Since I moved to Phoenix I'd been looking for a good little italian place with some authenticity, like a place I loved in my hometown. Nicks totally fits the bill, the food is good and the staff is friendly. One of my favorite foods is Caprese, and I especially love finding places that make it well, which Nick's does. The Mozzarella en Carozza is very good too, though I'll admit it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I can't remark on the pasta because I don't eat pasta these days, but it looks and smells amazing. It is a little pricey for my tastes, but so was the place in my hometown, so no surprise there.
(4)
Erin J.
We frequently travel to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and often find ourselves at Nick's to get some Italian food to take back to the hotel (it's only a short distance from where we stay). This particular Nick's is near the intersection of N Tatum and E Shea. It's on the small side and dimly lit, but provides a nice, intimate atmosphere. There is some bar seating, which is great if you're just looking to grab a couple drinks there and dinner to go. The food has been hit and miss for me. Their lasagna is fantastic, as are some of their other dishes. That said, the last time we went I was very disappointed with their calamari fettuccine (I got it with the white sauce). Given that the sauce was being paired with seafood, I expected a light, but flavorful sauce. Although light, this sauce was far from flavorful. It was essentially a bland, light cream sauce--no garlic, wine, or any other hint of flavor to be found. The calamari itself was tender enough, but overall, I was not very satisfied with the dish. The service can be hot and cold as well. A couple trips ago, we came in about half an hour before closing, and we were constantly reminded that the kitchen would be closing soon and we needed to hurry up and make up our minds. This past time, we sat at the bar and the bartender was extremely charming and attentive. It just depends on the day you catch them, I guess. We may stop into Nick's again in the future, but given our mix of experiences, we'll be trying out some new Italian places in the area to see if we can find a new regular place to grab dinner.
(3)
Linda C.
I work next door to Nicks and frequently get food at this location. Last night after paying and picking up my food I noticed that on my CC statement it had two charges for that evening. When I went next door to find out why the hostess told me that she had not charged me enough for my chicken breast and that her manager charged my CC after I had left and SIGNED only one slip. I was not called, she didn't walk next door to inform me and when I told her this was illegal she said she would speak to her manager. Very pissed off and never eating there again. I will contest the erroneous charge with Chase. You cannot run a persons CC just because you made a mistake with your food billing. It would have to be a signed slip and there was none. I will not recommend this place to anyone EVER again.
(1)
Kim B.
Not sure how many stars to go with here. Food is good, but service is worse than terrible, so this review is for the service only. This is a very small place (which I will harp on) so there is absolutely no way to miss anyone who has been seated. 1) Sat and waited for water ( busser looked at us and walked by half a dozen times and never brought any) 2) Completely ignored by the server(3 tables and 1 booth had people). This place is small enough to be able to talk to anyone from where you are sitting, so there is no way to miss someone has been seated. 3) Finally came over to get our drink order which by this time we knew what we wanted and we're ready to order (by the way, you get bread w/ 2 small plates for the oil and pepper) 4) Didn't take our food order, just the drink order. Our menus were down and any server worth their money would have known we were ready to order 5) Took way too long to get our drinks - Ice Tea for cripes sake 6) Once the drinks came he wanted to know if we needed any time to look over the menu - really?! 7) Food took so long we were wondering if they were rolling out the dough, waiting for it to rise, roll out again so they could make the noodles 8) Heaven forbid you want a refill on your drink, which we had to get his attention for 9) Checked on us one time 10) Our dirty dishes sat on the table, he or the busser never took the dishes away to make room for our meals, so we had to squeeze room for him to put down our meal plates. He didn't want to take them from me 11) Finally came over and we asked for to-go containers, which took so long to get we were wondering if someone had to run out and buy them 12) Food in the containers, we sit and wait and wait and wait for our bill. You would think we had ordered something complicated. A chicken alfredo for my son and a salad for me. The only reason we stayed is because he likes the food and he was taking his mother to dinner. The server was so busy talking with the other guy that working wasn't something he or the busser knew how to do. They are 20 feet away, I'm trying get his attention, he keeps looking at me and nada. We had 2 other parties come in 15 minutes after us, get taken care of and were done with their food and out the door before we could get a refill on drinks. I prefer not to go here because this is not the first time I have had to go with family and had such horrible service, but my son likes the food. I would suggest doing carryout so you don't have to tip the server for such pathetic service. Told my son I'm not going back here, period. Really, this place is so small that someone sitting at one of the high top tables in 'bar' would be able to talk to people on the opposite wall. Busser and server has to walk past every table to get around. The worst service I have ever had anywhere. We'd come here to get food and some service, if I had known that I was supposed to get up and do his job, I would have. We always tip on service and I didn't want to leave this guy a dime, he didn't earn it, but my son left him something anyway. This should have been 45 minutes tops for dinner, but lasted 1.5 hours. I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone for dining in. For us this is a neighborhood restaurant, only 1mile down the street. I've waited a few days to write this review because I was so disgusted at the disrespectful service.
Such an awesome restaurant. I love so many things I couldn't begin to list, I'm a picky eater so that's big for me. They have amazing customer service, great food and strong drinks. Highly recommend this restaurant for a date night, you'll end up a regular!
(5)
Amy C.
I have been to Nick's twice. I waited to write this review until after my second visit. I went with different people on each visit and our reactions are the same. This place is easily overlooked and deservedly so. The food: subpar. The free bread they bring you when you sit down is cold, flavorless, and a total waste of stomach space. This would be even more of an offense if the entrees were worthy of stomach space. The dinner salad ($5) is extremely simple- green lettuce with maybe a teaspoon of balsamic with some sliced cucumber and sliced Roma tomato around the plate. The entrees my company and I have ordered are the gnocchi with pink sauce, fettuccine Alfredo, and chicken spinach tortellini. All a waste of stomach space. You have to ask the waiter about which pastas are homemade. The menu says they are all homemade but only the fettuccine, linguini, and gnocchi are homemade. The iced tea tonight was rancid. Even our waitron recognized that something was seriously wrong. He didn't charge us for them which was appropriate. The service: standard. Enough said. Skip dessert. Skip this place altogether. Hopefully some day I'll find a nice neighborhood Italian place to go to. This isn't it. Twice was enough- won't be returning.
(2)
Tony K.
Second time trying the restaurant. Offered me water but no bread for 40 minutes. Service was poor. Had their wedding soup but it was super salty and not edible. My shrimp scampi was also extremely salty. The noodles were almost uncooked. Very disappointed. My friend spoke so highly
(2)
Linda M.
We live close by and consider ourselves "regular" patrons. The service is very even. Portions very generous - oh the reason we keep coming back- the food ! Pastas are great. Nick's sauces are delish. Overall, a very pleasant experience. The space is small, so it's really not a place for more than a group of 4.
(4)
Angela M.
My fiance and I were really feeling like good Italian food and decided to choose nicks because it was the closest and decently priced. ordered the lasagna,pesto penne, and gnocchi for takeout and told 15mins (wow that seems really fast.) first the lasagna looked like a hot mess..tasted alittle bitter and that it was Microwaved. pesto penne was really really bad in my opinion..couldn't get over how much pesto was in it..i get its suppose to have alot but it just didnt taste right now the gnocchi was ok but tasted bland and the marinara was like they went to food city and bought faux marinara..also microwaved it seems i usually try any place twice but nope not this one. overall olive garden or even oreganos beats this place out of the water. SHOOT i could do a better job in my kitchen
(1)
Katie L.
Delicious, authentic Italian food. It's usually pretty busy but I've never waited long to get my order. My family has been coming here for years and it is always a great experience.
(5)
Jim C.
First off-- service was outstanding. Ate at the bar -- bartender was quick with attention, friendly, and had good recommendations. There is a reason why she seemed to have many regulars at coming in and out. Was offered bread immediately upon sitting, but declined-- did hear others in the restaurant raving. Food was good. Had the calamari with linguini in white wine sauce. The calamari was tender and well cooked (grilled) linguini was cooked to perfectly. I likely would have tried the red wine sauce next time-- the white wine sauce was "lacking" something. I'm a "bigger" guy and the serving size was MORE than enough and they didn't skimp on the calamari. Salad was fresh and the right size. Oil and vinegar was seasoned well. Add blue cheese crumbles to the salad, it is worth it. Chianti was good, liquor was strong selection for a smaller bar set up. Food price was below what I would have guessed. Wine was a little pricier -- scotch (Oban) at 14$ a pour is a bit much ($55-60 a bottle) Quiet restaurant...
(4)
Ken A.
Not really moved by the previous negative reviews - this is an EXCELLENT Italian restaurant! It was packed last night (4/17/15) and we were lucky to get a table immediately. Great service - delicious food - excellent wine. One ciopp ino and one linguini puttanesca along with a glass of Orvieto and a glass of Chianti and we were very happy people, Portions are very large, so there was enough another meal. All was great and we WILL be back!
(5)
Jordon H.
Always delicious always on point staff. I have been at this location the most (other ones a couple times each). Ingredients to a nice relaxing atmosphere is what nicks is all about. Thanks Nicks, and evviva!
(4)
Charles O.
First time at Nicks and the last, Service is border line rude, food is average. 2 of the 4 of us did not finish their meal. Waiter slams the glass of tea on the table spilling the tea onto the table. Left a 10% tip do to the rude service and overrated food,worst of all once outside the waiter called out to us wanting to know why I had left only a 10% tip,how rude of him to call us out. I have never had that happen and I tip according to the service and the food. Basically I am a generous tipper. But this place did not deserve one, and to chase us down out side and whine about the tip was most embarrassing and very low class, Makes one wonder if they hired Orlando to harass patrons for more money because he does it like a pro. my advice save your money and go to a decent place to eat.
(1)
Jolly M.
(See my posted business photo for reference.) I had an excellent first time experience here at Nick's for dinner. We were very pleased with the service from our Host/Waiter: Orlando and the entire staff. I have to RAVE about my dish, the linguini seafood cioppino with garlic wine sauce and their homemade tiramisu! IF you LOVE seafood you MUST order this, for $20 I was extremely impressed with the Quantity and Quality. It comes with jumbo tiger prawn shrimp and muscles in a 1/2 shell, I want to say there were about (4) each and an ABUNDANCE of clams and tender squid. It was so wonderfully balanced with the seafood and the light garlicky wine sauce I was in heaven and enjoying every bite. There was so much of it that I only ate half and had the other for another serving the next night. Their tiramisu is very smooth and is perfection. I loved this smaller restaurant, the decor, food and the customer service is great! Other patrons were enjoying themselves and their food. It was nice to see the variety of dishes being served and the happy faces that enjoyed the flavors and the same Host: Orlando. I was reluctant in trying this place due to the average reviews on Yelp were MEH, but I am so happy I finally tried this grand place. It's now my new favorite place aside from Ocean Trail at Talking Stick. I will be back 100% and awaiting for a great deal to come by since I also passed that up too when it was offered on Groupon. Thank you Nick's and Staff for a perfect dining experience! :)
(5)
Chris S.
We visited after the holiday rush and they still seemed to be busy so we waited 15 minutes. No problem, we had a few drinks at the bar and took in the ambiance. We were served herbed olive oil and bread with our wine which was a nice touch. Prices are pretty reasonable and you receive a lot of food. For $20 I got the lobster ravioli and it was delicious. The pasta was fresh, the ravioli were satisfactorily stuffed, and the cream sauce was tomatoey. The service was excellent, I really hate it when waiters hover. For what it is, Nick's is decent Italian fare. You won't exclaim, "OMG, I am back in Italy!!" while you are eating but it's fresh, it's tasty, and the variety and servings are great.
(4)
Jen L.
OMG! I just wrote how the food wasn't very good at Nick's, and one of the people in my party heated up leftovers (they hate to throw food out even if it's not good!), and there was a paper clip in the pasta! Don't eat here!!!!! I want to call the health department!
Ordered 2 large pies to take ouut. The pepperoni had exactly 1.5 slices on each slice. REALLY! The other pie had one piece of sausage and one piece of pineapples per slice and some slices were missing onion and mushroom altogether. We were told this was great pie. Totally disappointed after paying over $50.00! You can fool some people but not a pie loving New Yorker. You should be ashamed!
(1)
Sherry W.
Horrible service. Jason has a horrible rapport and rushed us through like a herd of cattle. Food was less than average. Service even worse.
(1)
H H.
Love it! We went there 2 times in about 5 days, just to go back and get some chicken Parmesan and chicken piccata! Loved the veggies AND pasta for a side,we ordered both and shared. Not a bit left on our plates! We will be back for happy hour, maybe a nice glass of wine and an app. LOVE Orlando! Oh, bTW the chocolate cake is divine!
(5)
Jim F.
Love the food. Some of the best, if not the best, Italian food in PHX. A bit on the pricey side, but portions are generous and Nick's has a great variety.
(4)
Erica G.
All of our friends kept suggesting we try Nick's, especially for Happy Hour. We finally made it in and we were so disappointed. The Happy Hour menu is strange. Who orders spaghetti and meatballs for Happy Hour?! It is silly you have to sit in the bar for happy hour where is packed but the restaurant is completely empty. The bartender made us feel rushed and he spilled wine on my husband as he sloppily poured him a glass. There are much better places in the neighborhood. Go there instead of Nick's.
(2)
Alvin M.
The food was excellent even for take out.
(4)
Kathrine C.
Had a lunch meeting at Nick's. The food is an excellent mix of savory italian and american fusion tastes. Very good! The service was very nice and helpful. They were always ready to serve w/first class service. The atmosphere is quaint and small town, which gives you a comfortable relaxing feeling during your meal.
(4)
Miss P.
This is my second time dining at Nick's, but my first time at this location. I am again impressed. The food here is always good and interesting. My only complaint: I'm not crazy about the GF pasta they have chosen to use, though; the quinoa flavor/texture isn't great, so I hope they will switch to a better brand like Jovial. The gluten-free menu, however, is extensive and the dishes are very good. The staff are always friendly and attentive. Tonight my companion had the crab ravioli and said it was delicious! I had Pasta Pollaio. Both were delicious! Although we came in about half an hour before close, staff were completely professional and friendly. The restaurant was very clean, with a nice, intimate atmosphere.
(5)
Luca C.
I went to this place with low expectations and was clearly dissapointed. the staff was nice and the place was fine but at the end of the day the food is what matters. We got bread which was a nice touch, something many restaurants have done away with as far as the whole white table cloth setting but the bread here was good. The appetizers were typical but fine but the entrees really dissapointed. We ordered the seafood ravioli and it was just a mess. The filling tasted like it had come out of a can that had been in the fridge too long. It was a mush where you couldn't taste any of the seafood but more of a grainy watery filling. The kitchen was closed or I would have sent it back. Sorry for the review, nice people but the food was not up to par.
(2)
Brian E.
My family has been eating at Nick's for years. The food is consistent and all items we have tried are terrific. Last night, we ordered the grilled vegetables and fried calamari as appetizers. The calamari was very fresh and perfectly fried. The sauce was a bit spicy, but really complimented the flavor well. The grilled vegetables were perfect! My only complaint was an abundance of carrots. We wished they would have added additional eggplant and zucchini. As a main dish, I ordered chicken florentine without mushrooms. The flavor was great! I loved the garlic and cream sauce. I wish they had additional spinach, but will certainly order again. The restaurant is small. It is always busy, and last night was no exception. The service was spot on. Orlando goes above and beyond and has a great attitude.
(4)
Jeff K.
Stopped by for dinner on a Tuesday evening. Was seated right away and provided a basket of bread. Ordered a red wine and Penne Pesto with chicken. Excellent meal and excellent wine. The pasta was properly cooked and the pesto sauce was the perfect temp and consistency. Service was quick. I will go back on my next trip to Scottsdale.
(5)
Dana B.
Just found a hair in my salad.....absolutely disgusting. I don't recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Gina A.
Great neighborhood spot! I had heard about Nick's from my sister who loves Italian and gave it a great review. They were very busy when we got there and it took us 45 minutes just to order! That and the lack of flavor in the tiramusu were the only reasons I gave it 4 stars, not 5. Our server was very friendly and provided great service once it calmed down. We split a large salad(Spinach Walnut) to start, which was delicious! I had the shrimp scampi dish with linguini and it was great. Super garlicky(which I LOVE) and the shrimp were huge! I will definitely be back to try Nick's again.
(4)
Christina P.
It's like I have to psych myself up to go to Nick's every time, because I forget how much I love it but last night, I had to personally thank the owner for serving quality food at a fair price (you can get a glass of wine for $7 and an entree for $13-$15)... it's a bonus that it is close to home! So, even though, for some reason, I keep forgetting that I actually REALLY LIKE the food here, I'm a BIG fan of Nick's. I especially recommend the arrabiata, the gnocchi, and the stracciatella.
(4)
Artemis S.
Pretty middle-of-the-road, food-wise. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you're looking for standard Italian fare, but it's the kind of stuff you can make yourself pretty easily at home. We kinda pigged out here, as we bought the $20 for $40 Groupon; I got a calzone, the lady got a pizza, and we shared a plate of gnocchi. Again, it all was good but not spectacular or anything. As dumb as it sounds, I wish they had a Groupon option of $20 for $10 or something; if you're only eating for two, $40 of food is a lot of food here. If you don't have the Groupon, you're still paying about $20 for two entrees, so either it's pay that or gorge with the $40 Groupon- kinda lose-lose (but not really, because we're fat Americans). Anyway, waiter was great and the atmosphere's all right- dark-lit Italian restaurant and all'a that. Everything seemed clean, et cetera.
(3)
John B.
Service horrible. Don't get Orlando as waiter if you want you food to come out in a reasonable time. Very unprofessional. They should be ashamed. Food was good though.
(3)
Nicki E.
I really like eateries that are high-energy and bustling, especially ones that have their dining area set up as one big room. So it is with Nick's Italian in Paradise Valley (there are two more locations in the Valley). The upbeat, high-energy restaurant makes you sort of feel like you're in someone's home, since the seating quarters are close. The food is all handmade, and I really enjoyed my meal, too. My pal and I grabbed a seat at one of the bar high-top tables, and we started off with the Caprese salad ($7.95). It wasn't huge of anything, but the mozarella was high-quality, the tomatoes were juicy, and the basil was ample. For my entree, I got the Portobello Mushroom Ravioli ($15.95). The pasta was filled with delicious mushrooms, which I really enjoyed. I liked the pink sauce the ravioli was served with, but I wish it would have had fresh tomatoes in it. Also, I felt like the portion could have been a little more generous. Here is my pal's Veal Parmesan ($17.95), which he said was pretty darn awesome because the veal was tender and the sauce was tasty. The meal-ender, the tiramisu ($6), was a great deal, really delicious and perfect to share. The mascarpone cream was mouth-watering, and the ladyfingers melted in my mouth. Tiramisu is my favorite dessert, and that was definitely my favorite part of the meal. While I enjoyed Nick's Italian, and I did appreciate the twinkly lit patio, I would choose Arrivederci over Nick's if you're in the area, based on the service alone. We were in a busy area near the bar, but servers should still strive to make you feel welcomed and relaxed no matter how buzzy the place is, and I didn't really get that vibe from our server. If you do go, try to get a table in the main dining area or patio-maybe things would feel a little more welcoming.
(3)
Kenneth W.
This is mediocre but decent food. Clean enough and decent service. The food lacks spice and presentation is really sloppy. Probably the best thing is the grilled vegetables. The lasagna is decent. The.coffee is insipid. I will say the location is convenient.
(3)
Jewel W.
What a wonderful find!!! Food and service were excellent. Nice neighborhood dining spot. Don't let the strip mall fool you! Full menu with great specials. Don't miss this one!
(5)
Shannon M.
Much has changed in the two years since my initial review. Apparently Nick's has decided to toss customer service out the window. I should have known it would be a problematic visit when it took nearly 15 minutes to be acknowledged to put in our order. Well, it only got worse. After nearly 45 minutes of waiting, we realized that our food was never, ever going to arrive. Ever. Time to leave, and never come back. Ever.
(1)
Susan M.
My friend Joan was going to meet me at Nourish123 in Scottsdale on Monday, but luckily, we both noticed that it's closed on Monday so we ended up meeting at Nick's at Tatum and Shea. We go where we have groupons, etc. and she had one to try it out. I can honestly say that I was quite happy and surprised when I showed up first and saw a sign outside of the restaurant which said they were featuring a gluten free pizza for less than $10! I was all set to just have a salad but this changed my mind.........since I figured an Italian place would have great pizza! I entered the restaurant and saw that I had arrived first so the Host greeted me and I told her I was meeting a friend. She said that she'd bring her over when she got there and seated me. She asked what I wanted to drink and left to get my Iced Tea. She came back with the Tea and a bowl of bread, which I asked her to remove until Joan showed up.......too hard to look at something I love and can't have! Then she informs me that they closed at 2:00 p..m. I really don't understand why she failed to mention this to me when I sat down! We might have decided to dine elsewhere....and before I ordered a $3 Iced Tea. It wouldn't have bothered me to order a $3 Iced Tea if it were good but it tasted like Lipton Tea which had been in the canister for a week............you know, when it tastes like tin? So Joan arrived and we decided to eat anyway........and I ordered the GF pizza with tomato slices, mushrooms and onion. Joan got a bowl of soup and salad. We chatted and waited for our food. The pizza looked pretty decent with lots of mushrooms and veggies present but upon tasting it I was immediately aware of no spice taste. It tasted like they opened a can of tomato sauce and poured it on the pizza. Between the pizza and the Iced Tea and them not letting us know that they closed in half an hour, I'd have to say that I would never go back or recommend the place. When we didn't have a large enough order to even make using the groupon worth while, Joan asked for a dessert to go...and was told that there was nobody present to even prepare it, sorry! Yeah. I'll never go back! That's ridiculous!
(1)
Sunny B.
Nick's is a solid Italian restaurant located in the Whole Foods strip mall. I have sought them out for take out several times, but just recently dined in. The place is small and cozy and there is a separate bar area and a nice patio. The food is good, not amazing, but definitely worth the price. Things I have tried that I would recommended: Chicken Tortellini: chicken, spinach, pink sauce (which is a vodka sauce) Mushroom Ravioli with pink sauce Butternut Ravioli in a garlic butter Calamari Antipasto Salad They also have a decent wine selection The servers have always been prompt and attentive While this isn't a place I would drive and seek out if you live in the neighborhood it is a great weekday "go to" and has made it in my rotation when I don't feel like cooking. 3 1/2 stars!
(3)
Lynnette L.
Nick's is a great little neighborhood Italian place. Of which there are not many in Phoenix. It's small and intimate, the food is consistently good; my husband is always impressed with how fresh the fish and seafood is - we do live in the desert. He grew up on the east coast, lots of good Italian and fresh seafood so the fact that they make him happy says something. Service is always good, Orlando always knows who we are and takes good care of us. There was a time in the past where service was lacking, and it was something they were aware of which is why they had a "now hiring servers" sign up. Shortly after, they had some new people about the place and service was back on point. I've never had a dish I didn't like here, and I'm the kind of person who likes to try all the menu has to offer; sometimes seafood, sometimes chicken, sometimes veggie - ravioli, linguini etc... It's all good. A favorite of mine is the farfalle salmon, it's a repeat on occasion. Check out Nick's!
(5)
Jennifer T.
My friend and I when here one day for lunch and we were both very impressed. Both of our dishes were beyond delish! We also had kiddos with us and though they didn't have a kids menu they still catered to them and had no problem they were with us (of course they were very well behaved). I took a look at their dinner menu and though it is a little pricy I really want to go back and give it a try. I love all of the seafood options! Service and atmosphere were both very nice as well.
(5)
Bianca A.
Moving from Chicago - the land of awesome Italian food - I'm so happy I found this place on a groupon. Bruschetta was awesome and flavorful as well and the wine recommended by our server was perfect. The pizza looked awesome ill be sure to try next time, however if you're in the mood for pasta be sure to get the arrabiata sauce. It's packed with flavor and not too spicy!!
(5)
Joe L.
well-done concept of cute, cool fair-priced Italian food, sophisticated enough wine list, and genrally upbeat, fun, not anti-family vibe filling the place. Food was very good and service spot-on. Excellent value and great save for the dad in-a-pinch for "no time to make dinner" or for take-out needs.
(4)
Sheri S.
Wow! A new favorite! A friend recently recommended Nick's and I was so happy that she did! WONDERFUL food - I had the crab ravioli and it was fantastic! Will definitely be back - it's a gem!
(5)
Barbara S.
We frequent this place quite a bit since we live close by. It's a quintessential neighborhood restaurant. The food is consistently good. We love the arriabiata sauce (although sometimes it is spicier than other times - mostly good & spicy.) The pizzas are good, and so are their specials. I've had the halibut special several times and it is always tender & flaky, not overcooked. The steamed veggies aren't soft but have a nice crunch to them Great happy hour offers, too :-) - if you can find a place in the bar area! They are usually packed.
(4)
Ryan J.
Solid food and execution. While my experience varies a bit as I make my way through the menu, their hits ensure that this is a regular part of the rotation. They execute a halibut dish that is both easy on the palate and light on the calorie counter. Their bread is among the best. Truly great Italian American food.
(4)
Kacee F.
This review is only for Nick's on Tatum Blvd. This place is real small and very dark. You will need a flashlight to read the menu if you come in after dark. We had a groupon so we went to this location and I was very disappointed. I ordered the Linguine with eggplant and chicken, when they brought it out, it was a very small dish and I thought they made a mistake giving me the lunch portion, but they said no it was a dinner portion. very very small portion and I was still hungry afterwards. Also they do not make their cheesecake in house they buy in from someplace else and it was over 50 ingredients in which are all genetically modified. Cheesecake can be made simply with 4 or less ingredients... The food is just average at this location. There are many other Italian places in town which are far better.
(2)
Amy S.
My boyfriend and I love this place. We go for happy hour. Our favorites: Baked Ziti, pizza, ravioli and red wine.
(4)
Steve S.
