This is my new fav. restaurant in HSV!!!! We love the food @ Bridge Street, 801 Franklin, Pauli's is a regular destination, etc. But, Nick's has a wonderful local/neighborhood "feel" to it. Nick and Sherry Mikus are exception owners who act as hosts, whom you are visiting at their home. We enjoyed not only the friendliness of everyone there, the Server's (Crystal, who was EXCEPTIONAL) attention to detail (no glass left empty, offering suggestions, quick pick up of used dishes, etc.) but also the atmosphere, (casual, yet slightly upscale), and then the **food**. We started off with the crab cake app which was WONDERFUL, no remoulade (sp?) needed, a squeeze of the (provided) fresh lemon encased in cheese cloth (nice touch that you don't often see), was all it needed. Cakes were not heavy on the breading like so many others and were HUGE in comparison to most restaurants. Then, we each had the blue cheese Wedge, which could be a meal in itself (your choice of dressing, didn't have to be bleu cheese, with olive garnish). I had the 6 oz filet, cooked to perfection - could have cut it with a butter knife, but was (surprisingly) provided with a steak knife with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. My husb. had the Salmon, which i tasted and found it perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection! No complaints at all! Nick mentioned that they may be adding more Northern Italian fare to their menu, which looked good on the menu (veal piccata, etc), but their steaks cannot be beat. I was disappointed that they were out of Port wine, which I would have enjoyed as an after dinner drink. However, I was so impressed by the extensive and VERY reasonably priced wine ( a glass that would cost, easily 9.00 elsewhere is 7.00 here and bottle prices are even better!!!) . Cigar donations support the U.S. Army! Nick is a U.S. Army Veteran (40 yrs?) and my only regret is not thanking him for serving our country. You should try Nicks, you won't be disappointed. I wish there were a "Nick's West" that is closer to our house...maybe in the future Nick and Sherry??? Looking forward to your special events and look forward to being on your mailing list. Thanks for the great ristorante!!!!!!!!!! Ringraziarla per una sera meravigliosa! Buono ciao e la buona salute!
(5)
Lesley G.
Nick's is a wonderful celebration destination! The food, the service and the ambiance are superb. You may want to join their Mafia Club.
(5)
Ned A.
Nick's is one of the best places in town to have a dinner. I always had steak. It is well done and well presented. Nick and his brother Dave visit tables to inquire about your experience. The place is pleasantly decorated. I have nothing to say but praise for it. I am now one of the regulars and hope to stay that way.
(5)
Bryan H.
For some reason I thought I wrote a review but I don't see it (was it deleted)? Some tips: If you do not like smoke, please ask to be seated far away from the door to the smoke room. I took my wife here for her Birthday and they sat us at the table right next to the door. Every time the door swung, we got a huge smoke smell coming through. The bread stick / cheese appetizer they give you at the beginning was nothing spectacular you can't get from Publix. The bread wasn't too bad. We shared the Portobello appetizer which was good but nothing that we couldn't have created on our own. No distinct flavors. I was very disappointed in the Filet that I had. It was cooked correctly but had no taste what so ever. Do something crazy like what James Steakhouse in town used to do. Provide a coffee rub, a balsamic blueberry, blue crab topping, crusted bread, season it for goodness sake. It tasted like they dropped the filet straight on and had no flavor. I can't remember now what my wife had, but she said was just okay. Nothing to write home about. Our waitress was not familiar with the wine list whatsoever. The selections or Italian wine offering wasn't that great either. Next time I will bring my own and pay a cork fee. The dessert was very good though. My wife had the chocolate crème brulee and loved it and I had the cannoli and it was fresh and not stale like some people provide. It was crisp and the ricotta filling very yummy. Will we come back? I am not sure...it is not what I consider fine dining for that price point. Take a trip to Atlanta, Nashville, etc. and see what they do if you want to charge this much for dinner.
(3)
Tamara F.
My family was in town last week and decided to go out for a great meal. We were not disappointed! Great atmosphere, exceptional service and delicious food. Everyone was so pleased with the entire experience, from start to finish. Steaks were great, scallops excellent and eggplant Parmesan was tasty. We will be back !
(4)
Stephen D.
