Restaurateur’s unique wood-fired BBQ comes to Auckland

Alex Isik, the restaurateur behind Nazar Group, has launched new barbecue restaurant NOA Chargrill + Burger, at The Eatery in Eastridge, Mission Bay.

Designed to showcase the best of long and slow barbecue cooking, guests are seated around an open kitchen and wood burning fire where free-range, grass-fed meat is chargrilled in front of their eyes.

Pork, beef, lamb, chicken and fish are cooked over embers using the traditional Asado technique. The result is tender, full flavoured meat with subtle smoke tones, served with NOA’s own homemade chimichurri sauce.

The menu features dishes such as slow cooked lamb, twice cooked Awhi Farm short ribs, Awhi Farm Tomahawk, Picanha Burger and a Chicken Mole Burger. 

The NOA kitchen team is led by Head Chef Daniel Castro. Daniel is originally from Mexico where he began his culinary career 15 years ago. His last stop before coming to New Zealand was Argentina, where he discovered his love for Latin American barbecue. 

“Working with Alex has given me the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience and to be part of a new concept. I love the fact that customers can see the food being prepared – from start to finish – and that all meats are cooked over charcoal on the wood fired grill,” explains Daniel. “I’m excited to share my passion for one of the most amazing Patagonian methods of barbecuing food.”

NOA Chargrill + Burger is the latest addition to the Nazar Group family, one of New Zealand’s most successful and fastest growing restaurant groups. The group operates Bodrum Kitchen, Feriza’s, Miss Istanbul, Ottoman Mezze Lounge, Devon On The Wharf, Bodrum Kitchen, Deco Eatery, Casablanca and Mozaik Caffe as well.

“We have taken influences from across Latin America, North America and the Mediterranean and combined those traditional sweet, smoky flavours with our own unique approach. I am delighted to share the results with Auckland,” says Alex (pictured). 

“The name NOA derives from the Hebrew word ‘nahum’, meaning ‘comfort’. I wanted warmth and nourishment to be at the heart of NOA, as it is at all Nazar Group restaurants. The ritual of gathering together with friends and family is just as important as the dishes themselves.”

With multiple restaurants, cafes and a successful roastery under his belt, Alex has mastered the art of hospitality and understands the importance of customer satisfaction. From humble beginnings in West Auckland’s New Lynn, Alex has developed a successful network across Auckland and its surrounds.

Migrating from Turkey, he settled in New Zealand with one aim: to do something spectacular. Starting out his career in the kitchens of Auckland, his drive was to bring a new concept of dining to Auckland, staying true to his heritage and sharing a way of dining that perfectly blends both tradition and family.

Find out more at www.noaburger.co.nz.