Quick Bites: Nomm

Nomm has claimed a coveted location on the corner of Avinguda del Paral·lel and Carrer del Parlament, adding their unique brand of Asian fusion to the neighbourhood’s blossoming food scene. Nomm is the creation of two potent culinary minds, Portuguese chef Nuno Costa (with a decade of professional cooking experience under his belt, including time spent in the kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurant Marqués de Riscal, in the heart of La Rioja) and Peter Vivant (restaurant innovator who, after years of living and travelling throughout Asia, brings his gastronomic personal history to the table). You may remember Peter from my article 'Come Dine With Me', as he was one of the top-rated Barcelona hosts on EatWith, the popular online food experience booking platform, prior to Nomm’s launch. For years, Peter entertained countless guests in his home with flavour-packed Asian dishes of Chinese origin, so when the opportunity to open a restaurant in the city centre presented itself, the choice was simple. 

The menu at Nomm is definitely upscale, without a stiff formality, putting it head and shoulders above many of the pan-Asian restaurants in Barcelona that, while being tasty, often don’t offer true creativity to their patrons. The cuisine of Nomm is a self-proclaimed assortment from ‘Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan, South Korea, Latin America, Portugal, France, Italy and Catalunya’. Tantalising dishes like Spicy Tuna Tartar with fried quinoa, kimchi sauce and potato ‘airbags’, Steak Tartar with truffle, mustard ice cream and Sichuan peppercorns, Scallop, Sea Urchin nigiri with Tandoori masala, and Foie Gras micuit rolled in seaweed with tahini hazelnut mousse and peanut butter ice cream show off Peter’s bon vivant zeal, and both the execution and presentation live up to expectations. As an added bonus, Chef Nuno Costa has brought along some flavours of his native Lisbon that should not be missed, including an incredible dish of Grilled Octopus with chorizo egg yolk croquettes, pickles, Kalamata olives and potato foam, as well as the cataplana of sautéed clams Bulhão Pato style—a classic way of serving clams in Portugal, except at Nomm, you can choose to add kimchi or curry. There’s always an indulgent twist.

Nomm.  Av. del Paraŀlel 130. Tel. 93 280 7925. Opening times: Tues-Thurs 5pm-2am, Fri-Sat 5pm-3am, Sun 5pm-12am, Mon closed.