Nalu Bar and Grill, Phuket

Hey, won’t you come for a wander with me? There’s a new restaurant at Surin Beach, Phuket called Nalu Bar and Grill. It’s out front of the recently opened Outrigger Resort and takes a laid-back cue from the company’s Hawaiian roots. There are surfboards on the ceiling and the food is great!

I go there for the food and I like to hang out and meet friends here. You can enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner and each offers something different. If you come, let me know I’ll meet you here.

Getting to know Nalu

I’m a local, so a bright and interesting restaurant arriving in the village is a ‘bravo, wow, brilliant’ moment for the Surin Beach community.

The restaurant was the reason I decided to complete my latest Test and Go international arrival at the Outrigger Resort. This gave me the opportunity to get to know Nalu day and night.

You can check out more about my fabulous Plunge Pool Suite staycation on my IG page here.

Beach location

You can’t help but notice Nalu Bar and Grill, it is perfectly poised for those needing a nice brekky before the beach, a chill and relaxed lunch, or who want to enjoy delectable dining at the end of the day.

It snuggles between the luxury Twinpalms Resort and a dilapidated building on the other. This is the reality of post-pandemic recovery, some have made it through, and others are a work in progress.

It’s new!

I love the way that when you stay at Outrigger you are welcomed at Nalu as a hotel guest but if you come in off the street, you are going out for dinner at Nalu the restaurant They are separate entities but fuse together seamlessly.

The vibe

The blurb claims “Nalu is the perfect blend of seaside surf living and a modern urban vibe“

When I reflected on this, I hadn’t really got the ‘modern urban vibe’ bit, I was just into the seaside surf living. But of course, this is why I feel so naturally at home here. It’s Bangkok Wren meets Beach Wren!

Surfboards on the ceiling!

The ambiance moves effortlessly between relaxed and refined – that’s a clever combo. I love that you can go there in your flip flops and sundress or you can be rocking your best glamour puss look. For dinner for instance we’re sitting between a family from Singapore with their entourage of kids, a granny, and a nanny, and yet on the high stool tables, couples are having a romantic night out. Aloha!

The food

The food does the talking here, they bake with passion as you will see, it’s a performance that unfolds in front of you with the open dining kitchen. The culinary principle is to offer

An uncomplicated, flavour-forward dining experience, often with more than a nod to the fire.

The team is really interested in your opinions and so you inevitably end up chatting about their evolving plans. Shout out to Executive Chef Alex, Joerg F & B Director, Khun Aom, and the wait staff who make the front of house as seamless as the magic in the kitchen.

The magic of Nalu

I eat here for the delicious, healthy food, beautifully presented in a setting that evolves throughout the day.

Breakfast:

I take my breakfast out the front, looking down to the beach.

I was really happy that I stayed for three nights as there was so much that I wanted to try on the breakfast menu. I started with an American Set breakfast which was good value at 490 THB for coffee/tea, Two eggs any style, bacon, smoked tomato, sourdough bread, and fresh juice. There is also a German Set breakfast option with all the bakery options – did I say that Chef Alex’s family had their own bakery during the pandemic, the bread does not disappoint?

On another day I choose the healthy Egg White Omelet and on the final morning the Salmon Tartine on sourdough, gravlax, poached eggs, sour cream, and mixed salad leaves. Nice way to start the day.

It is really pleasant sitting out front and although you are overlooking the road and car park to the beach, it feels nicer than that sounds.

Salmon Tartine

Lunch

By lunchtime, we’ve generally moved inside into the coolness of the aircon. Inside we admire the tropical beach vibes, surfing photos, and surfboards on the ceiling.

Nalu has nailed it with their innovative pricing which attracts us in for their Two for One lunch, What’s more, I can have my healthy salad, he can have a burger and chips!

No one around in the F & B business can work out how they can offer such a deal, but it’s a genius loss-leader approach. They are confident that every diner enjoying lunch will be back for more. Too right!

Dinner

At dinner, I hope you share my amazement at how they manage to change the ambiance when the sun goes down and the tea lights come out!

Nalu Loft Bar

I would start up the winding stairs where you will find Nalu Loft for Happy Hour drinks and a glimpse of the sunset.

