This little secret has been our go-to for quite a while and I regretfully add this review knowing it won't help retain it's mystery. We've had numerous opportunities to finish trying the menu but always seem to include 2 items. The Pa amb tomaquet/ pan con tomate (literally the most delicious garlicky tomato smeared on a perfectly crispy bread and wahoo tartare as starters never fail. The tartare is perfect for every reason, the fish is delicate and takes on the flavors, the salt is always perfect and the color always makes it alluring. Add the fact that the owner has this sexy tough lady thing going on as she weaves through the dark little restaurant and you know that the only playing around and kitsch this place has is in the name because whats coming out of the kitchen is seriously no joke. So far my favorites aside from the usual 2 appetizers are: -The Llamantol (lobster, avocado, egg, autoerotic asphyxiation) -the braised pork cheeks in what I can only imagine are chilling on cumulus clouds of decadent potato foam ( I'm reserved with pork and these are beyond indulgent) -the whole damned fish.. Holy shit it's too simple and divine when you get that crusty potato taste to hold on to the little juices from trickling down. -the steak tartare. Bravo. Surprisingly enough this place has an equally impressive palate when it comes to choosing their alcohol. It's no wonder you'll have to try not to stare at those lucky enough to be sitting down as you down great booze and do the impatient toddler hunger dance. You might just be wishing the wrath of a thousand terrible meals upon the slow oafs that keep camping out on tables talking about their purses and keeping you away from the earthly angels that put the NIU in GENIUS. read more

Excellent small little spot in downtown. Was recommended to me by a friend and it did not disappoint. The tapas were great and the wine selection had a little for everyone. Decided to order the duck entree after several tapas and just say I was impressed. It was delicious, the sauce it was cooked it was perfect. Service was also very pleasant and the server very informative. Would recommend to anyone in the area for some great Spanish food. read more

I have dreaded the day I decided to write this review. SImply put, this is one of the best restaurants in Miami and i wanted to keep it all to myself because i am a greedy lady! I have been coming here since they opened so maybe 15-18 times, and every time has been exceptional.The menu is small and anything you order is exceptional. I have a soft spot for Spanish cuisine as my mother is from there. Highly recommend 1. Pan con tomate 2. Tomato soup 3. Ous- you will love me forever for this......so delicious! *ask for extra bread with it 4. Arroz of the day 5.Mussels I have had every item on the menu and these are my favorites, no need to go into detail, just trust and order. This place is very small and I recommend making reservations. I love the location as it off the beaten path of typical Miami restaurants. read more

I went to NIU kitchen for dinner with my best friend a few weeks ago. I'd heard about NIU Kitchen from friends who'd visited recently, and was excited to try it. We were lucky to get a table on a Saturday night without a reservation. To start, we had the Spanish Cheese Trio and the PA AMB TOMÀQUET . Both were good. On the server's recommendation, we ordered the COSTELLES to share. Although the ribs were good, the dish wasn't anything out of the this world. For dessert, we ordered two different ones. Neither was really memorable. After having lived in Barcelona for a stint, I was looking forward to reliving some of the culinary experienced I enjoyed while there. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed. But, I loved their wine list and might still go back to try their brunch menu. read more

Tiny location! Another spot that I never would have come across without Yelp! The bread was excellent, toasted to perfection, brushed with high quality olive oil and then lightly salted. I couldn't stop eating it! The ous was everything it was hyped up to be. The potato foam was immaculate, so incredibly flavorful. For entrees my husband ordered the steak tartare sandwich and I had the xato salad. We ended up going halfsies on both. Fantastic meal. We were so full but we had to try the French toast dessert and were not disappointed. awesome foodie find. Thank you again Yelp! read more

This place does everything the right way. This is a place that will tell you that you ordered too much. Doesn't happen in this day and age. Ordered an item and was told they don't recommend it because that days order wasn't up to snuff. Class act. If you want cookie stuff, don't come here. If you want to try a place that makes use every cut of meat, veggie etc. hurry up. Tiny kitchen, unbelievable food. Incredible. read more

