There’s over a hundredΒ restaurants in Metro ManilaΒ that serve fusionΒ cuisine.Β About half or more may have similar things on the menu, and at least a dozen of them are being run by chefs who have trained at prestigious dining establishments. Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge in Katipunan, Quezon CityΒ is all of these things, but it’s also pretty different. And more importantly, it’s really, really good.
Starting out as one of “Manila’s Best Kep Restaurant Secrets,” Ninyo has now become a gem of a dining haven for people looking to escape into a cozy, intimate, and relaxing setting.Β It’s popular as a venue where momentous occasions (such as marriage proposals and birthdays) are being held.Β Louie and I celebrated our seventh-year anniversary hereΒ last May 1 (Labor Day). He made a reservation a week before and got us seats in the al fresco setting, which is absolutely perfect for a romantic date. π
Review of Ninyo Fusion Cuisine andΒ Wine Lounge (Katipunan, Quezon City)
Ambiance:
If you’re expectingΒ ornamental embroidery, wooden chandeliers, minimalist-looking table lamps and rose petals scattered beautifully everywhere,Β there’s definitelyΒ something for you in Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge. The environment looks very homey, and this is mainly because Ninyo was the Laus’ family’sΒ 50-year-old house that wasΒ transformed into a restaurant in 2006 in fulfillment of Chef Nino’s lifelong dream of having a restaurant he can call his own.
At Ninyo, you can enjoy the garden view at the al fresco area or stay cozy indoors in the first or second floor. ThisΒ reminded me most of The Sugar Palm in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Both give an impression of a secret garden with an inviting appeal.
MyΒ eyes feasted on the charming setup of candlelight dinner served inΒ the private gazebos, with rocks, plants, and wooden accents on the side. Waterfalls, the fountain, and the koi fish pond are creative additions that make a tranquil space. Light music was played in the background to enhance the mood. It’s summer now in the Philippines but it’s nice that weather that nightΒ wasn’t too sweltering hot.
Also part of the scenery are theΒ love locks displayed at the front part of the garden. Several couples have immortalized their love withΒ their namesΒ written on the padlocks. It’s cheesy andΒ adorable.Β Love it! π
Service:
The wait staff was warm, attentive, and receptive. He offered wonderful yet simple service and took care of requests with ease. I liked that the dishes were served in a relaxedΒ pace but not frustratingly slow, just so we couldΒ have enoughΒ time to talk and enjoy the night while eating. Complimentary warm bread with butter was served at the start of the meal and in between, we were also surprised with a free spoonful of calamansi sorbet to cleanse our palate.
Food:
Chef Laus’ dishes are often described as inventive, adventurous, and unpredictable. He never ceases to surprise and amaze his guests with something new or unusual all the time.Β Food here isΒ essentially fusion, with a heavy emphasis on Japanese and European influences. Marrying the culinary traditions of two countries that are thousands of miles apart and then offering a fresh twist to the dishes make Ninyo truly remarkable.
We started dinner with a delicious appetizer:Β Salmon Belly Wasabi Tempura Roll (PhP 395). It takes a lot to impress with us with salmon, but this did the trick. It was filled with pleasant surprises with textures of all kinds! Stuffed with braised gobo and carrots, the bite-size tempura rolls were aΒ flavor bomb of soft salmon with crispyΒ Japanese Burdock roots. I thought wasabi on the wrap of the roll was supposed to make it spicy, butΒ the spiciness was not felt apparent at all. In any case, I’m a fan.
For our main course, the Grilled Chicken Balsamic Teriyaki (PhP 450) served with grilled Japanese rice, grilled leeks with miso, tomatoes and onion was spot on. The balsamic vinegar gave the tender chickenΒ a great depth of tangΒ and sweetness without being too sweet, while the shiny teriyaki glazeΒ brought a goodΒ balance of barbecue sauce and soy sauce with sweet and salty flavors. You can’t go wrong.
Pasta Alle Vongole (PhP 420) was sublimely simple. It consisted ofΒ linguine pasta with Manila clams sautΓ©ed in garlic and chorizo deglazed with sake. The silky noodles were coated in briny, garlicky flavor from the sauce and studded with tender morsels of the clam itself. The portion is good for sharing.
When asked what’s the mostΒ recommended dessert, the waiter suggested Chocolate! Chocolate! CakeΒ (PhP 295) and Mango Pavlova (PhP 245). We got the latter. It was a meringue dessert, crispy on the outside but light and fluffy inside, topped with vanilla ice cream and fresh mango slices. I went to the restroom before the plate landed on the table, so I was surprised that it had a greeting on it. Thank you very much,Β Louie! π
Price for Value:
Looking forΒ a fancy date spot in Quezon City?Β Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge won’t disappoint. This is the place to be, if you want to try a mix of Asian and European cuisine. Prices may be quite a splurge, but food came outΒ awesome, and ambiance and service were exemplary. I promise it will be worth it.Β Double or group dating with a bunch of friends is not a bad idea either. π
Operating hours:
Monday 6:00pm – 1:30am
Tuesday-Saturday 11:00am – 2:pm, 6:00pm – 1:30am
Sunday 11:00 am – 2:00pm, 6:00pm – 10:00 pm
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
I love the view from the outdoor table! The sound of the waterfall and private gazebo would be so romantic — especially with the rose petals! The Love Locks are so cool, too! How neat to see a visual representation of all of the couples who’ve professed their love there. And the food sure looks delicious!