I visited Nick's while on a business trip to Huntsville and NASA. The guys in my meeting suggested a visit if I wanted a great meal. The food was great. Certainly better than anywhere else I visited in the area. I had the ribeye steak, wedge salad and a special risotto dish that was being offered for the night. The steak was cooked perfectly. I could have used a bit more seasoning it to be an overall perfect ribeye, but the add-on of the "Nick's steak sauce" fixed any under seasoning issues. The salad was fine. Nothing "elevated" about it, but it was a good wedge none the less. The risotto dish was awesome. Definitely the highlight of the meal. If you have a chance to come here you definitely should.
(5)
Bianca S.
Cozy place. They have live music at night. Reservations recommended. The food was awesome and the portions big.
(4)
Rebecca B.
Nothing but 5 stars...it's on the other side of town for us, but SO worth the drive. Loved the decor, the ambiance, the service was outstanding on both visits & the food excellent! Hubby had the bone-in ribeye both times - it was perfectly cooked & seasoned - lamb chops for me the first visit & prime rib the second...the lamb was excellent, the prime just as good - finished the meal with an espresso & a lemony fluffy dessert that I can't remember the name of - but I could eat it for breakfast, lunch & dinner! Hung out in the bar on our second visit, watching football & enjoying ourselves! Will we be back, you betcha!
(5)
Kathi C.
My girlfriend and I went at 6:30 on a Tuesday night, and the bar was already packed with happy patrons. The dining area was just starting to ramp up, but it was clear that this was a well-frequented establishment. I tried the wild salmon, which was grilled perfectly. I asked for it plain, without butter or oil, and it was delicious without the need for extra seasoning. My dining companion tried the filet, which was very tender. Our waiter was patient with our questions and very knowledgeable with answers. He was very attentive and even turned us on to their homemade margaritas. The owners took turns to say hi to us and welcome us. I felt like I was eating in a good friend's very nice dining room. The bottom line: Pluses- -warm atmosphere in an unexpected shopping center -classy restaurant without the stuffy feeling -friendly and knowledgeable staff -nice salmon dish Minuses- -the bar stays very smoky, and some of that smoke seeps into the dining area -you have to go through the smoky bar to the restroom (unless I missed one in the dining area) -the portions are a little small for the price-I only had 3 spears of asparagus with my salmon, and that was the extent of my side dish I would return, since Nick recommended the lamb chops and the NY strip!
(4)
Jeff R.
Like an old Italian experience. Best traditional Italian in Huntsville!!! I like the cigar bar option but my wife doesn't but the food is worth it.
(5)
Donald L.
The atmosphere is very intimate and the food is great.
(5)
Ann P.
First of all we were visiting the area on our way back to PA. So we are not familiar with anything. We were hungry for Italian so of course I consulted Yelp. It's never steered us wrong! We found Nick ' s Restorante. We did not have reservations and they were booked. But we only had to wait a few minutes for a table. I had the Veal Parm and my hubby had Pasta Vignole? Can't spell it. Both were delicious and very filling. The restaurant is quite small. The only reason 4 stars is for the cost, which is very expensive. And our waiter was not the best. He gave us bread with no butter or dipping oil. And he never came back to ask how our food was after we were served! He was not very attentive compared to the other waitresses or waiters. The others refilled our water glasses many times and asked if they could get us anything. The other thing was the bar with a door in between but the cigar and cig smoke would come in dining area each time the door opened. I would highly recommend this place.
(4)
Karen W.
When you go to Nick's, you're treated like family!! Great atmosphere, great food, great service.