I've held off for a couple of years for posting a review, but it's time. Why do they have to overcook their pasta? I've tried requesting the whole wheat pasta (supposedly homemade) al dente, repeatedly requesting "do not overcook;" we get home and well, my spaghetti and meatballs is pretty tasteless. I wish there were other restaurants in PV, but things are so limited around here, that I guess their chef can get away with pre-cooking their pasta, slapping some sauce on it and charging $18 for it. I hope someone is reading this as I told them I'd be posting as calling back after and complaining does no good. Maybe other people complain that their spaghetti is not overcooked enough???!!! Anyway, I really have to take the blame for this, as I should just get some homemade pasta right next door at Whole Foods and do it myself. Sorry for the rant, my Yelp friends, but why can't Giacomo's of Boston open up a restaurant in Phoenix?
(2)
Gabi M.
If you are looking for a casual restaurant for lunch or dinner and you're in the mood for Italian food, Nick's at Paradise Valley (in the Whole Foods shopping center) is an excellent choice! Whether you're in the mood for pasta, pizza, soup, salad, fish, chicken, or veal, you can find something that you'll be happy with at Nick's. I've been on several occasions and never been disappointed. They always start you off with fresh bread and olive oil (a must for any good Italian restaurant)... don't allow yourself to eat the whole basket though; you must save room for what is coming! Some of my fave things to order are: -Grilled calamari appetizer (yes, I said grilled!) -Grilled eggplant appetizer -Stracciatella soup -all of their salads are delicious -pasta with meatballs -salmon or tilapia (picatta style) -Shrimp Fra Diavolo I don't think you can go wrong with so many options to choose from! Portion sizes are generous but not ridiculous. I recommend saving a little bit of room for the Hazelnut Tartufo for dessert... it's the perfect sweet ending to your meal (and it helps to cover up that garlic breath you probably have from your dinner)! FYI: There is waiter service at this location - and the menu is a little different than that at their other Scottsdale locations. Nick's won't blow you away, but it's a safe bet for a simple Italian meal with consistent service. Take it for what it is... Buon appetito!
(4)
Cherlyn E.
Nick's is local to me and I would have loved to make this a fav as I can walk to it. My first visit I sat in the bar after having sushi next door. This was o.k. and I may repeat this. However, on my next visit my friend and I tried to enjoy dinner. We were asked to sit at a smaller table outside vs. a larger table for bigger parties. Ok but when some people came in that were repeat customers and they sat at the table we wanted but there were only two, well that was somewhat rude. Then the waiter catered to their order and needs over ours. Such as when he did bring our food and asked us if we wanted parmesan cheese. We said yes. He then went to the kitchen and retrieved the food for his favorite customers and then brought the cheese for them and then brought it to us. Maybe they are big tippers but as someone that was looking to be a regular I may have been too. The food was good but for gluten free they really do not have many choices. I have been going to another restaurant in the area and they have excellent choices with better service. Unless I am dragged here again I most likely will not return for their food.
(2)
Doug P.
This place has what I'd call good pizza, but the lasagna was just awful so skip that completely.
(3)
David G.
Been a patron for years. Eat- In and Carry-Out, never a tab below $50. Disappointed again last night for the last time. Food was inedible, we joked that we should feed it to our dog, but we really love our dog, threw it away. Shrimp Emperial, $18.95, Shrimp was clearly frozen too long and tainted the whole watery, bland dish with bad fish smell. Baked Ziti, $10.95, watery, bland, have had better from a can. Biggest disappointment... Antipasto Misto, $10.95 for Oscar Meyer and Rubbery Caprese. Really sad because it used to be a great neighborhood restaurant, now its perfect if you're from out of town, don't like good Italian, and will never be back.
(1)
John Z.
My wife and I ate at Nicks last night. We had claims, Lasagna, wine, coffee and tiramisu. Here is the bad then the good news: Bad News: The bread is the worst I have ever had in an Italian Restaurant. My wife's water tasted like Vinegar. After complaining to the server, they found that the water had been contaminated by white vinegar. My wife and I both woke up in the middle of the night with stomach pains, probably due to the clams. The Good News: Lasagna was good as was the coffee and tiramisu. Thanks to Groupon we saved $40. We will not be going back.
(2)
Gary L.
OMG you talk about getting lucky when you happen to pop into a new restaurant. Had never heard of this place - had never seen it before, and we just walked in after shopping near by. AMAZING! My wife and I have been there a few times now and every time it just got better. (Probably because we ditched the kids for some adult time) Not that you have to... they'll feed them too. Last time I was there I got the lobster ravioli and it was to die for! I love italian food and Nick's is my favorite. I don't know for certain that it's all made from scratch, but it sure looks and tastes that way. Perfect food. Great service.
(5)
Co S.
I have been coming here for years with my family and it had always been one of our favorites but not anymore. After several disappointing visits, last night will be our last. The quality of the food has just gone down - dry, tough, overcooked chicken; pasta was too al dente; pizza undercooked. Its really all too bad because this really was our favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant.
(2)
Amy R.
Seriously? I didn't review this place? Oops! I've been here twice now and must say there is some good food coming out of their kitchen. The Eggplant Parmesan has some AMAZING sauce with it unlike any I've had before. A lot of red sauces all taste somewhat similar but this is something special. Both times I've come home with leftovers so portions are on the larger size. Complimentary bread and oil starts your meal off. Service has always been spot on. My only major gripe about the place is the seating and size of the place. Be warned... this location is SMALL. Both times I went I ended up with ass in my face when someone sat next to me was leaving.
(4)
Al P.
Decided to gamble on a groupon to Nicks, overall it was okay. Started with the garlic cheesy bread which was awful. Next was the baked ziti which was a little dry but decent. Tried some lasagna which was good. The best item was the pizza which was similar to Red Devils pizza. Service was fast and the plates were scolding hot which was perfect for me. Price was just right for the portions just wish everything tasted as good as the pizza.
(3)
Amy B.
I came here on a date Saturday afternoon and have to say, this place is great! Holy cow! Total gem! This place is suprisingly located in a strip mall of all things. I walked in and really liked how the place was decorated. Its not a huge resturant, but has a more fancy feel to it. Not a place I would walk into with jeans on. Classy enough to put on a nice outfit for a great experience. (Im normally not a fancy diner, but for dates, I tend to turn it up a notch.) I was impressed with the service that I had here. Menu is loaded with just about any and every dish you could imagine. I like variety, and this place had it. Our meal started off with a bread basket and some dipping oil which I liked a lot. Server got our drinks and we took our time reviewin the menu. I went with the Lasanga. I think my date had the chicken parm. Servings were nice and big! Tasty too! It was funny, because even though the service was great, the service was kinda funny. Date took notice and we had a good laugh about it. I was taking my time with my lasgana, and the server kept asking me all the time if I was done. I kept telling him "no, I'm just a slow eater." Then, he would come back like 5 minutes later and ask the same thing again. rinse, wash, repeat for the last half hour of the date. Plus, the mexican bus boy literally stood table side to refill my beverage after I took more then 2 sips. It was actually hysterical! Date and I had a great chuckle over this! Anyways, I really enjoyed my experience at Nicks. I guess they have several valley locations, and I plan on returning. Great place for dates, parents, or just something nice!
(4)
David M.
My wife and I met some friends here for dinner. We were seated right away at 6:00pm on a Friday night which was nice. The bread was good, and the service was very friendly and on top of things. I really liked their fried calamari. I had their baked ziti which I saw a few times in other Yelp reviews. I liked the big portion, but it wasn't anything special. My wife had the chicken Parmesan and she said was pretty good. Nice local place that we will probably check out again.
(3)
Lindsay T.
My boyfriend and I ate here because he had a groupon. Normally I don't dig italian but I tried to stay open.... The menu is great and all but, man, SALTY food! My minestrone soup was good, but both my salad (who salts a salad??!!!) and my boyfriend's Chicken parmigiana dish were SO heavily salted you could barely taste any distinct flavors. The service was good, and all else but man, I couldn't drink enough fluid the rest of the night to
(3)
Morgan D.
Why: Nick's saved me from Olive Garden! I'm not bashing the ol' Garden, but it isn't fun, unique, or original- nor does it have great ambiance. This area is full of chains and I came up empty with suggestions when my friends and I decided to meet up for an Italian dinner. Inside: Small and cozy. I really enjoyed the ambiance. It's nothing fancy, but it's also not too laid back- dimly lit with tables snuggled in close to each other. Great date place. The Food: I had spaghetti with Alfredo, mushroom, chicken, and I believe one other ingredient that I can't recall. It was pretty tasty. Not my favorite all time pasta dish, but definitely worth getting again and better than plenty of places I've dined before. Everyone seemed to be satisfied. Bottom Line: If you are looking for Italian in this area, I can wholeheartedly recommend Nick's... at least over Olive Garden. Also, I was the first to arrive and the bar was a welcome place to wait and have a glass of wine. Not bad Nick, not bad!
(4)
Nancy T.
This place is amazing. Some of my favorites are the minestrone soup, Greek salad, spaghetti Bolognese, gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce, fettuccine with white clam sauce and much more. Everything here is good. The sausage and meatballs are great, too. This is one of the places I miss the most after moving from the area. Hard to find really good Italian food like this.
(5)
Jeff W.
The food is really good, but the service is a bit disjointed, and they really pack you in like sardines. It's small but that doesn't mean I want the next table asking me to pass the parm!
(4)
Mark C.
Nick's has been a pretty popular gathering place for a group of my friends. I have had their pizzas, calzones, and chicken parmesan. Those dishes have been pretty good. Last night I wanted to try something new, so I tried the baked ziti with meatballs. I don't recommend it. The issue was that it was overcooked. The ziti was rubbery and the dish was dry. The ends of the ziti were hard and crunchy. The best thing about the dish was the meatballs. Even though my food was not up to par, the service was exceptionally good.
(2)
Daryle W.
I read all the hype on this place and was hoping for some great food and instead left wishing we had just eaten fast food. I tried the old staple of chicken parmesan as it seemed a popular choice and I will never go there again. It tasted like a frozen chicken patty with canned tomato sauce. It came with spaghetti on the side and that too was not only overcooked, but just gross. My girlfriend had the gnocchi with pink sauce and again it underwhelmed. I know finding good gnocchi is difficult but to me, the sauce again fell flat. It all tasted store bought and out of cans or jars. When I go out somewhere I want to eat something that I can't fix at home myself. Not only could I have made it but I could have made it MUCH better. The only redeeming thing I liked about the food was the bread at the start. As for the ambience, it is small and had a quiet feel to it but looking around, all the artwork (most of) are pictures you buy from Target...And there wasnt much other decor around to give you that Italian feel to it other than the waiter's accent which to me seemed very over the top whether he is authentic or not. Sometimes I couldn't even understand him. Either way, for the price I know you can get better Italian food. Try Cucina Tagliani. I felt Nick's was overpriced, underwhelming, and not worth me ever going back. It wasn't the worst food in the world but it wasn't anything memorable by any means.
(2)
S C.
My husband and I have been living in ax for 20 years. Nicks is our favorite. Weekly we are there enjoying happy hour to eggplant parmigiana, and chicken Marsala and salmon at dinner time. Happy hour has "good food instead of fried food floating in oil like most other restaurants". Personally I enjoy his tomatoe sauce, simple spices and delicious, the staff is always professional and courteous even in their busiest times
(5)
Susan W.
Nick's has Portobello mushroom ravioli that can be served with their house pink sauce. It's one of the best things I've ever tasted.
(4)
Dale E.
Dirty, slow service, I've had better food out of a can! And so busy. Obviously we don't get it and or have been spoiled by fresh quality ingredients all over town.
(1)
J. C.
I was originally in town for business but then connected with family and ended up celebrating our belated birthdays at Nick's. All I can say is that I wish this place was right around the corner from me. It was SO GOOD!!! I could totally become a regular at this place. It's nothing but high points folks: 1. Authenticity - the waiters are actually, get this, ITALIAN! 2. Service - fast and friendly, which is impressive for such a popular place. 3. Beverages - good selection of affordable wines and specialty drinks. The house Pinot Grigio was great. 4. Seating - though it's small inside and by the looks of it, very popular, we walked in and were seated immediately without a reservation. 5. Food - 5 stars! FANTASTIC! The bread that comes when you are seated is delish (and a generous selection of a few different breads). We started with the yummy antipasto salad - fresh and delicious. It could only by topped by the entrees - each meal was so good and was a decent portion - Shrimp Scampi, Baked Ziti and Butternut Squash Ravioli (my fave). Though definitely full, I couldn't resist dessert and ordered a cannoli. Oh...my...gosh... delicious. Such a fantastic meal. I hope that business or other travel brings me back again.
(5)
Jennifer L.
My husband located this place and wanted to try it because they had gnocchi on the menu and that's the only thing he likes in the world of Italian food. They make their own pasta here and I have to say the pasta was very good. I had chicken fettucine alfedo. The fettucine was good, the chicken was good... the sauce, not so much. Bland and boring! My husband had a lemon chicken dish with gnocchi on the side. I did not like the pink sauce on the gnocchi one bit and when I tried his chicken I didn't taste lemon, I tasted wine. Yuck. I like that they make their own pasta but they really need better sauces to go with it. Very limited indoor seating as well, and when it's 108 degrees, sitting outside is NOT appealing.
(2)
Irma G.
Well, reading these reviews it seems like there are 2 totally separate Nick's in the same place! We went, the first time, on a groupon, we had the seafood linguini with white garlic sauce and I thought I was in Italy or Sicily. It was amazing, tasted home made and real! Service.... Well it seemed the "other servers" were taking better care of their customers than ours. To get 5 stars all has to be fabulous! 2nd time, wonderful food (I ordered the same thing, just can't get over how good that was) and the service was worse, including mistakes on the bill. Nick is a great host and, when I get to know him better, I might talk about the friendly, but sub par service. Something is just miss there. The place is crowded which attests to the excellent food. In my NSH opinion, this is real Italian! How you can compare Olive Garden to ANY real Italian place is beyond me. Obviously, you belong in Olive Garden if that is your "standard" that you compare Italian food to. I'll take Nicks! Now I want the cannoli.... After reading about them here! I've never been to happy hour, but my son says it's pretty good as well.
(4)
Cindy D.
I typically love this restaurant and eat here about once a month. I was disappointed this last week, when my cheese pizza was delivered to my table with pepperoni on it. The waiter asked me if it was okay, to which my response was "No, I'm sorry, I am a vegetarian." He apologized and said that he would have the kitchen make me a fresh cheese pizza. No problem. He returned about 10 minutes later with what I thought was a fresh cheese pizza. To my surprise, the kitchen staff pulled the pepperoni off of the pizza and then reserved it to me. After being a vegetarian for 35 years, I noticed the pepperoni taste immediately. I quickly paid my bill so that I could run home, afraid that I was going to get sick. It will be a long time before I frequent this restaurant. It was a disappointing experience to say the least. I expected more.
(3)
Ben D.
Nick's is our favorite Italian restaurant in the valley. The Baked Ziti is the best. We frequent Nick's once a month. Great happy hour specials and friendly staff.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Good, consistent food in a nice setting with good service. This is not stand out Italian food, but still worth checking out!
(3)
Dana G.
I just realized that I have never wrote an actual review on Nick's, my favorite Phoenix spot. Maybe it's the nostalgia? I've been coming here since High School. Maybe it's the casual, family owned atmosphere? No matter which location you visit, you'll most likely see Nick checking up on things. Most importantly, it's the consistency. No matter which location you choose, it all tastes great, every time. For me, this is good Italian food, but in the American way. If you're looking for real Italy italian, you may choose another spot, but I find the typical Lasagna, Ravioli, Baked Zitti to be fantastic! I love their Bolognese, and if you notice on my profile, my last meal on earth would be their chicken parmesan with a side of spaghetti bolognese- each entree comes with a huge side of either fresh veggies or pasta. The portions are huge, so I love to eat some, and it's always even better the next day! Here are a few of my favorite dishes: -Di Mare Salad (with grilled calamari like Gabi M says) - Tilapia Picatta - Chicken Ravioli (my best friend Natalie always tells me that if you get the Chicken tortellini, you actually get more!) -Chicken Parm (note the above) -Baked Ziti (have them add meatballs) -Cannoli (I'm pretty sure I could spoon feed the filling like ice cream! Was that too much?) Go to any one of their locations for a casual, quick Italian meal- I'm never disappointed!
(5)
Angela G.
this nicks is the closest to our house there was one closer on scottsdale and grayhawk however they closed it down and moved it more north on pinnacle peak and pima rd. this one is not very big however its never really packed so we are always seated right away. i always get the chicken parmesan with the pasta for a side (spaghetti pasta) and it comes out sizzling hot and the chicken is covered in cheese. soooooo good!! ive tried the veggies as a side before and it just wasnt good. they had this weird flavor on them but the pasta is yummy and my daughter loves to share the pasta so it works out so i don't have to get her her own meal.
(5)
Liz D.
We decided to try Nicks at Pinnacle Peak on Friday night and our server was Jake. Jake was great and the manager who came over to ask how everything was was extremely pleasant also. We were given a taste of bruschetta, which was a nice touch, and our salads arrived which were very fresh and very large! My husband ordered the veal chop and grilled vegetables and I ordered chicken breast with cheese, tomatoes garlic...sorry cannot remember the a tubal name of the dish. My husbands veal chop was perfectly cooked and swimming in a cream, red onion sauce which was delicious! WAY TOO MUCH SAUCE. The vegetables were perfect and served on the side. Now if you are looking for a dish that is beautifully presented, and garnished in an appealing way....this is not the place. The great thing about not garnishing is that the food comes out HOT and looks like it is home cooked...a very good upside. As for my chicken.......disappointing, very bland. A few Italian herbs added at home the next day perked it right up! The manager said that he found it lacking in flavor too. HHMMMmmmmmm why doesn't he talk to the chef about that? WE WILL GO BACK...best veal chop in town according to my husband.
(4)
Andy C.
Nick's is a small local chain that does a lot of things right. The portions and service are just right, and there's a lot of variety on the menu. Nick's has a bunch of home made pastas, along with pizza, salads, and appetizers. They have a soup that sort of like a Chinese egg drop combined with minestrone. Try it! I'd recommend this spot for lunch or dinner, business or pleasure. Don't forget to check the board for the specials and try something new.
(4)
Miss C.
I have recently become addicted to checking reviews to new places to eat before I head out & based on other reviews was pretty optimistic about trying Nick's. My boyfriend and I got there for an early dinner (around 5ish) and were seated very promptly. The decor was simple and classy, fresh flowers and cool colors filled the room. The server was prompt and rehearsed spiel-less, which I always find to be a plus. The busser was quick to refill beverages before half empty and offer more of the delicious bread once we had finished the original. The bread is a highlight, there were two options, one a common french loaf type and the other a lighter, beautifully seasoned variety. To dip your bread in there was a nice seasoned olive oil. The food took a fairly decent amount of time to arrive considering there were only 6 or so tables, plus the happy hour crowd at the bar top. Perhaps they were understaffed in the kitchen, who knows, I didn't dock them any stars for that. The thing that got me to click 3 vs. 4 stars however was the fettuccine alfredo. The plate arrived to the table and I had dreams of what I was about to dig into (beautiful memories of the sadly closed Pasta Pomedoro came to mind) However, these dreams were not realized. The noodles, although lovely and wider fettuccine type, were over cooked and verging on mushy. And the sauce, while it smelled lovely, lacked any sort of mouthwatering goodness. We also shared the pizza, which was a fabulous price, but nothing to write home about. Although we left Nick's not planning to come back as soon as we can, I think based on other reviews that perhaps we just did not find their star dishes, and for the price (2 sodas, pizza, and pasta for $26) I will most likely be willing to give this place a try again. And after all, I did not have an opportunity to try their tiramisu, (how I truly give Italian eateries the thumbs up or the boot) so I will have to make sure to try that next time...
(3)
AMber W.
Wow. I was really shocked at how much I enjoyed Nick's considering it is inside a strip mall! I figured it would be more of a low-key type place, but it was really nice inside and the food was FANTASTIC. The only complaint I have is that every time someone opened the front door (which was frequent; the place was PACKED) it was absolutely freezing, but the restaurant was able to move us to an area away from the door and the problem was solved! I started with a glass of Riesling, as usual. I was happy that it was only $5 per glass versus the normal $8, and I was not disappointed with the taste. The busser immediately brought us waters and bread with dipping oil. I could have eaten it all day!!! I opted for something not even on the menu: Penne pasta with pink sauce (combo of white and red). It was ABSOLUTELY Delicious!!! The service was great, and I love that our waiter even had an accent! Overall, I really enjoyed Nicks and will be back for sure!
(4)
Kate A.
I love this place! I love sitting outside here! The seating is very comfortable. The atmosphere is very laid back and elegant. Even though they were busy at the time our waiter was very attentive. I had the Gnocchi soup for the first time. I am sad that I can't find a place that could compare to that of Nick's Gnocchi. I also had the Caesar salad which was yummy! This is such a nice place for a date or a night out with the family. This is also my grandfathers favorite restaurant in Phoenix!
(5)
Luna L.
Chicken Marsala and alfredo sauce were delicious, but the marinara sauce left little to be desired. I would have preferred the bread that was brought to the table to be warm or at least soft. All in all ok but we probably won't be back.
(3)
Bob G.
I usually poke fun at Olive Garden as having bland food for people that have no idea what Italian food should really taste like, yet I'd still choose them over Nick's. I've read and respect the other reviews, and perhaps we just caught a bad night, but Nick's was awful. We began with a service issue however that was minor and not worth repeating. That problem would have been easily overlooked if the meal was good. Instead, we got uninspired bland food that seemed like it came right out of the jar or box. The are too many quality choices in the area or not too far from he that are much better. I would not go back to Nick's.
(1)
Bob R.
Definitely nothing to write home about. Generic Italian food. Pizza crust wasn't bad, but the pastas we had were on the gummy side. Also the Mozzarella Carrozza appetizer was nothing more than deep fried grilled cheese sandwich. Tomato sauce tasted like canned tomatoes heated up. Lame.
(2)
Chelsea C.
We love Nick's!! We are huge fans of Italian food so when we moved into the area we decided to try out Nick's. The food is amazing! Every pasta is hand made and the sauces are delicious! We also love the atmosphere. Not a large place and can get a little busy on the weekends.
(5)
cecilia p.
should of gone elsewhere. we thought we were taking our friends to something different and unique, but what we had was mediocre bread and salad. horribly salty entrees, and incredibly slow service.
(1)
Adam B.
I was originally going to dine at another place...then I saw "Nicks" I am a sucker for Italian food and try to visit every one I see and try the alfredo sauce....the best I have ever had is at some place in the Bellagio in Las Vegas... I walked in and was greeted and seated very quickly.....drink order very fast. Service was top notch...every time my ice tea got nearly drained...it was picked up...any questions answered... This place should really be a rated a $$$....my entree was $15 my girl's was $16 and her glass of wine was $9...mix that with salads...it came out to $57... So....with that much cash this alfredo must be outstanding right? Not even close....it was greasy and had lots of garlic, was not creamy and in my opinion didn't even taste like alfredo should....even olive gardens alfredo is better...Brios' sauce slaps it in the mouth! XD I ordered a side of the alfredo as my entree came with "pink" sauce.....which was a mix of red and white....they should have left the red alone... I also like my bread warm....this was not....oh well If the service had not been good...I would have knocked another star off. First visit...and most likely the last.
(2)
M A.
Friendly neighborhood italian restaurant with solid menu and great service. Just wish they were open for lunch on weekends.
(5)
Aaron T.
Great little Italian place. Very small dining area, so a long wait. The food was good. The arrabiatta was actually spicy which is rare here since most places dumb it down for the general population. Service was good. A solid 4 star place.
(4)
Emily B.
Good atmosphere, good service, good pasta. We have always driven by this place and finally stopped in the other night. We both enjoyed the pasta dishes we ordered (with plenty for left overs the next day). Our server was very good, she was attentive but not overbearing. The restaurant was small so tables were a little close together, but we sat in a corner so it wasn't too bad. The only thing we didn't really like was the mozzarella carrozza- it tasted like someone deep fried a grilled cheese mozzarella sandwich, not much flavor. Overall, a nice neighborhood restaurant. Leftovers were still delicious when reheated. :)
(4)
P O.
I love going to Nicks and getting their baked ziti! I have gone there for years and always get the same thing :)
(5)
Glenn F.
Average in an area filled with average Italian joints. That actually makes it below average. Pizza, great pizza, is easy to come by in Phoenix. Nick's just does not have the quality of toppings or edge like an amazing crust or some sort of style. Think freezer pizza. For the other entrees, the pasta was good, but nothing that you could not make at home in 20 min. Top it off with indifferent service and you've got a solid 2 star review.
(2)
Jane A.
I was pleasantly surprised when I walked through the door. I thought it was going to be a bit cheesy, but it was great. The menu was something you might find in Hoboken, NJ. Lots of pastas, pizzas, seafood and salad dishes. My pasta was great. It had farfalle, chicken, shrimp, feta, and sun-dried tomatoes. They serve very reasonably priced glasses of wine (and full bar). Overall, it was a great meal, with fairly large portions.... The lack of a final star was because of the burnt coffee.......
(4)
Matthew S.
Nick's Italian is one of my new favorite little places. I have eaten there about six times. Some of their stuff is just okay, but some of it is great. The items that are great, are great enough to keep coming back. First of all, ANYTHING in the white wine garlic sauce is practically orgasm inducing! Especially the Penne a la Campagna! Penne pasta, chicken, spinach, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes combined with the white wine garlic sauce make for a fantastic combination. The marinara sauce is very tasty, conidering it seems to be very basic. The Cioppino in the WWG sauce is probably my second favorite thing. It seemed like an overwhelming avalanche of multiple sea creatures; Shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari. all over a huge portion of linguini. I also highly reccomend the baked ziti with sausage... Its hot!!! Nick's has a great little dinning room. Small, but intimate. Its mildly reminiscent of some of the little restaurants in San Francisco or New York that i've been to. The service is very hit or miss. It seems like the female staff is much more enjoyable, not because of their gender, but because it seems like they know HOW to be friendly and efficient. Most of the servers at Nick's seem to be overworked, as they always rushing and and sometimes it takes longer then it should to be greeted. While there is one male server whos section i refuse to sit in, most of the other servers do a great job.
