COYA, the Most Popular French-Middle Eastern Fusion Restaurant in Cromer

The French-Middle Eastern fusion fine dining restaurant COYA offers Cromer a grand total of five degustations curated and prepared by veteran chef Ashraf Saleh.



Chef Ashraf Saleh, the man in the kitchen responsible for the restaurant’s French-Middle Eastern fusion menu, is a veteran in the culinary industry who’s worked in five-star establishments all across the globe. In 2019, chef Ashraf released “Coya: French Middle Eastern Cuisine” — a cookbook that shares the same name as his restaurant which details the dishes both he and his customers love.  

Photo credit: Instagram/COYA

‘Coya’ is a Middle Eastern girl’s name, and chef Ashraf had intended to give it to a daughter, if he ever had one with his wife, Kit Saleh. Instead, their family was blessed with two sons. The two opted to dedicate their love to their new restaurant by naming it after the daughter they never had. 

The restaurant offers five degustation menus for customers to order from, each offering carefully curated courses which can be complemented with pourings of wine. The menus available allow patrons to select options befitting of their personal preferences or dietary restrictions. There is a six-course carnivore degustation which offers primarily meat-based dishes, and likewise there is a nine-course pescaterian degustation that revolves around seafood.

Scampi, one of the courses of the pescaterian degustation in the restaurant.
Photo credit: Instagram/COYA

Also available at the restaurant is a nine-course carnivore degustation, a nine-course herbivore degustation, and lastly, a 13-course degustation which serves a mixture of dishes from across the other course menus. 

Reviewers were particularly enamoured with the way the restaurant presents their dishes, likening them to art and how each dish was not only visually appealing, but also incredibly delicious. The restaurant’s ambience has also been described as “cosy” and the service has also been considered “friendly” and “accommodating” by numerous customers.

Photo credit: Facebook/COYA Cromer

Those interested in dining can visit the restaurant on Sunday the 9th of May 2021 from the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m to celebrate Mother’s Day. Between the 5th of May to the 15th, a limited-time menu curated by chef Ashraf will be available as part of the special event “Taste of the Beaches 2021”.

COYA can be found at 61-63 Carawa Road, Cromer, open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Visit their website here. For the latest updates on meals, deals, and other special announcements, follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram

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Taste the ‘Most Beautiful Food’ at COYA in Cromer

Food presentation is just as important as the flavour when it comes to fine dining. At COYA, a Middle Eastern and Australian restaurant in Cromer, you’ll probably have the most beautiful food you’ve ever tasted in your life. 

Chef Ashraf Saleh has quite the knack for plating and his skill is part of the reason patrons love dining at this restaurant. Adventurous foodie lovers will be satisfied with his presentation and preparation as he fuses Middle Eastern influences with basic Australian dishes to turn the food into a gastronomic delight. 

Photo Credit: COYA Cromer/Facebook
Photo Credit: COYA Cromer/Facebook


Using interesting spices and ingredients, Chef Saleh creates a different menu every few months or so that your visits to this restaurant would be like a new experience each time. And if you really want to indulge, COYA offers a degustation course for $66 per person, which is unexpectedly affordable for fine dining. 

But there is also another reason COYA is a foodie haven. Aside from the beautiful and tasteful dishes, the restaurant holds events nearly every week as an excuse (or a privilege!) to enjoy more flavourful food. 

For July 2019, here are the foodie events to look forward to at COYA:

WHATWHENTICKET PRICE
Burger Pop-Up
A meal of burgers with a bottle of beer
Sunday
7 July 2019
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
$28
Meat Lover’s Feast 
A seven-course menu that includes hogget, mutton, pork, duck, quail, rabbit and bacon chocolate gateau for dessert
Friday 
19 July 2019
6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
$69
Christmas in July
A four-course Christmas dinner

Sunday
28 July 2019
5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
$45

* tickets are paid at the event

For regular fine dining, COYA opens every Wednesday to Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. On Sunday, the restaurant is open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.



“Amazing Menu. What a brilliant array of fresh produce & vibrant equisite flavours. Each plate as pretty as an artwork flowed Beautifully into the next. Every course was a sheer pleasure for the eyes as well as an excite to the tastebuds. Cant wait to come back for more.” 

~ Carly Smith, Facebook 

“What a gem! Every single thing on the degustation menu was so good that I wanted to lick the plate! Unique and super fresh dishes and top-notch presentation. Went on a weeknight (BYO Wednesday and Thursday) and it was lovely and relaxed with super attentive service.  Absolutely must go if you live on the northern beaches, or worth a little trek if you don’t. Hanging out for a cookbook.” 

~ Alana Lennie, Google Reviews

Well, this was unexpected. A small restaurant at Cromer shops (Cromer shops?) making amazing food and delivering fantastic service. We did the $66 degustation and everything was delicious. They also do a la carte and brunch on Sundays. The menu changes every 8 weeks or so. I’ll definitely be back. Recommended.”

~ Rachel’s Kitchen, Zomato 
Photo Credit: COYA Cromer/Facebook