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Real People. Real Reviews.®
Category: Middle Eastern
207 Hastings St WMon-Wed, Sun 11:30 am - 10:30 pm
Thu-Sat 11:30 am - 12 am
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Very reasonably priced! The food was so good, definatly fun for adventurous people who are bored with same old chain restaurants.
Great for sharing too. Order lots of stuff so everyone can try some of everything, because inevitably that's what's going to happen. De-lish
I love meat again! Wow, the duck/chicken/lamb were grilled to PERFECTION!
This place is Lebanese-fusion. There is something extra this place has to offer that I haven't experienced in other mediterranian places. Maybe Lebanese-Greek? The Tzatziki was actually pretty good!
We ordered La Feast with meat for 3 people and also ordered a main dish (the grilled duck). This was exactly enough and then some for 3 hungry people. Total including 3 drinks with tax was $88. NICE!!!
The atmosphere was relaxing, candle-lit and funky.
Their rice is interesting: whole grain rice mixed with hummus?
The wines were pretty good. The mixed drinks weren't that impressive though, sorry.
Oh, and don't go to E.Hastings.. this place is on W.Hastings.. we accidentally went to E.Hastings.. what a mistake that was.. yikes!
We ordered the 'la feast' and a feast it was. If I had known how much food was involved, I would have skipped the appetizer. Okay, I would have still ordered the appetizer. How could I deny some spice crusted scallops with a sweet maple glaze? It was fantastic!
When the server arrived with a plate and referred to it as "part one of la feast" I knew we were in for a belly busting dinner. Fresh hummus, babaganoush, some tabouleh and an interesting pink pickled vegetable (turnips?) served with fresh pita bread. Part two arrived with falafels, lentils, crispy cauliflour, olives, a chunk of feta cheese and a couple other dishes I can't remember. So much food. So much GOOD food.
I love the grotto feel of the place. I walked right past the entrance but found it once I turned around to look for it. Service was great. Vegan, Vegetarian and Carnivore friendly. Definitely a place for a nice group dinner. I wish there was a Nuba in San Francisco.
Nice atmosphere and décor, helpful staff.
The food was not as flavorful as other Lebanese meals I've had. Crispy cauliflower was an excellent combination of flavors.
Couldn't taste the zataar spice (my favorite spice) on the lamb. Hummus was excellent. Try the cardamom custard - dreamy smooth and nice subtle flavor.
Nuba is a good place for an interesting atmosphere and has a good crowd of both patrons and the staff there. Food is delicious and interesting. I
recommend Nuba as a good date restaurant when you have a discriminating partner who will respect you for your knowledgeable and good value choice for a fun and satisfying night out. And it is loud and lively so there is no need to feel shy.
The room is gorgeous and intimate, service was great, food was delicious! The two of us shared the La Feast and my other half ordered himself some chicken to satisfy his meat cravings. I nearly had to roll home, so filling! The food is delicious and well priced. The cheese was the best I'd had, probably ever. Can't wait to come back!
I went based on all great reviews, and because I generally love middle eastern food.
We went to the downtown location. The atmosphere was cafeteria like, but pleasant and bright.
The service was friendly and helpful. I made a mistake and ordered a piece of meat (I don't usually eat meat but I guess I felt like I needed some iron or B12 or something, and it sounded good). Big mistake.
Not the restaruant's fault..I didn't know filet was supposed to taste like liver? Live and learn.
The rice with tahini paste mixed in was interesting, and very rich.
My sister ordered a green salad that was huge and looked beautiful. She loved it. She also ordered some red lentil soup, which I shared with her. That was also generous in portion, however greatly underseasoned and an odd bitter herb after taste.
I had a cocktail which was so so.
The place was packed by the time we left at 730, and with a line out the door. I think this is probably a good choice for vegans, as they had many selections on the menu of that sort.
Glad I tried it though.
The price and quality are great. I have been here for lunch several times and have always left happy. The service is great too.
My friend, Angela, has been prodding me to try Nuba for awhile now, and at her suggestion we went there for lunch today.