(4)
lance d.
little neighborhood italian gem. About everything on the menu is great, and the staff is nice. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could. Wish we had more like this in the PV 'hood.
(4)
Stephanie S.
I could eat pasta all day long and so living across the street from the place is torture (torture because I *shouldn't* eat pasta all day long). Anyway I might be exaggerating but this place is really good. It can be a little spendy but I find that the portion sizes are generous. My dish is the baked ziti with bolognese sauce & that runs about $12, I can eat the whole thing in one sitting but I do sometimes force myself to stop and take half of it home. The menu is HUGE though, I just stick to what I like. The atmosphere is nice, better for small groups rather than large but I think they can be accomodated when necessary. I've wanted to sit at the bar but haven't done it yet. Nice patio as well. It is in a strip mall next to a beauty supply store but what's new in this town? Highly recommended!
(4)
m s.
The food is good, but, if your having a party, go somewhere else! We had my son's graduation party here, and planned the menu from the menu pricing listed on the menu, which was done with the catering person, and then when the bill arrived it was a whole different price. Nick, the owner, changed all the pricing, without asking, charging us double for the food we ordered and would not change or correct the pricing. WOW, what a rip-off. How would you like to pay double just to do your party here? I think NOT!!!
(1)
Nick S.
I have driven by this place for a while now so I finally went for lunch. I must have got the wrong thing. I ordered the alfredo with chicken. The chicken was ok, lacked seasoning. The alfredo sauce was very thin and watery and totally bland. I did not care for it at all. The fetticcini noddles were ok. They are fresh and big in size. I see lots of good reviews, so they must have something there they do really good. If I do go back ill try the marinara sauce with chicken parm or the pizza. Staff was very friendly and quick service.
(3)
Jenn E.
I am not a huge Italian food fan, while I enjoy some good ole spaghetti every now and then, when given the choice, you are more likely to find me munching on some chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant. But with that being said, when I do get a sudden craving for Italian, Nick's is my number one choice. I really like the quaint atmosphere....but it is the food that keeps me coming back. I hadn't been to Nick's in probably over a year, but it is by my parent's house, so we went for a quick dinner the other night. They always have really enticing specials, like Seafood Risotto or Manicotti. The menu is HUGE, spanning from pasta, to filled pastas , chicken and veal dishes and even pizza. They make a good pizza, and I especially adore their gnocchi in the vodka sauce, but my favorite thing to get is the Chicken Parmesan. This version is not breaded at all; it is just sauteed and then topped with an amazing red sauce and mozzarella cheese. It is not what you would expect, but it is delicious! You get your choice of either a side of pasta or vegetables, I usually get the sauteed veggies because they are so good; a nice combination of broccoli, cauliflower, squash and carrots. They are cooked perfect and even better when dipped in the extra sauce. Oh, I almost forgot, they also give you this delicious focaccia bread and olive oil for dipping when you sit down, it is so fresh it just melts in your mouth! So if you are willing to pass on the all you can eat salad at the Olive Garden....you should give Nick's a try!
(4)
Kaila S.
Went to lunch today and had the eggplant parm. Awesome! Such a great sauce, and opted for the steamed veggies as my side. Yummers! Would recommend if you are in the area and craving great Italian food.
(4)
Tommy G.
Fabulous little Italian joint with a couple other Valley locations. I went here for a friend's birthday, had some drinks, bruschetta and the Chicken Parmesan. The bruschetta was fabulous - the bread was toasty and there were just the right amount of tomatoes. The Chicken Parmesan was mouth-watering. I am a big fan of this dish in general and Nick's did not disappoint! An overall great atmosphere, good portions and a friendly staff will definitely bring me back to Nick's again. Highly recommended!
(5)
Julie R.
My husband and I went to Nick's tonight for dinner, we split the chicken marsala with a side of spaghetti arabiatta. The spaghetti was really good as was the marsala. We also had a tiramasu, which was huge, we split it and still had to take half home. All of our dishes were really good, the bill was $24, which was good, considering the quality of ingredients. We can't wait to go back for happy hour.
(4)
Michael H.
dinner is ususally good but last week my wife had a hair on the lemon garnish and the waiter just picked it off with his hands...gross. WE insisted on another entree. Nothing was credited or offered.
(2)
Britt C.
Nick's offers great Italian comfort food with a pleasant but no-frills ambiance. The eggplant appetizer is tasty, as are the bruschetta and antipasti starters. For mains, they typically have a halibut "special" that is worth a try. For the traditionalists, you can't go wrong with the eggplant or chicken parmigiana (both good indicators of a solid Italian restaurant) and the lemon chicken is tasty. As tempting as it sounds, steer clear of the butternut squash ravioli...it's just too sweet!
(3)
Rae M.
Since I moved to Phoenix I'd been looking for a good little italian place with some authenticity, like a place I loved in my hometown. Nicks totally fits the bill, the food is good and the staff is friendly. One of my favorite foods is Caprese, and I especially love finding places that make it well, which Nick's does. The Mozzarella en Carozza is very good too, though I'll admit it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I can't remark on the pasta because I don't eat pasta these days, but it looks and smells amazing. It is a little pricey for my tastes, but so was the place in my hometown, so no surprise there.
(4)
Kim B.
Not sure how many stars to go with here. Food is good, but service is worse than terrible, so this review is for the service only. This is a very small place (which I will harp on) so there is absolutely no way to miss anyone who has been seated. 1) Sat and waited for water ( busser looked at us and walked by half a dozen times and never brought any) 2) Completely ignored by the server(3 tables and 1 booth had people). This place is small enough to be able to talk to anyone from where you are sitting, so there is no way to miss someone has been seated. 3) Finally came over to get our drink order which by this time we knew what we wanted and we're ready to order (by the way, you get bread w/ 2 small plates for the oil and pepper) 4) Didn't take our food order, just the drink order. Our menus were down and any server worth their money would have known we were ready to order 5) Took way too long to get our drinks - Ice Tea for cripes sake 6) Once the drinks came he wanted to know if we needed any time to look over the menu - really?! 7) Food took so long we were wondering if they were rolling out the dough, waiting for it to rise, roll out again so they could make the noodles 8) Heaven forbid you want a refill on your drink, which we had to get his attention for 9) Checked on us one time 10) Our dirty dishes sat on the table, he or the busser never took the dishes away to make room for our meals, so we had to squeeze room for him to put down our meal plates. He didn't want to take them from me 11) Finally came over and we asked for to-go containers, which took so long to get we were wondering if someone had to run out and buy them 12) Food in the containers, we sit and wait and wait and wait for our bill. You would think we had ordered something complicated. A chicken alfredo for my son and a salad for me. The only reason we stayed is because he likes the food and he was taking his mother to dinner. The server was so busy talking with the other guy that working wasn't something he or the busser knew how to do. They are 20 feet away, I'm trying get his attention, he keeps looking at me and nada. We had 2 other parties come in 15 minutes after us, get taken care of and were done with their food and out the door before we could get a refill on drinks. I prefer not to go here because this is not the first time I have had to go with family and had such horrible service, but my son likes the food. I would suggest doing carryout so you don't have to tip the server for such pathetic service. Told my son I'm not going back here, period. Really, this place is so small that someone sitting at one of the high top tables in 'bar' would be able to talk to people on the opposite wall. Busser and server has to walk past every table to get around. The worst service I have ever had anywhere. We'd come here to get food and some service, if I had known that I was supposed to get up and do his job, I would have. We always tip on service and I didn't want to leave this guy a dime, he didn't earn it, but my son left him something anyway. This should have been 45 minutes tops for dinner, but lasted 1.5 hours. I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone for dining in. For us this is a neighborhood restaurant, only 1mile down the street. I've waited a few days to write this review because I was so disgusted at the disrespectful service.
(1)
Erin J.
We frequently travel to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and often find ourselves at Nick's to get some Italian food to take back to the hotel (it's only a short distance from where we stay). This particular Nick's is near the intersection of N Tatum and E Shea. It's on the small side and dimly lit, but provides a nice, intimate atmosphere. There is some bar seating, which is great if you're just looking to grab a couple drinks there and dinner to go. The food has been hit and miss for me. Their lasagna is fantastic, as are some of their other dishes. That said, the last time we went I was very disappointed with their calamari fettuccine (I got it with the white sauce). Given that the sauce was being paired with seafood, I expected a light, but flavorful sauce. Although light, this sauce was far from flavorful. It was essentially a bland, light cream sauce--no garlic, wine, or any other hint of flavor to be found. The calamari itself was tender enough, but overall, I was not very satisfied with the dish. The service can be hot and cold as well. A couple trips ago, we came in about half an hour before closing, and we were constantly reminded that the kitchen would be closing soon and we needed to hurry up and make up our minds. This past time, we sat at the bar and the bartender was extremely charming and attentive. It just depends on the day you catch them, I guess. We may stop into Nick's again in the future, but given our mix of experiences, we'll be trying out some new Italian places in the area to see if we can find a new regular place to grab dinner.
(3)
Linda C.
I work next door to Nicks and frequently get food at this location. Last night after paying and picking up my food I noticed that on my CC statement it had two charges for that evening. When I went next door to find out why the hostess told me that she had not charged me enough for my chicken breast and that her manager charged my CC after I had left and SIGNED only one slip. I was not called, she didn't walk next door to inform me and when I told her this was illegal she said she would speak to her manager. Very pissed off and never eating there again. I will contest the erroneous charge with Chase. You cannot run a persons CC just because you made a mistake with your food billing. It would have to be a signed slip and there was none. I will not recommend this place to anyone EVER again.
(1)
Linda M.
We live close by and consider ourselves "regular" patrons. The service is very even. Portions very generous - oh the reason we keep coming back- the food ! Pastas are great. Nick's sauces are delish. Overall, a very pleasant experience. The space is small, so it's really not a place for more than a group of 4.
(4)
Angela M.
My fiance and I were really feeling like good Italian food and decided to choose nicks because it was the closest and decently priced. ordered the lasagna,pesto penne, and gnocchi for takeout and told 15mins (wow that seems really fast.) first the lasagna looked like a hot mess..tasted alittle bitter and that it was Microwaved. pesto penne was really really bad in my opinion..couldn't get over how much pesto was in it..i get its suppose to have alot but it just didnt taste right now the gnocchi was ok but tasted bland and the marinara was like they went to food city and bought faux marinara..also microwaved it seems i usually try any place twice but nope not this one. overall olive garden or even oreganos beats this place out of the water. SHOOT i could do a better job in my kitchen
I have been to Nick's twice. I waited to write this review until after my second visit. I went with different people on each visit and our reactions are the same. This place is easily overlooked and deservedly so. The food: subpar. The free bread they bring you when you sit down is cold, flavorless, and a total waste of stomach space. This would be even more of an offense if the entrees were worthy of stomach space. The dinner salad ($5) is extremely simple- green lettuce with maybe a teaspoon of balsamic with some sliced cucumber and sliced Roma tomato around the plate. The entrees my company and I have ordered are the gnocchi with pink sauce, fettuccine Alfredo, and chicken spinach tortellini. All a waste of stomach space. You have to ask the waiter about which pastas are homemade. The menu says they are all homemade but only the fettuccine, linguini, and gnocchi are homemade. The iced tea tonight was rancid. Even our waitron recognized that something was seriously wrong. He didn't charge us for them which was appropriate. The service: standard. Enough said. Skip dessert. Skip this place altogether. Hopefully some day I'll find a nice neighborhood Italian place to go to. This isn't it. Twice was enough- won't be returning.
(2)
Kacey T.
Such an awesome restaurant. I love so many things I couldn't begin to list, I'm a picky eater so that's big for me. They have amazing customer service, great food and strong drinks. Highly recommend this restaurant for a date night, you'll end up a regular!
(5)
Tony K.
Second time trying the restaurant. Offered me water but no bread for 40 minutes. Service was poor. Had their wedding soup but it was super salty and not edible. My shrimp scampi was also extremely salty. The noodles were almost uncooked. Very disappointed. My friend spoke so highly
(2)
Katie L.
Delicious, authentic Italian food. It's usually pretty busy but I've never waited long to get my order. My family has been coming here for years and it is always a great experience.
(5)
Jim C.
First off-- service was outstanding. Ate at the bar -- bartender was quick with attention, friendly, and had good recommendations. There is a reason why she seemed to have many regulars at coming in and out. Was offered bread immediately upon sitting, but declined-- did hear others in the restaurant raving. Food was good. Had the calamari with linguini in white wine sauce. The calamari was tender and well cooked (grilled) linguini was cooked to perfectly. I likely would have tried the red wine sauce next time-- the white wine sauce was "lacking" something. I'm a "bigger" guy and the serving size was MORE than enough and they didn't skimp on the calamari. Salad was fresh and the right size. Oil and vinegar was seasoned well. Add blue cheese crumbles to the salad, it is worth it. Chianti was good, liquor was strong selection for a smaller bar set up. Food price was below what I would have guessed. Wine was a little pricier -- scotch (Oban) at 14$ a pour is a bit much ($55-60 a bottle) Quiet restaurant...
(4)
Ken A.
Not really moved by the previous negative reviews - this is an EXCELLENT Italian restaurant! It was packed last night (4/17/15) and we were lucky to get a table immediately. Great service - delicious food - excellent wine. One ciopp ino and one linguini puttanesca along with a glass of Orvieto and a glass of Chianti and we were very happy people, Portions are very large, so there was enough another meal. All was great and we WILL be back!
(5)
Jordon H.
Always delicious always on point staff. I have been at this location the most (other ones a couple times each). Ingredients to a nice relaxing atmosphere is what nicks is all about. Thanks Nicks, and evviva!
(4)
Carl d.
Ordered 2 large pies to take ouut. The pepperoni had exactly 1.5 slices on each slice. REALLY! The other pie had one piece of sausage and one piece of pineapples per slice and some slices were missing onion and mushroom altogether. We were told this was great pie. Totally disappointed after paying over $50.00! You can fool some people but not a pie loving New Yorker. You should be ashamed!
(1)
Sherry W.
Horrible service. Jason has a horrible rapport and rushed us through like a herd of cattle. Food was less than average. Service even worse.
(1)
H H.
Love it! We went there 2 times in about 5 days, just to go back and get some chicken Parmesan and chicken piccata! Loved the veggies AND pasta for a side,we ordered both and shared. Not a bit left on our plates! We will be back for happy hour, maybe a nice glass of wine and an app. LOVE Orlando! Oh, bTW the chocolate cake is divine!
(5)
Jim F.
Love the food. Some of the best, if not the best, Italian food in PHX. A bit on the pricey side, but portions are generous and Nick's has a great variety.
First time at Nicks and the last, Service is border line rude, food is average. 2 of the 4 of us did not finish their meal. Waiter slams the glass of tea on the table spilling the tea onto the table. Left a 10% tip do to the rude service and overrated food,worst of all once outside the waiter called out to us wanting to know why I had left only a 10% tip,how rude of him to call us out. I have never had that happen and I tip according to the service and the food. Basically I am a generous tipper. But this place did not deserve one, and to chase us down out side and whine about the tip was most embarrassing and very low class, Makes one wonder if they hired Orlando to harass patrons for more money because he does it like a pro. my advice save your money and go to a decent place to eat.
(1)
Jolly M.
(See my posted business photo for reference.) I had an excellent first time experience here at Nick's for dinner. We were very pleased with the service from our Host/Waiter: Orlando and the entire staff. I have to RAVE about my dish, the linguini seafood cioppino with garlic wine sauce and their homemade tiramisu! IF you LOVE seafood you MUST order this, for $20 I was extremely impressed with the Quantity and Quality. It comes with jumbo tiger prawn shrimp and muscles in a 1/2 shell, I want to say there were about (4) each and an ABUNDANCE of clams and tender squid. It was so wonderfully balanced with the seafood and the light garlicky wine sauce I was in heaven and enjoying every bite. There was so much of it that I only ate half and had the other for another serving the next night. Their tiramisu is very smooth and is perfection. I loved this smaller restaurant, the decor, food and the customer service is great! Other patrons were enjoying themselves and their food. It was nice to see the variety of dishes being served and the happy faces that enjoyed the flavors and the same Host: Orlando. I was reluctant in trying this place due to the average reviews on Yelp were MEH, but I am so happy I finally tried this grand place. It's now my new favorite place aside from Ocean Trail at Talking Stick. I will be back 100% and awaiting for a great deal to come by since I also passed that up too when it was offered on Groupon. Thank you Nick's and Staff for a perfect dining experience! :)
(5)
Chris S.
We visited after the holiday rush and they still seemed to be busy so we waited 15 minutes. No problem, we had a few drinks at the bar and took in the ambiance. We were served herbed olive oil and bread with our wine which was a nice touch. Prices are pretty reasonable and you receive a lot of food. For $20 I got the lobster ravioli and it was delicious. The pasta was fresh, the ravioli were satisfactorily stuffed, and the cream sauce was tomatoey. The service was excellent, I really hate it when waiters hover. For what it is, Nick's is decent Italian fare. You won't exclaim, "OMG, I am back in Italy!!" while you are eating but it's fresh, it's tasty, and the variety and servings are great.
(4)
Jen L.
OMG! I just wrote how the food wasn't very good at Nick's, and one of the people in my party heated up leftovers (they hate to throw food out even if it's not good!), and there was a paper clip in the pasta! Don't eat here!!!!! I want to call the health department!
(1)
Erica G.
All of our friends kept suggesting we try Nick's, especially for Happy Hour. We finally made it in and we were so disappointed. The Happy Hour menu is strange. Who orders spaghetti and meatballs for Happy Hour?! It is silly you have to sit in the bar for happy hour where is packed but the restaurant is completely empty. The bartender made us feel rushed and he spilled wine on my husband as he sloppily poured him a glass. There are much better places in the neighborhood. Go there instead of Nick's.
(2)
Alvin M.
The food was excellent even for take out.
(4)
Kathrine C.
Had a lunch meeting at Nick's. The food is an excellent mix of savory italian and american fusion tastes. Very good! The service was very nice and helpful. They were always ready to serve w/first class service. The atmosphere is quaint and small town, which gives you a comfortable relaxing feeling during your meal.
(4)
Miss P.
This is my second time dining at Nick's, but my first time at this location. I am again impressed. The food here is always good and interesting. My only complaint: I'm not crazy about the GF pasta they have chosen to use, though; the quinoa flavor/texture isn't great, so I hope they will switch to a better brand like Jovial. The gluten-free menu, however, is extensive and the dishes are very good. The staff are always friendly and attentive. Tonight my companion had the crab ravioli and said it was delicious! I had Pasta Pollaio. Both were delicious! Although we came in about half an hour before close, staff were completely professional and friendly. The restaurant was very clean, with a nice, intimate atmosphere.
(5)
Luca C.
I went to this place with low expectations and was clearly dissapointed. the staff was nice and the place was fine but at the end of the day the food is what matters. We got bread which was a nice touch, something many restaurants have done away with as far as the whole white table cloth setting but the bread here was good. The appetizers were typical but fine but the entrees really dissapointed. We ordered the seafood ravioli and it was just a mess. The filling tasted like it had come out of a can that had been in the fridge too long. It was a mush where you couldn't taste any of the seafood but more of a grainy watery filling. The kitchen was closed or I would have sent it back. Sorry for the review, nice people but the food was not up to par.
(2)
Brian E.
My family has been eating at Nick's for years. The food is consistent and all items we have tried are terrific. Last night, we ordered the grilled vegetables and fried calamari as appetizers. The calamari was very fresh and perfectly fried. The sauce was a bit spicy, but really complimented the flavor well. The grilled vegetables were perfect! My only complaint was an abundance of carrots. We wished they would have added additional eggplant and zucchini. As a main dish, I ordered chicken florentine without mushrooms. The flavor was great! I loved the garlic and cream sauce. I wish they had additional spinach, but will certainly order again. The restaurant is small. It is always busy, and last night was no exception. The service was spot on. Orlando goes above and beyond and has a great attitude.
(4)
Jeff K.
Stopped by for dinner on a Tuesday evening. Was seated right away and provided a basket of bread. Ordered a red wine and Penne Pesto with chicken. Excellent meal and excellent wine. The pasta was properly cooked and the pesto sauce was the perfect temp and consistency. Service was quick. I will go back on my next trip to Scottsdale.
(5)
Dana B.
Just found a hair in my salad.....absolutely disgusting. I don't recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Gina A.
Great neighborhood spot! I had heard about Nick's from my sister who loves Italian and gave it a great review. They were very busy when we got there and it took us 45 minutes just to order! That and the lack of flavor in the tiramusu were the only reasons I gave it 4 stars, not 5. Our server was very friendly and provided great service once it calmed down. We split a large salad(Spinach Walnut) to start, which was delicious! I had the shrimp scampi dish with linguini and it was great. Super garlicky(which I LOVE) and the shrimp were huge! I will definitely be back to try Nick's again.
(4)
Christina P.
It's like I have to psych myself up to go to Nick's every time, because I forget how much I love it but last night, I had to personally thank the owner for serving quality food at a fair price (you can get a glass of wine for $7 and an entree for $13-$15)... it's a bonus that it is close to home! So, even though, for some reason, I keep forgetting that I actually REALLY LIKE the food here, I'm a BIG fan of Nick's. I especially recommend the arrabiata, the gnocchi, and the stracciatella.
(4)
Artemis S.
Pretty middle-of-the-road, food-wise. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you're looking for standard Italian fare, but it's the kind of stuff you can make yourself pretty easily at home. We kinda pigged out here, as we bought the $20 for $40 Groupon; I got a calzone, the lady got a pizza, and we shared a plate of gnocchi. Again, it all was good but not spectacular or anything. As dumb as it sounds, I wish they had a Groupon option of $20 for $10 or something; if you're only eating for two, $40 of food is a lot of food here. If you don't have the Groupon, you're still paying about $20 for two entrees, so either it's pay that or gorge with the $40 Groupon- kinda lose-lose (but not really, because we're fat Americans). Anyway, waiter was great and the atmosphere's all right- dark-lit Italian restaurant and all'a that. Everything seemed clean, et cetera.
(3)
John B.
Service horrible. Don't get Orlando as waiter if you want you food to come out in a reasonable time. Very unprofessional. They should be ashamed. Food was good though.
(3)
Nicki E.
I really like eateries that are high-energy and bustling, especially ones that have their dining area set up as one big room. So it is with Nick's Italian in Paradise Valley (there are two more locations in the Valley). The upbeat, high-energy restaurant makes you sort of feel like you're in someone's home, since the seating quarters are close. The food is all handmade, and I really enjoyed my meal, too. My pal and I grabbed a seat at one of the bar high-top tables, and we started off with the Caprese salad ($7.95). It wasn't huge of anything, but the mozarella was high-quality, the tomatoes were juicy, and the basil was ample. For my entree, I got the Portobello Mushroom Ravioli ($15.95). The pasta was filled with delicious mushrooms, which I really enjoyed. I liked the pink sauce the ravioli was served with, but I wish it would have had fresh tomatoes in it. Also, I felt like the portion could have been a little more generous. Here is my pal's Veal Parmesan ($17.95), which he said was pretty darn awesome because the veal was tender and the sauce was tasty. The meal-ender, the tiramisu ($6), was a great deal, really delicious and perfect to share. The mascarpone cream was mouth-watering, and the ladyfingers melted in my mouth. Tiramisu is my favorite dessert, and that was definitely my favorite part of the meal. While I enjoyed Nick's Italian, and I did appreciate the twinkly lit patio, I would choose Arrivederci over Nick's if you're in the area, based on the service alone. We were in a busy area near the bar, but servers should still strive to make you feel welcomed and relaxed no matter how buzzy the place is, and I didn't really get that vibe from our server. If you do go, try to get a table in the main dining area or patio-maybe things would feel a little more welcoming.
(3)
Kenneth W.
This is mediocre but decent food. Clean enough and decent service. The food lacks spice and presentation is really sloppy. Probably the best thing is the grilled vegetables. The lasagna is decent. The.coffee is insipid. I will say the location is convenient.
(3)
Shannon M.
Much has changed in the two years since my initial review. Apparently Nick's has decided to toss customer service out the window. I should have known it would be a problematic visit when it took nearly 15 minutes to be acknowledged to put in our order. Well, it only got worse. After nearly 45 minutes of waiting, we realized that our food was never, ever going to arrive. Ever. Time to leave, and never come back. Ever.
(1)
Jewel W.
What a wonderful find!!! Food and service were excellent. Nice neighborhood dining spot. Don't let the strip mall fool you! Full menu with great specials. Don't miss this one!
(5)
Susan M.
My friend Joan was going to meet me at Nourish123 in Scottsdale on Monday, but luckily, we both noticed that it's closed on Monday so we ended up meeting at Nick's at Tatum and Shea. We go where we have groupons, etc. and she had one to try it out. I can honestly say that I was quite happy and surprised when I showed up first and saw a sign outside of the restaurant which said they were featuring a gluten free pizza for less than $10! I was all set to just have a salad but this changed my mind.........since I figured an Italian place would have great pizza! I entered the restaurant and saw that I had arrived first so the Host greeted me and I told her I was meeting a friend. She said that she'd bring her over when she got there and seated me. She asked what I wanted to drink and left to get my Iced Tea. She came back with the Tea and a bowl of bread, which I asked her to remove until Joan showed up.......too hard to look at something I love and can't have! Then she informs me that they closed at 2:00 p..m. I really don't understand why she failed to mention this to me when I sat down! We might have decided to dine elsewhere....and before I ordered a $3 Iced Tea. It wouldn't have bothered me to order a $3 Iced Tea if it were good but it tasted like Lipton Tea which had been in the canister for a week............you know, when it tastes like tin? So Joan arrived and we decided to eat anyway........and I ordered the GF pizza with tomato slices, mushrooms and onion. Joan got a bowl of soup and salad. We chatted and waited for our food. The pizza looked pretty decent with lots of mushrooms and veggies present but upon tasting it I was immediately aware of no spice taste. It tasted like they opened a can of tomato sauce and poured it on the pizza. Between the pizza and the Iced Tea and them not letting us know that they closed in half an hour, I'd have to say that I would never go back or recommend the place. When we didn't have a large enough order to even make using the groupon worth while, Joan asked for a dessert to go...and was told that there was nobody present to even prepare it, sorry! Yeah. I'll never go back! That's ridiculous!