"Ous" (AKA the poached eggs/black truffle/potato foam dish) is the best thing to eat in Miami at this moment. I could live off that & the "Pa Amb Tomàquet" (pan con tomate/bread with tomato). We also tried the "Llamàntol" (lobster/avocado/trout roe), which was good, but the "Ous" absolutely outshined it. I think they rotate the desserts, but if they have the coconut custard (didn't catch the actual name of the dish), try it!!! The texture was perfect & it wasn't too sweet. Nice wine selection also! We had a bottle of "Collide" (2011 Napa blend/$63) at the server's suggestion. Highly recommend this bottle... buttery/silky on the tongue with a nice balance of fruit & tannins. I am trying to figure out a way to eat here everyday for the rest of my life. read more

Everyone and their mother will tell you to go to Joe's Stone Crab, an institution in Miami since 1913. There's nothing wrong with tourist spots. Many have well deserved reputations. Folks I trust told me I couldn't leave Miami without checking out Joe's but Kim and I like to eat off the beaten path. Like to feel like we're discovering something new. Kim had an allergic reaction to something earlier in the day resulting in very itchy skin so we decided to stay close to our hotel in case her face went full Picasso. Luckily I had plenty of choices outside of South Beach on my Google Map of researched eats. We decided on NIU Kitchen, the best decision I made in Miami for sure. Maybe taking a Benadryl before a meal that started at 9:30 wasn't the best choice, but it seemed unavoidable at the time. Be that as it may, it didn't stop Kim from enjoying the hell out some excellent dishes in this Catalan hot spot. First off, the place is pretty small. Maybe 25 seats, and loud with some hip (and ironically hip) tunes as well as the happy drunken banter of locals and tourists alike. There are some strong woman working the room, which adds to the overall appeal. Guns & Roses shirt? Check. Tats? Check. Having studied the menu, we knew what we'd order before walking in the door. Kim didn't want to mix alcohol with Benadryl, but I I ordered a Rosita beer, which was light and fresh - not dishwatery like some beers can get. The Wahoo Tartare hit the table and was a thing of beauty. If only a proper food photographer had been present. The only shot I got before digging in was out of focus. It didn't convey its architectural beauty. The taste and textures were divine. Cucumber, scallions, lime zest. Not in the least bit fishy. It was exactly what I had been looking for in Miami. We'd had ceviche in a spot or two, but those couldn't compare to this dish. This was happy and healthy and delectable. Yeah, we had the audacity to follow this with Steak Tartare, and it was equally delicious. Hints of mustard, perfectly cut steak, a fried egg and some of their excellent bread. Kim and I ate it like it was evidence we needed to get rid of fast. "You okay?" I ask my girl. "So tired," she said. "Two dishes left and maybe a dessert, then you'll be back in bed in no time." If you only have one dish at NIU Kitchen, and I wouldn't suggest that, make it the Ous. As Kim pointed out from behind sleepy eyes, you can get tartares and such at other restaurants, even if their executions aren't as good as NIU, but I don't think you can get this anywhere else. Although it is now on the menu of the fake restaurant I dream of opening one day that collects the best dishes of my admittedly limited experience. Poached egg submerged in a truffled potato foam with crispy Jamón Ibérico serrano and black truffles. The first thing that hits you is that smell of truffles. Then you dip your bread in, or a spoon, and marvel that food can still be new. "This was terrible," I say the the waiter, smiling. A joke that's getting old, even to the teller. "Here's something just as terrible," he says, placing some foie between Kim and I. And yes, it was just as terrible, meaning amazing. Meaning not a morsel was left behind as we sunk our forks and teeth into perfectly seared foie on delicious honey bread with hints of apple, a dusting of hazelnut powder and a few soft and wonderful raspberries. By now Kim is comatose, but we agree to get one of their two desserts; the Chocolate Ganache with... well, truthfully, I have no idea what was in there. The waiter was pretty soft spoken. I think there were salted toasts and maybe even tiny bits of ice cream and olive oil. It was like Nutella made love to a salty Petits four. Which is probably illegal in most states. Kim, trying not to scratch her itchy face the entirely of the meal, was now nearly lifeless. The waiter, busy serving every table, wasn't able to get us our check quickly, which is the way these things go. Also, he had no idea my girl had drugged herself silly before the meal. Regardless, we were so blown way by the meal that we'd forgive them anything. "We may need to go back tomorrow night." read more