The menu was varied enough to suit both carnivores and vegetarians (and even vegans). I ordered the Mjadra (green lentils & rice with onions and jalepeno, served with avocado and caramelized onions), while my friend ordered the Najib's Special (crispy cauliflower tossed with lemon & sea salt, and served with tahini). Both plates also included taboulleh, hummus, salad, hot sauce, pita, either brown rice or roasted potatoes (we both opted for the potatoes), and tahini. The dishes were both delicious, but if asked to choose a favorite, my preferrence would lean towards the Mjadra. Our meals were each under $11 and more than enough for our appetites (I was so full that I had to reluctantly leave a few bites on my plate).
The ambiance was lovely as well. Despite being below street-level, the space seemed airy and bright, with subtle middle-eastern accents to compliment the Lebanese cuisine. One drawback of the venue is the lack of inexpensive parking in the area (ultimately this is what dropped my rating down a notch to 4-stars) -- I recommend taking transit, as the parking will cost almost as much as your meal!
I'll definitely be returning to Nuba again (as well as checking-out their smaller Nuba Cafe venues)...and next time I'll be sure to save room to sample their Turkish Coffee & Baklava...mmm :)
One of my co-workers arranged a little get together dinner and she suggested going to Nuba. I never heard of it so I looked it up. Lebanese cuisine eh? Sounds exotic and different from what I usually eat, I was quite excited to try.
After descending a flight of stairs into the basement of a building, we enter this relaxing space with clean off-white walls, plants, bead details, wooden furniture and a bar in the back. It was early and the place was buzzing with customers already, fortunately we made reservations.
It takes a bit of reading to understand what was served on the menu; luckily our friend has been there quite a few times. She suggested the oh-so-popular 'najib's special' (which was pretty much just cauliflower as mentioned on many reviews), beef tenderloin, and lamp chops. We went with the cauliflower, fire-grilled halloumi cheese, beef tenderloin, lamb chops and vegan meshwi.
The appetizers came quickly and at first I thought the cauliflower dish was just plain, browned veggies in a dish with some salad and lemon on the side, nothing special. But wow, to my surprise did that cauliflower tasted yummy! Was it really just 'tossed with lemon and sea salt'? There must be something more to that! On we go with the cheese dish. The layers of halloumi cheese, fresh tomatoes and hint of mint was perfect! We dipped the thin pita bread into the vinagrette and wrapped the cheese inside, just delicious!
With that kind of start, we looked forward to our entrées. My 4 'popsicles' of lamb chops were not bad, good, but not comparable to certain steakhouses. It was served over a bed of hummus and baba ghanooj (eggplant puree) that I switched to. Each entrée had a choice of side and I chose the creamy tahini rice. It was different, a little too much sauce/dip/puree for me and no vegetables at all. I had to take some grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and red bell peppers from my friend's dish to balance my taste bud and those were really good. There wasn't much color to our dishes, very plain, just like the décor.
The portions were decent as none of us finished our dish and had to take some home. All in all, this is a very neat place to try, something different for a change. The prices are steep for what the food is, but I guess there's not too many authentic Lebanese places around. So go try it at least once!
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet!
I don't even know where to start.
First, the decor and space is amazing. Perfect for a date or a night with some good friends.
The drink list is classy but fairly priced.
The menu is a vegetarian, vegan and meat eaters dream. I have NEVER had something I didn't love on the menu but if you are adverse to spice...then why do you eat in the first place?
Oh, and the staff? Amazing, friendly, attentive but not over-bearing an all-around great group of people. A special shout out to the manager Nick. He's a great manager and he will definitely make sure your experience is memorable.
So what's wrong with this place? Nothing, except they are not open 24/7 to satisfy my Nuba cravings, hehe.
This is a menu that will please a vegan, a carnivore, an alcohol drinker, & a coffee drinker. There is live music on Thursday nights which adds to the atmosphere.
I always choose the mjadra & the najib's special.
I've been to Nuba enough times that the entire staff there knows me by name, and knows what I'm going to order without having to ask me. Victor, the owner and Nick, the GM always say hello to me - that's how often I'm at Nuba.
It says a lot about a place (and its food) that I go back on a regular basis, and that I have the same thing over and over (it's so good).
Aside from having an awesome selection of Lebanese food, they do their part to pick local fruit and veg, buy free range and medication-free meat, and just generally rock.
