Hidden away in Chinatown’s Heffernan Lane, one could say blink and you might miss trendy pan-Asian restaurant Niübi, if it weren’t for the fact that it stands four-stories-tall and catches the eye of passer’s by with its chic, white-bricked exterior charm.
The word Niübi is Chinese slang for ‘f*cking awesome.’ A name that this restaurant deems fitting due to their unique combination of “fine dining-esque” food offerings and a “cheeky Melbourne attitude.”
That cheeky Melbourne attitude stood out the second I walked through the doors. The restaurants’ beautiful exposed brick walls and pops of bright colour give it that edgy, trendy vibe that the Melbourne food scene is renowned for. My personal favourite touch were the table centrepieces. Sprigs of wheat and cotton bound in bouquets adding tasteful, rustic charm.
Then came the food. Whilst I was already genuinely impressed by the look and feel of the restaurant, the true hero was those fine dining-esque pan-Asian flavours. We had the Asian Buttermilk Live Lobster Set Meal which comes with an entree, two main meals (one meat and one veggie) and a whole lobster served in a Malaysian buttermilk sauce. The set meal costs $185 and, according to the menu, serves 2-3 people. Amazing value considering I would say it would comfortably feed 3 and perhaps even 4 judging by the amount of food myself and my guest had to leave behind because we were just too full.
In terms of flavour, we were spoilt for choice. For our entree we had the Spicy Shredded Chicken which, as the name would suggest, packed a punch! Any fan of spicy food would be hard-pressed not to enjoy this dish. Following this, the lobster was served. Hands down this was my favourite dish of the night. The lobster was cooked to perfection, and the buttermilk sauce was packed with flavour, and just the right amount of spice.
Make sure you save some room because next up is the mains. I have to recommend that everyone order the House Signature Garlic Black Roast Pork. The meat could not have been better prepared and the dish was peppered with pieces of pork crackling that were to die for. Finally, vegetarians need not stress because there are plenty of options for you too! The Mixed Vegetables with Tofu was delicious, served with silky tofu in a thick, tasty sauce.
To top it all off, the quality of service at Niübi is exceptional. The wait-staff are attentive and knowledgable about the menu, and were excited to assist us and answer any questions we had about the menu.
I will be telling everyone I know about Niübi. Not only did they deliver on their promises to provide delicious pan-Asian cuisine with a touch of that Melbourne flavour, but they exceeded every expectation I had across the board.
Next time you’re in Chinatown, or craving those classic Asian flavours with a fine dining twist, head in to Niübi. Simply put, it’s f*cking awesome.
Niubi is located at 11 Heffernan Lane, Melbourne.
Opening hours:
11am – 3pm and 5pm – 11pm daily