What a delicious plates we had in this place. My favorite was the Foie. So much flavor! I wish it was bigger. 100% recommended. We also hd canelons, duck, poached eggs (not on the menu but they will make them for you). Big selection of wines. And for dessert, the chocolate ganache was out of this world. Nice proportion of sweet and salty, with crispy bread. Most have! Plates are very small and i think its a little pricy for the size of the food. Specially for the charcuterie plates... they even charge for the bread (which is really good), but you will need to order more than one time. Service was not impressive but very friendly. Very distracted though. Still a 5 for the amazing food. read more

Very unassuming from the outside, this is a small restaurant with about 8 tables or so but the food is delicious. It looks and tastes fresh! The wine list is impressive too. The plates are quite pricey though for the portions and the fare is limited. For those expecting traditional Catalan tapas, a few staples are missing from the menu such as patatas bravas, tortilla espanol, crema catalana, Albondigas etc. read more

Niu Kitchen - Calamar - Catalan Near Me - Miami, Florida

This is a small, modern and charming restaurant serving great Spanish and Catalan food at reasonable prices. We got two plates and a dessert, everything for sharing following the tapas style.The size of the tapas are bigger than the normal size tapas so that is OK. Definitely I will back to try other interesting plates in the menu and other kind of rice dish since everyday the chef change it. A very good discovering in the downtown area. Also two thumbs up for the service. Thank you Niu, Gracies!! and see you soon!!!!!!!!! read more

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Doesn't look like much when you walk past it. But wow that food is amazing! Great wine selection. There's literally nothing on the menu that is so-so. read more

The food here was absolutely amazing - probably my most memorable meal of that trip. This Catalan kitchen is cute and modern, sandwiched in between some old downtown Miami shops. It's literally blink and you'll miss it. But you'd be missing something huge because folks, this place is 'lick your plate clean' good. We started off with the Pa am Tomaquet (bread was a tomato/olive oil concoction). I admit I wasn't jazzed when I saw it, but the taste was divine. We also tried to order the lobster and avocado dish that everyone raves about, but they were out. That was my biggest disappointment of the visit. But they recommended another dish of some type of lime cured fish with cucumber and it was very fresh and yummy. We also had the mussels, ous (poached eggs with potato foam and jamon) and costeles (baby back ribs). All were outstanding with the costeles being a standout for me. They were unlike any baby back ribs I'd ever tasted. Instead of being smothered in sauce, the romanesco sauce is light and used in just the right amount so that it adds flavor but does not overpower the taste of the ribs. All the dishes were great, but for that alone I will be back! read more

Very small space but beautifully designed. The whole restaurant can maybe sit 30 people- max! Beer and wine only but their wine list was very extensive and obviously focusing on spanish wines. The food was very disappointing considering all the rave reviews this place has! I was really bummed out actually. The only dish i loved was the egg dish called "ous", I'm a sucker for anything truffle. The much talked about Lobster and avocado was lame. Very small pieces of lobster and a MASSIVE helping of guac....so it was mostly guacamole. We also ordered the scallops with manchego cheese...FLAVORLESS! We also ordered the specials that evening which was steamed clams. Let me tell you that steamed clams would be my request as the last meal of my life, like i literally would take them anyway they are prepared.... but these clams were HORRIBLE. Over salted and they didn't sit well in my belly. I sent them back. I really wanted to like this place as it is so loved by the all of the reviewers, but sadly it fell seriously short for me. read more

SIMPLY BRILLIANT! A Catalan style kitchen 'somewhere between Dali's moustache and Gaudi's Sagrada Familia', Niu Kitchen has to be the best thing to happen to historic Downtown Miami since Henry Flagler. On first visit, go with the Cold Tomato Soup, Ous, Llamàntol, & Entrecot. You'll be back for more. Lunch, Dinner, and I hear they're now serving weekend brunch. The place is small, so call ahead at 786-542-5070. read more