It's amazing how a place that makes such good healthy wholesome delicious food can be so reasonably priced. I took my father, grandmother and boyfriend there to celebrate one night. There was live music and the ambiance was, as usual, intimate.
We ordered a bunch of mezze (small plates to share), and ate, and ate, and ate. My grandmother, being Lebanese, is hard to please when it comes to her mother-country's cuisine - but she was so busy enjoying she couldn't say anything about the place until she was done.
Then the bill came.. I lunged for it and declared it was my treat - mainly because I didn't want my dad & grandma to see how cheap the entire meal was. 4 people. Full to the brim. $45. - no joke. I paid $45 to feed my entire family for a celebration.
Go to Nuba. Now. You will not (CANNOT) be disappointed.
My first Dinner experience at the Nuba cafe .. walking down the stairs into a place that my bf mistakenly thought was closed.. I knew better. The place lightly dimmed and surrounded with candles, even the open tables were all reserved for those who decided to save a seat.
Our only option was to sit at the bar, but that was okay with us. This place has changed significantly since they expanded into this lovely space.
There are no more pitas on the dinner menu, so don't expect to get one, even on the go. The dinner plates are definitely more costly than your 5 - 7$ pita... raning from 16 - 20 dollars/ plate...
Bf and I decided to share some plates instead before seeing the Love List (thanks Crystal!). The mezzes we ordered were:
Lamb Hushwie - ground lamb with spices over a bed of hummus
Fattoush House Salad - a good heart portion, a little over dressed for my liking, but it is consistent with any dressed salad you would usually order. The tortilla chips definitely gave it a good crunch and flavours were balanced.
Fallafel - Felt like it was a little dry, although the hummus and avocado definitely helped with the overall completeness of the plate.
Crispy Cauliflower - one of my usual favourites, but I thought one of the sauces seemed to be missing.... maybe it is because i have such high expectations of it. It was still good, don't get me wrong.
Our waiter was super nice, polite and made sure we were fully taken care of. Not sure if we over ordered but we were so full by the time we left and it only cost us $30.... sharing is caring!
Quest to Try Vancouver's 101 Best Eats!
Mission: Crispy Cauliflower
Location: Nuba - West Hastings /…
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If I lived in Vancouver, there's no doubt in my mind that Nuba would be my favourite place to eat in the entire city. Not because it's overly flashy or they use exotic ingredients only found in the highest mountain ranges of the middle east... but because it's straight up good, healthy, wholesome grub.
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the young buck behind the operation, and while I can't recall his name off the top of my head, he was a gentleman and a scholar... and the quality of his food is unparallelled. Everything from their hummus and Baba Ghanoush to falafel and gourmet olive spreads were excellent (and that's only a handful of their lunch items), and the had some really, really delicious pita bread to go along with the whole package. Seems like a majority of similar restaurants just choose to compliment their home cooked creations with store bought pita - but not here.
It's a pretty clear indication that when a restaurant grows as rapidly as they have (2 new locations already!), they've got a pretty good thing going.
I still love you Nuba! You were the best thing to happen to me during my month of veganism. Even now that I can eat meat, I still love your veggie options the most! The BF suggested this place after a day downtown, and how could I say no?
The place was already in full swing when we arrived, and since we didn't have a rezzo, we were given the option of sitting at the bar, and waiting to see if a table became available. We hopped up on the barstools and ordered up a round of drinks. I had the mojito, and the BF had the lime-cucumber martini. His was good, but mine was excellent! He kept trying to steal sips when I wasn't looking so I offered to buy him a drink so he would stop taking mine. But then he decided he wanted the sour raspberry drink that was on special instead, while I just grabbed another mojito.
We ended up just ordering our dinner at the bar, we had La Feast, and it sure was a feast! By the time we got our feast, the hostess came by to let us know a table was available, but we just decided to stick to the bar since it was cozy and dimly lit anyways, and we could hold hands under the counter... awwww... barf. After five years, date night helps us keep it alive, that, and the booze.
I was stuffed after the first plate of hummus, taboulleh, baba ghanooj, and the homemade pickle, which tasted like pickled cabbage. Our waitress at the bar even brought us a little extra pita since we had leftover hummus and no bread left, we didn't even have to ask. We still ended up with leftovers because I gave up halfway through the main feast, which had some of the yummy cauliflower, eggplant stew, falafels, olives and feta, amongst other things.
