MELBOURNE | 2025 has seen the first tenants move into “The Bourke”, the new development located where the old Tivoli Arcade once stood. One of these is Nori Maki, located across from what was the food hall. I visited the other day, for What’s On Melbourne, to find out more.
Nori Maki is a casual omakase-style restaurant by former Nobu and Sushi Baby head sushi chef, Keisuke Kita. At his intimate, 24-seat restaurant, Keisuku is putting the focus on the humble handroll (nori maki literally translates to seaweed roll). The menu features an assortment of handrolls, made fresh to order in front of diners, using premium local and Japanese ingredients.
Classic flavours and technique are interspersed with contemporary flair to create handrolls that are a cut above the usual. They exemplify the “casual fine dining” concept that runs through the entire venue and menu. Rice is hand warmed to the correct temperature, and a small pamphlet provides suggestions on the best way to enjoy each creation.
Options include things like miso snow crab, creamy Hokkaido scallop, and grilled anago (salt-water eel). If you’re up for it, you can try the “cholesteroll”, which is packed with tuna belly, fish liver, uni, salmon roe, and truffle.
There’s also a small selection of sashimi on the menu, which rotates depending on what fresh and best at the seafood markets that day. The salmon sashimi with sour miso sauce is a particular highlight from the non-handroll section.
To drink, there’s a selection of non-alcoholic Japanese drinks, along with, when their liquor licence comes through, sake, wine, whiskey highballs, and more.
Nori Maki
7/235 Bourke Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: 0466 662 920
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Tue – Sat: 12:00pm to 9:00pm