That is unless your day is not complete without seeing the last kiss of the sun on the earth, then forget this (you are too far away) and stroll across for the full-on beautiful beach sunset and come back for drinks!

It was quiet last night but watch out world, I hear from my friends they can rock a good party up there. Their Beauty and The Beach event was the talk of our swimming pool! They offer live music each Saturday so bring along your dancing shoes.

Bottomless Craft Hops Beverage

Every Wednesday you’ll find 1 hour of bottomless local craft beverage on draught & beef sliders for 380 THB. 

Happy Hour

Buy 1 Get 1 Free.

They offer not one, but three hours of Happy Hour prices, so come between 5-7 pm and again at 9-10 pm for the best prices. You will find all your concoctions here starting at 330 THB for Mojitos, Margarita, and Negroni.

For the Gin Snobs amongst you, yes I checked it’s Burnett’s. Solid. Oh, come on it’s good enough at happy hour prices.

Surin beach sunset

NALU DINNER MENU

There is something for everyone here, from Cold Plates with Hand Cut Beef Tartare, to sharing platters. Or you can choose from their Sautes and Noodles range with handmade Creamy Mushroom Tagliatelle to their Grills and Burgers where the top of the range Beef Tenderloin of 120 days of grain-fed beef sells for 1,275 THB. The crowd-pleaser burgers start at 350 THB.

Sweets are my biz, I am slowly working my way through all of them. The Chocolate Gateau layer cake 240 THB is being saved for a special occasion!

Salmon Gravlax

Our Dinner choices

Cold Plates: Salmon Gravlax Toast with house-cured salmon, quail eggs, sour cream, tomato, dill 280 THB

Mains: For me Charcoal Grilled Phuket Sea Bass Fillet which comes with a warm salad of potato, tomato, and bell pepper 560THB

My husband choose the Bone-in Pork Chop 200+ gr, potato puree, apple caramel, braised cabbage, cashew 670 THB.

We always remark on how they manage to combine the artistic presentation with great-tasting meals.

Dessert:

You can’t beat the classics, and you can’t miss Lemon Tart!⁠ Although I’m not a foodie so don’t shoot me down, the meringue with the swirls had all the looks but not the floaty toasted topping that I adore. Minor point as the tart was brilliant 190 THB.

Grilled Pineapple Wedge: coconut crunch, coconut ice cream 190 THB this was divine

Water: we had the posh San Benedetto ‘I’ve just travelled from all around the world‘ sparkling stuff which comes in at 230THB for 650ml but what I absolutely love about Nalu, is how easily they bring you chilled drinking water for free. They are all class!

Chef Alexander Oddy

Talking of all class…

“I’ve been dreaming about an open fire grill for years

and Outrigger have made my dreams come true”

I may be biased as Executive Chef Andy is born and raised in my home city of Melbourne, Australia which does explain why the coffee here is so good. You can take the girl out of Melbourne but you can’t take the Melbourne out of the girl.

Cappucino and biscuit (it’s all about the little touches) 120 THB

Oops, we digress, back to Chef Andy who has 20 years of working in kitchens. Clever Nalu lured him in with the offer of a Flame grill and an open kitchen.

‘Whether it’s the North American BBQ technique, an Asian influence, or a South American flair, the food will be firmly rooted in bold flavours, perfectly balanced, and with a whisper, or shout, of the fire.”

I always think it’s a ballsy thing to have an open-style kitchen where everything is on show, don’t you? Chef Alex and his team and the wood-fire grill are a delight to watch in action, there is no Gordon Ramsay here! They go with the flow and it all works to create a culinary delight.

Surin Beach

Surin Beach is one of Phuket’s most special beaches. You’ll find the 1 km stretch of sandy beach on ??????’? ???? ?????. The reason ????? ????? appeals is that development is set back leaving a naturally beautiful beach. You can read more here at Phuket’s top delightful beach locations.

The details

Final Thoughts

Nalu is Hawaiian in origin meaning waves of the ocean. I’m impressed Nalu Bar and Grill appears to have calmly breezed onto the Surin scene and now looks very much at home here. Check it out I’m sure you will not be disappointed.