The grand total was just over $60, most of it was because of our drinks, cuz the Feast was only $28. We threw in $75 because the food was great and the service was awesome, and this place deserves it, and our waitress, or bartender-lady had cool lace tights on.
I LOVE NUBA! After doing a search for vegan restaurants in Vancouver, this place came up, and when I… Read more »
So we finally dined at Nuba last night.
It was our anniversary so I decided to reserve a table just in case by calling before we left the house. The woman on the phone was so happy we would be eating there tonight.. cute.
We ordered the vegetarian mezza plate for two and were able to sample all the wonderful tastes from this great menu. My fave was the falafels.
What a delicious and filling meal. The service was perfect.
My only regret is that I didn't go there sooner.
nuba is ok, but i've moved on. i've eaten here many times over the last few years and each time it loses a bit of its magic. when it first opened, (at la taqueria's current location) its prices were far lower and the place had a fun atmosphere. since it has moved, everything looks slick, the service is less personal and i think the food quality has gone down. and everything costs $1-3 more.
i give them props for tasty falafel, delicious baklava (they import it from toronto?!) and a diverse menu. maybe i ate there too many times, but i don't think i'll be going back again...
My boyfriend and I had an amazing dinner date last night at Nuba, which is pleasantly quiet on a Sunday night since they've only recently been open on Sunday nights. Service was flawless, kind, friendly, perfect.
Cauliflower, marvelous as usual. Vegan shawarma, perfectly seasoned. Falafel, flawless. My non-vegan boyfriend also got the Halloumi cheese appetizer and swooned for ages. We had tons of leftovers and left very, very pleased. I wouldn't hesitate to enthusiastically recommend Nuba to absolutely anyone I encounter.
I do downtown so rarely that when I do I without-fail plan to eat somewhere. I love Radha, Wild Rice… Read more »
Terrific serene space, perfectly cooked lamb, friendly service, great prices...check, check, and check. Did I mention the awesome lamb? Because it was so tender, so juicy, so flavourful, that to forget about it would be a crime.
Drove down here for dinner last night and had "le grand feast," a delicious romp through Lebanese cuisine that included baba ganoush, the lamb, tender chicken, roasted potatoes and a delicious roasted cauliflower.
We were so stuffed that we regretfully declined the dessert menu, but definitely we will come back for another go.
The service was warm and friendly and we were never left wanting for water refills, nor were we rushed through our meal.
A great meal to cap off my spring break back home!
Super yummy, had the feast for 2...
Live band that worked off of donations, and they were really good.
Lounge on one end that had little tables and huge couches. Probably works well as a private room.
Highly recommended! Get resos during the Olympics. I called the same day without a problem.
My two friends and I came here on a Saturday evening, about six o'clock. It wasn't extremely busy, and we were seated right away!
The three of us were seated at a two-person table, which proved to be quite a dining challenge (our elbows kept slamming into the plates, and we were dropping utensils left and right). Groups with even numbers had ample dining room; we noticed a sour-faced party of three who was also in the same predicament.
The ambiance is okay. It's not too noisy. I find the lighting a little dim, though, and I too thought the restaurant was closed before we entered because it was so dark. I also wish they had beer on tap, because we really wanted to split a few pitchers. Oh, well.
Our server was very nice and knowledgeable. Due to the table size, though, she suggested we finish one course as quickly as possible, as more food was coming.
We pretty much scraped all the plates dry. The highlights included the lamb chops (so tender and bursting with flavour), grilled cheese, hummus, baba ghanooj, and falafel. The roasted potatoes and tiger prawns were okay; I could certainly make the former at home. My favourite dish, by far, is the crispy cauliflower. I am a junk food junkie, but I could live off this stuff every day. I don't know how the dessert is, because in the few times I've been here, I've been too full to indulge. The food is very filling.
The prices for the food are fine. I find the drinks overpriced. One other time, I had a mojito, and it was very weak and full of ice. Still, I will be back... but this time, I will make sure my party is an even number.