(1)
Co S.
I have been coming here for years with my family and it had always been one of our favorites but not anymore. After several disappointing visits, last night will be our last. The quality of the food has just gone down - dry, tough, overcooked chicken; pasta was too al dente; pizza undercooked. Its really all too bad because this really was our favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant.
(2)
Barbara S.
We frequent this place quite a bit since we live close by. It's a quintessential neighborhood restaurant. The food is consistently good. We love the arriabiata sauce (although sometimes it is spicier than other times - mostly good & spicy.) The pizzas are good, and so are their specials. I've had the halibut special several times and it is always tender & flaky, not overcooked. The steamed veggies aren't soft but have a nice crunch to them Great happy hour offers, too :-) - if you can find a place in the bar area! They are usually packed.
(4)
Ryan J.
Solid food and execution. While my experience varies a bit as I make my way through the menu, their hits ensure that this is a regular part of the rotation. They execute a halibut dish that is both easy on the palate and light on the calorie counter. Their bread is among the best. Truly great Italian American food.
(4)
Sunny B.
Nick's is a solid Italian restaurant located in the Whole Foods strip mall. I have sought them out for take out several times, but just recently dined in. The place is small and cozy and there is a separate bar area and a nice patio. The food is good, not amazing, but definitely worth the price. Things I have tried that I would recommended: Chicken Tortellini: chicken, spinach, pink sauce (which is a vodka sauce) Mushroom Ravioli with pink sauce Butternut Ravioli in a garlic butter Calamari Antipasto Salad They also have a decent wine selection The servers have always been prompt and attentive While this isn't a place I would drive and seek out if you live in the neighborhood it is a great weekday "go to" and has made it in my rotation when I don't feel like cooking. 3 1/2 stars!
(3)
Jennifer T.
My friend and I when here one day for lunch and we were both very impressed. Both of our dishes were beyond delish! We also had kiddos with us and though they didn't have a kids menu they still catered to them and had no problem they were with us (of course they were very well behaved). I took a look at their dinner menu and though it is a little pricy I really want to go back and give it a try. I love all of the seafood options! Service and atmosphere were both very nice as well.
(5)
Lynnette L.
Nick's is a great little neighborhood Italian place. Of which there are not many in Phoenix. It's small and intimate, the food is consistently good; my husband is always impressed with how fresh the fish and seafood is - we do live in the desert. He grew up on the east coast, lots of good Italian and fresh seafood so the fact that they make him happy says something. Service is always good, Orlando always knows who we are and takes good care of us. There was a time in the past where service was lacking, and it was something they were aware of which is why they had a "now hiring servers" sign up. Shortly after, they had some new people about the place and service was back on point. I've never had a dish I didn't like here, and I'm the kind of person who likes to try all the menu has to offer; sometimes seafood, sometimes chicken, sometimes veggie - ravioli, linguini etc... It's all good. A favorite of mine is the farfalle salmon, it's a repeat on occasion. Check out Nick's!
(5)
Joe L.
well-done concept of cute, cool fair-priced Italian food, sophisticated enough wine list, and genrally upbeat, fun, not anti-family vibe filling the place. Food was very good and service spot-on. Excellent value and great save for the dad in-a-pinch for "no time to make dinner" or for take-out needs.
(4)
Bianca A.
Moving from Chicago - the land of awesome Italian food - I'm so happy I found this place on a groupon. Bruschetta was awesome and flavorful as well and the wine recommended by our server was perfect. The pizza looked awesome ill be sure to try next time, however if you're in the mood for pasta be sure to get the arrabiata sauce. It's packed with flavor and not too spicy!!
(5)
Sheri S.
Wow! A new favorite! A friend recently recommended Nick's and I was so happy that she did! WONDERFUL food - I had the crab ravioli and it was fantastic! Will definitely be back - it's a gem!
(5)
Kacee F.
This review is only for Nick's on Tatum Blvd. This place is real small and very dark. You will need a flashlight to read the menu if you come in after dark. We had a groupon so we went to this location and I was very disappointed. I ordered the Linguine with eggplant and chicken, when they brought it out, it was a very small dish and I thought they made a mistake giving me the lunch portion, but they said no it was a dinner portion. very very small portion and I was still hungry afterwards. Also they do not make their cheesecake in house they buy in from someplace else and it was over 50 ingredients in which are all genetically modified. Cheesecake can be made simply with 4 or less ingredients... The food is just average at this location. There are many other Italian places in town which are far better.
(2)
Amy S.
My boyfriend and I love this place. We go for happy hour. Our favorites: Baked Ziti, pizza, ravioli and red wine.
(4)
Steve S.
I've held off for a couple of years for posting a review, but it's time. Why do they have to overcook their pasta? I've tried requesting the whole wheat pasta (supposedly homemade) al dente, repeatedly requesting "do not overcook;" we get home and well, my spaghetti and meatballs is pretty tasteless. I wish there were other restaurants in PV, but things are so limited around here, that I guess their chef can get away with pre-cooking their pasta, slapping some sauce on it and charging $18 for it. I hope someone is reading this as I told them I'd be posting as calling back after and complaining does no good. Maybe other people complain that their spaghetti is not overcooked enough???!!! Anyway, I really have to take the blame for this, as I should just get some homemade pasta right next door at Whole Foods and do it myself. Sorry for the rant, my Yelp friends, but why can't Giacomo's of Boston open up a restaurant in Phoenix?
(2)
Gabi M.
If you are looking for a casual restaurant for lunch or dinner and you're in the mood for Italian food, Nick's at Paradise Valley (in the Whole Foods shopping center) is an excellent choice! Whether you're in the mood for pasta, pizza, soup, salad, fish, chicken, or veal, you can find something that you'll be happy with at Nick's. I've been on several occasions and never been disappointed. They always start you off with fresh bread and olive oil (a must for any good Italian restaurant)... don't allow yourself to eat the whole basket though; you must save room for what is coming! Some of my fave things to order are: -Grilled calamari appetizer (yes, I said grilled!) -Grilled eggplant appetizer -Stracciatella soup -all of their salads are delicious -pasta with meatballs -salmon or tilapia (picatta style) -Shrimp Fra Diavolo I don't think you can go wrong with so many options to choose from! Portion sizes are generous but not ridiculous. I recommend saving a little bit of room for the Hazelnut Tartufo for dessert... it's the perfect sweet ending to your meal (and it helps to cover up that garlic breath you probably have from your dinner)! FYI: There is waiter service at this location - and the menu is a little different than that at their other Scottsdale locations. Nick's won't blow you away, but it's a safe bet for a simple Italian meal with consistent service. Take it for what it is... Buon appetito!
(4)
Cherlyn E.
Nick's is local to me and I would have loved to make this a fav as I can walk to it. My first visit I sat in the bar after having sushi next door. This was o.k. and I may repeat this. However, on my next visit my friend and I tried to enjoy dinner. We were asked to sit at a smaller table outside vs. a larger table for bigger parties. Ok but when some people came in that were repeat customers and they sat at the table we wanted but there were only two, well that was somewhat rude. Then the waiter catered to their order and needs over ours. Such as when he did bring our food and asked us if we wanted parmesan cheese. We said yes. He then went to the kitchen and retrieved the food for his favorite customers and then brought the cheese for them and then brought it to us. Maybe they are big tippers but as someone that was looking to be a regular I may have been too. The food was good but for gluten free they really do not have many choices. I have been going to another restaurant in the area and they have excellent choices with better service. Unless I am dragged here again I most likely will not return for their food.
(2)
Doug P.
This place has what I'd call good pizza, but the lasagna was just awful so skip that completely.
(3)
David G.
Been a patron for years. Eat- In and Carry-Out, never a tab below $50. Disappointed again last night for the last time. Food was inedible, we joked that we should feed it to our dog, but we really love our dog, threw it away. Shrimp Emperial, $18.95, Shrimp was clearly frozen too long and tainted the whole watery, bland dish with bad fish smell. Baked Ziti, $10.95, watery, bland, have had better from a can. Biggest disappointment... Antipasto Misto, $10.95 for Oscar Meyer and Rubbery Caprese. Really sad because it used to be a great neighborhood restaurant, now its perfect if you're from out of town, don't like good Italian, and will never be back.
(1)
John Z.
My wife and I ate at Nicks last night. We had claims, Lasagna, wine, coffee and tiramisu. Here is the bad then the good news: Bad News: The bread is the worst I have ever had in an Italian Restaurant. My wife's water tasted like Vinegar. After complaining to the server, they found that the water had been contaminated by white vinegar. My wife and I both woke up in the middle of the night with stomach pains, probably due to the clams. The Good News: Lasagna was good as was the coffee and tiramisu. Thanks to Groupon we saved $40. We will not be going back.
(2)
Gary L.
OMG you talk about getting lucky when you happen to pop into a new restaurant. Had never heard of this place - had never seen it before, and we just walked in after shopping near by. AMAZING! My wife and I have been there a few times now and every time it just got better. (Probably because we ditched the kids for some adult time) Not that you have to... they'll feed them too. Last time I was there I got the lobster ravioli and it was to die for! I love italian food and Nick's is my favorite. I don't know for certain that it's all made from scratch, but it sure looks and tastes that way. Perfect food. Great service.
(5)
Amy B.
I came here on a date Saturday afternoon and have to say, this place is great! Holy cow! Total gem! This place is suprisingly located in a strip mall of all things. I walked in and really liked how the place was decorated. Its not a huge resturant, but has a more fancy feel to it. Not a place I would walk into with jeans on. Classy enough to put on a nice outfit for a great experience. (Im normally not a fancy diner, but for dates, I tend to turn it up a notch.) I was impressed with the service that I had here. Menu is loaded with just about any and every dish you could imagine. I like variety, and this place had it. Our meal started off with a bread basket and some dipping oil which I liked a lot. Server got our drinks and we took our time reviewin the menu. I went with the Lasanga. I think my date had the chicken parm. Servings were nice and big! Tasty too! It was funny, because even though the service was great, the service was kinda funny. Date took notice and we had a good laugh about it. I was taking my time with my lasgana, and the server kept asking me all the time if I was done. I kept telling him "no, I'm just a slow eater." Then, he would come back like 5 minutes later and ask the same thing again. rinse, wash, repeat for the last half hour of the date. Plus, the mexican bus boy literally stood table side to refill my beverage after I took more then 2 sips. It was actually hysterical! Date and I had a great chuckle over this! Anyways, I really enjoyed my experience at Nicks. I guess they have several valley locations, and I plan on returning. Great place for dates, parents, or just something nice!
(4)
David M.
My wife and I met some friends here for dinner. We were seated right away at 6:00pm on a Friday night which was nice. The bread was good, and the service was very friendly and on top of things. I really liked their fried calamari. I had their baked ziti which I saw a few times in other Yelp reviews. I liked the big portion, but it wasn't anything special. My wife had the chicken Parmesan and she said was pretty good. Nice local place that we will probably check out again.
(3)
Lindsay T.
My boyfriend and I ate here because he had a groupon. Normally I don't dig italian but I tried to stay open.... The menu is great and all but, man, SALTY food! My minestrone soup was good, but both my salad (who salts a salad??!!!) and my boyfriend's Chicken parmigiana dish were SO heavily salted you could barely taste any distinct flavors. The service was good, and all else but man, I couldn't drink enough fluid the rest of the night to
(3)
Morgan D.
Why: Nick's saved me from Olive Garden! I'm not bashing the ol' Garden, but it isn't fun, unique, or original- nor does it have great ambiance. This area is full of chains and I came up empty with suggestions when my friends and I decided to meet up for an Italian dinner. Inside: Small and cozy. I really enjoyed the ambiance. It's nothing fancy, but it's also not too laid back- dimly lit with tables snuggled in close to each other. Great date place. The Food: I had spaghetti with Alfredo, mushroom, chicken, and I believe one other ingredient that I can't recall. It was pretty tasty. Not my favorite all time pasta dish, but definitely worth getting again and better than plenty of places I've dined before. Everyone seemed to be satisfied. Bottom Line: If you are looking for Italian in this area, I can wholeheartedly recommend Nick's... at least over Olive Garden. Also, I was the first to arrive and the bar was a welcome place to wait and have a glass of wine. Not bad Nick, not bad!
(4)
Amy R.
Seriously? I didn't review this place? Oops! I've been here twice now and must say there is some good food coming out of their kitchen. The Eggplant Parmesan has some AMAZING sauce with it unlike any I've had before. A lot of red sauces all taste somewhat similar but this is something special. Both times I've come home with leftovers so portions are on the larger size. Complimentary bread and oil starts your meal off. Service has always been spot on. My only major gripe about the place is the seating and size of the place. Be warned... this location is SMALL. Both times I went I ended up with ass in my face when someone sat next to me was leaving.
(4)
Al P.
Decided to gamble on a groupon to Nicks, overall it was okay. Started with the garlic cheesy bread which was awful. Next was the baked ziti which was a little dry but decent. Tried some lasagna which was good. The best item was the pizza which was similar to Red Devils pizza. Service was fast and the plates were scolding hot which was perfect for me. Price was just right for the portions just wish everything tasted as good as the pizza.
(3)
Nancy T.
This place is amazing. Some of my favorites are the minestrone soup, Greek salad, spaghetti Bolognese, gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce, fettuccine with white clam sauce and much more. Everything here is good. The sausage and meatballs are great, too. This is one of the places I miss the most after moving from the area. Hard to find really good Italian food like this.
(5)
Jeff W.
The food is really good, but the service is a bit disjointed, and they really pack you in like sardines. It's small but that doesn't mean I want the next table asking me to pass the parm!
(4)
Mark C.
Nick's has been a pretty popular gathering place for a group of my friends. I have had their pizzas, calzones, and chicken parmesan. Those dishes have been pretty good. Last night I wanted to try something new, so I tried the baked ziti with meatballs. I don't recommend it. The issue was that it was overcooked. The ziti was rubbery and the dish was dry. The ends of the ziti were hard and crunchy. The best thing about the dish was the meatballs. Even though my food was not up to par, the service was exceptionally good.
(2)
Daryle W.
I read all the hype on this place and was hoping for some great food and instead left wishing we had just eaten fast food. I tried the old staple of chicken parmesan as it seemed a popular choice and I will never go there again. It tasted like a frozen chicken patty with canned tomato sauce. It came with spaghetti on the side and that too was not only overcooked, but just gross. My girlfriend had the gnocchi with pink sauce and again it underwhelmed. I know finding good gnocchi is difficult but to me, the sauce again fell flat. It all tasted store bought and out of cans or jars. When I go out somewhere I want to eat something that I can't fix at home myself. Not only could I have made it but I could have made it MUCH better. The only redeeming thing I liked about the food was the bread at the start. As for the ambience, it is small and had a quiet feel to it but looking around, all the artwork (most of) are pictures you buy from Target...And there wasnt much other decor around to give you that Italian feel to it other than the waiter's accent which to me seemed very over the top whether he is authentic or not. Sometimes I couldn't even understand him. Either way, for the price I know you can get better Italian food. Try Cucina Tagliani. I felt Nick's was overpriced, underwhelming, and not worth me ever going back. It wasn't the worst food in the world but it wasn't anything memorable by any means.
(2)
Susan W.
Nick's has Portobello mushroom ravioli that can be served with their house pink sauce. It's one of the best things I've ever tasted.
(4)
S C.
My husband and I have been living in ax for 20 years. Nicks is our favorite. Weekly we are there enjoying happy hour to eggplant parmigiana, and chicken Marsala and salmon at dinner time. Happy hour has "good food instead of fried food floating in oil like most other restaurants". Personally I enjoy his tomatoe sauce, simple spices and delicious, the staff is always professional and courteous even in their busiest times
(5)
Dale E.
Dirty, slow service, I've had better food out of a can! And so busy. Obviously we don't get it and or have been spoiled by fresh quality ingredients all over town.
(1)
J. C.
I was originally in town for business but then connected with family and ended up celebrating our belated birthdays at Nick's. All I can say is that I wish this place was right around the corner from me. It was SO GOOD!!! I could totally become a regular at this place. It's nothing but high points folks: 1. Authenticity - the waiters are actually, get this, ITALIAN! 2. Service - fast and friendly, which is impressive for such a popular place. 3. Beverages - good selection of affordable wines and specialty drinks. The house Pinot Grigio was great. 4. Seating - though it's small inside and by the looks of it, very popular, we walked in and were seated immediately without a reservation. 5. Food - 5 stars! FANTASTIC! The bread that comes when you are seated is delish (and a generous selection of a few different breads). We started with the yummy antipasto salad - fresh and delicious. It could only by topped by the entrees - each meal was so good and was a decent portion - Shrimp Scampi, Baked Ziti and Butternut Squash Ravioli (my fave). Though definitely full, I couldn't resist dessert and ordered a cannoli. Oh...my...gosh... delicious. Such a fantastic meal. I hope that business or other travel brings me back again.
(5)
Jennifer L.
My husband located this place and wanted to try it because they had gnocchi on the menu and that's the only thing he likes in the world of Italian food. They make their own pasta here and I have to say the pasta was very good. I had chicken fettucine alfedo. The fettucine was good, the chicken was good... the sauce, not so much. Bland and boring! My husband had a lemon chicken dish with gnocchi on the side. I did not like the pink sauce on the gnocchi one bit and when I tried his chicken I didn't taste lemon, I tasted wine. Yuck. I like that they make their own pasta but they really need better sauces to go with it. Very limited indoor seating as well, and when it's 108 degrees, sitting outside is NOT appealing.
(2)
Irma G.
Well, reading these reviews it seems like there are 2 totally separate Nick's in the same place! We went, the first time, on a groupon, we had the seafood linguini with white garlic sauce and I thought I was in Italy or Sicily. It was amazing, tasted home made and real! Service.... Well it seemed the "other servers" were taking better care of their customers than ours. To get 5 stars all has to be fabulous! 2nd time, wonderful food (I ordered the same thing, just can't get over how good that was) and the service was worse, including mistakes on the bill. Nick is a great host and, when I get to know him better, I might talk about the friendly, but sub par service. Something is just miss there. The place is crowded which attests to the excellent food. In my NSH opinion, this is real Italian! How you can compare Olive Garden to ANY real Italian place is beyond me. Obviously, you belong in Olive Garden if that is your "standard" that you compare Italian food to. I'll take Nicks! Now I want the cannoli.... After reading about them here! I've never been to happy hour, but my son says it's pretty good as well.
(4)
Cindy D.
I typically love this restaurant and eat here about once a month. I was disappointed this last week, when my cheese pizza was delivered to my table with pepperoni on it. The waiter asked me if it was okay, to which my response was "No, I'm sorry, I am a vegetarian." He apologized and said that he would have the kitchen make me a fresh cheese pizza. No problem. He returned about 10 minutes later with what I thought was a fresh cheese pizza. To my surprise, the kitchen staff pulled the pepperoni off of the pizza and then reserved it to me. After being a vegetarian for 35 years, I noticed the pepperoni taste immediately. I quickly paid my bill so that I could run home, afraid that I was going to get sick. It will be a long time before I frequent this restaurant. It was a disappointing experience to say the least. I expected more.
(3)
Ben D.
Nick's is our favorite Italian restaurant in the valley. The Baked Ziti is the best. We frequent Nick's once a month. Great happy hour specials and friendly staff.
(4)
Jennifer S.
Good, consistent food in a nice setting with good service. This is not stand out Italian food, but still worth checking out!
(3)
Dana G.
I just realized that I have never wrote an actual review on Nick's, my favorite Phoenix spot. Maybe it's the nostalgia? I've been coming here since High School. Maybe it's the casual, family owned atmosphere? No matter which location you visit, you'll most likely see Nick checking up on things. Most importantly, it's the consistency. No matter which location you choose, it all tastes great, every time. For me, this is good Italian food, but in the American way. If you're looking for real Italy italian, you may choose another spot, but I find the typical Lasagna, Ravioli, Baked Zitti to be fantastic! I love their Bolognese, and if you notice on my profile, my last meal on earth would be their chicken parmesan with a side of spaghetti bolognese- each entree comes with a huge side of either fresh veggies or pasta. The portions are huge, so I love to eat some, and it's always even better the next day! Here are a few of my favorite dishes: -Di Mare Salad (with grilled calamari like Gabi M says) - Tilapia Picatta - Chicken Ravioli (my best friend Natalie always tells me that if you get the Chicken tortellini, you actually get more!) -Chicken Parm (note the above) -Baked Ziti (have them add meatballs) -Cannoli (I'm pretty sure I could spoon feed the filling like ice cream! Was that too much?) Go to any one of their locations for a casual, quick Italian meal- I'm never disappointed!
(5)
Liz D.
We decided to try Nicks at Pinnacle Peak on Friday night and our server was Jake. Jake was great and the manager who came over to ask how everything was was extremely pleasant also. We were given a taste of bruschetta, which was a nice touch, and our salads arrived which were very fresh and very large! My husband ordered the veal chop and grilled vegetables and I ordered chicken breast with cheese, tomatoes garlic...sorry cannot remember the a tubal name of the dish. My husbands veal chop was perfectly cooked and swimming in a cream, red onion sauce which was delicious! WAY TOO MUCH SAUCE. The vegetables were perfect and served on the side. Now if you are looking for a dish that is beautifully presented, and garnished in an appealing way....this is not the place. The great thing about not garnishing is that the food comes out HOT and looks like it is home cooked...a very good upside. As for my chicken.......disappointing, very bland. A few Italian herbs added at home the next day perked it right up! The manager said that he found it lacking in flavor too. HHMMMmmmmmm why doesn't he talk to the chef about that? WE WILL GO BACK...best veal chop in town according to my husband.
(4)
Andy C.
Nick's is a small local chain that does a lot of things right. The portions and service are just right, and there's a lot of variety on the menu. Nick's has a bunch of home made pastas, along with pizza, salads, and appetizers. They have a soup that sort of like a Chinese egg drop combined with minestrone. Try it! I'd recommend this spot for lunch or dinner, business or pleasure. Don't forget to check the board for the specials and try something new.
(4)
Miss C.
I have recently become addicted to checking reviews to new places to eat before I head out & based on other reviews was pretty optimistic about trying Nick's. My boyfriend and I got there for an early dinner (around 5ish) and were seated very promptly. The decor was simple and classy, fresh flowers and cool colors filled the room. The server was prompt and rehearsed spiel-less, which I always find to be a plus. The busser was quick to refill beverages before half empty and offer more of the delicious bread once we had finished the original. The bread is a highlight, there were two options, one a common french loaf type and the other a lighter, beautifully seasoned variety. To dip your bread in there was a nice seasoned olive oil. The food took a fairly decent amount of time to arrive considering there were only 6 or so tables, plus the happy hour crowd at the bar top. Perhaps they were understaffed in the kitchen, who knows, I didn't dock them any stars for that. The thing that got me to click 3 vs. 4 stars however was the fettuccine alfredo. The plate arrived to the table and I had dreams of what I was about to dig into (beautiful memories of the sadly closed Pasta Pomedoro came to mind) However, these dreams were not realized. The noodles, although lovely and wider fettuccine type, were over cooked and verging on mushy. And the sauce, while it smelled lovely, lacked any sort of mouthwatering goodness. We also shared the pizza, which was a fabulous price, but nothing to write home about. Although we left Nick's not planning to come back as soon as we can, I think based on other reviews that perhaps we just did not find their star dishes, and for the price (2 sodas, pizza, and pasta for $26) I will most likely be willing to give this place a try again. And after all, I did not have an opportunity to try their tiramisu, (how I truly give Italian eateries the thumbs up or the boot) so I will have to make sure to try that next time...
(3)
Angela G.
this nicks is the closest to our house there was one closer on scottsdale and grayhawk however they closed it down and moved it more north on pinnacle peak and pima rd. this one is not very big however its never really packed so we are always seated right away. i always get the chicken parmesan with the pasta for a side (spaghetti pasta) and it comes out sizzling hot and the chicken is covered in cheese. soooooo good!! ive tried the veggies as a side before and it just wasnt good. they had this weird flavor on them but the pasta is yummy and my daughter loves to share the pasta so it works out so i don't have to get her her own meal.
(5)
AMber W.
Wow. I was really shocked at how much I enjoyed Nick's considering it is inside a strip mall! I figured it would be more of a low-key type place, but it was really nice inside and the food was FANTASTIC. The only complaint I have is that every time someone opened the front door (which was frequent; the place was PACKED) it was absolutely freezing, but the restaurant was able to move us to an area away from the door and the problem was solved! I started with a glass of Riesling, as usual. I was happy that it was only $5 per glass versus the normal $8, and I was not disappointed with the taste. The busser immediately brought us waters and bread with dipping oil. I could have eaten it all day!!! I opted for something not even on the menu: Penne pasta with pink sauce (combo of white and red). It was ABSOLUTELY Delicious!!! The service was great, and I love that our waiter even had an accent! Overall, I really enjoyed Nicks and will be back for sure!
(4)
Kate A.
I love this place! I love sitting outside here! The seating is very comfortable. The atmosphere is very laid back and elegant. Even though they were busy at the time our waiter was very attentive. I had the Gnocchi soup for the first time. I am sad that I can't find a place that could compare to that of Nick's Gnocchi. I also had the Caesar salad which was yummy! This is such a nice place for a date or a night out with the family. This is also my grandfathers favorite restaurant in Phoenix!
(5)
Luna L.