Oops! What happened to the steaks??? First timers Friday night; loved everything except the steak. Can't give more than 3 stars because they goofed their specialty... Not just at our table, but others as well. Loved the atmosphere. Ãœber romantic and my favorite ambiance in all of Huntsville. Our waitress, Karen, was fabulous! Outstanding and professional service and went above and beyond. A+ to Karen! Each table gets a "complementary cheese plate." It consists of a little cheese ball that is rich, full of flavor, and delicious. It's served with 4 small store-bought sesame stick crackers, each stuck into the cheese ball, like north, south, east, and west. Presentation can definitely be improved, and fresh-made sesame or bread sticks would be a nice improvement. We had the sliced duck for appetizer. Nicely done. The basket of freshly baked bread was hot, fresh, and delicious. The salad was a wedge of iceberg lettuce, which was a turnoff to my husband, but I enjoyed it. The pear vinaigrette recommended by Karen was superb. Entrees: I ordered the sirloin. Medium well and with mushroom risotto as the side. The risotto was delicious. I would love to see it made with wild mushrooms rather than baby portabellas. The sirloin was tasteless and so dry that I couldn't eat it. I had to take a gulp of water with every bite to try to get it down. It had no seasoning or flavor. My husband got the prime rib, medium rare, with garlic mashed potatoes as his side. He is a steak connoisseur, and said it was a perfect cut, perfectly cooked, but also had no seasoning whatsoever and no taste whatsoever. We took out steaks home. I literally soaked mine in Worcester sauce to soften it add flavor. The prime rib remains in the fridge, unwanted. After dinner, I noticed a table of 4 ladies next to us. They had just been served their steak dinners. One woman took her first bite, and made bad faces as she chewed. Her table mate took her first bite, and I noticed her chewing slowed down quite a bit, and she looked puzzled. Woman #1 then asked woman #2 what she thought. She replied, "it tastes good, but...". Woman #1 then said, "Mine doesn't even taste good." She looked ready to spit it out; that's when we left. In retrospect, we should've spoken up to the manager while we were there. We're just not comfortable doing so. I hope the other table did. We will definitely return for the great service (and will ask for Karen) and lovely ambiance, but we'll stay away from the steaks and stick with Northern Italian dishes instead.
(3)
Amanda S.
We visited the bar on a date night for an after dinner drink. The bar isn't for you if smoke is going to bother you. But if you're looking for a nice atmosphere for a cigar and a drink this place is great! We loved the server. He was very friendly and gave my husband a free sample of scotch we had never tried. The atmosphere was low lighting and very tastefully decorated. Although we didn't eat anything the couple sitting next to us told us the food is awesome. We really enjoyed our evening there and can't wait to go back and try the food. Nick's is a great little spot.
Really sad when a proclaimed Italian restaurant does not have expresso. I would be ashamed if I owned a place and subjected people to dangerous second hand smoke while they ate in the dining room. The only bathroom located in bar area is not suitable for restaurant patrons who do not want to be asphyxiated. I could not smell or taste the food because of the overwhelming amount of smoke. Cheese ball with bread sticks was not good. Presentation of food was ok. Had I known this place was this bad, I would have went to 1892 east instead and be able to enjoy my food and not have a sinus infection.
(1)
darren l.
Other than being a $5 a plate overpriced this is a nice place. Food allergy friendly, with a smaller menu, and nice service. Great food.
(4)
Buzz B.
Yay, my first 5-star review! I went here with my usual date - my ultra mature teenage daughter, her birthday, in fact - and we were immediately impressed by the upscale but casual decor and the friendliness of the owners and staff. The cost of meals here is, of course, quite above average, but the quality of the food - and service - completely justifies it. We ordered the house sirloin and the chicken marsala. The steak was probably the best steak I've ever had, and I'm ooooold - close to 60! The chicken marsala was cooked perfectly. To top it off, the staff gave my daughter a free birthday dessert. If and when I can afford to do so again (college costs coming up - ahem...) I will certainly do so. Heck, if I can meet the right better half, I'd certainly love to take her to this place and REALLY impress her LOL! **************** Second visit follow up: I'll still leave my review at 5 stars but I was disappointed in the Scallop Pasta Nicky. I'm just not a fan of acidic wine based sauces, plus the sauce contained lemon. The very thin sauce also did not pair up very well with the angel hair pasta. In addition, the four scallops that came with the dish (kind of skimpy), although cooked through OK, were not seared properly. One side of a couple of scallops was seared the nice golden brown one expects, but in no case were both sides seared properly and a couple of the scallops had no golden brown color at all. I suggest they be cooked at a much higher temperature to get that golden sear without overcooking (getting into my Gordon Ramsay mode lol!). The side of broccoli I ordered was also underseasoned. But it was a large crowd that night, so probably the chef was overwhelmed. I should have gotten the clam linguine instead.
(5)
Amy K.
This is a great place to go and celebrate a special occasion. My husband made reservations for our 7 year anniversary. They not only remembered to congratulate us when we came, they had champagne at the table waiting for us! The staff was very nice and we had a lovely evening. The atmosphere was also very good. Like the description below says, it is very casual while the food is just excellent. My filet was one of the best steaks I've ever had. My husband had the Australian lamb chops. He was very impressed by his meal as well. I have a feeling that we will be going back to Nick's for many more dinners.