We choose Nuba for dinner last night primarily because it was so close to the theatre we were going to later - but after last night's meal, I'd certainly return.
We made a reservation because of the Olympic craziness and it turned out to be very smart - it was quite quiet when we got there at 5:30 p.m. but by the time we left at 7:30 p.m. it was packed and there were folks waiting for a table. A few of the tables were very close together, so if you're looking for an intimate evening with lots of privacy, this isn't the place for you.
Our server was very friendly and knowledgeable and the service in general was great.
My dining companions each had a glass of wine for dinner but I went for the sangria and loved it. Tangy, tart, fruity and with a little cinnamon - perfection.
We had the famed crispy cauliflower for an appetizer and it lived up to its reputation. We also had the felafel and the tabouleh salad - both were excellent.
For the main course, two of us had the lamb chops, which were marvellous - juicy and without that gamey taste you sometimes get with lamb. My partner had the salmon special, which she didn't enjoy - the salmon was very dry and overcooked. They both enjoyed the creamy rice and I went for the roast potatoes on the side - nothing special. But the hummus that came with the lamb was exceptional.
We were so stuffed by the end of the meal that we didn't go for dessert - but I'd certainly return to try their turkish coffee tiramisu!
Their cauliflowers deserves its stellar reputation.
The food has been pretty impressive, everything from their eggplant with lebanese rattatouille to their duck magret.
However, personally not very keen on their creamy rice- tasted like creamed brown rice and their beef tenderloin- slightly bland; their lamb is much tastier.
Their portion is pretty generous and service has been consistently great. A great hidden gem that is not so hidden anymore.
My friend took me here for lunch (and a follow up dinner the next night), and I was impressed. I'm not usually a huge fan of Arabic restaurants in the west because the food tends to be too heavy on the fry, the lemon juice and the garlic.
Not so at Nuba. Everything we ate was fresh and well balanced. The fried cauliflower was a nice surprise. The lentil soup was pureed with something smokey (harissa?), and the baba ganouj was, I think, the best I've had outside the Middle East. Very enjoyable meal.
Let's talk about decor. The interior has been revitalized by the family that took over this space. They added rough hewn wooden tables, thick plaster arches, a wall mosaic, inlay cedar pieces, and hanging tin lanterns. The whole effect comes together quite well. Warm yet spare and modern with touches of Beiruti chic (not the usual prayer-rugs-and-brass-coffee-set routine we see too often.)
Charming servers and a full house. Now let's see some pastis on the menu!
Cucumber water!
This is a great place for a date. The light filtering in makes it feel like being inside a breezy, stone Islamic building during the day. At night it has a cozy, hip atmosphere.
I went for lunch with no reservations: it was busy but we got a table right away. I got a lamb hushwie pita and juice. The lamb was good. The pita comes with enough sides to make a good-sized lunch. The juice bar is well-priced.
I went for dinner with reservations. We got two vegetarian mezze samplers between 4 people. It was a lot of food and a bit more variety would have been nice. I didn't really look at the wine menu but the Cono Sur Cab-Carmenere we had was great.
Better pitas would get this to a 5-star. The taboulleh is fine, but it's not as good as Babylon Cafe's.
I am truly in love with Nuba. It never fails me, and each time the experience just seems to be better than the last. And so, I give to you another update of our most recent experience here.
Called in late for a reservation, but they were able to accomodate us and we were seated immediately. Water was brought to us right away. The great service here is another reason that keeps me coming back.
Mezzes-we got the tabouleh and the crispy cauliflower. Tabouleh is fresh, with the perfect hint of mint, and the crispy cauliflower is just awesome. This time, it also came with a green dipping sauce-can't pinpoint what it was, but it also went well with the cauliflower.
Ordered the lamb chops-grilled zataar crusted grain-fed halal lamb chops over hummus and taboulleh. I ordered cooked medium, and it was absolutely perfect!! Juicy, cooked perfectly, no sauces, just all natural flavours. My mouth is watering as I am writing this.
We also order the special of the day, a skewered lamb with tomatoes and onions, served over hummus, and it also comes with roasted potatoes and your choice of a side. This was one large skewer! Huge chunks of lamb, fresh and tasty.
Another wonderful experience!!!
