Niku is Peruvian/Japanese restaurant that I would recommend to others because the food and service are excellent and the ambiance is captivating. Its dishes are full of color and flavor and the atmosphere adapts to all ages. The minute you walk in, waiters welcome you with a warm smile. When I went there, my family was seated immediately even with our 12-person reservation. The waiters escorted us to our table, one walking in front and another one behind. This experience is similar to the one in Sushi Light, another Japanese restaurant, where there is always a waiter at the entrance ready to escort you. However, unlike Niku, unless you have a reservation at Sushi Light there is almost always an extensive line. Since Niku has a better organizational system for reservations, lines are shorter. Nonetheless, this is probably because Niku’s location, Mall Platinum, is not as popular as Sushi Light’s. 

One of Niku’s prominent characteristics is its dark and private ambiance. The decorations are formal and pleasant to look at. There is also a lot of nature throughout the restaurant with leaves hanging from the roof and coming down the walls. This creates a peaceful, natural-looking vibe and a fantastic smell. Additionally, the chairs are extremely comfortable, some being sofas and others being cushioned seats. The tables are also long and spacious enough for all your food to fit. This reminds me of the ambiance in Romero because of its natural-looking vibe with plants as an eminent decoration. However, Romero is a more open place. When eating there before nighttime, Sunlight provides ample natural light. On the contrary, in Niku there are few windows, so light needs to be produced artificially. Regardless, I really enjoyed the ambiance at Niku. It’s calming and private for the customers. I would have preferred if there had been more natural light, but I understand the choice. 

Furthermore, as soon as you sit, the menus are handed to you. Niku has a wide variety of food ranging from Peruvian to Japanese. The descriptions were detailed enough and the waiter was always willing to describe unknown plates. Some were pricey and others were reasonable. The entrees were conformed by a good selection of dishes which balanced others on the menu. Some of them were similar to those of Cuzco, a popular Peruvian restaurant, but less expensive. Either way, both menus were detailed and organized and the waiters were always willing to help out. 

When I went to Niku, I ordered sushi and the plate I received was delicious. Also, I ordered an entree of edamame seasoned with sea salt which was a perfect start. My main course consisted of salmon sushi rolls which had a good size with ten pieces. The first bite was full of flavor and the sauces were a very nice compliment. My family believed the food was good, but later some expressed how they preferred the sushi over the ceviche. My plate was very similar to the sushi I had recently eaten at Sushi Market, another Japanese restaurant, since the sauces were the main ingredients for the flavor of both restaurants. The plate was also the same size and the only difference was the price which was higher at Niku being around 30.000 per roll against a plate of 24.000 per roll at Sushi Market. In my opinion, the food was delicious but a bit overpriced. The drink was the most overpriced of all being a small size for a 9.000 price in comparison to other restaurants. 

Lastly, the waiter was extremely nice and well prepared. He were always present for everyone’s orders and knew the menu well. Additionally, he memorized who ordered what except some drinks which he was quick to ask and place where they belonged. We had young children at our table and they got their dish first which was nice because it kept them entertained. He also made food recommendations when asked. The service was very professional just like the one at Romero. Waiters were constantly at our service, ready to greet you and lead you to the exit, skilled with the menu and with good memorization skills. The only difference being that there were more waiters at Niku than there were at Romero but this was mainly because of the number of customers present. I really liked the service given and how private it was. There was one particular waiter who was attentive and made it that our culinary experience was one we will never forget.