(5)
Christine W.
Visited Nick's for the first time with a party of 10 for a business dinner. Everyone was from out of town, so I wanted to go to a nice restaurant that was not a chain. Nick's did not disappoint! The staff is top notch! The food was amazing! After reading the online reviews, I had to try the Filet. It was the best I've ever had. You could literally cut it with a butter knife. Cooked to perfection! My husband had a warm spinach salad as his salad entree, which I highly recommend. Several of the guys ordered the 20 ounce Bone In Ribeye, and all who ordered it thoroughly enjoy it. I highly recommend Nick's if you're looking for great food, great atmosphere, and great service!
(5)
John C.
My wife and I brought another couple for their first visit and as always, everything was awesome. We have been here multiple times for dinner over the last 2 years and it keeps getting better. Perfect service, the appetizers were great and the main courses were delicious. The bone in Ribeye was very tasty! I had the best cannoli in town for dessert and my wife always gets the Tiramisu . Our friends loved it and will be back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic, Classy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
P M.
This is my new fav. restaurant in HSV!!!! We love the food @ Bridge Street, 801 Franklin, Pauli's is a regular destination, etc. But, Nick's has a wonderful local/neighborhood "feel" to it. Nick and Sherry Mikus are exception owners who act as hosts, whom you are visiting at their home. We enjoyed not only the friendliness of everyone there, the Server's (Crystal, who was EXCEPTIONAL) attention to detail (no glass left empty, offering suggestions, quick pick up of used dishes, etc.) but also the atmosphere, (casual, yet slightly upscale), and then the **food**. We started off with the crab cake app which was WONDERFUL, no remoulade (sp?) needed, a squeeze of the (provided) fresh lemon encased in cheese cloth (nice touch that you don't often see), was all it needed. Cakes were not heavy on the breading like so many others and were HUGE in comparison to most restaurants. Then, we each had the blue cheese Wedge, which could be a meal in itself (your choice of dressing, didn't have to be bleu cheese, with olive garnish). I had the 6 oz filet, cooked to perfection - could have cut it with a butter knife, but was (surprisingly) provided with a steak knife with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. My husb. had the Salmon, which i tasted and found it perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection! No complaints at all! Nick mentioned that they may be adding more Northern Italian fare to their menu, which looked good on the menu (veal piccata, etc), but their steaks cannot be beat. I was disappointed that they were out of Port wine, which I would have enjoyed as an after dinner drink. However, I was so impressed by the extensive and VERY reasonably priced wine ( a glass that would cost, easily 9.00 elsewhere is 7.00 here and bottle prices are even better!!!) . Cigar donations support the U.S. Army! Nick is a U.S. Army Veteran (40 yrs?) and my only regret is not thanking him for serving our country. You should try Nicks, you won't be disappointed. I wish there were a "Nick's West" that is closer to our house...maybe in the future Nick and Sherry??? Looking forward to your special events and look forward to being on your mailing list. Thanks for the great ristorante!!!!!!!!!! Ringraziarla per una sera meravigliosa! Buono ciao e la buona salute!
(5)Lesley G.
Nick's is a wonderful celebration destination! The food, the service and the ambiance are superb. You may want to join their Mafia Club.
(5)Ned A.
Nick's is one of the best places in town to have a dinner. I always had steak. It is well done and well presented. Nick and his brother Dave visit tables to inquire about your experience. The place is pleasantly decorated. I have nothing to say but praise for it. I am now one of the regulars and hope to stay that way.
(5)Bryan H.
For some reason I thought I wrote a review but I don't see it (was it deleted)? Some tips: If you do not like smoke, please ask to be seated far away from the door to the smoke room. I took my wife here for her Birthday and they sat us at the table right next to the door. Every time the door swung, we got a huge smoke smell coming through. The bread stick / cheese appetizer they give you at the beginning was nothing spectacular you can't get from Publix. The bread wasn't too bad. We shared the Portobello appetizer which was good but nothing that we couldn't have created on our own. No distinct flavors. I was very disappointed in the Filet that I had. It was cooked correctly but had no taste what so ever. Do something crazy like what James Steakhouse in town used to do. Provide a coffee rub, a balsamic blueberry, blue crab topping, crusted bread, season it for goodness sake. It tasted like they dropped the filet straight on and had no flavor. I can't remember now what my wife had, but she said was just okay. Nothing to write home about. Our waitress was not familiar with the wine list whatsoever. The selections or Italian wine offering wasn't that great either. Next time I will bring my own and pay a cork fee. The dessert was very good though. My wife had the chocolate crème brulee and loved it and I had the cannoli and it was fresh and not stale like some people provide. It was crisp and the ricotta filling very yummy. Will we come back? I am not sure...it is not what I consider fine dining for that price point. Take a trip to Atlanta, Nashville, etc. and see what they do if you want to charge this much for dinner.
