion Were Always the Fashion – Brazilian Cacheca shaken with limoncello and freshly squeezed lime.

Need to know – Nu Nu is open daily from 6.15 for breakfast (served until 11am), lunch (11-4) and dinner (5-late).

Nice to know - Nu Nu offers wedding reception packages ideally matched with a wedding at Alamanda Palm Cove’s Great Barrier Reef wedding chapel. It’s also possible to get a private marquee set up in the garden under the palm trees for an intimate candlelit dinner.

Book Nu Nu online here