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“Looked promising, didn't deliver”
Review of Niu Restaurant

Niu Restaurant
Ranked #124 of 1,031 Restaurants in Cagliari
Price range: $39 - $107
Description: Niu Cagliari is located inside the ancient cloister of the "Convento di San Francesco in Stampace", in Piazza Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, the new pedestrian center of Cagliari. The Convent of San Francesco di Stampace was built 1.260 D.C. from the "Francescani" monasters. Every element of the design incorporates a combination of tradition and modern. Niu is a contemporaneity Italian regional life style restaurant with a strong identity from the island of Sardinia. Niu means “nest” in Sardinian language. It represents the heart of the typical “Campidanese House” (Southern Sardinia region) where people used to catch up to make pasta, brad and cakes for all around the village community. The restaurant focuses also on guest needs to fell immerse in an authentic cultural experience with traditional handcraft skills, handed down from generation to generation. Guest at Niu watch the pasta/bread/cake production onsite with in a heady mix of colours, aromas, history and tradition.
Restaurant details
Description: Niu Cagliari is located inside the ancient cloister of the "Convento di San Francesco in Stampace", in Piazza Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, the new pedestrian center of Cagliari. The Convent of San Francesco di Stampace was built 1.260 D.C. from the "Francescani" monasters. Every element of the design incorporates a combination of tradition and modern. Niu is a contemporaneity Italian regional life style restaurant with a strong identity from the island of Sardinia. Niu means “nest” in Sardinian language. It represents the heart of the typical “Campidanese House” (Southern Sardinia region) where people used to catch up to make pasta, brad and cakes for all around the village community. The restaurant focuses also on guest needs to fell immerse in an authentic cultural experience with traditional handcraft skills, handed down from generation to generation. Guest at Niu watch the pasta/bread/cake production onsite with in a heady mix of colours, aromas, history and tradition.
Reviewed 14 October 2018 via mobile

Lovely building, attractive interior, very pleasant staff. But sadly, the food was nothing special. Our potatoes arrived way after the fish and beef dishes we ordered, the sauce and (very few) vegetables served with the fish dish were cold. The fish I found unpleasant but perhaps that was personal taste. We ordered 2 desserts - the tiramisu was good, the semifreddo described as being garnished with fresh fruit was only accompanied by a few chunks of melon.
The restaurant was very busy with 2 large parties - perhaps this is why it felt there was a lack of attention to detail with the food. By this time we were glad the second bottle of water we requested never arrived so we could go! All in all it ended up being too much to pay for an inconsequential dinner.

Date of visit: October 2018
Thank bevelledge
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Niu-Restaurant, Direttore generale at Niu Restaurant, responded to this reviewResponded 16 October 2018

Dear Guest,
Thank you for taking time to let us know your opinion. We are really sorry about your experience and, even if the restaurant was full, isn't our way to welcome the customers.
We hope to have the opportunity to change your mind in the future.
Kind regards

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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviews (794)
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45 - 49 of 794 reviews

Reviewed 9 October 2018

This restaurant is just beautiful.
We had seen it earlier in the day and decided to go for some early dinner as we were flying out the following morning. Outside it said opening hours 11 am - 2 am, Monday to Sunday. We arrived at 6.30 asked for a table for two inside to be told by the young waiter "we are shut", good job I questioned him, because what he actually meant was the kitchen didn't open until 7 pm. I think they should be clearer on their signage. So we had a drink on the terrace and asked him to get us a table as soon as they were open.
We watched as he showed 3 other couples who just arrived to tables before he got to us.
Now the important bit, the food is absolutely out of this world, with the flavours so deep. We were near the kitchen so could watch the chef plate up with all the care you would expect in a Michelin Star restaurant. We shared a platter of ham and cheese to start and then had the bass stuffed ravioli with tomato and mussels sauce, oh my God, superb.
Sorry to bang on about this one waiter, but he was seriously bad, I never got to try the wine, he just pored it and he never served us wine again, we had to top up our glasses each time. I know, no big deal, but indicative.
At the end of the main course I asked to see the menu again and in true Faulty Towers style, I got "What !"
So to sum this place up, the best building ever, some of the best food I have ever had anywhere in the world, just a bit spoilt by a young waiter

Date of visit: October 2018
    • Value
    • Service
    • Food
2  Thank Fatty14
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Niu-Restaurant, Direttore generale at Niu Restaurant, responded to this reviewResponded 10 October 2018

Dear Guest,
thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us.
We are glad that you apprecied so much our typical dishes and tradition.
We are really sorry about the misunderstanding with the waiter, maybe it was caused by the language, but thank you for your precious advice because it's important for us to have a satisfied customer.