(3)Tamara F.
My family was in town last week and decided to go out for a great meal. We were not disappointed! Great atmosphere, exceptional service and delicious food. Everyone was so pleased with the entire experience, from start to finish. Steaks were great, scallops excellent and eggplant Parmesan was tasty. We will be back !
(4)Stephen D.
I visited Nick's while on a business trip to Huntsville and NASA. The guys in my meeting suggested a visit if I wanted a great meal. The food was great. Certainly better than anywhere else I visited in the area. I had the ribeye steak, wedge salad and a special risotto dish that was being offered for the night. The steak was cooked perfectly. I could have used a bit more seasoning it to be an overall perfect ribeye, but the add-on of the "Nick's steak sauce" fixed any under seasoning issues. The salad was fine. Nothing "elevated" about it, but it was a good wedge none the less. The risotto dish was awesome. Definitely the highlight of the meal. If you have a chance to come here you definitely should.
(5)Bianca S.
Cozy place. They have live music at night. Reservations recommended. The food was awesome and the portions big.
(4)Rebecca B.
Nothing but 5 stars...it's on the other side of town for us, but SO worth the drive. Loved the decor, the ambiance, the service was outstanding on both visits & the food excellent! Hubby had the bone-in ribeye both times - it was perfectly cooked & seasoned - lamb chops for me the first visit & prime rib the second...the lamb was excellent, the prime just as good - finished the meal with an espresso & a lemony fluffy dessert that I can't remember the name of - but I could eat it for breakfast, lunch & dinner! Hung out in the bar on our second visit, watching football & enjoying ourselves! Will we be back, you betcha!
(5)Kathi C.
My girlfriend and I went at 6:30 on a Tuesday night, and the bar was already packed with happy patrons. The dining area was just starting to ramp up, but it was clear that this was a well-frequented establishment. I tried the wild salmon, which was grilled perfectly. I asked for it plain, without butter or oil, and it was delicious without the need for extra seasoning. My dining companion tried the filet, which was very tender. Our waiter was patient with our questions and very knowledgeable with answers. He was very attentive and even turned us on to their homemade margaritas. The owners took turns to say hi to us and welcome us. I felt like I was eating in a good friend's very nice dining room. The bottom line: Pluses- -warm atmosphere in an unexpected shopping center -classy restaurant without the stuffy feeling -friendly and knowledgeable staff -nice salmon dish Minuses- -the bar stays very smoky, and some of that smoke seeps into the dining area -you have to go through the smoky bar to the restroom (unless I missed one in the dining area) -the portions are a little small for the price-I only had 3 spears of asparagus with my salmon, and that was the extent of my side dish I would return, since Nick recommended the lamb chops and the NY strip!
(4)Jeff R.
Like an old Italian experience. Best traditional Italian in Huntsville!!! I like the cigar bar option but my wife doesn't but the food is worth it.
(5)Donald L.
The atmosphere is very intimate and the food is great.
(5)Ann P.
First of all we were visiting the area on our way back to PA. So we are not familiar with anything. We were hungry for Italian so of course I consulted Yelp. It's never steered us wrong! We found Nick ' s Restorante. We did not have reservations and they were booked. But we only had to wait a few minutes for a table. I had the Veal Parm and my hubby had Pasta Vignole? Can't spell it. Both were delicious and very filling. The restaurant is quite small. The only reason 4 stars is for the cost, which is very expensive. And our waiter was not the best. He gave us bread with no butter or dipping oil. And he never came back to ask how our food was after we were served! He was not very attentive compared to the other waitresses or waiters. The others refilled our water glasses many times and asked if they could get us anything. The other thing was the bar with a door in between but the cigar and cig smoke would come in dining area each time the door opened. I would highly recommend this place.
(4)Karen W.
When you go to Nick's, you're treated like family!! Great atmosphere, great food, great service.