Chicken Marsala and alfredo sauce were delicious, but the marinara sauce left little to be desired. I would have preferred the bread that was brought to the table to be warm or at least soft. All in all ok but we probably won't be back.
(3)
Bob G.
I usually poke fun at Olive Garden as having bland food for people that have no idea what Italian food should really taste like, yet I'd still choose them over Nick's. I've read and respect the other reviews, and perhaps we just caught a bad night, but Nick's was awful. We began with a service issue however that was minor and not worth repeating. That problem would have been easily overlooked if the meal was good. Instead, we got uninspired bland food that seemed like it came right out of the jar or box. The are too many quality choices in the area or not too far from he that are much better. I would not go back to Nick's.
(1)
Adam B.
I was originally going to dine at another place...then I saw "Nicks" I am a sucker for Italian food and try to visit every one I see and try the alfredo sauce....the best I have ever had is at some place in the Bellagio in Las Vegas... I walked in and was greeted and seated very quickly.....drink order very fast. Service was top notch...every time my ice tea got nearly drained...it was picked up...any questions answered... This place should really be a rated a $$$....my entree was $15 my girl's was $16 and her glass of wine was $9...mix that with salads...it came out to $57... So....with that much cash this alfredo must be outstanding right? Not even close....it was greasy and had lots of garlic, was not creamy and in my opinion didn't even taste like alfredo should....even olive gardens alfredo is better...Brios' sauce slaps it in the mouth! XD I ordered a side of the alfredo as my entree came with "pink" sauce.....which was a mix of red and white....they should have left the red alone... I also like my bread warm....this was not....oh well If the service had not been good...I would have knocked another star off. First visit...and most likely the last.
(2)
Bob R.
Definitely nothing to write home about. Generic Italian food. Pizza crust wasn't bad, but the pastas we had were on the gummy side. Also the Mozzarella Carrozza appetizer was nothing more than deep fried grilled cheese sandwich. Tomato sauce tasted like canned tomatoes heated up. Lame.
(2)
M A.
Friendly neighborhood italian restaurant with solid menu and great service. Just wish they were open for lunch on weekends.
(5)
Aaron T.
Great little Italian place. Very small dining area, so a long wait. The food was good. The arrabiatta was actually spicy which is rare here since most places dumb it down for the general population. Service was good. A solid 4 star place.
(4)
Emily B.
Good atmosphere, good service, good pasta. We have always driven by this place and finally stopped in the other night. We both enjoyed the pasta dishes we ordered (with plenty for left overs the next day). Our server was very good, she was attentive but not overbearing. The restaurant was small so tables were a little close together, but we sat in a corner so it wasn't too bad. The only thing we didn't really like was the mozzarella carrozza- it tasted like someone deep fried a grilled cheese mozzarella sandwich, not much flavor. Overall, a nice neighborhood restaurant. Leftovers were still delicious when reheated. :)
(4)
Matthew S.
Nick's Italian is one of my new favorite little places. I have eaten there about six times. Some of their stuff is just okay, but some of it is great. The items that are great, are great enough to keep coming back. First of all, ANYTHING in the white wine garlic sauce is practically orgasm inducing! Especially the Penne a la Campagna! Penne pasta, chicken, spinach, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes combined with the white wine garlic sauce make for a fantastic combination. The marinara sauce is very tasty, conidering it seems to be very basic. The Cioppino in the WWG sauce is probably my second favorite thing. It seemed like an overwhelming avalanche of multiple sea creatures; Shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari. all over a huge portion of linguini. I also highly reccomend the baked ziti with sausage... Its hot!!! Nick's has a great little dinning room. Small, but intimate. Its mildly reminiscent of some of the little restaurants in San Francisco or New York that i've been to. The service is very hit or miss. It seems like the female staff is much more enjoyable, not because of their gender, but because it seems like they know HOW to be friendly and efficient. Most of the servers at Nick's seem to be overworked, as they always rushing and and sometimes it takes longer then it should to be greeted. While there is one male server whos section i refuse to sit in, most of the other servers do a great job.
(4)
lance d.
little neighborhood italian gem. About everything on the menu is great, and the staff is nice. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could. Wish we had more like this in the PV 'hood.
(4)
Stephanie S.
I could eat pasta all day long and so living across the street from the place is torture (torture because I *shouldn't* eat pasta all day long). Anyway I might be exaggerating but this place is really good. It can be a little spendy but I find that the portion sizes are generous. My dish is the baked ziti with bolognese sauce & that runs about $12, I can eat the whole thing in one sitting but I do sometimes force myself to stop and take half of it home. The menu is HUGE though, I just stick to what I like. The atmosphere is nice, better for small groups rather than large but I think they can be accomodated when necessary. I've wanted to sit at the bar but haven't done it yet. Nice patio as well. It is in a strip mall next to a beauty supply store but what's new in this town? Highly recommended!
(4)
m s.
The food is good, but, if your having a party, go somewhere else! We had my son's graduation party here, and planned the menu from the menu pricing listed on the menu, which was done with the catering person, and then when the bill arrived it was a whole different price. Nick, the owner, changed all the pricing, without asking, charging us double for the food we ordered and would not change or correct the pricing. WOW, what a rip-off. How would you like to pay double just to do your party here? I think NOT!!!
(1)
Nick S.
I have driven by this place for a while now so I finally went for lunch. I must have got the wrong thing. I ordered the alfredo with chicken. The chicken was ok, lacked seasoning. The alfredo sauce was very thin and watery and totally bland. I did not care for it at all. The fetticcini noddles were ok. They are fresh and big in size. I see lots of good reviews, so they must have something there they do really good. If I do go back ill try the marinara sauce with chicken parm or the pizza. Staff was very friendly and quick service.
(3)
Jenn E.
I am not a huge Italian food fan, while I enjoy some good ole spaghetti every now and then, when given the choice, you are more likely to find me munching on some chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant. But with that being said, when I do get a sudden craving for Italian, Nick's is my number one choice. I really like the quaint atmosphere....but it is the food that keeps me coming back. I hadn't been to Nick's in probably over a year, but it is by my parent's house, so we went for a quick dinner the other night. They always have really enticing specials, like Seafood Risotto or Manicotti. The menu is HUGE, spanning from pasta, to filled pastas , chicken and veal dishes and even pizza. They make a good pizza, and I especially adore their gnocchi in the vodka sauce, but my favorite thing to get is the Chicken Parmesan. This version is not breaded at all; it is just sauteed and then topped with an amazing red sauce and mozzarella cheese. It is not what you would expect, but it is delicious! You get your choice of either a side of pasta or vegetables, I usually get the sauteed veggies because they are so good; a nice combination of broccoli, cauliflower, squash and carrots. They are cooked perfect and even better when dipped in the extra sauce. Oh, I almost forgot, they also give you this delicious focaccia bread and olive oil for dipping when you sit down, it is so fresh it just melts in your mouth! So if you are willing to pass on the all you can eat salad at the Olive Garden....you should give Nick's a try!
(4)
Kaila S.
Went to lunch today and had the eggplant parm. Awesome! Such a great sauce, and opted for the steamed veggies as my side. Yummers! Would recommend if you are in the area and craving great Italian food.
(4)
Tommy G.
Fabulous little Italian joint with a couple other Valley locations. I went here for a friend's birthday, had some drinks, bruschetta and the Chicken Parmesan. The bruschetta was fabulous - the bread was toasty and there were just the right amount of tomatoes. The Chicken Parmesan was mouth-watering. I am a big fan of this dish in general and Nick's did not disappoint! An overall great atmosphere, good portions and a friendly staff will definitely bring me back to Nick's again. Highly recommended!
(5)
Julie R.
My husband and I went to Nick's tonight for dinner, we split the chicken marsala with a side of spaghetti arabiatta. The spaghetti was really good as was the marsala. We also had a tiramasu, which was huge, we split it and still had to take half home. All of our dishes were really good, the bill was $24, which was good, considering the quality of ingredients. We can't wait to go back for happy hour.
(4)
Michael H.
dinner is ususally good but last week my wife had a hair on the lemon garnish and the waiter just picked it off with his hands...gross. WE insisted on another entree. Nothing was credited or offered.
(2)
Britt C.
Nick's offers great Italian comfort food with a pleasant but no-frills ambiance. The eggplant appetizer is tasty, as are the bruschetta and antipasti starters. For mains, they typically have a halibut "special" that is worth a try. For the traditionalists, you can't go wrong with the eggplant or chicken parmigiana (both good indicators of a solid Italian restaurant) and the lemon chicken is tasty. As tempting as it sounds, steer clear of the butternut squash ravioli...it's just too sweet!
(3)
P O.
I love going to Nicks and getting their baked ziti! I have gone there for years and always get the same thing :)
(5)
Glenn F.
Average in an area filled with average Italian joints. That actually makes it below average. Pizza, great pizza, is easy to come by in Phoenix. Nick's just does not have the quality of toppings or edge like an amazing crust or some sort of style. Think freezer pizza. For the other entrees, the pasta was good, but nothing that you could not make at home in 20 min. Top it off with indifferent service and you've got a solid 2 star review.
(2)
Jane A.
I was pleasantly surprised when I walked through the door. I thought it was going to be a bit cheesy, but it was great. The menu was something you might find in Hoboken, NJ. Lots of pastas, pizzas, seafood and salad dishes. My pasta was great. It had farfalle, chicken, shrimp, feta, and sun-dried tomatoes. They serve very reasonably priced glasses of wine (and full bar). Overall, it was a great meal, with fairly large portions.... The lack of a final star was because of the burnt coffee.......
(4)
Chelsea C.
We love Nick's!! We are huge fans of Italian food so when we moved into the area we decided to try out Nick's. The food is amazing! Every pasta is hand made and the sauces are delicious! We also love the atmosphere. Not a large place and can get a little busy on the weekends.
(5)
cecilia p.
should of gone elsewhere. we thought we were taking our friends to something different and unique, but what we had was mediocre bread and salad. horribly salty entrees, and incredibly slow service.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Rae M.
Since I moved to Phoenix I'd been looking for a good little italian place with some authenticity, like a place I loved in my hometown. Nicks totally fits the bill, the food is good and the staff is friendly. One of my favorite foods is Caprese, and I especially love finding places that make it well, which Nick's does. The Mozzarella en Carozza is very good too, though I'll admit it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I can't remark on the pasta because I don't eat pasta these days, but it looks and smells amazing. It is a little pricey for my tastes, but so was the place in my hometown, so no surprise there.
(4)Erin J.
We frequently travel to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and often find ourselves at Nick's to get some Italian food to take back to the hotel (it's only a short distance from where we stay). This particular Nick's is near the intersection of N Tatum and E Shea. It's on the small side and dimly lit, but provides a nice, intimate atmosphere. There is some bar seating, which is great if you're just looking to grab a couple drinks there and dinner to go. The food has been hit and miss for me. Their lasagna is fantastic, as are some of their other dishes. That said, the last time we went I was very disappointed with their calamari fettuccine (I got it with the white sauce). Given that the sauce was being paired with seafood, I expected a light, but flavorful sauce. Although light, this sauce was far from flavorful. It was essentially a bland, light cream sauce--no garlic, wine, or any other hint of flavor to be found. The calamari itself was tender enough, but overall, I was not very satisfied with the dish. The service can be hot and cold as well. A couple trips ago, we came in about half an hour before closing, and we were constantly reminded that the kitchen would be closing soon and we needed to hurry up and make up our minds. This past time, we sat at the bar and the bartender was extremely charming and attentive. It just depends on the day you catch them, I guess. We may stop into Nick's again in the future, but given our mix of experiences, we'll be trying out some new Italian places in the area to see if we can find a new regular place to grab dinner.
(3)Linda C.
I work next door to Nicks and frequently get food at this location. Last night after paying and picking up my food I noticed that on my CC statement it had two charges for that evening. When I went next door to find out why the hostess told me that she had not charged me enough for my chicken breast and that her manager charged my CC after I had left and SIGNED only one slip. I was not called, she didn't walk next door to inform me and when I told her this was illegal she said she would speak to her manager. Very pissed off and never eating there again. I will contest the erroneous charge with Chase. You cannot run a persons CC just because you made a mistake with your food billing. It would have to be a signed slip and there was none. I will not recommend this place to anyone EVER again.
(1)Kim B.
Not sure how many stars to go with here. Food is good, but service is worse than terrible, so this review is for the service only. This is a very small place (which I will harp on) so there is absolutely no way to miss anyone who has been seated. 1) Sat and waited for water ( busser looked at us and walked by half a dozen times and never brought any) 2) Completely ignored by the server(3 tables and 1 booth had people). This place is small enough to be able to talk to anyone from where you are sitting, so there is no way to miss someone has been seated. 3) Finally came over to get our drink order which by this time we knew what we wanted and we're ready to order (by the way, you get bread w/ 2 small plates for the oil and pepper) 4) Didn't take our food order, just the drink order. Our menus were down and any server worth their money would have known we were ready to order 5) Took way too long to get our drinks - Ice Tea for cripes sake 6) Once the drinks came he wanted to know if we needed any time to look over the menu - really?! 7) Food took so long we were wondering if they were rolling out the dough, waiting for it to rise, roll out again so they could make the noodles 8) Heaven forbid you want a refill on your drink, which we had to get his attention for 9) Checked on us one time 10) Our dirty dishes sat on the table, he or the busser never took the dishes away to make room for our meals, so we had to squeeze room for him to put down our meal plates. He didn't want to take them from me 11) Finally came over and we asked for to-go containers, which took so long to get we were wondering if someone had to run out and buy them 12) Food in the containers, we sit and wait and wait and wait for our bill. You would think we had ordered something complicated. A chicken alfredo for my son and a salad for me. The only reason we stayed is because he likes the food and he was taking his mother to dinner. The server was so busy talking with the other guy that working wasn't something he or the busser knew how to do. They are 20 feet away, I'm trying get his attention, he keeps looking at me and nada. We had 2 other parties come in 15 minutes after us, get taken care of and were done with their food and out the door before we could get a refill on drinks. I prefer not to go here because this is not the first time I have had to go with family and had such horrible service, but my son likes the food. I would suggest doing carryout so you don't have to tip the server for such pathetic service. Told my son I'm not going back here, period. Really, this place is so small that someone sitting at one of the high top tables in 'bar' would be able to talk to people on the opposite wall. Busser and server has to walk past every table to get around. The worst service I have ever had anywhere. We'd come here to get food and some service, if I had known that I was supposed to get up and do his job, I would have. We always tip on service and I didn't want to leave this guy a dime, he didn't earn it, but my son left him something anyway. This should have been 45 minutes tops for dinner, but lasted 1.5 hours. I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone for dining in. For us this is a neighborhood restaurant, only 1mile down the street. I've waited a few days to write this review because I was so disgusted at the disrespectful service.
(1)DR W.
Took the family for a birthday dinner, Bread was the starter and olive oil this was the best part of dinner. Started with blue cheese wedge - average at best only a couple red onion slices and two tomato slices - no cucumber no bacon, no crotons. Other order was eggplant with pasta it was again average at best - egg plant was paper thin not recommended. The other dinners were chicken parmigiana and veal were better choices but still subpar dishes--, they are really cutting corners with quality ---maybe there trying to attract tourists but not locals- I give over under in 2 years.. As I checked in I received a 20% off for one entrée and the waitress had to take my phone and track down the manager to verify my $4.00 discount- LOL--How funny and very unprofessional is that- chasing the manager through the kitchen with my personal phone thinking I was trying to get over for $4.00--unreal!! Just think average plate is 25 plus if I was worried about money I would of chosen a chain restaurant ( Olive Garden is a better choice and quality is better) try Michelinas, Guidos, or Giuseppe , Maggianos , Tutti Santi by Nina's , North Restaurants all in Scottsdale /North Phoenix are all close by. I've eaten here before and this establishment is going downhill- there are many better choices than Nicks - and I will never return--don't waste your money or time!! The good news was the waitress Toni was attentive and polite but so are most professionals. I don't think that the company has long term plans .
(2)Kacey T.
Such an awesome restaurant. I love so many things I couldn't begin to list, I'm a picky eater so that's big for me. They have amazing customer service, great food and strong drinks. Highly recommend this restaurant for a date night, you'll end up a regular!
(5)Amy C.
I have been to Nick's twice. I waited to write this review until after my second visit. I went with different people on each visit and our reactions are the same. This place is easily overlooked and deservedly so. The food: subpar. The free bread they bring you when you sit down is cold, flavorless, and a total waste of stomach space. This would be even more of an offense if the entrees were worthy of stomach space. The dinner salad ($5) is extremely simple- green lettuce with maybe a teaspoon of balsamic with some sliced cucumber and sliced Roma tomato around the plate. The entrees my company and I have ordered are the gnocchi with pink sauce, fettuccine Alfredo, and chicken spinach tortellini. All a waste of stomach space. You have to ask the waiter about which pastas are homemade. The menu says they are all homemade but only the fettuccine, linguini, and gnocchi are homemade. The iced tea tonight was rancid. Even our waitron recognized that something was seriously wrong. He didn't charge us for them which was appropriate. The service: standard. Enough said. Skip dessert. Skip this place altogether. Hopefully some day I'll find a nice neighborhood Italian place to go to. This isn't it. Twice was enough- won't be returning.
(2)Tony K.
Second time trying the restaurant. Offered me water but no bread for 40 minutes. Service was poor. Had their wedding soup but it was super salty and not edible. My shrimp scampi was also extremely salty. The noodles were almost uncooked. Very disappointed. My friend spoke so highly
(2)Linda M.
We live close by and consider ourselves "regular" patrons. The service is very even. Portions very generous - oh the reason we keep coming back- the food ! Pastas are great. Nick's sauces are delish. Overall, a very pleasant experience. The space is small, so it's really not a place for more than a group of 4.
(4)Angela M.
My fiance and I were really feeling like good Italian food and decided to choose nicks because it was the closest and decently priced. ordered the lasagna,pesto penne, and gnocchi for takeout and told 15mins (wow that seems really fast.) first the lasagna looked like a hot mess..tasted alittle bitter and that it was Microwaved. pesto penne was really really bad in my opinion..couldn't get over how much pesto was in it..i get its suppose to have alot but it just didnt taste right now the gnocchi was ok but tasted bland and the marinara was like they went to food city and bought faux marinara..also microwaved it seems i usually try any place twice but nope not this one. overall olive garden or even oreganos beats this place out of the water. SHOOT i could do a better job in my kitchen
(1)Katie L.
Delicious, authentic Italian food. It's usually pretty busy but I've never waited long to get my order. My family has been coming here for years and it is always a great experience.
(5)Jim C.
First off-- service was outstanding. Ate at the bar -- bartender was quick with attention, friendly, and had good recommendations. There is a reason why she seemed to have many regulars at coming in and out. Was offered bread immediately upon sitting, but declined-- did hear others in the restaurant raving. Food was good. Had the calamari with linguini in white wine sauce. The calamari was tender and well cooked (grilled) linguini was cooked to perfectly. I likely would have tried the red wine sauce next time-- the white wine sauce was "lacking" something. I'm a "bigger" guy and the serving size was MORE than enough and they didn't skimp on the calamari. Salad was fresh and the right size. Oil and vinegar was seasoned well. Add blue cheese crumbles to the salad, it is worth it. Chianti was good, liquor was strong selection for a smaller bar set up. Food price was below what I would have guessed. Wine was a little pricier -- scotch (Oban) at 14$ a pour is a bit much ($55-60 a bottle) Quiet restaurant...
(4)Ken A.
Not really moved by the previous negative reviews - this is an EXCELLENT Italian restaurant! It was packed last night (4/17/15) and we were lucky to get a table immediately. Great service - delicious food - excellent wine. One ciopp ino and one linguini puttanesca along with a glass of Orvieto and a glass of Chianti and we were very happy people, Portions are very large, so there was enough another meal. All was great and we WILL be back!
(5)Jordon H.
Always delicious always on point staff. I have been at this location the most (other ones a couple times each). Ingredients to a nice relaxing atmosphere is what nicks is all about. Thanks Nicks, and evviva!
(4)Charles O.
First time at Nicks and the last, Service is border line rude, food is average. 2 of the 4 of us did not finish their meal. Waiter slams the glass of tea on the table spilling the tea onto the table. Left a 10% tip do to the rude service and overrated food,worst of all once outside the waiter called out to us wanting to know why I had left only a 10% tip,how rude of him to call us out. I have never had that happen and I tip according to the service and the food. Basically I am a generous tipper. But this place did not deserve one, and to chase us down out side and whine about the tip was most embarrassing and very low class, Makes one wonder if they hired Orlando to harass patrons for more money because he does it like a pro. my advice save your money and go to a decent place to eat.
(1)Jolly M.
(See my posted business photo for reference.) I had an excellent first time experience here at Nick's for dinner. We were very pleased with the service from our Host/Waiter: Orlando and the entire staff. I have to RAVE about my dish, the linguini seafood cioppino with garlic wine sauce and their homemade tiramisu! IF you LOVE seafood you MUST order this, for $20 I was extremely impressed with the Quantity and Quality. It comes with jumbo tiger prawn shrimp and muscles in a 1/2 shell, I want to say there were about (4) each and an ABUNDANCE of clams and tender squid. It was so wonderfully balanced with the seafood and the light garlicky wine sauce I was in heaven and enjoying every bite. There was so much of it that I only ate half and had the other for another serving the next night. Their tiramisu is very smooth and is perfection. I loved this smaller restaurant, the decor, food and the customer service is great! Other patrons were enjoying themselves and their food. It was nice to see the variety of dishes being served and the happy faces that enjoyed the flavors and the same Host: Orlando. I was reluctant in trying this place due to the average reviews on Yelp were MEH, but I am so happy I finally tried this grand place. It's now my new favorite place aside from Ocean Trail at Talking Stick. I will be back 100% and awaiting for a great deal to come by since I also passed that up too when it was offered on Groupon. Thank you Nick's and Staff for a perfect dining experience! :)
(5)Chris S.
We visited after the holiday rush and they still seemed to be busy so we waited 15 minutes. No problem, we had a few drinks at the bar and took in the ambiance. We were served herbed olive oil and bread with our wine which was a nice touch. Prices are pretty reasonable and you receive a lot of food. For $20 I got the lobster ravioli and it was delicious. The pasta was fresh, the ravioli were satisfactorily stuffed, and the cream sauce was tomatoey. The service was excellent, I really hate it when waiters hover. For what it is, Nick's is decent Italian fare. You won't exclaim, "OMG, I am back in Italy!!" while you are eating but it's fresh, it's tasty, and the variety and servings are great.
(4)Jen L.
OMG! I just wrote how the food wasn't very good at Nick's, and one of the people in my party heated up leftovers (they hate to throw food out even if it's not good!), and there was a paper clip in the pasta! Don't eat here!!!!! I want to call the health department!
(1)Ionaz M.
Italy! It survived 30 years of domination under the corrupt Borgia family, Mussolini, wars, murder and bloodshed. But they've also produced the some of the greatest art and music in the world. And food. You know there's nothing like Italian food. The wide variety and nuances from the various regions offer something for everyone. If you think it's all watery, overly sweet red sauce, you've been ruined by cans of Chef Boyardee and jars of awful Ragú. Nick's restaurants have been a staple on the Valley restaurant scene for nearly 20 years, developing a loyal and devoted following. So much so, that he has three successful restaurants. Nick made his livelihood as a hair stylist in the Big Apple. Tired of the winters, he emigrated from New York City to Phoenix. Disappointed with Italian fare he found, he borrowed his family's recipes from his brother and opened his own restaurant. Nick's is warm, casual, intimate and inviting. And delicious, of course. "I want you walk through my door and enjoy every minute you're here 'til you leave," Nick hopes. We visited Nick's Paradise Valley location, starting off with his amazing Bruschetta. Fresh bread, baked on the premises every morning, topped with tomatoes, olives, basic, garlic, capers, onions and herbs. Only $5. Other appetizer choices include grilled or fried calamari, mussels in red or white sauce, grilled shrimp and others. Nine fabulous salads are also available as well as Minestrone and Stracciatella soup. You wanna talk pasta? Nick's pasta is all housemade. All 16 varieties, with everything from Angel Hair to Ziti. Whole wheat and/or gluten free are both available from $10 for the Marinara to $19 for the succulent Lobster Ravioli. Nick creates his sauces in small batches every day or two for freshness and maximum flavor. Eight different chicken dishes grace the menu. Each is served with a side of pasta or steamed vegetables. The Chicken Marsala ($16) is the most popular. The Chicken Parmesan is a traditional, solid choice. A generous, pounded breast covered with Nick's irresistible, bold, thick Marinara sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses and baked. If you like, you can have it à la Milanese--dredged in flour for a light coating, flash fried and then baked. In the mood for "frutti di mare"? Nick's extensive seafood entrées with eleven choices give you plenty. Our recommendation: you get a little bit of everything with the heavenly Cioppino. Originating in San Francisco, this now "traditional" Italian dish includes tender mussels, chopped clams, calamari and shrimp served over linguini, not necessarily as the stew you might usually expect. Suggestion: Try Nick's Cioppino with Garlic White Wine Sauce to experience the most delicate flavors of the seafood, although you can also get it with the spicy arrabbiata sauce or with marina sauce. $21. The calamari pleased us with its perfect tenderness and sweet flavor. Hard, rubbery calamari is always a looming threat for even accomplished chefs. No worries here. Feel daring? Nick offers five different veal dishes. We can't wait to try his his Ossobuco, a Milanese specialty of braised veal shanks. (Shhh! We won't tell if you won't!) Nick also has specialty and create-your-own pizza and calzones. For a real treat, finish the meal with one of Nick's large Chocolate Chip Cannoli. It's even better if you're being served by Nick's young cousin, the handsome and built, built, built Jason. He can make me an offer I can't refuse anytime. For a great value, try Nick's Lunch Specials with a wide variety of choices, including Hero sandwiches. This menu is available Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. You'll never forget the time you spend at Nick's.
(4)Carl d.