Met my girlfriends for dinner excited about this place cause I have only heard greattt things. I think i was expecting just waaay too much because i was not 100% impressed. Dont get me wrong, it was good, just not wooooow. Perhaps its because I mainly like eggs for breakfast only and two of our dishes included eggs. The service was good. Quick and our waiter was super nice. I dont know if I will be returning. Maybe once more to give it another shot but I have eaten at other places for example Sugar Cane where the flavors are just amazing. read more

Was driving around before a show looking for a place to eat and found this awesome little new place. Prices are good, food is great, the owner is really nice and very attentive. Must try the "Ous" and their bread dessert is pretty kick ads too. read more

Could I write a long review? Yes. Does this place deserve that kind of review? No. Because it's better than that. It's simple and unpretentious and delicious and affordable and perfect. A long review implies it would take a lot of words to express how good this place is. It doesn't. It shouldn't. Every dish was amazing. The egg dish with ham and truffle was life changing. The mussels, calamari, cod all ridiculous. The wine list is short and simple and good. The vibe is casual. The food is smart, yet comforting. Thanks for having us. read more

Every single dish we ordered had the same flavor profile. Literally everything had a white cream that made all plates taste the same. Service took forever, we were sitting outside and would need to try very hard to get the waiters attention. There's so many exceptional restaurants in Miami -don't waste a meal here. read more

Definitely got lucky last night - 3 friends and I were able to get a table for four at dinner time on a Thursday with NO reservation. As we were being seated, we saw a few people being turned away. The restaurant is very small on the inside so reservations are probably the safest bet. Our waitress was amazing, though I did not get her name unfortunately. She was truly accommodating to us , as we shared a small table meant for two for the sake of skipping a long wait. The environment was intimate, trendy, and cozy. It feels like an escape from the lackluster street its located on. The restaurant has recommendations to order at least two plates per a person to share, which I agree with. It is definitely a great place for a one on one dinner as well. For the food, we order about five things. I can't remember all the names, but each dish was amazing. The cheese trio, the seared foie, the calamari, the wahoo tartare, and something with lobster. Each plate was unique and delicious in its own way. I think we probably could have ordered a couple more dishes, had it not been for time constraints. I would definitely come back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique dining experience and ready to share! read more

Excellent dishes. The ambiance was OK to Nice and the staff were just so so- a little spacey.

Mmmm... This place is great! Small intimate and perfect. The wine list is exceptional without being pretentious. Started with the bread with tomato which was fragrant and intense. Had the tomato soup that was beautiful and different with a mustard and bread ball base. definitely for the adventurous, as was the steak tartar. Followed by the chocolate ganache dessert that tastes of hazelnut sea salt and decadence . Oh just go and eat there already! read more

Niu Kitchen - Steak tartare - Catalan Near Me - Miami, Florida

Buenisimo. The ambiance, the lighting, the service and most importantly the food. Few menu items just like I like it. The potato foam with poached egg was packed with flavors . A simple pan con tomate is elevated to another level. The service was wonderful. I will come back. read more

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This place is so good! Is tiny and cozy, I will recommend to make a reservation if you are in a group larger than 2. I usually wait about 20 minutes to be seated but it's so worth it. - The Pan Amb Tomaquet is delicious to get started - Steak Tartare one of my favorites - OUS (MY FAVORITE) pouched eggs, iberic ham, black truffle so yummy - baby ribs wow And of course wine! They have beers and wine. read more

A small locale tucked away across from #mdc. Wow, the lobster is absolutely fabulous. This is a spot you really want to try. Lunch service was fast. Service was welcoming. read more

Niu Kitchen - Catalan Near Me - Miami, Florida

Really nice food and good price. Real example of the catalonian cuisine. I recomend the palce. read more

Niu Kitchen - Pa amb tomaquet - Catalan Near Me - Miami, Florida

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We had Marlin's Carpaccio (4 to-die-for slices) $16, Llamantol $15 which was ok and the Calamari which was good $15. It is a tiny place with great service. However...I think is misleading the $$ rating because it is a pricey place with very sample-like portions. One time will be good enough. read more

