NineB Leicester, opened on 16th of January 2020. Located in the newly developed Great Central Square, the modern and stylish restaurant and bar brings a brilliant addition to the food & beverage market in Leicester city centre.

The decor and name of NineB came as a result of the mosaic Roman tile discovered by builders during construction. Towards the back of the restaurant, you can see the replica of the mosaic NineB have tried to recreate with lighting.

When you walk in you are welcomed with velvet chairs, orange bar stools, high tables, round plush booths and cosy tables for two. The choice is yours and that is why NineB appeals to a wide range of people whether it be business or pleasure. The lighting is warm and the decor is stylish, modern and functional. My husband was rather pleased with the wireless charges on some of the tables by the bar area. The bar itself is striking, with a great display with warm tones of gold. You can enjoy a drink at the bar counter or on one of their comfortable seating areas.

Guests have the option to hire out the private dining area which is sectioned off my a decorative metal curtain.

The restaurant is an independent and works with local producers where possible. Examples include Langton Brewery, Brockleby’s pies, St. Martin’s coffee and Two Birds Spirits gin.

NineB provides the breakfast service for the adjacent Novotel. The restaurant serves an All Day Menu for those wanting a lighter bite to eat. They also have a Main Menu which has a great range of hearty dishes and some British classics.

NineB is managed by the experienced Manish Sharma, who ensures customers feel welcome and relaxed. The bar is managed by Katie, who is experienced too and is there to ensure you get the best drinks and service.

Drinks

The cocktail menu is small yet has a great selection of creative cocktails. I have had The Pink Centurion which was garnished with a dehydrated slice of orange (Two Birds strawberry & vanilla gin, Two Birds Parma violet gin, pineapple juice, cranberry juice and lemon juice) and The True Legend garnished with orange zest and chocolate powder (Cointreau, Kahlua, and espresso). They both were perfectly made and for £8.50 were a bargain.

The bar serves a range of craft and draught beers, wine and a range of spirits. If you just want a hot drink, they serve that too.
If you are based in Leicester and have a Cool As Black card, NineB offer 50% off their cocktails (Sun – Fri).

Food

Each dish we had was beautifully presented and freshly prepared by the chef. It was clear a lot of detail and thought has gone into the menu. There is something for everyone. 

On the evening Kev & I enjoyed the following dishes:

Starters:

• Wild mushroom arancini balls and chilli tomato relish : Crispy on the outside and creamy well cooked and seasoned risotto on the inside.  It would have been nice to have a bit more mushroom inside however it was still enjoyable especially with the slightly spiced relish. 
• Pan seared scallops with crushed pea purée with pork pancetta: Three juicy seared scallops came on a bed of seasoned crushed peas with crispy pancetta. The textures were perfect on the starter and the saltiness of the pancetta paired perfectly with the subtle scallops. 

Mains and sides:

• Chargrilled halloumi, padron peppers, pearl barley and chilli and olive dressing: The salad was well dressed and substantial especially for a small one. The halloumi was pan fried perfectly, barley cooked well and the salad leaves were vibrant and fresh tasting. A tasty salad.
• British pork belly buttery mash and hispi cabbage: Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the belly was cooked as it should be and was enjoyable. The mash was buttery and ever mouthful melted away. The cabbage was charred and seasoned and worked really well with the pork belly.
• Tenderstem broccoli and chilli and ginger butter: A good portion of tenderstem broccoli was served covered in a tasty chilli and ginger butter. The side worked well with the salad and pork and was flavoursome. 
• Roasted sweet potato wedges and harissa yoghurt: I cannot resist a side of sweet potatoes. Four soft creamy wedges came with a lightly flavoured yoghurt. The portion was generous and the wedges went down well especially with the salad. 

Desserts:

• Steamed ginger sponge poached plums and vanilla custard: Pieces of candied ginger in a soft sponge served with warm custard. This was so scrumptious and worked really well together. I would actually go back and order the cake (minus the custard) to have with a cuppa it was so nice. 
• Apple tarte tatin and vanilla icecream: This looked amazing and the melting ice cream got us drooling. The tatin was thin and combined with caramel this made a perfect end to the meal. The apples were sliced well and the dish was baked to perfection.  

Thank you NineB for the lovely flavoursome meal, the delicious cocktails and the welcoming and friendly service. A great venue to meet for drinks, have a meal, work or just catch up over coffee.

NineB is located in the Novotel.

To find out more, click here.
NineB Restaurant and Bar
Address: 3 Great Central Square, Leicester LE1 4JS
Tel: 0116 482 0444 

Neha

Disclaimer [AD]: This was an invite/gift. All views, opinions and photos are my own unless otherwise stated.