I’m maneuvering slowly back into the world of dining in restaurants.

Considering that for the last 15-months I’ve become accustomed to eating restaurant food out of to-go containers, I think it’s safe to say that this transition back may require a little easing into. Slow and steady I was able to do that as I made my way to Nomad Eatery in El Segundo with a friend. Was it easy? Absolutely not. However, Nomad was a great place to basically begin again.

In visiting the Nomad with a friend, we found that walking into the restaurant felt delightful. Although masks were optional and could be seen on patrons sporadically, the feeling of peacefulness was almost a given. Large windows lining the restaurant let natural light in while the plants decorating the interior made the space feel calm.

Menu in hand, it was easy to pick a few favorites to spread throughout the night. As someone who no longer cares for alcoholic drinks, I ordered the Watermelon Spritz ($7). The spritz was such a refreshing combination of watermelon, basil, and lemon that visibly could pass for a cocktail but without the potential morning hangover. Soon after the drinks were refilled – because one was not enough – the appetizers arrived. The menus were quickly removed and replaced with plates of Roasted Cauliflower ($12), Roasted Butternut Squash ($12), and Nomad Hummus ($10). A cauliflower paired with a tahini sauce, squash with a Greek yogurt and toasted cashews, along with a lightly crunchy hummus and warm flatbread was the best way to start the dinner. Each plate was bright and vibrant in color while being delicious in flavor.

Once the appetizers were finished, the entrees arrived. The Sweet & Sour Pineapple Pork ($15) with sweet peppers, Jasmine rice, and Fresno chilis was the perfect balance of a tender meat with a sauce that bounced back and forth from delicately sweet to a surprising kick of spice. Adding rice to each bite only brought the whole meal together in complete harmony. In contrast, the Crispy Whole Branzino ($29) was a large plate to devour and one fit only for those willing to put in the effort. It was beautiful and overall delicious, however cutting into the branzino to find morsels without bones came with an occasional amount of work.

An evening at a beautiful restaurant cannot be complete without dessert. Should you want to make it a beautiful ending, order two desserts. Arriving to our table was the Tiramisu ($8) and the Coconut Rice Pudding ($7). The tiramisu with ladyfingers, coffee liqueur, and a crushed almond biscotti was sweet and soft from start to finish. However, the best of the two desserts that had me contemplating ordering a second was the rice pudding. Jasmine rice, coconut, milk, cinnamon, and a few other special items made this such a delicious dish that was impossible to put down once it was started.

While there may have been some initial anxiety when it came to dining in a restaurant, it did get easier. Thanks to the tranquil atmosphere and the menu that made me want to order more and stay a bit longer, Nomad was surely the place to begin this transition back to dining normalcy.

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Address: 2041 Rosecrans Ave #190, El Segundo, CA
Phone: 310-606-5500
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday – 4:30pm to 9:00pm, Friday & Saturday – 4:30pm to 10:00pm, Sunday 4:30pm to 9:00pm, and closed Monday.
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