Stella Sy, the marketing consultant for Vikings Buffet Restaurant, calls Niu a "hotel buffet experience."

"For a much cheaper price, Niu offers the same quality dishes that most hotels serve," she explained. "In hotel buffets, how much do you spend? Like, around P5,000. At Niu, you only pay around P1,500."

On top of the free-flowing red and white wine and beer, Niu also offers fancier selections compared to the Vikings restaurant, such as the French delicacy foie gras, caviar, truffles, and other special dishes that you can request beforehand.

Niu executive chef MJ Camarista also shared that they essentially offer the same culinary delights as Vikings, except Niu's menu is "elevated."

"The concept of Niu is that we offer elevated cuisine," Chef MJ said, "An elevated menu."

Niu has nine stations, ranging from a carving station that serves tender, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth choices of beef to a simmering and mouthwatering shabu-shabu station, and a dessert station crammed with a selection of deliciously dense gelato (the avocado is heavenly!) sprinkled with crispy waffle crumbs, parfaits that look like delicate ornaments, and other decadent sweets.

Niu's wide range of dishes boasts Mediterranean, French, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, and the staple Pinoy favorites, which cater to all types of diners. The all-time favorite ebi and seafood tempura with their perfected batter is still a popular pick among diners — and understandably so, because every bite explodes with exquisite crispness and flavor.

The baked oysters are another standout: neither chewy nor hard, but tender. One bite gives you a pure briny experience with distinct oceanic mineral notes, a perfect appetizer for your choice of the main entrée.

What truly makes Niu the fulcrum of the country's high-end, all-you-can-eat restaurants is their great attention to detail. The craftsmanship in cooking, presentation, and serving is evident in every single dish.

Vegan-friendly, too

When asked about health-conscious diners who prefer to only consume vegan dishes, Chef MJ's eyes brightened, saying that numerous customers would actually request a few weeks in advance for vegan dishes, and she comes up with a special menu for them.

And Niu never runs out of greens. In fact, it has always been the Vikings group of companies' practice to directly purchase from farmers.

"From the very start, especially during the pandemic, we have been supportive of our farmers, especially when it comes to greens," said Sy.

"Whenever the company hears about an oversupply of vegetables, we get in touch with the farmers, and then we let our chefs create special dishes out of them," she added.

Ambiance

With a predominantly white interior, with a touch of purple and gold, and ceilings dotted with glittering chandeliers, Niu exudes understated elegance. Not opulent or lavish, but clean and sophisticated, the décor taking a backseat to the array of gastronomical colors and textures everywhere.

Piano music wafts through the air as a songstress sings in a lush voice to complement the lush dining experience in Niu. Diners sink into plush, comfortable seats as they enjoy their plates filled to the brim with Instagrammable and scrumptious meals in the company of loved ones.

Rising from the pandemic

Restaurant chains were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Vikings group of companies was no exception. They struggled, especially with the indoor-dining protocols. Sy said in an interview with CNN Philippines last year that they had to adjust to the ever-changing percentage of indoor-seating capacity allowed by the government, which affected their purchasing budget.

Now that restrictions have eased, Sy happily admitted that the marketing team and everyone involved in the chain of buffet restaurants is thrilled to be back in the game — especially with the holiday season just around the corner, where they will be preparing extra special dishes for their loyal and new customers.

"We have exerted a lot of effort for the upcoming holiday season," Sy said. "For the first time since the pandemic, we are so excited because this is our time to shine."