Niu Kitchen

"There’s a decent amount of characteristics in the center of the NIU Kitchen/Boia De Venn diagram. Trendy restaurant, natural wines, excellent small plates, and cute little date spot are all in there. The big difference is that NIU Kitchen serves a Spanish/Catalan menu, but it’s nonetheless delicious. They make a wonderful cold tomato soup with frozen mustard and a dish called ous, a creamy bowl of poached eggs and truffled potato foam. Plus, it’s just a nice place to hang out and have a lazy dinner with a bottle of wine or two." - ryan pfeffer

"Niu Kitchen continues to deliver standout Catalan fare in Downtown Miami, as it has been for nearly a decade, maintaining its reputation as one of the city’s best. Standouts include charbroiled oysters, branded tableside with hot coals and paired with a smoky ponzu and rice vinegar-mayo. The gazpacho offers a cold tomato base topped with mustard ice cream and a drizzle of basil oil, finished with croutons for added crunch. Don’t skip the vegan paella, packed with escalivada, mushrooms, asparagus, or the pan-seared foie gras for a more indulgent start to the night. An extensive wine list featuring natural wines from around the world completes the menu." - Olee Fowler

"NIU Kitchen is a great place to bring someone who appreciates natural wine and a flawless pan con tomate. There are no shortage of outstanding dishes here, including things like cold tomato soup with mustard ice cream and the ous, a delicious bowl of poached eggs and truffled potato foam. Plus, it’s just a really lovely place to lazily hang out with a bottle of wine among stylish Miamians. And after you eat, you can walk 100 feet down the street to NIU Kitchen's sister bar, NIU Wine, which is also on our guide to first date bars. " - ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo

"NIU Kitchen is a Catalan spot that is one of our favorite restaurants in the entire city. It went through lots of changes during the pandemic, and has recently taken over the space that once housed its sister restaurant. But all you need to know is that it’s still a great restaurant for a highly memorable meal. The outstanding dishes include things like cold tomato soup with mustard ice cream and the ous, a bowl of poached eggs and truffled potato foam. Plus, it’s just a really lovely place to hang out and have a lazy dinner with a bottle of great wine." - ryan pfeffer, mariana trabanino

"There are a lot of old school spots on this guide. But NIU Kitchen is less a place for dads and more a place for dates. The menu doesn't change much and there are some dishes we'll always order here, like the cold tomato soup with a dollop of frozen "mustard ice cream" in the center—a perfect Miami soup. The clams come in a delicious picada sauce, and demand an extra side of bread, which is unfortunately not free here. Anything with rice, like their paella or arròs sec, is great. And you should be drinking wine (they also have a wine bar a few doors down that we love). Service moves at a classicly Spanish leisurely pace, so don't come in a rush. " - virginia otazo, mariana trabanino, ryan pfeffer