A coruscating cocktail bar in its own right, Nuvo have now delved into the foodie world with the launch of a tapas menu. I headed there to see if it could stand up to its reputable neighbours in Brindley Place.
The Venue
With its twinkling skylights and stylish decor, this venue has been kitted out for a glamorous night out, and definitely suits the title of cocktail bar and club over it's encouraged new tagging, tapas restaurant. The sleek cream booths may be perfect for a group drinking cocktails, handing to an exclusive feel when booked out with a bottle of champers, but they were less suitable for a dining experience. I expected them to be comfy and relaxed, but the table was too low and far away so it meant we were leaning over to reach our food and drinks all night.
Less Mad Men, more diamond den, Nuvo raises the bar for champagne inspired interior styling.
The Food and Drinks
With an extensive selection of cocktails on offer, featuring both classics and their own creations, you’ll find something to suit every taste here. Despite a rather standard Classic Mojito at £7.20, the rest of the cocktails were executed really well, with the deliciously fruity and tropical toting Bahama Mama being my favourite of the night.
We were recommended to share ten dishes between the two of us, but the eight we ordered proved to be too much and we couldn’t finish it all. So I’d hedge your bets at getting around 4 or 5 to start as you can always order more if you have room. If you can’t decide what to order, opt for a tasting platter on plush concrete plates, to be enjoyed between 2-4 people for £31.95; or order individual dishes for £4.95, which is great value for money as they were all quite big portions. Whilst the food was by no means flawless, we still enjoyed it thanks to a handful of great dishes like the Cajun Chicken Skewers and Patatas Bravas. The star of the night, however, went to the delicious Churros with Strawberry & Orange Coulis at £4.95.
(Photo: Manos Koukakis) From Bahama Mama cocktails to tasty tapas dishes.
Atmosphere
Far from the lively, glistening party venue it can be at the weekend, Nuvo was considerably quieter on the Thursday night I visited with only a handful of customers. As a result it lacked atmosphere and I missed the bustling, exciting feel you normally get in a restaurant or cocktail bar. However the service was excellent and we certainly felt looked after on the night. Our waitress was friendly, attentive and went to every length to make sure we had the best experience possible.
(Photo: Manos Koukakis) Inherently a party bar, Nuvo is still delicious come an early evening snack.
Summary
Primarily, Nuvo is a night time venue and not somewhere I’d pick as a midweek dining destination in the future due to the slight lack of atmosphere during the week. Despite this hindrance, the cocktails were smashing and the service was fantastic. So if you’re already there drinking at the weekend and fancy a few light tapas plates to accompany it, then pick the right dishes and you won’t be left disappointed.
