The buzz around Newcastle’s newest dining destination reached the Quayside this week as almost 100 guests flocked to NIPO for an exclusive VIP launch night to mark the arrival of the city’s new Japanese-Brazilian dining experience.
The invite-only evening brought together influencers, media, local business leaders and hospitality insiders for an exclusive preview of NIPO ahead of its official opening to the public this week, with the restaurant now ready to welcome diners to experience its distinctive mix of Japanese precision, Brazilian warmth, sushi, robata and dishes made for sharing.
Created by the team behind RIO Brazilian Steakhouse, NIPO takes the energy, theatre and generosity of Brazilian hospitality and reimagines it through a Japanese lens, creating a dining experience packed with bold flavours, premium ingredients and plenty to discover.The drinks menu brings the same sense of Japanese-Brazilian fusion to the bar, with cocktails including the Yuzu & Ginger Martini, Japanese Old Fashioned and Spirit of Uji, NIPO’s own take on the global matcha craze.
The food menu puts premium ingredients, robata cooking and sharing firmly at the heart of the experience. Guests can expect Robata Grilled Steaks, from Ribeye Robata to A5 Wagyu Sirloin, served with Maldon salt, wasabi, house-seasoned fries, NIPO salad and ginger rice. Elsewhere, the menu brings together Miso Kuro Cod, Slow-Cooked Lamb Shank and Nihon Lobster, alongside sushi, Japanese-inspired dishes and a selection of plant-led plates.
NIPO’s vegan and vegetarian offering has been created with the same attention to detail and precision, with dishes designed to give plant-led diners the full NIPO experience.
Connor Marley, Head Chef at NIPO, said: “We wanted the menu to feel exciting from the moment you start exploring it, Japanese cuisine has such an incredible respect for ingredients and precision, while Brazilian food brings this amazing sense of fire, flavour and generosity.
“The challenge and the really exciting part was finding the point where those two worlds meet. We’ve got sushi, robata, premium steaks and seafood, but there are also plenty of dishes that people can get stuck into and share around the table.”
The launch also marked an important moment for the NIPO team, with General Manager Goran Natev leading the restaurant into its first public service, with Goran bringing extensive experience from London’s premium hospitality scene.
Goran Natev, General Manager at NIPO, said: “There was a real buzz in the room during the VIP launch, and seeing people experience NIPO for the first time was fantastic. There’s a huge amount of energy behind the concept, but ultimately we want that feeling to continue every time someone walks through the door.
“We want NIPO to be somewhere you come for a special occasion, but equally somewhere you can come with friends, order a few things for the table, have great cocktails and make an evening of it, that sense of warmth and generosity is really important to us.”
NIPO takes its name and inspiration from Nipo-Brasileiro, meaning Japanese-Brazilian, reflecting the deep cultural connection between Japan and Brazil. São Paulo is home to one of the world’s largest Japanese communities outside Japan, creating a unique meeting point between Japanese craftsmanship and Brazilian warmth, flavour and hospitality.
From cocktails at the bar and sushi at the counter to robata from the fire and generous dishes made for sharing, NIPO is designed around discovery, conversation and bringing people together around the table.
With the first guests already through the doors, NIPO is now officially open and inviting diners to take a seat and experience its Japanese-Brazilian approach for themselves.
Japanese precision. Brazilian warmth. A new table worth travelling for.
Bookings: https://nipobraza.co.uk