Ordered 2 large pies to take ouut. The pepperoni had exactly 1.5 slices on each slice. REALLY! The other pie had one piece of sausage and one piece of pineapples per slice and some slices were missing onion and mushroom altogether. We were told this was great pie. Totally disappointed after paying over $50.00! You can fool some people but not a pie loving New Yorker. You should be ashamed!
(1)Sherry W.
Horrible service. Jason has a horrible rapport and rushed us through like a herd of cattle. Food was less than average. Service even worse.
(1)H H.
Love it! We went there 2 times in about 5 days, just to go back and get some chicken Parmesan and chicken piccata! Loved the veggies AND pasta for a side,we ordered both and shared. Not a bit left on our plates! We will be back for happy hour, maybe a nice glass of wine and an app. LOVE Orlando! Oh, bTW the chocolate cake is divine!
(5)Jim F.
Love the food. Some of the best, if not the best, Italian food in PHX. A bit on the pricey side, but portions are generous and Nick's has a great variety.
(4)Erica G.
All of our friends kept suggesting we try Nick's, especially for Happy Hour. We finally made it in and we were so disappointed. The Happy Hour menu is strange. Who orders spaghetti and meatballs for Happy Hour?! It is silly you have to sit in the bar for happy hour where is packed but the restaurant is completely empty. The bartender made us feel rushed and he spilled wine on my husband as he sloppily poured him a glass. There are much better places in the neighborhood. Go there instead of Nick's.
(2)Alvin M.
The food was excellent even for take out.
(4)Kathrine C.
Had a lunch meeting at Nick's. The food is an excellent mix of savory italian and american fusion tastes. Very good! The service was very nice and helpful. They were always ready to serve w/first class service. The atmosphere is quaint and small town, which gives you a comfortable relaxing feeling during your meal.
(4)Miss P.
This is my second time dining at Nick's, but my first time at this location. I am again impressed. The food here is always good and interesting. My only complaint: I'm not crazy about the GF pasta they have chosen to use, though; the quinoa flavor/texture isn't great, so I hope they will switch to a better brand like Jovial. The gluten-free menu, however, is extensive and the dishes are very good. The staff are always friendly and attentive. Tonight my companion had the crab ravioli and said it was delicious! I had Pasta Pollaio. Both were delicious! Although we came in about half an hour before close, staff were completely professional and friendly. The restaurant was very clean, with a nice, intimate atmosphere.
(5)Luca C.
I went to this place with low expectations and was clearly dissapointed. the staff was nice and the place was fine but at the end of the day the food is what matters. We got bread which was a nice touch, something many restaurants have done away with as far as the whole white table cloth setting but the bread here was good. The appetizers were typical but fine but the entrees really dissapointed. We ordered the seafood ravioli and it was just a mess. The filling tasted like it had come out of a can that had been in the fridge too long. It was a mush where you couldn't taste any of the seafood but more of a grainy watery filling. The kitchen was closed or I would have sent it back. Sorry for the review, nice people but the food was not up to par.
(2)Brian E.
My family has been eating at Nick's for years. The food is consistent and all items we have tried are terrific. Last night, we ordered the grilled vegetables and fried calamari as appetizers. The calamari was very fresh and perfectly fried. The sauce was a bit spicy, but really complimented the flavor well. The grilled vegetables were perfect! My only complaint was an abundance of carrots. We wished they would have added additional eggplant and zucchini. As a main dish, I ordered chicken florentine without mushrooms. The flavor was great! I loved the garlic and cream sauce. I wish they had additional spinach, but will certainly order again. The restaurant is small. It is always busy, and last night was no exception. The service was spot on. Orlando goes above and beyond and has a great attitude.
(4)Jeff K.
Stopped by for dinner on a Tuesday evening. Was seated right away and provided a basket of bread. Ordered a red wine and Penne Pesto with chicken. Excellent meal and excellent wine. The pasta was properly cooked and the pesto sauce was the perfect temp and consistency. Service was quick. I will go back on my next trip to Scottsdale.
(5)Dana B.
Just found a hair in my salad.....absolutely disgusting. I don't recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Gina A.
Great neighborhood spot! I had heard about Nick's from my sister who loves Italian and gave it a great review. They were very busy when we got there and it took us 45 minutes just to order! That and the lack of flavor in the tiramusu were the only reasons I gave it 4 stars, not 5. Our server was very friendly and provided great service once it calmed down. We split a large salad(Spinach Walnut) to start, which was delicious! I had the shrimp scampi dish with linguini and it was great. Super garlicky(which I LOVE) and the shrimp were huge! I will definitely be back to try Nick's again.
(4)Christina P.
It's like I have to psych myself up to go to Nick's every time, because I forget how much I love it but last night, I had to personally thank the owner for serving quality food at a fair price (you can get a glass of wine for $7 and an entree for $13-$15)... it's a bonus that it is close to home! So, even though, for some reason, I keep forgetting that I actually REALLY LIKE the food here, I'm a BIG fan of Nick's. I especially recommend the arrabiata, the gnocchi, and the stracciatella.
(4)Artemis S.
Pretty middle-of-the-road, food-wise. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you're looking for standard Italian fare, but it's the kind of stuff you can make yourself pretty easily at home. We kinda pigged out here, as we bought the $20 for $40 Groupon; I got a calzone, the lady got a pizza, and we shared a plate of gnocchi. Again, it all was good but not spectacular or anything. As dumb as it sounds, I wish they had a Groupon option of $20 for $10 or something; if you're only eating for two, $40 of food is a lot of food here. If you don't have the Groupon, you're still paying about $20 for two entrees, so either it's pay that or gorge with the $40 Groupon- kinda lose-lose (but not really, because we're fat Americans). Anyway, waiter was great and the atmosphere's all right- dark-lit Italian restaurant and all'a that. Everything seemed clean, et cetera.
(3)John B.
Service horrible. Don't get Orlando as waiter if you want you food to come out in a reasonable time. Very unprofessional. They should be ashamed. Food was good though.
(3)Nicki E.
I really like eateries that are high-energy and bustling, especially ones that have their dining area set up as one big room. So it is with Nick's Italian in Paradise Valley (there are two more locations in the Valley). The upbeat, high-energy restaurant makes you sort of feel like you're in someone's home, since the seating quarters are close. The food is all handmade, and I really enjoyed my meal, too. My pal and I grabbed a seat at one of the bar high-top tables, and we started off with the Caprese salad ($7.95). It wasn't huge of anything, but the mozarella was high-quality, the tomatoes were juicy, and the basil was ample. For my entree, I got the Portobello Mushroom Ravioli ($15.95). The pasta was filled with delicious mushrooms, which I really enjoyed. I liked the pink sauce the ravioli was served with, but I wish it would have had fresh tomatoes in it. Also, I felt like the portion could have been a little more generous. Here is my pal's Veal Parmesan ($17.95), which he said was pretty darn awesome because the veal was tender and the sauce was tasty. The meal-ender, the tiramisu ($6), was a great deal, really delicious and perfect to share. The mascarpone cream was mouth-watering, and the ladyfingers melted in my mouth. Tiramisu is my favorite dessert, and that was definitely my favorite part of the meal. While I enjoyed Nick's Italian, and I did appreciate the twinkly lit patio, I would choose Arrivederci over Nick's if you're in the area, based on the service alone. We were in a busy area near the bar, but servers should still strive to make you feel welcomed and relaxed no matter how buzzy the place is, and I didn't really get that vibe from our server. If you do go, try to get a table in the main dining area or patio-maybe things would feel a little more welcoming.
(3)Kenneth W.
This is mediocre but decent food. Clean enough and decent service. The food lacks spice and presentation is really sloppy. Probably the best thing is the grilled vegetables. The lasagna is decent. The.coffee is insipid. I will say the location is convenient.
(3)Jewel W.
What a wonderful find!!! Food and service were excellent. Nice neighborhood dining spot. Don't let the strip mall fool you! Full menu with great specials. Don't miss this one!
(5)Shannon M.
Much has changed in the two years since my initial review. Apparently Nick's has decided to toss customer service out the window. I should have known it would be a problematic visit when it took nearly 15 minutes to be acknowledged to put in our order. Well, it only got worse. After nearly 45 minutes of waiting, we realized that our food was never, ever going to arrive. Ever. Time to leave, and never come back. Ever.
(1)Susan M.
My friend Joan was going to meet me at Nourish123 in Scottsdale on Monday, but luckily, we both noticed that it's closed on Monday so we ended up meeting at Nick's at Tatum and Shea. We go where we have groupons, etc. and she had one to try it out. I can honestly say that I was quite happy and surprised when I showed up first and saw a sign outside of the restaurant which said they were featuring a gluten free pizza for less than $10! I was all set to just have a salad but this changed my mind.........since I figured an Italian place would have great pizza! I entered the restaurant and saw that I had arrived first so the Host greeted me and I told her I was meeting a friend. She said that she'd bring her over when she got there and seated me. She asked what I wanted to drink and left to get my Iced Tea. She came back with the Tea and a bowl of bread, which I asked her to remove until Joan showed up.......too hard to look at something I love and can't have! Then she informs me that they closed at 2:00 p..m. I really don't understand why she failed to mention this to me when I sat down! We might have decided to dine elsewhere....and before I ordered a $3 Iced Tea. It wouldn't have bothered me to order a $3 Iced Tea if it were good but it tasted like Lipton Tea which had been in the canister for a week............you know, when it tastes like tin? So Joan arrived and we decided to eat anyway........and I ordered the GF pizza with tomato slices, mushrooms and onion. Joan got a bowl of soup and salad. We chatted and waited for our food. The pizza looked pretty decent with lots of mushrooms and veggies present but upon tasting it I was immediately aware of no spice taste. It tasted like they opened a can of tomato sauce and poured it on the pizza. Between the pizza and the Iced Tea and them not letting us know that they closed in half an hour, I'd have to say that I would never go back or recommend the place. When we didn't have a large enough order to even make using the groupon worth while, Joan asked for a dessert to go...and was told that there was nobody present to even prepare it, sorry! Yeah. I'll never go back! That's ridiculous!
(1)Sunny B.
Nick's is a solid Italian restaurant located in the Whole Foods strip mall. I have sought them out for take out several times, but just recently dined in. The place is small and cozy and there is a separate bar area and a nice patio. The food is good, not amazing, but definitely worth the price. Things I have tried that I would recommended: Chicken Tortellini: chicken, spinach, pink sauce (which is a vodka sauce) Mushroom Ravioli with pink sauce Butternut Ravioli in a garlic butter Calamari Antipasto Salad They also have a decent wine selection The servers have always been prompt and attentive While this isn't a place I would drive and seek out if you live in the neighborhood it is a great weekday "go to" and has made it in my rotation when I don't feel like cooking. 3 1/2 stars!
(3)Lynnette L.
Nick's is a great little neighborhood Italian place. Of which there are not many in Phoenix. It's small and intimate, the food is consistently good; my husband is always impressed with how fresh the fish and seafood is - we do live in the desert. He grew up on the east coast, lots of good Italian and fresh seafood so the fact that they make him happy says something. Service is always good, Orlando always knows who we are and takes good care of us. There was a time in the past where service was lacking, and it was something they were aware of which is why they had a "now hiring servers" sign up. Shortly after, they had some new people about the place and service was back on point. I've never had a dish I didn't like here, and I'm the kind of person who likes to try all the menu has to offer; sometimes seafood, sometimes chicken, sometimes veggie - ravioli, linguini etc... It's all good. A favorite of mine is the farfalle salmon, it's a repeat on occasion. Check out Nick's!
(5)Jennifer T.
My friend and I when here one day for lunch and we were both very impressed. Both of our dishes were beyond delish! We also had kiddos with us and though they didn't have a kids menu they still catered to them and had no problem they were with us (of course they were very well behaved). I took a look at their dinner menu and though it is a little pricy I really want to go back and give it a try. I love all of the seafood options! Service and atmosphere were both very nice as well.
(5)Bianca A.
Moving from Chicago - the land of awesome Italian food - I'm so happy I found this place on a groupon. Bruschetta was awesome and flavorful as well and the wine recommended by our server was perfect. The pizza looked awesome ill be sure to try next time, however if you're in the mood for pasta be sure to get the arrabiata sauce. It's packed with flavor and not too spicy!!
(5)Joe L.
well-done concept of cute, cool fair-priced Italian food, sophisticated enough wine list, and genrally upbeat, fun, not anti-family vibe filling the place. Food was very good and service spot-on. Excellent value and great save for the dad in-a-pinch for "no time to make dinner" or for take-out needs.
(4)Sheri S.
Wow! A new favorite! A friend recently recommended Nick's and I was so happy that she did! WONDERFUL food - I had the crab ravioli and it was fantastic! Will definitely be back - it's a gem!
(5)Barbara S.
We frequent this place quite a bit since we live close by. It's a quintessential neighborhood restaurant. The food is consistently good. We love the arriabiata sauce (although sometimes it is spicier than other times - mostly good & spicy.) The pizzas are good, and so are their specials. I've had the halibut special several times and it is always tender & flaky, not overcooked. The steamed veggies aren't soft but have a nice crunch to them Great happy hour offers, too :-) - if you can find a place in the bar area! They are usually packed.
(4)Ryan J.
Solid food and execution. While my experience varies a bit as I make my way through the menu, their hits ensure that this is a regular part of the rotation. They execute a halibut dish that is both easy on the palate and light on the calorie counter. Their bread is among the best. Truly great Italian American food.
(4)Kacee F.
This review is only for Nick's on Tatum Blvd. This place is real small and very dark. You will need a flashlight to read the menu if you come in after dark. We had a groupon so we went to this location and I was very disappointed. I ordered the Linguine with eggplant and chicken, when they brought it out, it was a very small dish and I thought they made a mistake giving me the lunch portion, but they said no it was a dinner portion. very very small portion and I was still hungry afterwards. Also they do not make their cheesecake in house they buy in from someplace else and it was over 50 ingredients in which are all genetically modified. Cheesecake can be made simply with 4 or less ingredients... The food is just average at this location. There are many other Italian places in town which are far better.
(2)Amy S.
My boyfriend and I love this place. We go for happy hour. Our favorites: Baked Ziti, pizza, ravioli and red wine.
(4)Steve S.
I've held off for a couple of years for posting a review, but it's time. Why do they have to overcook their pasta? I've tried requesting the whole wheat pasta (supposedly homemade) al dente, repeatedly requesting "do not overcook;" we get home and well, my spaghetti and meatballs is pretty tasteless. I wish there were other restaurants in PV, but things are so limited around here, that I guess their chef can get away with pre-cooking their pasta, slapping some sauce on it and charging $18 for it. I hope someone is reading this as I told them I'd be posting as calling back after and complaining does no good. Maybe other people complain that their spaghetti is not overcooked enough???!!! Anyway, I really have to take the blame for this, as I should just get some homemade pasta right next door at Whole Foods and do it myself. Sorry for the rant, my Yelp friends, but why can't Giacomo's of Boston open up a restaurant in Phoenix?
(2)Gabi M.
If you are looking for a casual restaurant for lunch or dinner and you're in the mood for Italian food, Nick's at Paradise Valley (in the Whole Foods shopping center) is an excellent choice! Whether you're in the mood for pasta, pizza, soup, salad, fish, chicken, or veal, you can find something that you'll be happy with at Nick's. I've been on several occasions and never been disappointed. They always start you off with fresh bread and olive oil (a must for any good Italian restaurant)... don't allow yourself to eat the whole basket though; you must save room for what is coming! Some of my fave things to order are: -Grilled calamari appetizer (yes, I said grilled!) -Grilled eggplant appetizer -Stracciatella soup -all of their salads are delicious -pasta with meatballs -salmon or tilapia (picatta style) -Shrimp Fra Diavolo I don't think you can go wrong with so many options to choose from! Portion sizes are generous but not ridiculous. I recommend saving a little bit of room for the Hazelnut Tartufo for dessert... it's the perfect sweet ending to your meal (and it helps to cover up that garlic breath you probably have from your dinner)! FYI: There is waiter service at this location - and the menu is a little different than that at their other Scottsdale locations. Nick's won't blow you away, but it's a safe bet for a simple Italian meal with consistent service. Take it for what it is... Buon appetito!
(4)Cherlyn E.
Nick's is local to me and I would have loved to make this a fav as I can walk to it. My first visit I sat in the bar after having sushi next door. This was o.k. and I may repeat this. However, on my next visit my friend and I tried to enjoy dinner. We were asked to sit at a smaller table outside vs. a larger table for bigger parties. Ok but when some people came in that were repeat customers and they sat at the table we wanted but there were only two, well that was somewhat rude. Then the waiter catered to their order and needs over ours. Such as when he did bring our food and asked us if we wanted parmesan cheese. We said yes. He then went to the kitchen and retrieved the food for his favorite customers and then brought the cheese for them and then brought it to us. Maybe they are big tippers but as someone that was looking to be a regular I may have been too. The food was good but for gluten free they really do not have many choices. I have been going to another restaurant in the area and they have excellent choices with better service. Unless I am dragged here again I most likely will not return for their food.
(2)Doug P.
This place has what I'd call good pizza, but the lasagna was just awful so skip that completely.
(3)David G.
Been a patron for years. Eat- In and Carry-Out, never a tab below $50. Disappointed again last night for the last time. Food was inedible, we joked that we should feed it to our dog, but we really love our dog, threw it away. Shrimp Emperial, $18.95, Shrimp was clearly frozen too long and tainted the whole watery, bland dish with bad fish smell. Baked Ziti, $10.95, watery, bland, have had better from a can. Biggest disappointment... Antipasto Misto, $10.95 for Oscar Meyer and Rubbery Caprese. Really sad because it used to be a great neighborhood restaurant, now its perfect if you're from out of town, don't like good Italian, and will never be back.
(1)John Z.
My wife and I ate at Nicks last night. We had claims, Lasagna, wine, coffee and tiramisu. Here is the bad then the good news: Bad News: The bread is the worst I have ever had in an Italian Restaurant. My wife's water tasted like Vinegar. After complaining to the server, they found that the water had been contaminated by white vinegar. My wife and I both woke up in the middle of the night with stomach pains, probably due to the clams. The Good News: Lasagna was good as was the coffee and tiramisu. Thanks to Groupon we saved $40. We will not be going back.
(2)Gary L.
OMG you talk about getting lucky when you happen to pop into a new restaurant. Had never heard of this place - had never seen it before, and we just walked in after shopping near by. AMAZING! My wife and I have been there a few times now and every time it just got better. (Probably because we ditched the kids for some adult time) Not that you have to... they'll feed them too. Last time I was there I got the lobster ravioli and it was to die for! I love italian food and Nick's is my favorite. I don't know for certain that it's all made from scratch, but it sure looks and tastes that way. Perfect food. Great service.
(5)Co S.
I have been coming here for years with my family and it had always been one of our favorites but not anymore. After several disappointing visits, last night will be our last. The quality of the food has just gone down - dry, tough, overcooked chicken; pasta was too al dente; pizza undercooked. Its really all too bad because this really was our favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant.
(2)Amy R.
Seriously? I didn't review this place? Oops! I've been here twice now and must say there is some good food coming out of their kitchen. The Eggplant Parmesan has some AMAZING sauce with it unlike any I've had before. A lot of red sauces all taste somewhat similar but this is something special. Both times I've come home with leftovers so portions are on the larger size. Complimentary bread and oil starts your meal off. Service has always been spot on. My only major gripe about the place is the seating and size of the place. Be warned... this location is SMALL. Both times I went I ended up with ass in my face when someone sat next to me was leaving.
(4)Al P.
Decided to gamble on a groupon to Nicks, overall it was okay. Started with the garlic cheesy bread which was awful. Next was the baked ziti which was a little dry but decent. Tried some lasagna which was good. The best item was the pizza which was similar to Red Devils pizza. Service was fast and the plates were scolding hot which was perfect for me. Price was just right for the portions just wish everything tasted as good as the pizza.
(3)Amy B.
I came here on a date Saturday afternoon and have to say, this place is great! Holy cow! Total gem! This place is suprisingly located in a strip mall of all things. I walked in and really liked how the place was decorated. Its not a huge resturant, but has a more fancy feel to it. Not a place I would walk into with jeans on. Classy enough to put on a nice outfit for a great experience. (Im normally not a fancy diner, but for dates, I tend to turn it up a notch.) I was impressed with the service that I had here. Menu is loaded with just about any and every dish you could imagine. I like variety, and this place had it. Our meal started off with a bread basket and some dipping oil which I liked a lot. Server got our drinks and we took our time reviewin the menu. I went with the Lasanga. I think my date had the chicken parm. Servings were nice and big! Tasty too! It was funny, because even though the service was great, the service was kinda funny. Date took notice and we had a good laugh about it. I was taking my time with my lasgana, and the server kept asking me all the time if I was done. I kept telling him "no, I'm just a slow eater." Then, he would come back like 5 minutes later and ask the same thing again. rinse, wash, repeat for the last half hour of the date. Plus, the mexican bus boy literally stood table side to refill my beverage after I took more then 2 sips. It was actually hysterical! Date and I had a great chuckle over this! Anyways, I really enjoyed my experience at Nicks. I guess they have several valley locations, and I plan on returning. Great place for dates, parents, or just something nice!
(4)David M.
My wife and I met some friends here for dinner. We were seated right away at 6:00pm on a Friday night which was nice. The bread was good, and the service was very friendly and on top of things. I really liked their fried calamari. I had their baked ziti which I saw a few times in other Yelp reviews. I liked the big portion, but it wasn't anything special. My wife had the chicken Parmesan and she said was pretty good. Nice local place that we will probably check out again.
(3)Lindsay T.
My boyfriend and I ate here because he had a groupon. Normally I don't dig italian but I tried to stay open.... The menu is great and all but, man, SALTY food! My minestrone soup was good, but both my salad (who salts a salad??!!!) and my boyfriend's Chicken parmigiana dish were SO heavily salted you could barely taste any distinct flavors. The service was good, and all else but man, I couldn't drink enough fluid the rest of the night to
(3)Morgan D.
Why: Nick's saved me from Olive Garden! I'm not bashing the ol' Garden, but it isn't fun, unique, or original- nor does it have great ambiance. This area is full of chains and I came up empty with suggestions when my friends and I decided to meet up for an Italian dinner. Inside: Small and cozy. I really enjoyed the ambiance. It's nothing fancy, but it's also not too laid back- dimly lit with tables snuggled in close to each other. Great date place. The Food: I had spaghetti with Alfredo, mushroom, chicken, and I believe one other ingredient that I can't recall. It was pretty tasty. Not my favorite all time pasta dish, but definitely worth getting again and better than plenty of places I've dined before. Everyone seemed to be satisfied. Bottom Line: If you are looking for Italian in this area, I can wholeheartedly recommend Nick's... at least over Olive Garden. Also, I was the first to arrive and the bar was a welcome place to wait and have a glass of wine. Not bad Nick, not bad!
(4)Nancy T.
This place is amazing. Some of my favorites are the minestrone soup, Greek salad, spaghetti Bolognese, gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce, fettuccine with white clam sauce and much more. Everything here is good. The sausage and meatballs are great, too. This is one of the places I miss the most after moving from the area. Hard to find really good Italian food like this.
(5)Jeff W.
The food is really good, but the service is a bit disjointed, and they really pack you in like sardines. It's small but that doesn't mean I want the next table asking me to pass the parm!
(4)Mark C.
Nick's has been a pretty popular gathering place for a group of my friends. I have had their pizzas, calzones, and chicken parmesan. Those dishes have been pretty good. Last night I wanted to try something new, so I tried the baked ziti with meatballs. I don't recommend it. The issue was that it was overcooked. The ziti was rubbery and the dish was dry. The ends of the ziti were hard and crunchy. The best thing about the dish was the meatballs. Even though my food was not up to par, the service was exceptionally good.
(2)Daryle W.
I read all the hype on this place and was hoping for some great food and instead left wishing we had just eaten fast food. I tried the old staple of chicken parmesan as it seemed a popular choice and I will never go there again. It tasted like a frozen chicken patty with canned tomato sauce. It came with spaghetti on the side and that too was not only overcooked, but just gross. My girlfriend had the gnocchi with pink sauce and again it underwhelmed. I know finding good gnocchi is difficult but to me, the sauce again fell flat. It all tasted store bought and out of cans or jars. When I go out somewhere I want to eat something that I can't fix at home myself. Not only could I have made it but I could have made it MUCH better. The only redeeming thing I liked about the food was the bread at the start. As for the ambience, it is small and had a quiet feel to it but looking around, all the artwork (most of) are pictures you buy from Target...And there wasnt much other decor around to give you that Italian feel to it other than the waiter's accent which to me seemed very over the top whether he is authentic or not. Sometimes I couldn't even understand him. Either way, for the price I know you can get better Italian food. Try Cucina Tagliani. I felt Nick's was overpriced, underwhelming, and not worth me ever going back. It wasn't the worst food in the world but it wasn't anything memorable by any means.
(2)S C.
My husband and I have been living in ax for 20 years. Nicks is our favorite. Weekly we are there enjoying happy hour to eggplant parmigiana, and chicken Marsala and salmon at dinner time. Happy hour has "good food instead of fried food floating in oil like most other restaurants". Personally I enjoy his tomatoe sauce, simple spices and delicious, the staff is always professional and courteous even in their busiest times
(5)Susan W.
Nick's has Portobello mushroom ravioli that can be served with their house pink sauce. It's one of the best things I've ever tasted.
(4)Dale E.
Dirty, slow service, I've had better food out of a can! And so busy. Obviously we don't get it and or have been spoiled by fresh quality ingredients all over town.
(1)J. C.