It was a gorgeous location, and staff were all very nice and easy to interact with. would recommend arriving early so you can take more photos without other people on the background. π
Oh wow! The Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge in Katipunan, Queen City looks like a great destination for a date night! I would love to enjoy the outdoor table. That dessert looks amazing! Thanks for sharing!
This is one of the best restaurants for a romantic date in Katipunan area. Make sure you stop in if you have a chance!
The Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge in Katipunan, Queen City looks like a classy and elegant place to eat. Looks like you had a fabulous celebration. The food is so pretty, too. I almost wouldn’t want to eat it.
Food presentation is a big deal for me. I love being tempted and enticed first before actually eating. π Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge has more interesting entrees on the menu.
I love the love locks what a great part to be able to visit and even add your own lock to. Happy anniversary to you guys, love that they wrote on your plate! Looks like the perfect place for a date!
Thanks, Vera! π
The E. Abada St. has a lot of secret spots. I remember that’s the street where Gayuma ni Maria was located. The place is really romantic, looks really private. If we have something to celebrate, my husband and I will consider this place.
From the romantic atmosphere to the cheerful people to the beautiful plates, this place screams amazing! It’s one of the best restaurants we tried in QC and undoubtedly some of the best fusion food that I’ve had to date.
This post made me hungry! The Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge in Katipunan, Queen City looks like a real hot spot for a night out. Your thorough description of your dining experience painted a wonderful picture of what to expect! If my travels ever take me there, I will try this restaurant for sure!
Great! I’m not one who gives out 5/5 stars to just any restaurant. In fact, I rarely do. Go for the opportunity to dine in here. For any special occasion, Ninyo will deliver. π
What a beautiful little place! You had my attention at “wine bar” and I love Thats it’s considered a “best kept secret”. Those are my favorite types of places. The food looks amazing too!
The wine bar is located upstairs at the second floor. You can ask to be seated there to appreciate wines. π
Wow, this looks like a great place Kirstin! I would definitely take note of this when I go back to the Philippines. It looks absolutely lovely
It is! π Lots of comparable restaurants are deafening, but Ninyo is positively tranquil. It was a perfect dinner with great food!
Looks like place worth trying. The food looks really delicious and the design of the place definitely contributes to the ambience. I particularly would like to try the chicken balsamic teriyaki. I can just imagine the combination of balsamic with teriyaki and my mouth is really watering now. I think this place is definitely worth a try!
Yup, go for it! π The chicken balsamic teriyaki was really awesome.
Whoah! How you describe the place makes me wanting to visit the place pretty soon!!! The Pasta Alle Vongole looks delish too. I bet you guys had really a sumptuous dinner there.
This place can fire up a romantic and intimate conversation. It has the capacity to make your day special indeed. π
This entire place looks fantastic, but the outdoor tables were my favorite. The food sounds delicious and the Mango Pavlova looks amazing, although I don’t know if I would have chosen it over the chocolate dessert.
Either way, I think you will be satisfied. If you’re a chocolate lover though, order the chocolate dessert without hesitation. π
This place is gorgeous! I think it’s not just the cuisine but also the romantic atmosphere which makes people want to spend their time here!
Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge offers a complete package for something you can be happy about and remember just good memories.
This place looks wonderful. It is great outdoor where some minutes can be spent for fun
Yes, no wonder it has won awards from the TripAdvisor community.
Is this a new place in Katipunan? I can’t seem to remember a restaurant like this there when I was still living near the area. But that was years ago!!! I like the ambiance, based on your photos.
I don’t think it’s new. It’s known as a “best-kept secret” restaurant for a reason. π
The ambience looks very nice. Although I cannot imagine myself reserving in the al fresco part of the restaurant in the heat of this summer!
Right. That’s no problem since they have the indoor areas (both first and second floors) that look as great. π
Oooh… The place looks so ideal for romantic date. I love looking at those love locks! <3 The food looks delicious but of small quantity. lol
If you’re a heavy eater, you might have to order more. For us who are fond of sharing food even when they’re served in not so generous portions, as long as the tastes are satisfying and commendable, this is a hit spot.
The places looks amazing, I love the decor both inside and out. It’s good to know that the service is great, they are expected to be good since this is a fancy restaurant. I love how they plate the food as well, it looks appetizing, especially that mango pavlova! Happy Anniversary to you guys!
Thanks, Elizabeth. π I thank him for bringing me to places like this whenever we have celebrations.
Wow. 5 on 5 is the best score, and I’m sure they swept you off your feet. The food looks great and so is the setting, surrounded by plants.
I rarely do give out perfect scores for my restaurant and food reviews. Ninyo Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge just deserves the credit. π
I like the garden style setup of the place. This is perfect for a nice wine-out date with your love ones.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more than 1 couple who gets engaged here in one night! π
I love to go to these places for having food. One of my colleagues live in this city. I will share with her about this place.
Hope she loves it. π
Aww, I could really feel how lovely your time was there. It truly is a nice place for date night. Did you guys leave love locks as well?
Nope, I also did not ask if it’s required for couples to bring their own love locks or they have love locks to provide or sell. Next time, maybe! π
Alfresco dining experience. I love everything about Ninyo. Before i left qc, I see to it I eat here cuz I’ll definitely miss this resto!
Wow, you must have been here so many times! π Great.
Hi! I would just like to ask, since I think it’s not air-conditioned, is the temperature of the place cool enough? I am planning to surprise my parents for their anniversary this August, and I think this place is a perfect go-to. Thank you!
Hello! Yes, the temperature is okay outside because there are electric fans anyway. Also, since it’s nearing the -ber months, we can expect that it won’t be too hot. π