Ahhhhmazing! The food, the staff, the ambience... A true pleasure. Authentic, flavorful food. We will be back... Do not miss out on this gem in Miami read more

Niu Kitchen - An unforgettable night - Catalan Near Me - Miami, Florida

Small is beautiful. Everything about NIU is postage-stamp sized - storefront, dining room, menu, tables - but so cozy and tasty that you want to put it in your back pocket and take it home with you. Backstory is always important, right? We went to a Miami Film Festival event at the Olympia Theater on a Saturday night and walked the two blocks to NIU. The other reviewers are not kidding about how petite it is; even on foot, if you weren't looking for it you would walk right past it. We arrived about 9:30 it was crowded but they were able to seat us. Efficiency is at a premium with NIU; we were seated right away because we were two people; I did see fourtops but I'm not sure I would try NIU with any more than that. First pleasant surprise: we asked the waitress to recommend a wine and, when we described what we wanted, were steered to a very tasty red that was not on the menu. So, ask about off-menu items. The menu is not Cheesecake Factory scale and that's a wonderful thing. It's small plate and you should order expecting to share. We started with the esqueixada, which was tasty without being overpowering and from there to the mussels, served in a sofregit that was so good you could drink it as an aperitif. Now about halfway through our bottle of wine, we had the trinxat amb rosta, a thinly sliced botifarra (sausage) and, lastly, the catch of the day, which I believe was dorada, served whole. It's a good date spot for subsequent dates, when you've already gotten past that initial awkward-in-each-other's-company stage; your neighbors are pretty close and that might not be ideal for a first date. It's not the `burbs or Brickell but don't be afraid; you'll be glad you did! read more

Very good, excellent food, everybody extremely nice. the bruschetta of tomato is amazing, the only problem the parking, for the rest really is amazing. i fully recommend it. read more

What a gem. a friend came last night and raved so we went on a whim after a long friday workday with no reservation. Very inconspicuous location in the heart of downtown. We started with the iberico ham for 22 bucks and it came w bruschetta on amazing bread. Accompanied by the 3 cheese plater. Fantastic combination. Next up was the entrecot ny strip steak with a thyme sauce that gets presented to you with literally thyme on fire which is then used to apply the sauce table side. The pasta rolled up with cheeses and topped with 4 scallops was great also. The biggest surprise was this dish with whipped potatoes and eggs and bacon. Sounds odd but with bread it's a party in your mouth Spent about 172 and had 2 bottles of 2011 malbec that was solid. Charming ambiance and the owner is serving you the food in this tiny 12 table establishment. We really were glad we went. 5 stars. read more

What a gem in the city! A bit pricey but if you are reading this review, you care about food, and if you care about food.. come here! I am not from the area and probably would not have walked in passing by. Fortunately, through my local friends on Yelp (thanks guys!) I was enlightened. Walking in, you definitely feel a certain vibe with the broken china framed on the wall, books at the base of the ceiling fans on the ceiling, etc.. (eventually you see the paint brushes for hooks in the bathroom). It is not the biggest place and getting in was a challenge (came with a group of 4 plus a 7 month old in a stroller). Tempted to take a star off for convenience but it is just not their set up. Plus I think everything else well more than makes up for it. Also not the biggest menu but oh man, what more options would you want with the quality and level of execution the plates came out. Plates are larger than traditional tappas but probably not enough to just order one. The wonders my eyes, tongue, ears, and nose experienced are definitely one for the books. Fresh quality ingredient with fresh quality imagination brought to perfection and into reality on plates.. quite unique flavors fighting the battle to be number one in every bite. Menu encourages to close your eyes and point somewhere to order.. DO IT! This is a great place to be adventurous! Service is wonderful as well.. could have come around more but the restaurant is small enough where looking up catches the server's attention. Still get lots of attention to detail and great smiles. Would love to return and try different things and even return to see how their menu evolves. Thumbs up to the wine list! Thumbs up on the artwork as well! read more

