What’s NIU by Vikings?
It’s been such an extremely busy week that followed Blogapalooza 2014! There were so many commitments to attend to and tasks to catch up on.
I reckon that the next few weeks will be just as flurried because the holiday season is coming up and apparently, so many people want to claim back family time during the actual season that all other schedules are being crammed before December gets here. It’s been this way for the past three years for our circles, at least.
I don’t mind. For me, Christmas and exclusive time with family are a perfect match!
Anyway, since I’ve been hinting on all the great stuff happening to me the past two weeks, I want to talk to you about NIU and hopefully, I’ll be able to trickle in the rest of all the goodies I’ve got in my blog bank (you like that term, don’t you? haha) during the rest of the week.
So, what’s NIU?
As I’ve mentioned in my previous post on Blogapalooza, my favorite exhibitor at the event was NIU, an upscale restaurant created by the same people behind the buffet giant, Vikings.
I signed up for their tour along with other fellow mommy bloggers. I thought it would be more fun to check out the place and taste their food with them.
In case you’re wondering, NIU means “nine” in viking language.
You can find NIU at the 6th floor of SM Aura Premier. It’s all the way to the corner on your left when facing the popular Magnum restaurant. You still need to go up another flight of stairs that leads to the restaurant’s lobby.
Food, glorious food!
I’m not sure if the time we came had something to do with the food available, but I saw stations for Japanese, Chinese, Grill, and Carving. There were a lot of beautiful pastries!
We were told that we can take all the pictures we want and if we post it on Instagram, we can possibly win a buffet for two, so we all went to work!
Did I tell you that I like taking pictures of food with my iPhone? I feasted on shots, taking pics of this and that! I also hoped to win the buffet so I can go on another gastronomical date with the hubby, but I never really knew what happened to that contest, or if anyone won at all.
Anyway, after the brief tour and a long iPhone photography session, we got some food to taste.
Here are some of the food that I had on my plate:
Other than Stromboli, I don’t really remember the names of all these food and I didn’t have the time to go back and check because we spent so much time taking pictures, we were only given five minutes to finish our food.
Anyway, among all of them, this emerged as our group’s favorite! The crunch of the foccacia bread perfectly balances the delicious fat topping, and the fish eggs on it made this simply divine.
I thought the Stromboli was also good. This is Stromboli:
The mozzarella and italian meats wrapped in soft bread was perfection. When served, it looks like this:
This was one of the cheesecakes, another favorite among our group.
This is the Herb spit-roasted U.S.prime:
And the fresh seafood at the Grill station:
You can find the rest of my pictures at Fully Housewifed Facebook page.
Things I like about NIU
What do I like about NIU? Let’s see….I like the clean, sophisticated charm of the place. It’s the kind of stuff fit for royalty.
Of course, we came when there weren’t too many people, so I’m not sure how the place transforms during rush hours and how well their system is when they have to serve a large volume of customers.
I love the food! I guess I’ve developed a palate for the type of food served at places like NIU.
My hubby thinks buffets are not for me because I don’t get to maximise the cost. I can’t seem to have enough appetite to go back to the buffet table more than once or twice, but I like places like NIU (and Spiral) because I get to go around and choose what I want to try each time.
And I love taking pictures of intricately prepared, luscious food!
Things I don’t like about NIU
Nothing! I’m absolutely, 100% sold out on the place. A re-visit is certainly in my plans! I mean, what’s to stop me, it’s just a few blocks walk from our place.
Here are the details for dining at NIU:
Adult
Weekday lunch – 1088 plus 5% service charge = 1,142.40
Weekday dinner/Weekends/Holidays -1388plus 5% service charge = 1,457.40
Kids below 3 feet are free of charge.
For more details, visit the official NIU website or leave a message on their Facebook page.
42 Comments
Kat | Petite Momma
After hubby saw the pics I got from Niu, he’s sold out to try it! Kagutom! 🙂
Kat | Petite Momma
Partida, ilang pics lang yun and not as appealing pa as yours. LOL! 😀
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Yeah, my hubby’s interested too. 🙂 Will probably be our Christmas date.