(5)Celia R.
Nick's has amazing food, spirits, and service! My fiancé and I are Mafia Club members and it's well worth the money!!! Check out the 20oz porterhouse steak and the Siberian crab legs for a special treat! They allow cigars in the bar but do have a non-smoking dining room if cigars aren't your style.
(5)Diana K.
Oops! What happened to the steaks??? First timers Friday night; loved everything except the steak. Can't give more than 3 stars because they goofed their specialty... Not just at our table, but others as well. Loved the atmosphere. Ãœber romantic and my favorite ambiance in all of Huntsville. Our waitress, Karen, was fabulous! Outstanding and professional service and went above and beyond. A+ to Karen! Each table gets a "complementary cheese plate." It consists of a little cheese ball that is rich, full of flavor, and delicious. It's served with 4 small store-bought sesame stick crackers, each stuck into the cheese ball, like north, south, east, and west. Presentation can definitely be improved, and fresh-made sesame or bread sticks would be a nice improvement. We had the sliced duck for appetizer. Nicely done. The basket of freshly baked bread was hot, fresh, and delicious. The salad was a wedge of iceberg lettuce, which was a turnoff to my husband, but I enjoyed it. The pear vinaigrette recommended by Karen was superb. Entrees: I ordered the sirloin. Medium well and with mushroom risotto as the side. The risotto was delicious. I would love to see it made with wild mushrooms rather than baby portabellas. The sirloin was tasteless and so dry that I couldn't eat it. I had to take a gulp of water with every bite to try to get it down. It had no seasoning or flavor. My husband got the prime rib, medium rare, with garlic mashed potatoes as his side. He is a steak connoisseur, and said it was a perfect cut, perfectly cooked, but also had no seasoning whatsoever and no taste whatsoever. We took out steaks home. I literally soaked mine in Worcester sauce to soften it add flavor. The prime rib remains in the fridge, unwanted. After dinner, I noticed a table of 4 ladies next to us. They had just been served their steak dinners. One woman took her first bite, and made bad faces as she chewed. Her table mate took her first bite, and I noticed her chewing slowed down quite a bit, and she looked puzzled. Woman #1 then asked woman #2 what she thought. She replied, "it tastes good, but...". Woman #1 then said, "Mine doesn't even taste good." She looked ready to spit it out; that's when we left. In retrospect, we should've spoken up to the manager while we were there. We're just not comfortable doing so. I hope the other table did. We will definitely return for the great service (and will ask for Karen) and lovely ambiance, but we'll stay away from the steaks and stick with Northern Italian dishes instead.
(3)Amanda S.
We visited the bar on a date night for an after dinner drink. The bar isn't for you if smoke is going to bother you. But if you're looking for a nice atmosphere for a cigar and a drink this place is great! We loved the server. He was very friendly and gave my husband a free sample of scotch we had never tried. The atmosphere was low lighting and very tastefully decorated. Although we didn't eat anything the couple sitting next to us told us the food is awesome. We really enjoyed our evening there and can't wait to go back and try the food. Nick's is a great little spot.
(5)'Chelley B.
I was going to give 2 stars, just because the service wasn't bad, but the reality is, I'd never go again. Some atmosphere notes: The bar is separate, but the dining area is still quite smoky. The room is kinda dark, and the décor is moderately tacky. It seems they're trying a little too hard to be considered "elegant," and they're missing the mark. For example, the personalized chargers (big plates that are immediately removed upon being seated - so, what's the point?) and glassware with the restaurant logo was particularly strange (i.e. tacky). The restroom is through the super smoky bar. The ladies' room had interesting features, like a mirror and upholstered bench adjacent to the toilet and mouthwash in the soap dispenser. When we entered, we were the only guests, but we were seated just outside the kitchen door. That seems an odd discourtesy, although I recognize we only needed a 2-top. It was just weird, but not worth pointing out to be moved, quite honestly. I ordered the warm spinach salad and the seared ahi tuna appetizer, because I wasn't crazy hungry. The salad was not objectionable, although plain sliced black olives seemed unimaginative and unimpressive for an $8 side salad. Let's considered something that isn't pre-pitted and pre-sliced. A nice Kalamata would have been an improvement. The seared ahi tuna had a nice sesame seed crust, but it was served ice cold. That's not appropriate, given I'm ordering something that should have been recently SEARED. The tuna came with wasabi sauce, which was good, and slaw. The slaw had sesame oil on it, which is lovely, but it was also tossed with balsamic vinegar, which is too harsh for sesame oil. It was terrible and sad. My friend had the fish special (flounder with crab stuffing), and it was quite good; however, her potatoes were not uniformly cooked. Some were fine, but some were undercooked. Potatoes should not be that difficult. We shared the amaretto crème brulee for dessert. It was served in what I think of as a salsa bowl or soup cup. This didn't allow for the right surface area to volume ratio for crème brulee. So really--it was pudding. It was good pudding, but it wasn't crème brulee. The service was fine (not great); the experience was not to par with what I expect for the price point. It was the most interesting epic failure of the weekend.