Fish of the day was Sockeye salmon!! I had to get it. We also got the vegan meshwi-brochette of… Read more »
Come fall in love with Nuba, and like me, become a Nubaian :)
Great vegetarian options (crispy cauliflower, amazing falafel and tabouleh, not to mention the hummus, baba ganouj) as well as spectacular meat dishes and homemade baklavah for dessert. And don't miss the turkish coffee, with undertones of lavender and a natural sweetness, it's a perfect match for after lunch.
Great dinner options, daily specials (vegan too!) and a solid wine list make Nuba a must for any meal.
Went here for lunch with my girlfriend and it was great. Started off with two fresh smoothies and then order two grilled pitas (one chicken and one lamb). Absolutely amazing, so fresh and healthy.
Love the cucumber water they serve instead of regular water, refreshing. Finally topped it off with a turkish coffee. The bill was very reasonable and the service was prompt and attentive despite it being very busy for lunch.
Highly recommend it and will definitely return.
Great food that is always fresh. There is a low turn over in staff so if you are a regular they will recognize you and that is always a good thing. Can't say too much about the variety on the menu because I am always drawn to the lamb dishes.
Perfect client lunch meeting spot for sure. The primary clientele would be the startup and agency crowd from the hood.
Who would have thought that Cauliflower could taste so good. You should try the Najib's special. At $10.25 it's a bit steep for Cauliflower, but then again, it's delicious (and I never thought I'd be ordering anything that had Cauliflower as the star ingredient).
P.S: I also never thought I'd write a review that mention the C-word more than once!
What a lovely restaurant. I'd heard a lot about this place.
Stopped in here for a late lunch on the weekend with several of my male friends. We started by sharing the baba ghanooj. Everyone loved this dish. It is one of my favourite dips and this one was probably one of the most delicious ones I've had.
Between us we managed to get a fair sampling of the menu of lunch plates: chicken tawook (chicken breast marinated in paprika, thyme, lemon and garlic confit and grilled), lamb kafta ( a lamb patty seasoned with onions, parsley, & spices), lamb kibbeh (lamb patty with vegetables, pinenuts, burghul & aromatic spices) and the beef kebab. All of these came with either roast potatoes or rice as well as taboulleh, hummus, salad, hot sauce, and pita.
Portions were fair sized; satisfied our lunchtime hunger without overfilling us. Atmosphere was warm and inviting. Server was pleasant and professional. Was very impressed.
My friends invited me to Nuba for dinner on Friday night. I had seen the restaurant while driving by the area but I had not really heard much about it to be honest.
The restaurant's location is very central and can be accessed quickly by car, walking or transit. The ambiance of Nuba is very appealing as the restaurant has dimmed lighting and a romantic/exotic feel to it.
We were served by a very friendly, knowledgeable and professional waitress. She made several suggestions from the menu as she knew we had never dined there before. Two of her suggestions were The Feast and The Grand Feast.
The Feast is a platter where you get a variety of vegetarian dishes. The highlight of that platter were the definitely the lentils and the deliciously famous cauliflower (I am usually not a huge fan of cauliflower... but this one is a MUST).
The Grand Feast (we got the three meat variety) featured prawns, chicken, and lamb chops plus some veggie dishes. All of the dishes were simply delicious - well seasoned with tender meat and lots of flavour.
Once we were done with dinner we moved on to dessert. I had the Cardamom Custard - it was out of this world! My friends had both the Turkish Coffee Tiramisu (which they really liked) and a yogurt dessert. All in all, we were all very happy with our meals.
I would definitely recommend Nuba if you enjoy Lebanese food as the flavours are outstanding and the service is superb.
Lebanese and Lubbin It!
Seriously, you don't average 4.5 stars after 63 reviews (at the time of writing) if you're not great. And "great" is too casual a word to describe Nuba. I rate restaurants on a variety of factors, consistency is definitely one of them - it separates the 4's from the 5's. I have now been to Nuba (Hastings) several times and the food has been amazing every single time. All the meat is (halal), deliciously tender and perfectly spiced and the meals include lots of veggies so you're actually eating responsibly...without being reminded with every bite (you remember eating raw kale!) The service is efficient and cordial, and the interior is perfectly transcendental. Right now, Nuba could be my favourite lunch destination in the city. And from the number of lunchtime disciples, I'm not the only one feeling that way. It's a rare moment when I actually feel blessed to have access to such a place. But here we are. Enjoy!