Michelle Solee (@michisolee)
Like you, lugi din ako sa buffet. The price is expensive for my budget, hehehe! But I agree, the place looks sophisticated.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Yeah, that’s the thing about buffets, they’re a bit steep. But it’s worth it naman siguro if for the experience. Like a special date or occasion. 😉
Audric's Mom
Cheesecakes! I love cheesecakes! 🙂 Super mouth-watering naman ng photos mo Mommy! 🙂
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Heehee, thanks! Feelingera sa photography! haha 🙂
Meikah Ybanez-Delid
Vikings is good, so I’m sure NIU is equally good, too. 🙂 I will check out the place for sure, esp these days when meet-up with friends for Christmas are starting to happen. 🙂
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Yes! I’m sure the place will be one of the most popular ones this season. 🙂
Ma.Me.Mi.Mommy
I just came from a buffet last night and I’m still too overwhelmed to see another. Hehehe. This seems promising though, very hotel like in ambience and variety. Will have to try it out next time. 🙂
May De Jesus-Palacpac
What we had were more like cocktails. 🙂 That might change things a bit for you.
Janice / The Roller Coaster Ride
This is yet another thing that I missed during Blogapalooza. I really wanted to go visit Niu. I hope I get to dine there soon.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Nhessie and Millie are planning to go, sama ka! 🙂
Josephine of My Simple Joys
Will definitely try NIU soon! 🙂
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Oo nga pala, you’re near here lang! 🙂 Where? BAka magkapitbahay pa tayo, di lang natin alam, haha
Liz A
this is what i missed… 🙁 the food looks yummy… it does look worth visiting 😀
momhandsarefull
Looks yummy! And great looking place. After seeing your pictures, I feel the urge to grab my husband and go there – NOW! 🙂
Thanks for sharing mommy! 🙂
Maan
Yummy! I love Vikings, and I’m sure I would love NIU din! Basta food I love haha. I hope this will open in Davao City, too! I know I won’t remember the names of the food din haha
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Food was really great, Maan! 🙂
Arge
I love Vikings! It’s that one buffet place that I would love to go back to. I hope that we can dine at NIU, too 🙂
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Give it a try soon!
MrsMartinez
Whoa! All that food to be eaten in 5 minutes?! Di din ako sulit sa buffet hehe But Niu seems like a very posh place to try!
xoxo
MrsMartinez
May De Jesus-Palacpac
aheehee, we got carried away with taking pics for Instagram, we ran out of time to enjoy the food! 😀
Krisna
The food looks delicious! My husband and I might try it on my birthday. Iniisip ko pa naman sa Vikings pero after reading your blog I changed my mind. Sana they also have branch in SM Megamall para malapit lang. Thanks for sharing, mommy. 🙂
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Ay! Perfect for your birthday date! <3
rgpmunez2014
This will definitely be one place we will visit during the holidays.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Me too! Would love to go back for a Christmas date with my hubby.:)
Que Sullano - Gavan
Must try this. Ofcourse, I would eat much desserts!
May De Jesus-Palacpac
They’re to die for, haha!
M
The food are are amazing, and I love the paintings on the wall!
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Oh right, you do like them! (looking at your profile pic) 🙂
Renz
Oh wow, this is not the best time (1:09AM) to read this post! LOL. My husband and our friends are foodies! We will definitely try thissssss!
May De Jesus-Palacpac
It’s a must-try! 🙂
MommyPehpot
hindi ko pa nga na ta try ang Vikings, may bago na agad sila?? waah
MommyPehpot
blog bank !! I am going to use that nga din! hahaha
Paulline Joy Flores (@milastolemyhart)
Hubby need a place to treat his Bacolod-Based team when they visit Manila. I think this is perfect!
Mitch Ryan
The food looks really good. This is a good place to hold a meeting.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Yes, they have more private areas. 🙂
Michelle Padrelanan
It all looks so good. We’d love to try that out, too.
May De Jesus-Palacpac
The other mommies are planning to get together at NIU, I’ll let you know if it pushes through. But Dale would love being there with you, for sure! 🙂
nhessie a.
first off. let me just say, you take amazing photos sis! had an incredible time at the blogapalooza and at the food tasting too! but most of all, it was great to finally meet you in person! we should eat at NIU again soon with other mommies! 🙂
May De Jesus-Palacpac
Awww…hihi, the iPhone is such an incredible tool to use! I’m so loving food photography with it. I wonder, though, how I would fare with a pro gadget. I mean, an iPhone isn’t so hard to use, plus,the lighting at NIU was perfect. 🙂
It was lovely meeting you, too.