(1)Arrow H.
Really sad when a proclaimed Italian restaurant does not have expresso. I would be ashamed if I owned a place and subjected people to dangerous second hand smoke while they ate in the dining room. The only bathroom located in bar area is not suitable for restaurant patrons who do not want to be asphyxiated. I could not smell or taste the food because of the overwhelming amount of smoke. Cheese ball with bread sticks was not good. Presentation of food was ok. Had I known this place was this bad, I would have went to 1892 east instead and be able to enjoy my food and not have a sinus infection.
(1)darren l.
Other than being a $5 a plate overpriced this is a nice place. Food allergy friendly, with a smaller menu, and nice service. Great food.
(4)Buzz B.
Yay, my first 5-star review! I went here with my usual date - my ultra mature teenage daughter, her birthday, in fact - and we were immediately impressed by the upscale but casual decor and the friendliness of the owners and staff. The cost of meals here is, of course, quite above average, but the quality of the food - and service - completely justifies it. We ordered the house sirloin and the chicken marsala. The steak was probably the best steak I've ever had, and I'm ooooold - close to 60! The chicken marsala was cooked perfectly. To top it off, the staff gave my daughter a free birthday dessert. If and when I can afford to do so again (college costs coming up - ahem...) I will certainly do so. Heck, if I can meet the right better half, I'd certainly love to take her to this place and REALLY impress her LOL! **************** Second visit follow up: I'll still leave my review at 5 stars but I was disappointed in the Scallop Pasta Nicky. I'm just not a fan of acidic wine based sauces, plus the sauce contained lemon. The very thin sauce also did not pair up very well with the angel hair pasta. In addition, the four scallops that came with the dish (kind of skimpy), although cooked through OK, were not seared properly. One side of a couple of scallops was seared the nice golden brown one expects, but in no case were both sides seared properly and a couple of the scallops had no golden brown color at all. I suggest they be cooked at a much higher temperature to get that golden sear without overcooking (getting into my Gordon Ramsay mode lol!). The side of broccoli I ordered was also underseasoned. But it was a large crowd that night, so probably the chef was overwhelmed. I should have gotten the clam linguine instead.
(5)Amy K.
This is a great place to go and celebrate a special occasion. My husband made reservations for our 7 year anniversary. They not only remembered to congratulate us when we came, they had champagne at the table waiting for us! The staff was very nice and we had a lovely evening. The atmosphere was also very good. Like the description below says, it is very casual while the food is just excellent. My filet was one of the best steaks I've ever had. My husband had the Australian lamb chops. He was very impressed by his meal as well. I have a feeling that we will be going back to Nick's for many more dinners.
(5)Christine W.
Visited Nick's for the first time with a party of 10 for a business dinner. Everyone was from out of town, so I wanted to go to a nice restaurant that was not a chain. Nick's did not disappoint! The staff is top notch! The food was amazing! After reading the online reviews, I had to try the Filet. It was the best I've ever had. You could literally cut it with a butter knife. Cooked to perfection! My husband had a warm spinach salad as his salad entree, which I highly recommend. Several of the guys ordered the 20 ounce Bone In Ribeye, and all who ordered it thoroughly enjoy it. I highly recommend Nick's if you're looking for great food, great atmosphere, and great service!
(5)John C.
My wife and I brought another couple for their first visit and as always, everything was awesome. We have been here multiple times for dinner over the last 2 years and it keeps getting better. Perfect service, the appetizers were great and the main courses were delicious. The bone in Ribeye was very tasty! I had the best cannoli in town for dessert and my wife always gets the Tiramisu . Our friends loved it and will be back.
(5)