I was originally in town for business but then connected with family and ended up celebrating our belated birthdays at Nick's. All I can say is that I wish this place was right around the corner from me. It was SO GOOD!!! I could totally become a regular at this place. It's nothing but high points folks: 1. Authenticity - the waiters are actually, get this, ITALIAN! 2. Service - fast and friendly, which is impressive for such a popular place. 3. Beverages - good selection of affordable wines and specialty drinks. The house Pinot Grigio was great. 4. Seating - though it's small inside and by the looks of it, very popular, we walked in and were seated immediately without a reservation. 5. Food - 5 stars! FANTASTIC! The bread that comes when you are seated is delish (and a generous selection of a few different breads). We started with the yummy antipasto salad - fresh and delicious. It could only by topped by the entrees - each meal was so good and was a decent portion - Shrimp Scampi, Baked Ziti and Butternut Squash Ravioli (my fave). Though definitely full, I couldn't resist dessert and ordered a cannoli. Oh...my...gosh... delicious. Such a fantastic meal. I hope that business or other travel brings me back again.
(5)Jennifer L.
My husband located this place and wanted to try it because they had gnocchi on the menu and that's the only thing he likes in the world of Italian food. They make their own pasta here and I have to say the pasta was very good. I had chicken fettucine alfedo. The fettucine was good, the chicken was good... the sauce, not so much. Bland and boring! My husband had a lemon chicken dish with gnocchi on the side. I did not like the pink sauce on the gnocchi one bit and when I tried his chicken I didn't taste lemon, I tasted wine. Yuck. I like that they make their own pasta but they really need better sauces to go with it. Very limited indoor seating as well, and when it's 108 degrees, sitting outside is NOT appealing.
(2)Irma G.
Well, reading these reviews it seems like there are 2 totally separate Nick's in the same place! We went, the first time, on a groupon, we had the seafood linguini with white garlic sauce and I thought I was in Italy or Sicily. It was amazing, tasted home made and real! Service.... Well it seemed the "other servers" were taking better care of their customers than ours. To get 5 stars all has to be fabulous! 2nd time, wonderful food (I ordered the same thing, just can't get over how good that was) and the service was worse, including mistakes on the bill. Nick is a great host and, when I get to know him better, I might talk about the friendly, but sub par service. Something is just miss there. The place is crowded which attests to the excellent food. In my NSH opinion, this is real Italian! How you can compare Olive Garden to ANY real Italian place is beyond me. Obviously, you belong in Olive Garden if that is your "standard" that you compare Italian food to. I'll take Nicks! Now I want the cannoli.... After reading about them here! I've never been to happy hour, but my son says it's pretty good as well.
(4)Cindy D.
I typically love this restaurant and eat here about once a month. I was disappointed this last week, when my cheese pizza was delivered to my table with pepperoni on it. The waiter asked me if it was okay, to which my response was "No, I'm sorry, I am a vegetarian." He apologized and said that he would have the kitchen make me a fresh cheese pizza. No problem. He returned about 10 minutes later with what I thought was a fresh cheese pizza. To my surprise, the kitchen staff pulled the pepperoni off of the pizza and then reserved it to me. After being a vegetarian for 35 years, I noticed the pepperoni taste immediately. I quickly paid my bill so that I could run home, afraid that I was going to get sick. It will be a long time before I frequent this restaurant. It was a disappointing experience to say the least. I expected more.
(3)Ben D.
Nick's is our favorite Italian restaurant in the valley. The Baked Ziti is the best. We frequent Nick's once a month. Great happy hour specials and friendly staff.
(4)Jennifer S.
Good, consistent food in a nice setting with good service. This is not stand out Italian food, but still worth checking out!
(3)Dana G.
I just realized that I have never wrote an actual review on Nick's, my favorite Phoenix spot. Maybe it's the nostalgia? I've been coming here since High School. Maybe it's the casual, family owned atmosphere? No matter which location you visit, you'll most likely see Nick checking up on things. Most importantly, it's the consistency. No matter which location you choose, it all tastes great, every time. For me, this is good Italian food, but in the American way. If you're looking for real Italy italian, you may choose another spot, but I find the typical Lasagna, Ravioli, Baked Zitti to be fantastic! I love their Bolognese, and if you notice on my profile, my last meal on earth would be their chicken parmesan with a side of spaghetti bolognese- each entree comes with a huge side of either fresh veggies or pasta. The portions are huge, so I love to eat some, and it's always even better the next day! Here are a few of my favorite dishes: -Di Mare Salad (with grilled calamari like Gabi M says) - Tilapia Picatta - Chicken Ravioli (my best friend Natalie always tells me that if you get the Chicken tortellini, you actually get more!) -Chicken Parm (note the above) -Baked Ziti (have them add meatballs) -Cannoli (I'm pretty sure I could spoon feed the filling like ice cream! Was that too much?) Go to any one of their locations for a casual, quick Italian meal- I'm never disappointed!
(5)Angela G.
this nicks is the closest to our house there was one closer on scottsdale and grayhawk however they closed it down and moved it more north on pinnacle peak and pima rd. this one is not very big however its never really packed so we are always seated right away. i always get the chicken parmesan with the pasta for a side (spaghetti pasta) and it comes out sizzling hot and the chicken is covered in cheese. soooooo good!! ive tried the veggies as a side before and it just wasnt good. they had this weird flavor on them but the pasta is yummy and my daughter loves to share the pasta so it works out so i don't have to get her her own meal.
(5)Liz D.
We decided to try Nicks at Pinnacle Peak on Friday night and our server was Jake. Jake was great and the manager who came over to ask how everything was was extremely pleasant also. We were given a taste of bruschetta, which was a nice touch, and our salads arrived which were very fresh and very large! My husband ordered the veal chop and grilled vegetables and I ordered chicken breast with cheese, tomatoes garlic...sorry cannot remember the a tubal name of the dish. My husbands veal chop was perfectly cooked and swimming in a cream, red onion sauce which was delicious! WAY TOO MUCH SAUCE. The vegetables were perfect and served on the side. Now if you are looking for a dish that is beautifully presented, and garnished in an appealing way....this is not the place. The great thing about not garnishing is that the food comes out HOT and looks like it is home cooked...a very good upside. As for my chicken.......disappointing, very bland. A few Italian herbs added at home the next day perked it right up! The manager said that he found it lacking in flavor too. HHMMMmmmmmm why doesn't he talk to the chef about that? WE WILL GO BACK...best veal chop in town according to my husband.
(4)Andy C.
Nick's is a small local chain that does a lot of things right. The portions and service are just right, and there's a lot of variety on the menu. Nick's has a bunch of home made pastas, along with pizza, salads, and appetizers. They have a soup that sort of like a Chinese egg drop combined with minestrone. Try it! I'd recommend this spot for lunch or dinner, business or pleasure. Don't forget to check the board for the specials and try something new.
(4)Miss C.
I have recently become addicted to checking reviews to new places to eat before I head out & based on other reviews was pretty optimistic about trying Nick's. My boyfriend and I got there for an early dinner (around 5ish) and were seated very promptly. The decor was simple and classy, fresh flowers and cool colors filled the room. The server was prompt and rehearsed spiel-less, which I always find to be a plus. The busser was quick to refill beverages before half empty and offer more of the delicious bread once we had finished the original. The bread is a highlight, there were two options, one a common french loaf type and the other a lighter, beautifully seasoned variety. To dip your bread in there was a nice seasoned olive oil. The food took a fairly decent amount of time to arrive considering there were only 6 or so tables, plus the happy hour crowd at the bar top. Perhaps they were understaffed in the kitchen, who knows, I didn't dock them any stars for that. The thing that got me to click 3 vs. 4 stars however was the fettuccine alfredo. The plate arrived to the table and I had dreams of what I was about to dig into (beautiful memories of the sadly closed Pasta Pomedoro came to mind) However, these dreams were not realized. The noodles, although lovely and wider fettuccine type, were over cooked and verging on mushy. And the sauce, while it smelled lovely, lacked any sort of mouthwatering goodness. We also shared the pizza, which was a fabulous price, but nothing to write home about. Although we left Nick's not planning to come back as soon as we can, I think based on other reviews that perhaps we just did not find their star dishes, and for the price (2 sodas, pizza, and pasta for $26) I will most likely be willing to give this place a try again. And after all, I did not have an opportunity to try their tiramisu, (how I truly give Italian eateries the thumbs up or the boot) so I will have to make sure to try that next time...
(3)AMber W.
Wow. I was really shocked at how much I enjoyed Nick's considering it is inside a strip mall! I figured it would be more of a low-key type place, but it was really nice inside and the food was FANTASTIC. The only complaint I have is that every time someone opened the front door (which was frequent; the place was PACKED) it was absolutely freezing, but the restaurant was able to move us to an area away from the door and the problem was solved! I started with a glass of Riesling, as usual. I was happy that it was only $5 per glass versus the normal $8, and I was not disappointed with the taste. The busser immediately brought us waters and bread with dipping oil. I could have eaten it all day!!! I opted for something not even on the menu: Penne pasta with pink sauce (combo of white and red). It was ABSOLUTELY Delicious!!! The service was great, and I love that our waiter even had an accent! Overall, I really enjoyed Nicks and will be back for sure!
(4)Kate A.
I love this place! I love sitting outside here! The seating is very comfortable. The atmosphere is very laid back and elegant. Even though they were busy at the time our waiter was very attentive. I had the Gnocchi soup for the first time. I am sad that I can't find a place that could compare to that of Nick's Gnocchi. I also had the Caesar salad which was yummy! This is such a nice place for a date or a night out with the family. This is also my grandfathers favorite restaurant in Phoenix!
(5)Luna L.
Chicken Marsala and alfredo sauce were delicious, but the marinara sauce left little to be desired. I would have preferred the bread that was brought to the table to be warm or at least soft. All in all ok but we probably won't be back.
(3)Bob G.
I usually poke fun at Olive Garden as having bland food for people that have no idea what Italian food should really taste like, yet I'd still choose them over Nick's. I've read and respect the other reviews, and perhaps we just caught a bad night, but Nick's was awful. We began with a service issue however that was minor and not worth repeating. That problem would have been easily overlooked if the meal was good. Instead, we got uninspired bland food that seemed like it came right out of the jar or box. The are too many quality choices in the area or not too far from he that are much better. I would not go back to Nick's.
(1)Bob R.
Definitely nothing to write home about. Generic Italian food. Pizza crust wasn't bad, but the pastas we had were on the gummy side. Also the Mozzarella Carrozza appetizer was nothing more than deep fried grilled cheese sandwich. Tomato sauce tasted like canned tomatoes heated up. Lame.
(2)Chelsea C.
We love Nick's!! We are huge fans of Italian food so when we moved into the area we decided to try out Nick's. The food is amazing! Every pasta is hand made and the sauces are delicious! We also love the atmosphere. Not a large place and can get a little busy on the weekends.
(5)cecilia p.
should of gone elsewhere. we thought we were taking our friends to something different and unique, but what we had was mediocre bread and salad. horribly salty entrees, and incredibly slow service.
(1)Adam B.
I was originally going to dine at another place...then I saw "Nicks" I am a sucker for Italian food and try to visit every one I see and try the alfredo sauce....the best I have ever had is at some place in the Bellagio in Las Vegas... I walked in and was greeted and seated very quickly.....drink order very fast. Service was top notch...every time my ice tea got nearly drained...it was picked up...any questions answered... This place should really be a rated a $$$....my entree was $15 my girl's was $16 and her glass of wine was $9...mix that with salads...it came out to $57... So....with that much cash this alfredo must be outstanding right? Not even close....it was greasy and had lots of garlic, was not creamy and in my opinion didn't even taste like alfredo should....even olive gardens alfredo is better...Brios' sauce slaps it in the mouth! XD I ordered a side of the alfredo as my entree came with "pink" sauce.....which was a mix of red and white....they should have left the red alone... I also like my bread warm....this was not....oh well If the service had not been good...I would have knocked another star off. First visit...and most likely the last.
(2)M A.
Friendly neighborhood italian restaurant with solid menu and great service. Just wish they were open for lunch on weekends.
(5)Aaron T.
Great little Italian place. Very small dining area, so a long wait. The food was good. The arrabiatta was actually spicy which is rare here since most places dumb it down for the general population. Service was good. A solid 4 star place.
(4)Emily B.
Good atmosphere, good service, good pasta. We have always driven by this place and finally stopped in the other night. We both enjoyed the pasta dishes we ordered (with plenty for left overs the next day). Our server was very good, she was attentive but not overbearing. The restaurant was small so tables were a little close together, but we sat in a corner so it wasn't too bad. The only thing we didn't really like was the mozzarella carrozza- it tasted like someone deep fried a grilled cheese mozzarella sandwich, not much flavor. Overall, a nice neighborhood restaurant. Leftovers were still delicious when reheated. :)
(4)P O.
I love going to Nicks and getting their baked ziti! I have gone there for years and always get the same thing :)
(5)Glenn F.
Average in an area filled with average Italian joints. That actually makes it below average. Pizza, great pizza, is easy to come by in Phoenix. Nick's just does not have the quality of toppings or edge like an amazing crust or some sort of style. Think freezer pizza. For the other entrees, the pasta was good, but nothing that you could not make at home in 20 min. Top it off with indifferent service and you've got a solid 2 star review.
(2)Jane A.
I was pleasantly surprised when I walked through the door. I thought it was going to be a bit cheesy, but it was great. The menu was something you might find in Hoboken, NJ. Lots of pastas, pizzas, seafood and salad dishes. My pasta was great. It had farfalle, chicken, shrimp, feta, and sun-dried tomatoes. They serve very reasonably priced glasses of wine (and full bar). Overall, it was a great meal, with fairly large portions.... The lack of a final star was because of the burnt coffee.......
(4)Matthew S.
Nick's Italian is one of my new favorite little places. I have eaten there about six times. Some of their stuff is just okay, but some of it is great. The items that are great, are great enough to keep coming back. First of all, ANYTHING in the white wine garlic sauce is practically orgasm inducing! Especially the Penne a la Campagna! Penne pasta, chicken, spinach, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes combined with the white wine garlic sauce make for a fantastic combination. The marinara sauce is very tasty, conidering it seems to be very basic. The Cioppino in the WWG sauce is probably my second favorite thing. It seemed like an overwhelming avalanche of multiple sea creatures; Shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari. all over a huge portion of linguini. I also highly reccomend the baked ziti with sausage... Its hot!!! Nick's has a great little dinning room. Small, but intimate. Its mildly reminiscent of some of the little restaurants in San Francisco or New York that i've been to. The service is very hit or miss. It seems like the female staff is much more enjoyable, not because of their gender, but because it seems like they know HOW to be friendly and efficient. Most of the servers at Nick's seem to be overworked, as they always rushing and and sometimes it takes longer then it should to be greeted. While there is one male server whos section i refuse to sit in, most of the other servers do a great job.
(4)lance d.
little neighborhood italian gem. About everything on the menu is great, and the staff is nice. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could. Wish we had more like this in the PV 'hood.
(4)Stephanie S.
I could eat pasta all day long and so living across the street from the place is torture (torture because I *shouldn't* eat pasta all day long). Anyway I might be exaggerating but this place is really good. It can be a little spendy but I find that the portion sizes are generous. My dish is the baked ziti with bolognese sauce & that runs about $12, I can eat the whole thing in one sitting but I do sometimes force myself to stop and take half of it home. The menu is HUGE though, I just stick to what I like. The atmosphere is nice, better for small groups rather than large but I think they can be accomodated when necessary. I've wanted to sit at the bar but haven't done it yet. Nice patio as well. It is in a strip mall next to a beauty supply store but what's new in this town? Highly recommended!
(4)m s.
The food is good, but, if your having a party, go somewhere else! We had my son's graduation party here, and planned the menu from the menu pricing listed on the menu, which was done with the catering person, and then when the bill arrived it was a whole different price. Nick, the owner, changed all the pricing, without asking, charging us double for the food we ordered and would not change or correct the pricing. WOW, what a rip-off. How would you like to pay double just to do your party here? I think NOT!!!
(1)Nick S.
I have driven by this place for a while now so I finally went for lunch. I must have got the wrong thing. I ordered the alfredo with chicken. The chicken was ok, lacked seasoning. The alfredo sauce was very thin and watery and totally bland. I did not care for it at all. The fetticcini noddles were ok. They are fresh and big in size. I see lots of good reviews, so they must have something there they do really good. If I do go back ill try the marinara sauce with chicken parm or the pizza. Staff was very friendly and quick service.
(3)Jenn E.
I am not a huge Italian food fan, while I enjoy some good ole spaghetti every now and then, when given the choice, you are more likely to find me munching on some chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant. But with that being said, when I do get a sudden craving for Italian, Nick's is my number one choice. I really like the quaint atmosphere....but it is the food that keeps me coming back. I hadn't been to Nick's in probably over a year, but it is by my parent's house, so we went for a quick dinner the other night. They always have really enticing specials, like Seafood Risotto or Manicotti. The menu is HUGE, spanning from pasta, to filled pastas , chicken and veal dishes and even pizza. They make a good pizza, and I especially adore their gnocchi in the vodka sauce, but my favorite thing to get is the Chicken Parmesan. This version is not breaded at all; it is just sauteed and then topped with an amazing red sauce and mozzarella cheese. It is not what you would expect, but it is delicious! You get your choice of either a side of pasta or vegetables, I usually get the sauteed veggies because they are so good; a nice combination of broccoli, cauliflower, squash and carrots. They are cooked perfect and even better when dipped in the extra sauce. Oh, I almost forgot, they also give you this delicious focaccia bread and olive oil for dipping when you sit down, it is so fresh it just melts in your mouth! So if you are willing to pass on the all you can eat salad at the Olive Garden....you should give Nick's a try!
(4)Kaila S.
Went to lunch today and had the eggplant parm. Awesome! Such a great sauce, and opted for the steamed veggies as my side. Yummers! Would recommend if you are in the area and craving great Italian food.
(4)Tommy G.
Fabulous little Italian joint with a couple other Valley locations. I went here for a friend's birthday, had some drinks, bruschetta and the Chicken Parmesan. The bruschetta was fabulous - the bread was toasty and there were just the right amount of tomatoes. The Chicken Parmesan was mouth-watering. I am a big fan of this dish in general and Nick's did not disappoint! An overall great atmosphere, good portions and a friendly staff will definitely bring me back to Nick's again. Highly recommended!
(5)Julie R.
My husband and I went to Nick's tonight for dinner, we split the chicken marsala with a side of spaghetti arabiatta. The spaghetti was really good as was the marsala. We also had a tiramasu, which was huge, we split it and still had to take half home. All of our dishes were really good, the bill was $24, which was good, considering the quality of ingredients. We can't wait to go back for happy hour.
(4)Michael H.
dinner is ususally good but last week my wife had a hair on the lemon garnish and the waiter just picked it off with his hands...gross. WE insisted on another entree. Nothing was credited or offered.
(2)Britt C.
Nick's offers great Italian comfort food with a pleasant but no-frills ambiance. The eggplant appetizer is tasty, as are the bruschetta and antipasti starters. For mains, they typically have a halibut "special" that is worth a try. For the traditionalists, you can't go wrong with the eggplant or chicken parmigiana (both good indicators of a solid Italian restaurant) and the lemon chicken is tasty. As tempting as it sounds, steer clear of the butternut squash ravioli...it's just too sweet!
(3)Rae M.
Since I moved to Phoenix I'd been looking for a good little italian place with some authenticity, like a place I loved in my hometown. Nicks totally fits the bill, the food is good and the staff is friendly. One of my favorite foods is Caprese, and I especially love finding places that make it well, which Nick's does. The Mozzarella en Carozza is very good too, though I'll admit it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I can't remark on the pasta because I don't eat pasta these days, but it looks and smells amazing. It is a little pricey for my tastes, but so was the place in my hometown, so no surprise there.
(4)Kim B.
Not sure how many stars to go with here. Food is good, but service is worse than terrible, so this review is for the service only. This is a very small place (which I will harp on) so there is absolutely no way to miss anyone who has been seated. 1) Sat and waited for water ( busser looked at us and walked by half a dozen times and never brought any) 2) Completely ignored by the server(3 tables and 1 booth had people). This place is small enough to be able to talk to anyone from where you are sitting, so there is no way to miss someone has been seated. 3) Finally came over to get our drink order which by this time we knew what we wanted and we're ready to order (by the way, you get bread w/ 2 small plates for the oil and pepper) 4) Didn't take our food order, just the drink order. Our menus were down and any server worth their money would have known we were ready to order 5) Took way too long to get our drinks - Ice Tea for cripes sake 6) Once the drinks came he wanted to know if we needed any time to look over the menu - really?! 7) Food took so long we were wondering if they were rolling out the dough, waiting for it to rise, roll out again so they could make the noodles 8) Heaven forbid you want a refill on your drink, which we had to get his attention for 9) Checked on us one time 10) Our dirty dishes sat on the table, he or the busser never took the dishes away to make room for our meals, so we had to squeeze room for him to put down our meal plates. He didn't want to take them from me 11) Finally came over and we asked for to-go containers, which took so long to get we were wondering if someone had to run out and buy them 12) Food in the containers, we sit and wait and wait and wait for our bill. You would think we had ordered something complicated. A chicken alfredo for my son and a salad for me. The only reason we stayed is because he likes the food and he was taking his mother to dinner. The server was so busy talking with the other guy that working wasn't something he or the busser knew how to do. They are 20 feet away, I'm trying get his attention, he keeps looking at me and nada. We had 2 other parties come in 15 minutes after us, get taken care of and were done with their food and out the door before we could get a refill on drinks. I prefer not to go here because this is not the first time I have had to go with family and had such horrible service, but my son likes the food. I would suggest doing carryout so you don't have to tip the server for such pathetic service. Told my son I'm not going back here, period. Really, this place is so small that someone sitting at one of the high top tables in 'bar' would be able to talk to people on the opposite wall. Busser and server has to walk past every table to get around. The worst service I have ever had anywhere. We'd come here to get food and some service, if I had known that I was supposed to get up and do his job, I would have. We always tip on service and I didn't want to leave this guy a dime, he didn't earn it, but my son left him something anyway. This should have been 45 minutes tops for dinner, but lasted 1.5 hours. I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone for dining in. For us this is a neighborhood restaurant, only 1mile down the street. I've waited a few days to write this review because I was so disgusted at the disrespectful service.
(1)Erin J.
We frequently travel to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and often find ourselves at Nick's to get some Italian food to take back to the hotel (it's only a short distance from where we stay). This particular Nick's is near the intersection of N Tatum and E Shea. It's on the small side and dimly lit, but provides a nice, intimate atmosphere. There is some bar seating, which is great if you're just looking to grab a couple drinks there and dinner to go. The food has been hit and miss for me. Their lasagna is fantastic, as are some of their other dishes. That said, the last time we went I was very disappointed with their calamari fettuccine (I got it with the white sauce). Given that the sauce was being paired with seafood, I expected a light, but flavorful sauce. Although light, this sauce was far from flavorful. It was essentially a bland, light cream sauce--no garlic, wine, or any other hint of flavor to be found. The calamari itself was tender enough, but overall, I was not very satisfied with the dish. The service can be hot and cold as well. A couple trips ago, we came in about half an hour before closing, and we were constantly reminded that the kitchen would be closing soon and we needed to hurry up and make up our minds. This past time, we sat at the bar and the bartender was extremely charming and attentive. It just depends on the day you catch them, I guess. We may stop into Nick's again in the future, but given our mix of experiences, we'll be trying out some new Italian places in the area to see if we can find a new regular place to grab dinner.
(3)Linda C.
I work next door to Nicks and frequently get food at this location. Last night after paying and picking up my food I noticed that on my CC statement it had two charges for that evening. When I went next door to find out why the hostess told me that she had not charged me enough for my chicken breast and that her manager charged my CC after I had left and SIGNED only one slip. I was not called, she didn't walk next door to inform me and when I told her this was illegal she said she would speak to her manager. Very pissed off and never eating there again. I will contest the erroneous charge with Chase. You cannot run a persons CC just because you made a mistake with your food billing. It would have to be a signed slip and there was none. I will not recommend this place to anyone EVER again.
(1)Linda M.
We live close by and consider ourselves "regular" patrons. The service is very even. Portions very generous - oh the reason we keep coming back- the food ! Pastas are great. Nick's sauces are delish. Overall, a very pleasant experience. The space is small, so it's really not a place for more than a group of 4.
(4)Angela M.
My fiance and I were really feeling like good Italian food and decided to choose nicks because it was the closest and decently priced. ordered the lasagna,pesto penne, and gnocchi for takeout and told 15mins (wow that seems really fast.) first the lasagna looked like a hot mess..tasted alittle bitter and that it was Microwaved. pesto penne was really really bad in my opinion..couldn't get over how much pesto was in it..i get its suppose to have alot but it just didnt taste right now the gnocchi was ok but tasted bland and the marinara was like they went to food city and bought faux marinara..also microwaved it seems i usually try any place twice but nope not this one. overall olive garden or even oreganos beats this place out of the water. SHOOT i could do a better job in my kitchen
(1)DR W.
Took the family for a birthday dinner, Bread was the starter and olive oil this was the best part of dinner. Started with blue cheese wedge - average at best only a couple red onion slices and two tomato slices - no cucumber no bacon, no crotons. Other order was eggplant with pasta it was again average at best - egg plant was paper thin not recommended. The other dinners were chicken parmigiana and veal were better choices but still subpar dishes--, they are really cutting corners with quality ---maybe there trying to attract tourists but not locals- I give over under in 2 years.. As I checked in I received a 20% off for one entrée and the waitress had to take my phone and track down the manager to verify my $4.00 discount- LOL--How funny and very unprofessional is that- chasing the manager through the kitchen with my personal phone thinking I was trying to get over for $4.00--unreal!! Just think average plate is 25 plus if I was worried about money I would of chosen a chain restaurant ( Olive Garden is a better choice and quality is better) try Michelinas, Guidos, or Giuseppe , Maggianos , Tutti Santi by Nina's , North Restaurants all in Scottsdale /North Phoenix are all close by. I've eaten here before and this establishment is going downhill- there are many better choices than Nicks - and I will never return--don't waste your money or time!! The good news was the waitress Toni was attentive and polite but so are most professionals. I don't think that the company has long term plans .
(2)Amy C.