We hope to have the pleasure to welcome you again at Niu.

Kind regards

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Reviewed 7 October 2018

Last Sunday I went to Niu for dinner with an old friend of mine, motivated by the good reviews we saw online.

The restaurant is really cool. The walls and ceiling are kept in their original Aragonese style whereas the furniture is minimalist, modern, and decorated with a touch of typical Sardinian patterns.

At first, we had an 'aperitivo' at the bar near the entrance. The staff was very friendly and keen on accommodating our requests. We had a platter to share with cured meat and cheese alongside some typical Sardinian bread 'Carasau'. Besides the high quality of these, the portions were quite generous.

We then went downstairs to have dinner. We started with the "Benvenuto dello Chef" with pineapple and home-made vegan herbs mayonese. The portion was tiny but big in flavour. Really nice start of the dinner.

We then went for the 'tartare di Salmone'. I love tartare in general but this was special: the addition of little herbs and dressings brought the spectrum of flavours to a new level. I could taste a different flavour in every corner of my mouth. I would definitely recommend trying this out.

As a main, I had 'Culurgiones in guazzetto'. 'Culurgiones' are Sardinian ravioli that are typically staffed with soft cheese (ricotta) or potatoes. In this case, they were staffed with a sea food mix and served in a sauce made out of sea food. This break with the tradition was extremely well designed and delivered.

As a dessert, I had another Italian classic yet revisited by the chef: tiramisú with home-made 'savoiardi' dipped in Saronno liquor with a crumble of 'amaretti' on top. The mascarpone cream was arguably the best I have ever had. Period.

In conclusion, the food was great. I could not fault a single course. The presentation of the food was meticolous and well executed. The mix of tradition and modern touch added by the young chef Federico was a winning combination.

They served us promptly and we never waited for too long for anything. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable so the service was great too. As a minor point, I would preferred fabric table cloth rather than cheap paper.

If you are after good gourmet food and a nice chill place where to enjoy it, Niu is the place to go. I personally found the mix of tradition and modern if the style of the recipes as well as of the interiors a winning combination. The consistency in the visual and gustatory perception makes Niu one the coolest places to eat in Cagliari. I can't recommend it enough.

Date of visit: September 2018
    • Value
    • Service
    • Food
Thank TMMP88
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Niu-Restaurant, Direttore generale at Niu Restaurant, responded to this reviewResponded 9 October 2018

Dear guest,

thank you for taking the time to write this, we coudn't ask for a better review than yours.

We are glad you enjoied all about our food culture and that you appreciated our staff, we love the opportunity to introduce the sardinian tradition to our guests.

We hope to see you soon at Niu.

Kind regards

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Reviewed 3 October 2018

We found this little gem of a restaurant on trip advisor and decided to give it a go. It looks very unassuming from the outside but inside is a beautiful converted monastery with lovely high ceilings and a very intimate feel. The food was absolutely outstanding. Every aspect was well thought out. The chef has a good knowledge of flavours and combines them wonderfully using beautiful fresh ingredients. The service was outstanding and very helpful in translating and advising and the cost was very surprisingly reasonable. As a vegetarian there wasn't many choices on the menu but that is not important when the choices you can have are superb. I cannot recommend this restaurant enough.

Date of visit: October 2018
    • Value
    • Service
    • Food
1  Thank Miss_Parsons_01
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Niu-Restaurant, Direttore generale at Niu Restaurant, responded to this reviewResponded 9 October 2018

Dear guest,

thank you for taking the time to write this great review, all our team appreciate so much your words about our work.
We hope to have the pleasure to welcome you again at Niu.

Kind regards

Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviewed 1 October 2018 via mobile

Don't be put off by the exterior, the inside is amazing, a converted monastery awaits you inside. The service, quality of food and surroundings are first class.

Date of visit: October 2018
Thank Lozzie_11
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Niu-Restaurant, Direttore generale at Niu Restaurant, responded to this reviewResponded 3 October 2018

Dear guest,
thank you so much for your positive feedback about your visit here, we're looking forward to welcome you again.

Kind regards

Report response as inappropriate
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC

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