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Loved this place, really friendly personal service. Had a great crisp bottle of Joseph and tried to the tomato toast, the lobster salad, the smoked tuna, pasta special, the ous, and absolutely loved every dish. Very different tasty and flavorful. Also enjoyed the cold ganache with salt and crispy baguette pieces with nutella. They even made us a hot sauce on the spot when we asked for something spicy. Will def. be going here again! read more

Niu was a really phenomenal meal. The best was the ous, squid, and pa amb tomaquet. That ous was absurdly delicious. And the wine selection was unique and enjoyable, too. As others have complained, they don't give nearly enough bread to enjoy the ous. I'd rather pay $1 more for the dish and get enough bread than have to pay extra when you ask for more - just feels more painful than if the dish is a little more expensive in the first place. No reservations and the restaurant is teeny, so expect to wait and there isn't much room to wait indoors. Our wait wasn't too long, fortunately, as we came toward the end of the night. Highly recommend Niu for a wonderful, cozy dinner. read more

Im not sure why this place has received such high reviews. I really wanted to find a restaurant with the flavors that I remember of Barcelona, but this one falls very short from that. The service is great but the place is extremely loud - not due to the music but to the echoing of the conversations. Secondly, for a Spanish place, i can't believe that they don't have a decent list of wines. Lastly, the food is somewhat flavorless - and I tried almost everything on their menu (as portions are very small). The only dish that stood out is an egg dish with truffle oil. Maybe my taste buds were just off on this particular day... read more

Little bitty restaurant and so so good. Service was informative and easy. Food is delicious. Wine is also nice and the servers are pretty than happy to make recommendations. read more

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New location from when I lived in Miami three years ago, but it's like nothing has changed. The food is fresh and delicious as always.

I joined yelp just to review NIU. Let me start by saying we winded up here purely by accident and boy were we glad. Every dish was delicious in its own way. I'm listing our entree's in order of preference. 1) Ous - poached eggs, potato cream, crisp jamon iberico, served with toasted bread. THIS IS A MUST!! I wanted to go back the next day and get it for breakfast, lunch, it really didn't matter, I just wanted it again. If you go, please do yourself a favor and get this. 2) Llamantol - lobster, avocado and egg. Also quite delicious and I would certainly be a repeat offender and order this again. Amazing! 3) Costeles -baby back ribs. A bigger portion for a tapas experience and good to share with the table. Did not blow my mind as the others did but when you set the bar so high it's hard to out do yourself! 4) Calamar over mash potato - different, chewy, okay. It's essentially grilled calamari and despite being perfectly fine I would not get again. Btw we also got the "Pa amb Tomaquet"..only $3.50! (this was just to start because I'm a sucker for bread) Very refreshing, light and delicious! All in all great experience and equally great price for the superb quality dining experience that you receive. read more

I am debated whether to give a 4 or 5 stars, but I think this place does deserve 5 stars. After a long day in Miami, we end up in downtown Miami since that's where we parked our car. We were interested in some Tapas and found this location through Yelp. We entered the joint fairly early around 6pm before it got really full. The restaurant was slender and long with couple small tables along it's hall. Not very ideal for a large group, but definitely cozy atmosphere for party less for 4 or less. The staff was very nice and friendly, able to explain each dish and provide good recommendations. When it comes to the food, it was amazing. My wife been raving that it's the best restaurant she had in months. Each dish was very flavorful but not heavy. We had the Ous, which was delicate yet sophisticated with layers of taste; the steak, which was perfectly done; the mussels, which was infused with garlic and herbs, and wahoo tar tar which which was light and tangy; the dessert was perfect mixture of fruit, creme and sorbet. Only complain I had was the price, which was a little on the high end for tapas. But overall, excellent little restaurant in downtown Miami. read more

Love this Place!!! Food is great, pricing is affordable, the service is wonderful. Its a downtown staple. I ordered Wahoo Tartare, Watermelon Soup, Calamar, and Ous, and the waiter suggested Ribera Del Duero La Planta wine 2012. Very good I made a cute video review on my Youtube channel, check it out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thMOGG88-6M Thank You read more