Update, May 2025: You can score up to 50 per cent off Noi’s signature three-course menu, featuring a starter, pasta, main and sides – all for just $59 per person. The menu rotates regularly and is available daily from June 1 to August 31.
We may have found the cutest dining room in Sydney, and it goes by the name Noi. Tucked away in Petersham, this adorable neighbourhood restaurant comes to us from the same family behind Ormeggio at the Spit, Postino Osteria, Sails and the recently opened Akti – all of which are leaders in the ‘fancy-but-welcoming’ subcategory of Sydney dining. And while Noi is no black sheep, it definitely feels like a stand-alone project from owner Anastasia Drakopoulos (ex-LuMi) and chefs Alessandro Intini (ex-Aqua) and Federica Costa.
Noi translates to ‘we’ or ‘us’ in Italian, and true to its name, the space strikes a perfect balance between intimate and communal. It’s the kind of dining room that makes you feel like you could wander up next to the pans and start chatting with the chef, or lean over to your neighbour and pour them a glass of wine. The long dining room is beautifully arranged, with clever lighting and the type of decor that feels effortlessly eclectic, yet you know every detail has been chosen with care.
The menu is nice and tight, featuring playful spins on all sorts of Italian classics. Take the cacio e pepe ‘chips and dips’, or the housemade focaccia that stakes its claim on the bar counter. Entrées typically spotlight a single hero cut of meat, fish or veg, beautifully arranged with several dollops, sprinklings or baby leaves supporting in colourful artistic flair. Winter highlights include a golden, crisp eggplant parmigiana covered with a generous dusting of pecorino, and a Wagyu tartare topped with capers, hazelnuts and eschallots.
You won’t have decision fatigue picking a pasta, with just three specialties to choose from. We suggest sharing the lot, which may include a creamy cacio e pepe-inspired risotto, a comforting sausage ragu, and a bowl of pillowy gnochetti with basil, preserved tomato and ricotta. If sharing, you can round out the meal with your pick of protein, ranging from Wagyu beef cheek and pork collar to crisp-skinned barramundi or a veg-friendly roasted butternut squash.
The wine list is Italian-leaning, with a few drops from Australia and France. You can BYO for $15 per bottle too. So, save this spot for a date night that won't break the bank – and do as the Italians do: bring the vino and bring the vibes.
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