NIPO, a new dining concept combining Japanese and Brazilian food culture, is set to open on Newcastle's Quayside within weeks, the restaurant has confirmed. The venue, which will take over the former home of Tomahawk Steakhouse, is scheduled to open in September.
A fusion of two cultures
The restaurant's name draws from the Nipo-Brasileiro community of Brazil, which is said to house the largest concentration of Japanese people outside of Japan, particularly around the São Paulo area. NIPO will showcase both cultures in its food, wine and cocktail menu.
The concept is the creation of the team behind Newcastle's Rio Brazilian Steakhouse, who aim to create a dining experience unlike anything else in the city. The founders also plan to follow up the city launch with national and international expansion.
Two years in development
NIPO co-founder Rodrigo Grassi Duarte said that where Rio has "always been about energy, theatre, generosity and creating experiences people remember", NIPO takes "that DNA and reimagines it through a completely different lens". He said: "It's more refined, more unexpected and more considered but the same belief runs through both: exceptional food, genuine hospitality and an experience that stays with you."
He added: "We've been developing NIPO for the last two years: looking at how we could create something genuinely different - not just another restaurant but a concept with its own identity, energy and sense of discovery. São Paulo is such an important part of the story. It has this incredible Japanese-Brazilian community, where Japanese precision and respect for ingredients have become part of Brazilian culture. That connection gave us the inspiration for NIPO and the idea of creating our own interpretation of that meeting point."
Menu and dining experience
The menu will combine Japanese technique and Brazilian fire cooking, offering seasonal tasting menus and à la carte dining. A sushi station will allow guests to watch chefs prepare seafood, while other Japanese-inspired dishes will showcase robata-style slow-grilling over charcoal. Brazilian traditions will be represented by dishes such as flame-cooked picanha.
The restaurant said: "The result is not simply Japanese food with Brazilian ingredients or Brazilian food with a Japanese twist. NIPO is a new dining language inspired by the places, people and flavours where these two cultures meet." Wines and cocktails have been chosen to complement the menu.
Expansion plans
Co-founder Howard Eggleston said of building the concept over the past two years: "Every detail has been considered, from the food and drinks to the design, service and atmosphere because we're not simply opening a new restaurant in Newcastle. We're establishing a brand that we believe has the potential to grow nationally and internationally."
Duarte added that the strength of the connection between Japan and Brazil is what makes NIPO "particularly exciting". He said: "Both cultures have a deep respect for quality, craftsmanship, hospitality and bringing people together but they express those values in very different ways. NIPO brings those worlds together in a way that feels distinctive, contemporary and relevant, creating something that is not just a fusion of two cuisines but a completely new experience."