My friend and I visited Nuba last Saturday night. It was my first time and I was pleasantly surprised. The room is minimal, comfortable, and has warmth and good energy... perfect for an intimate dinner with friends. Food was very good, service attentive and prices fair.
Great service, good was good.
I've been to Nuba twice for a quick lunch and, both times, I've had the Garden Falafel which is, by far, the best falafel I've tasted.
While always hopping, we didn't have to wait for seat on either of our lunchtime visits and the wait staff was friendly and casual.
I like the cucumber slices in the water although one of my friends hates cucumbers and was unpleasantly surprised when he took a sip of his water. Another glass was quickly provided on request, sans cuke, and all was well again.
I'm eager to get back and try the famous Crispy Cauliflower after reading the reviews here on yelp.
Excellent, fresh and tasty Lebanese restaurant at Victory Square. I really like Lebanese food as it's simple and healthy while rich on flavour. Nuba did not disappoint. The atmosphere was cool and the service friendly and prompt.
The food here is quite something, I had a chicken pita wrap (get the deluxe version with extra feta and chicken) which was outstanding. It had a full chicken breast inside and was done so well you'd happily eat it stand alone. Very well spiced too with extra hot sauce available. Also had the hummus and feta & olives appetizer. The feta came in large chunks that were wonderfully fresh. The chef here knows and loves their food for sure.
I worry however that it's in a poor location. This spot has gone through restaurants at a rapid pace, the walk by traffic isn't good enough to sustain apparently. All you Yelpers better go out and support so I can get my feta fix for years to come!
Nuba is one of my favourite lunch spots. It's casual and there are tonnes of options for vegetarians, vegans, and carnivores alike. The Deluxe Toasted Veggie is my go to menu item. The caramelized onions and feta combo are delicious whether you have it with the falafel or najib. Don't be afraid of the hot sauce. It's not that hot. They offer a wide assortment of juices at lunchtime, but the cucumber water that they serve is the perfect compliment to any dish you order. They've also got a nice back room for larger parties.
Ok, four stars, but I have to make few comments.
I had the falafels for starters and that dish was in perfect balance. The texture of the falafels was perfect and the taste deep and earthy but still fresh. The spices were in balance and complimented the main ingredients really well.
Same thing applies also to the onions and feta & dried fruit salad that was served with the duck magret. Making spicy food that shows how the balance of spices and ingredients is really considered and prepared perfectly is not a trivial task, but the chefs at Nuba absolutely know what they are doing in this aspect.
I wasn't 100% satisfied with the duck itself though. It could have been a little more tender and the layer of fat had some taste I didn't like so I cut that off. I normally do like the duck fat so this was a bit odd.
But taking the fat away and having the onions or the dried fruit salad in the mouthfulls actually worked a lot better than the meat itself.
A little bit same kind of balancing issue was with the dessert. The cardamom cream custard was delicious, and the fresh strawberry balanced the creamy spiciness really nicely. The turkish coffee had also some kind of blossom water, could have been rosewater. It was a bit too sweet to my taste but still ok.
But having these two deep flower tastes together was a little too much. Ok, it's a matter of my choises but still the coffee would have been better without the flower water in it. I loved the way it was served in this small pot you pour it to the cup from.
I'd like to emphasize that still the total experience was worth 4 stars and a three star rating would not do justice for the place, the experiment or the food itself.
I like how they worked the basement interior with mirrors that give a sense of space and allow daylight to go around the room. They also have the Thievery Corporation song Lebanese Blonde in their music selection which in my opinion shows both sense of humor and sense of good music.
No complaints related to staff, they were as nice as I'm already used to experience in the restaurants I've visited during my stay in Vancouver. I like the way the waiters take few moments to have a little chit chat with a person eating by himself. BTW, I have to say that even though the tipping practice is used in USA and Canada, it somehow seems that at least in Vancouver the people actually like having a conversation with you and not only in the hope of a bigger tip.
Oh, and the waitresses are pretty as heck.
Neighborhood: Granville Entertainment District
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