Walked in around 10:30 p.m. on a Saturday. The host offered several seating options, a regular two…read moretop table, the bar or a high top. I opted for the high top right by the kitchen, and honestly, great choice -- it smelled amazing. Most people prefer not to sit by the kitchen with all the foot traffic but I didn't mind it at all.
Nobie's is a house that's been transformed into a restaurant. One of the bartenders told me it's a 104-year-old house, and the whole place has very "house party" vibes in the best way.
The music is LOUD. And it gets progressively louder as the night goes on, so if that's not your vibe, keep that in mind. But I was very into it. Lil Flip was playing when I walked in and it took me back to high school house parties. On shuffle were more throwbacks and classics: Ludacris and "Notorious Thugs" by Biggie.
The chairs, however, were not my favorite. They're low-backed and kind of cage-like, with only a thin cushion, so they aren't exactly the most comfortable for a long meal.
Started with a cocktail: the Remolacha del Corazón -- beet tequila, mezcal, watermelon (house-made syrup), lime and a tajín rim. You can hardly taste the mezcal, which I'm assuming is the point. I like mezcal so it would have been nice to taste it but the beet tequila is definitely the star, with the watermelon and lime adding a nice balance.
Appetizer: Don't Worry, Brie Happy ($18). Brie, local honey, smoked grapes, toast. There was basically no local honey on my plate, but those smoked grapes?! They're topped with flaky salt while they're still hot and OMG!! The combination of warm, smoky, sweet and salty was fantastic. My only complaint was the amount of toast. There was a little too much toast for the amount of brie and grapes, so the ratios felt slightly off.
Main course: Jamón With Your Bad Self ($45). Ibérico secreto pork steak, tonnato, shaved Brussels sprouts, salsa verde and almonds. I'm particular about pork, so I was taking a bit of a chance here, but this dish sounded too interesting to pass up. The pork steak was cooked perfectly and had some wonderfully crispy pieces around the edges. The tonnato underneath the pork was really good. It almost reminded me of a Caesar dressing and added this rich, savory element to the dish. The shaved Brussels sprouts were great, too, especially with the almonds and Parmesan. Everything worked really well together.
Dessert: Olive Oil Cake. A house staple, and for good reason. A lovely way to end the meal.
Overall, Nobie's has a really fun, unpretentious energy. Between the old-house setting, loud music and memorable dishes, it feels like somewhere you go to hang out as much as you go to eat. Just know what you're getting into with the volume and the seating -- this is not exactly a quiet, polished fine-dining experience, and that's kind of the charm.