The NOBU Restaurant is a Japanese & Peruvian-inspired restaurant by Celebrity Chef Nobu Matsuhisa in City of Dreams Manila. It's the signature restaurant of the Nobu Hotel and the 2nd Celebrity Chef Restaurant to open in the metro. We had a special date with our foodie friends, Tina and Chef Guy, to check it out.
Nobu Manila is a casual-fine dining restaurant specializing in Japanese & Peruvian-inspired dishes. They exclusively serve the Nobu Sake and Matsuhisa wine. I love the hip, young, and Japanese-inspired ambiance with cool background music. You can sit on the Chef's table-sushi counter, or reserve this more secluded table with surrounding wood panels, or the al fresco Floating Cabana with a minimum consummable of P60,000. There's also a special Teppan-yaki table with a separate set and a la carte menu. Will try this next time.
Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño (P920) - The hamachi sashimi was delicate, with a smooth sauce and a nice touch of jalapeño to spice it up.
The Sushi Roll House Special (P540) is the signature roll at Nobu with fresh flavors of the ocean--flying fish roe, tuna, salmon, white fish, and snow crab--all in one big sushi bite.
I personally love the Rock Shrimp (P990)! It's spicy, with a light, flavorful cream and an addicting crunch. The flavors are well-balanced and not too overpowering.
You have to order the Black Cod Miso (P1,430), the Nobu Matsuhisa signature dish - premium black cod fillet marinated with white miso paste, sake, mirin (sweet japanese rice wine), and sugar. The cod meat itself is creamy with a sweet and spicy miso flavor.
We ordered Beef Kushiyaki (P785) - skewered beef marinated with teriyaki. It was very meaty and can be paired with rice.
The Nobu paella (P1,345) is good to share with 3-4 people. The flavors are light and balanced. The rice was OK but I was missing the tutong. It's a good, filling course to go with the other dishes.
Jidori Free Range Chicken (P1010) - the chicken was chopped and ready for chopsticks. The chicken meat is very lean with a light sauce. I would recommend this, especially if you're sharing.
We had an 8-course family sharing degustation from the a la carte menu so we could taste as many dishes as possible. You can check out the Chef's Daily Creations Omakase (P6,160) or Nobu Signature's Omakase (P4,480).
Genmai Cha with Matcha (P235) - The green tea was strong and bitter--just the way I like it.
You have to save room for the Nobu Desserts, which were part of the highlights of our Nobu experience.
Chocolate Bento Box (P365) - Chocolate fondant lava cake done well with green tea ice cream in a bento box.
Guru-berii (P450) - This is my personal favorite! Frozen Greek yogurt ice cream with blueberry foam, fresh raspberries and raspberry sauce, topped with smoked almond.
Miso Capuchino (P385) - For coffee lovers, a good, sweet ending to the Nobu Meal--made of miso-chocolate brulée, vanilla ice cream, candied pecans, and cappucino foam.
All prices mentioned do not include additional 10% service charge and local tax.
The NOBU Restaurant Manila is a great place to celebrate your special milestones with your loved ones, or for going on a foodie date with your family and friends. The restaurant is ideal for foodies looking for better quality of food in the metro. Make sure to order the signature dishes--Sushi Roll House Special, Rock Shrimp Creamy Spicy, and the Black Cod Miso. Don't forget the Nobu-exclusive sake and wine. You can really taste the flavors of the ingredients without overpowering sauces--light, balanced, and elegant. The a la carte dishes are small portions but can be shared with 2-3 persons. And you can assemble your own 8-course degustation so you can try more dishes. Make sure to save some space for dessert. I recommend the trio of their best desserts--Chocolate Bento Box, Guru-berii, and Miso Cappucino.
Budget P2,000-P3,000/head, or P4,000 - P6,000/head if you're going with the Omakase.
The portions on their own aren't very filling, and some people may find the dishes outrageously expensive for the size. But we love the attentive service staff, who go as far as wiping the table clean without you noticing it. Congratulations to the successful opening of Nobu Manila in City of Dreams!
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