I have been to Nick's twice. I waited to write this review until after my second visit. I went with different people on each visit and our reactions are the same. This place is easily overlooked and deservedly so. The food: subpar. The free bread they bring you when you sit down is cold, flavorless, and a total waste of stomach space. This would be even more of an offense if the entrees were worthy of stomach space. The dinner salad ($5) is extremely simple- green lettuce with maybe a teaspoon of balsamic with some sliced cucumber and sliced Roma tomato around the plate. The entrees my company and I have ordered are the gnocchi with pink sauce, fettuccine Alfredo, and chicken spinach tortellini. All a waste of stomach space. You have to ask the waiter about which pastas are homemade. The menu says they are all homemade but only the fettuccine, linguini, and gnocchi are homemade. The iced tea tonight was rancid. Even our waitron recognized that something was seriously wrong. He didn't charge us for them which was appropriate. The service: standard. Enough said. Skip dessert. Skip this place altogether. Hopefully some day I'll find a nice neighborhood Italian place to go to. This isn't it. Twice was enough- won't be returning.
(2)Kacey T.
Such an awesome restaurant. I love so many things I couldn't begin to list, I'm a picky eater so that's big for me. They have amazing customer service, great food and strong drinks. Highly recommend this restaurant for a date night, you'll end up a regular!
(5)Tony K.
Second time trying the restaurant. Offered me water but no bread for 40 minutes. Service was poor. Had their wedding soup but it was super salty and not edible. My shrimp scampi was also extremely salty. The noodles were almost uncooked. Very disappointed. My friend spoke so highly
(2)Katie L.
Delicious, authentic Italian food. It's usually pretty busy but I've never waited long to get my order. My family has been coming here for years and it is always a great experience.
(5)Jim C.
First off-- service was outstanding. Ate at the bar -- bartender was quick with attention, friendly, and had good recommendations. There is a reason why she seemed to have many regulars at coming in and out. Was offered bread immediately upon sitting, but declined-- did hear others in the restaurant raving. Food was good. Had the calamari with linguini in white wine sauce. The calamari was tender and well cooked (grilled) linguini was cooked to perfectly. I likely would have tried the red wine sauce next time-- the white wine sauce was "lacking" something. I'm a "bigger" guy and the serving size was MORE than enough and they didn't skimp on the calamari. Salad was fresh and the right size. Oil and vinegar was seasoned well. Add blue cheese crumbles to the salad, it is worth it. Chianti was good, liquor was strong selection for a smaller bar set up. Food price was below what I would have guessed. Wine was a little pricier -- scotch (Oban) at 14$ a pour is a bit much ($55-60 a bottle) Quiet restaurant...
(4)Ken A.
Not really moved by the previous negative reviews - this is an EXCELLENT Italian restaurant! It was packed last night (4/17/15) and we were lucky to get a table immediately. Great service - delicious food - excellent wine. One ciopp ino and one linguini puttanesca along with a glass of Orvieto and a glass of Chianti and we were very happy people, Portions are very large, so there was enough another meal. All was great and we WILL be back!
(5)Jordon H.
Always delicious always on point staff. I have been at this location the most (other ones a couple times each). Ingredients to a nice relaxing atmosphere is what nicks is all about. Thanks Nicks, and evviva!
(4)Carl d.
Ordered 2 large pies to take ouut. The pepperoni had exactly 1.5 slices on each slice. REALLY! The other pie had one piece of sausage and one piece of pineapples per slice and some slices were missing onion and mushroom altogether. We were told this was great pie. Totally disappointed after paying over $50.00! You can fool some people but not a pie loving New Yorker. You should be ashamed!
(1)Sherry W.
Horrible service. Jason has a horrible rapport and rushed us through like a herd of cattle. Food was less than average. Service even worse.
(1)H H.
Love it! We went there 2 times in about 5 days, just to go back and get some chicken Parmesan and chicken piccata! Loved the veggies AND pasta for a side,we ordered both and shared. Not a bit left on our plates! We will be back for happy hour, maybe a nice glass of wine and an app. LOVE Orlando! Oh, bTW the chocolate cake is divine!
(5)Jim F.
Love the food. Some of the best, if not the best, Italian food in PHX. A bit on the pricey side, but portions are generous and Nick's has a great variety.
(4)Ionaz M.
Italy! It survived 30 years of domination under the corrupt Borgia family, Mussolini, wars, murder and bloodshed. But they've also produced the some of the greatest art and music in the world. And food. You know there's nothing like Italian food. The wide variety and nuances from the various regions offer something for everyone. If you think it's all watery, overly sweet red sauce, you've been ruined by cans of Chef Boyardee and jars of awful Ragú. Nick's restaurants have been a staple on the Valley restaurant scene for nearly 20 years, developing a loyal and devoted following. So much so, that he has three successful restaurants. Nick made his livelihood as a hair stylist in the Big Apple. Tired of the winters, he emigrated from New York City to Phoenix. Disappointed with Italian fare he found, he borrowed his family's recipes from his brother and opened his own restaurant. Nick's is warm, casual, intimate and inviting. And delicious, of course. "I want you walk through my door and enjoy every minute you're here 'til you leave," Nick hopes. We visited Nick's Paradise Valley location, starting off with his amazing Bruschetta. Fresh bread, baked on the premises every morning, topped with tomatoes, olives, basic, garlic, capers, onions and herbs. Only $5. Other appetizer choices include grilled or fried calamari, mussels in red or white sauce, grilled shrimp and others. Nine fabulous salads are also available as well as Minestrone and Stracciatella soup. You wanna talk pasta? Nick's pasta is all housemade. All 16 varieties, with everything from Angel Hair to Ziti. Whole wheat and/or gluten free are both available from $10 for the Marinara to $19 for the succulent Lobster Ravioli. Nick creates his sauces in small batches every day or two for freshness and maximum flavor. Eight different chicken dishes grace the menu. Each is served with a side of pasta or steamed vegetables. The Chicken Marsala ($16) is the most popular. The Chicken Parmesan is a traditional, solid choice. A generous, pounded breast covered with Nick's irresistible, bold, thick Marinara sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses and baked. If you like, you can have it à la Milanese--dredged in flour for a light coating, flash fried and then baked. In the mood for "frutti di mare"? Nick's extensive seafood entrées with eleven choices give you plenty. Our recommendation: you get a little bit of everything with the heavenly Cioppino. Originating in San Francisco, this now "traditional" Italian dish includes tender mussels, chopped clams, calamari and shrimp served over linguini, not necessarily as the stew you might usually expect. Suggestion: Try Nick's Cioppino with Garlic White Wine Sauce to experience the most delicate flavors of the seafood, although you can also get it with the spicy arrabbiata sauce or with marina sauce. $21. The calamari pleased us with its perfect tenderness and sweet flavor. Hard, rubbery calamari is always a looming threat for even accomplished chefs. No worries here. Feel daring? Nick offers five different veal dishes. We can't wait to try his his Ossobuco, a Milanese specialty of braised veal shanks. (Shhh! We won't tell if you won't!) Nick also has specialty and create-your-own pizza and calzones. For a real treat, finish the meal with one of Nick's large Chocolate Chip Cannoli. It's even better if you're being served by Nick's young cousin, the handsome and built, built, built Jason. He can make me an offer I can't refuse anytime. For a great value, try Nick's Lunch Specials with a wide variety of choices, including Hero sandwiches. This menu is available Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. You'll never forget the time you spend at Nick's.
(4)Charles O.
First time at Nicks and the last, Service is border line rude, food is average. 2 of the 4 of us did not finish their meal. Waiter slams the glass of tea on the table spilling the tea onto the table. Left a 10% tip do to the rude service and overrated food,worst of all once outside the waiter called out to us wanting to know why I had left only a 10% tip,how rude of him to call us out. I have never had that happen and I tip according to the service and the food. Basically I am a generous tipper. But this place did not deserve one, and to chase us down out side and whine about the tip was most embarrassing and very low class, Makes one wonder if they hired Orlando to harass patrons for more money because he does it like a pro. my advice save your money and go to a decent place to eat.
(1)Jolly M.
(See my posted business photo for reference.) I had an excellent first time experience here at Nick's for dinner. We were very pleased with the service from our Host/Waiter: Orlando and the entire staff. I have to RAVE about my dish, the linguini seafood cioppino with garlic wine sauce and their homemade tiramisu! IF you LOVE seafood you MUST order this, for $20 I was extremely impressed with the Quantity and Quality. It comes with jumbo tiger prawn shrimp and muscles in a 1/2 shell, I want to say there were about (4) each and an ABUNDANCE of clams and tender squid. It was so wonderfully balanced with the seafood and the light garlicky wine sauce I was in heaven and enjoying every bite. There was so much of it that I only ate half and had the other for another serving the next night. Their tiramisu is very smooth and is perfection. I loved this smaller restaurant, the decor, food and the customer service is great! Other patrons were enjoying themselves and their food. It was nice to see the variety of dishes being served and the happy faces that enjoyed the flavors and the same Host: Orlando. I was reluctant in trying this place due to the average reviews on Yelp were MEH, but I am so happy I finally tried this grand place. It's now my new favorite place aside from Ocean Trail at Talking Stick. I will be back 100% and awaiting for a great deal to come by since I also passed that up too when it was offered on Groupon. Thank you Nick's and Staff for a perfect dining experience! :)
(5)Chris S.
We visited after the holiday rush and they still seemed to be busy so we waited 15 minutes. No problem, we had a few drinks at the bar and took in the ambiance. We were served herbed olive oil and bread with our wine which was a nice touch. Prices are pretty reasonable and you receive a lot of food. For $20 I got the lobster ravioli and it was delicious. The pasta was fresh, the ravioli were satisfactorily stuffed, and the cream sauce was tomatoey. The service was excellent, I really hate it when waiters hover. For what it is, Nick's is decent Italian fare. You won't exclaim, "OMG, I am back in Italy!!" while you are eating but it's fresh, it's tasty, and the variety and servings are great.
(4)Jen L.
OMG! I just wrote how the food wasn't very good at Nick's, and one of the people in my party heated up leftovers (they hate to throw food out even if it's not good!), and there was a paper clip in the pasta! Don't eat here!!!!! I want to call the health department!
(1)Erica G.
All of our friends kept suggesting we try Nick's, especially for Happy Hour. We finally made it in and we were so disappointed. The Happy Hour menu is strange. Who orders spaghetti and meatballs for Happy Hour?! It is silly you have to sit in the bar for happy hour where is packed but the restaurant is completely empty. The bartender made us feel rushed and he spilled wine on my husband as he sloppily poured him a glass. There are much better places in the neighborhood. Go there instead of Nick's.
(2)Alvin M.
The food was excellent even for take out.
(4)Kathrine C.
Had a lunch meeting at Nick's. The food is an excellent mix of savory italian and american fusion tastes. Very good! The service was very nice and helpful. They were always ready to serve w/first class service. The atmosphere is quaint and small town, which gives you a comfortable relaxing feeling during your meal.
(4)Miss P.
This is my second time dining at Nick's, but my first time at this location. I am again impressed. The food here is always good and interesting. My only complaint: I'm not crazy about the GF pasta they have chosen to use, though; the quinoa flavor/texture isn't great, so I hope they will switch to a better brand like Jovial. The gluten-free menu, however, is extensive and the dishes are very good. The staff are always friendly and attentive. Tonight my companion had the crab ravioli and said it was delicious! I had Pasta Pollaio. Both were delicious! Although we came in about half an hour before close, staff were completely professional and friendly. The restaurant was very clean, with a nice, intimate atmosphere.
(5)Luca C.
I went to this place with low expectations and was clearly dissapointed. the staff was nice and the place was fine but at the end of the day the food is what matters. We got bread which was a nice touch, something many restaurants have done away with as far as the whole white table cloth setting but the bread here was good. The appetizers were typical but fine but the entrees really dissapointed. We ordered the seafood ravioli and it was just a mess. The filling tasted like it had come out of a can that had been in the fridge too long. It was a mush where you couldn't taste any of the seafood but more of a grainy watery filling. The kitchen was closed or I would have sent it back. Sorry for the review, nice people but the food was not up to par.
(2)Brian E.
My family has been eating at Nick's for years. The food is consistent and all items we have tried are terrific. Last night, we ordered the grilled vegetables and fried calamari as appetizers. The calamari was very fresh and perfectly fried. The sauce was a bit spicy, but really complimented the flavor well. The grilled vegetables were perfect! My only complaint was an abundance of carrots. We wished they would have added additional eggplant and zucchini. As a main dish, I ordered chicken florentine without mushrooms. The flavor was great! I loved the garlic and cream sauce. I wish they had additional spinach, but will certainly order again. The restaurant is small. It is always busy, and last night was no exception. The service was spot on. Orlando goes above and beyond and has a great attitude.
(4)Jeff K.
Stopped by for dinner on a Tuesday evening. Was seated right away and provided a basket of bread. Ordered a red wine and Penne Pesto with chicken. Excellent meal and excellent wine. The pasta was properly cooked and the pesto sauce was the perfect temp and consistency. Service was quick. I will go back on my next trip to Scottsdale.
(5)Dana B.
Just found a hair in my salad.....absolutely disgusting. I don't recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Gina A.
Great neighborhood spot! I had heard about Nick's from my sister who loves Italian and gave it a great review. They were very busy when we got there and it took us 45 minutes just to order! That and the lack of flavor in the tiramusu were the only reasons I gave it 4 stars, not 5. Our server was very friendly and provided great service once it calmed down. We split a large salad(Spinach Walnut) to start, which was delicious! I had the shrimp scampi dish with linguini and it was great. Super garlicky(which I LOVE) and the shrimp were huge! I will definitely be back to try Nick's again.
(4)Christina P.
It's like I have to psych myself up to go to Nick's every time, because I forget how much I love it but last night, I had to personally thank the owner for serving quality food at a fair price (you can get a glass of wine for $7 and an entree for $13-$15)... it's a bonus that it is close to home! So, even though, for some reason, I keep forgetting that I actually REALLY LIKE the food here, I'm a BIG fan of Nick's. I especially recommend the arrabiata, the gnocchi, and the stracciatella.
(4)Artemis S.
Pretty middle-of-the-road, food-wise. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you're looking for standard Italian fare, but it's the kind of stuff you can make yourself pretty easily at home. We kinda pigged out here, as we bought the $20 for $40 Groupon; I got a calzone, the lady got a pizza, and we shared a plate of gnocchi. Again, it all was good but not spectacular or anything. As dumb as it sounds, I wish they had a Groupon option of $20 for $10 or something; if you're only eating for two, $40 of food is a lot of food here. If you don't have the Groupon, you're still paying about $20 for two entrees, so either it's pay that or gorge with the $40 Groupon- kinda lose-lose (but not really, because we're fat Americans). Anyway, waiter was great and the atmosphere's all right- dark-lit Italian restaurant and all'a that. Everything seemed clean, et cetera.
(3)John B.
Service horrible. Don't get Orlando as waiter if you want you food to come out in a reasonable time. Very unprofessional. They should be ashamed. Food was good though.
(3)Nicki E.
I really like eateries that are high-energy and bustling, especially ones that have their dining area set up as one big room. So it is with Nick's Italian in Paradise Valley (there are two more locations in the Valley). The upbeat, high-energy restaurant makes you sort of feel like you're in someone's home, since the seating quarters are close. The food is all handmade, and I really enjoyed my meal, too. My pal and I grabbed a seat at one of the bar high-top tables, and we started off with the Caprese salad ($7.95). It wasn't huge of anything, but the mozarella was high-quality, the tomatoes were juicy, and the basil was ample. For my entree, I got the Portobello Mushroom Ravioli ($15.95). The pasta was filled with delicious mushrooms, which I really enjoyed. I liked the pink sauce the ravioli was served with, but I wish it would have had fresh tomatoes in it. Also, I felt like the portion could have been a little more generous. Here is my pal's Veal Parmesan ($17.95), which he said was pretty darn awesome because the veal was tender and the sauce was tasty. The meal-ender, the tiramisu ($6), was a great deal, really delicious and perfect to share. The mascarpone cream was mouth-watering, and the ladyfingers melted in my mouth. Tiramisu is my favorite dessert, and that was definitely my favorite part of the meal. While I enjoyed Nick's Italian, and I did appreciate the twinkly lit patio, I would choose Arrivederci over Nick's if you're in the area, based on the service alone. We were in a busy area near the bar, but servers should still strive to make you feel welcomed and relaxed no matter how buzzy the place is, and I didn't really get that vibe from our server. If you do go, try to get a table in the main dining area or patio-maybe things would feel a little more welcoming.
(3)Kenneth W.
This is mediocre but decent food. Clean enough and decent service. The food lacks spice and presentation is really sloppy. Probably the best thing is the grilled vegetables. The lasagna is decent. The.coffee is insipid. I will say the location is convenient.
(3)Shannon M.
Much has changed in the two years since my initial review. Apparently Nick's has decided to toss customer service out the window. I should have known it would be a problematic visit when it took nearly 15 minutes to be acknowledged to put in our order. Well, it only got worse. After nearly 45 minutes of waiting, we realized that our food was never, ever going to arrive. Ever. Time to leave, and never come back. Ever.
(1)Jewel W.
What a wonderful find!!! Food and service were excellent. Nice neighborhood dining spot. Don't let the strip mall fool you! Full menu with great specials. Don't miss this one!
(5)Susan M.
My friend Joan was going to meet me at Nourish123 in Scottsdale on Monday, but luckily, we both noticed that it's closed on Monday so we ended up meeting at Nick's at Tatum and Shea. We go where we have groupons, etc. and she had one to try it out. I can honestly say that I was quite happy and surprised when I showed up first and saw a sign outside of the restaurant which said they were featuring a gluten free pizza for less than $10! I was all set to just have a salad but this changed my mind.........since I figured an Italian place would have great pizza! I entered the restaurant and saw that I had arrived first so the Host greeted me and I told her I was meeting a friend. She said that she'd bring her over when she got there and seated me. She asked what I wanted to drink and left to get my Iced Tea. She came back with the Tea and a bowl of bread, which I asked her to remove until Joan showed up.......too hard to look at something I love and can't have! Then she informs me that they closed at 2:00 p..m. I really don't understand why she failed to mention this to me when I sat down! We might have decided to dine elsewhere....and before I ordered a $3 Iced Tea. It wouldn't have bothered me to order a $3 Iced Tea if it were good but it tasted like Lipton Tea which had been in the canister for a week............you know, when it tastes like tin? So Joan arrived and we decided to eat anyway........and I ordered the GF pizza with tomato slices, mushrooms and onion. Joan got a bowl of soup and salad. We chatted and waited for our food. The pizza looked pretty decent with lots of mushrooms and veggies present but upon tasting it I was immediately aware of no spice taste. It tasted like they opened a can of tomato sauce and poured it on the pizza. Between the pizza and the Iced Tea and them not letting us know that they closed in half an hour, I'd have to say that I would never go back or recommend the place. When we didn't have a large enough order to even make using the groupon worth while, Joan asked for a dessert to go...and was told that there was nobody present to even prepare it, sorry! Yeah. I'll never go back! That's ridiculous!
(1)Co S.
I have been coming here for years with my family and it had always been one of our favorites but not anymore. After several disappointing visits, last night will be our last. The quality of the food has just gone down - dry, tough, overcooked chicken; pasta was too al dente; pizza undercooked. Its really all too bad because this really was our favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant.
(2)Barbara S.
We frequent this place quite a bit since we live close by. It's a quintessential neighborhood restaurant. The food is consistently good. We love the arriabiata sauce (although sometimes it is spicier than other times - mostly good & spicy.) The pizzas are good, and so are their specials. I've had the halibut special several times and it is always tender & flaky, not overcooked. The steamed veggies aren't soft but have a nice crunch to them Great happy hour offers, too :-) - if you can find a place in the bar area! They are usually packed.
(4)Ryan J.
Solid food and execution. While my experience varies a bit as I make my way through the menu, their hits ensure that this is a regular part of the rotation. They execute a halibut dish that is both easy on the palate and light on the calorie counter. Their bread is among the best. Truly great Italian American food.
(4)Sunny B.
Nick's is a solid Italian restaurant located in the Whole Foods strip mall. I have sought them out for take out several times, but just recently dined in. The place is small and cozy and there is a separate bar area and a nice patio. The food is good, not amazing, but definitely worth the price. Things I have tried that I would recommended: Chicken Tortellini: chicken, spinach, pink sauce (which is a vodka sauce) Mushroom Ravioli with pink sauce Butternut Ravioli in a garlic butter Calamari Antipasto Salad They also have a decent wine selection The servers have always been prompt and attentive While this isn't a place I would drive and seek out if you live in the neighborhood it is a great weekday "go to" and has made it in my rotation when I don't feel like cooking. 3 1/2 stars!
(3)Jennifer T.
My friend and I when here one day for lunch and we were both very impressed. Both of our dishes were beyond delish! We also had kiddos with us and though they didn't have a kids menu they still catered to them and had no problem they were with us (of course they were very well behaved). I took a look at their dinner menu and though it is a little pricy I really want to go back and give it a try. I love all of the seafood options! Service and atmosphere were both very nice as well.
(5)Lynnette L.
Nick's is a great little neighborhood Italian place. Of which there are not many in Phoenix. It's small and intimate, the food is consistently good; my husband is always impressed with how fresh the fish and seafood is - we do live in the desert. He grew up on the east coast, lots of good Italian and fresh seafood so the fact that they make him happy says something. Service is always good, Orlando always knows who we are and takes good care of us. There was a time in the past where service was lacking, and it was something they were aware of which is why they had a "now hiring servers" sign up. Shortly after, they had some new people about the place and service was back on point. I've never had a dish I didn't like here, and I'm the kind of person who likes to try all the menu has to offer; sometimes seafood, sometimes chicken, sometimes veggie - ravioli, linguini etc... It's all good. A favorite of mine is the farfalle salmon, it's a repeat on occasion. Check out Nick's!
(5)Joe L.
well-done concept of cute, cool fair-priced Italian food, sophisticated enough wine list, and genrally upbeat, fun, not anti-family vibe filling the place. Food was very good and service spot-on. Excellent value and great save for the dad in-a-pinch for "no time to make dinner" or for take-out needs.
(4)Bianca A.
Moving from Chicago - the land of awesome Italian food - I'm so happy I found this place on a groupon. Bruschetta was awesome and flavorful as well and the wine recommended by our server was perfect. The pizza looked awesome ill be sure to try next time, however if you're in the mood for pasta be sure to get the arrabiata sauce. It's packed with flavor and not too spicy!!
(5)Sheri S.
Wow! A new favorite! A friend recently recommended Nick's and I was so happy that she did! WONDERFUL food - I had the crab ravioli and it was fantastic! Will definitely be back - it's a gem!
(5)Kacee F.
This review is only for Nick's on Tatum Blvd. This place is real small and very dark. You will need a flashlight to read the menu if you come in after dark. We had a groupon so we went to this location and I was very disappointed. I ordered the Linguine with eggplant and chicken, when they brought it out, it was a very small dish and I thought they made a mistake giving me the lunch portion, but they said no it was a dinner portion. very very small portion and I was still hungry afterwards. Also they do not make their cheesecake in house they buy in from someplace else and it was over 50 ingredients in which are all genetically modified. Cheesecake can be made simply with 4 or less ingredients... The food is just average at this location. There are many other Italian places in town which are far better.
(2)Amy S.
My boyfriend and I love this place. We go for happy hour. Our favorites: Baked Ziti, pizza, ravioli and red wine.
(4)Steve S.
I've held off for a couple of years for posting a review, but it's time. Why do they have to overcook their pasta? I've tried requesting the whole wheat pasta (supposedly homemade) al dente, repeatedly requesting "do not overcook;" we get home and well, my spaghetti and meatballs is pretty tasteless. I wish there were other restaurants in PV, but things are so limited around here, that I guess their chef can get away with pre-cooking their pasta, slapping some sauce on it and charging $18 for it. I hope someone is reading this as I told them I'd be posting as calling back after and complaining does no good. Maybe other people complain that their spaghetti is not overcooked enough???!!! Anyway, I really have to take the blame for this, as I should just get some homemade pasta right next door at Whole Foods and do it myself. Sorry for the rant, my Yelp friends, but why can't Giacomo's of Boston open up a restaurant in Phoenix?
(2)Gabi M.
If you are looking for a casual restaurant for lunch or dinner and you're in the mood for Italian food, Nick's at Paradise Valley (in the Whole Foods shopping center) is an excellent choice! Whether you're in the mood for pasta, pizza, soup, salad, fish, chicken, or veal, you can find something that you'll be happy with at Nick's. I've been on several occasions and never been disappointed. They always start you off with fresh bread and olive oil (a must for any good Italian restaurant)... don't allow yourself to eat the whole basket though; you must save room for what is coming! Some of my fave things to order are: -Grilled calamari appetizer (yes, I said grilled!) -Grilled eggplant appetizer -Stracciatella soup -all of their salads are delicious -pasta with meatballs -salmon or tilapia (picatta style) -Shrimp Fra Diavolo I don't think you can go wrong with so many options to choose from! Portion sizes are generous but not ridiculous. I recommend saving a little bit of room for the Hazelnut Tartufo for dessert... it's the perfect sweet ending to your meal (and it helps to cover up that garlic breath you probably have from your dinner)! FYI: There is waiter service at this location - and the menu is a little different than that at their other Scottsdale locations. Nick's won't blow you away, but it's a safe bet for a simple Italian meal with consistent service. Take it for what it is... Buon appetito!
(4)Cherlyn E.
Nick's is local to me and I would have loved to make this a fav as I can walk to it. My first visit I sat in the bar after having sushi next door. This was o.k. and I may repeat this. However, on my next visit my friend and I tried to enjoy dinner. We were asked to sit at a smaller table outside vs. a larger table for bigger parties. Ok but when some people came in that were repeat customers and they sat at the table we wanted but there were only two, well that was somewhat rude. Then the waiter catered to their order and needs over ours. Such as when he did bring our food and asked us if we wanted parmesan cheese. We said yes. He then went to the kitchen and retrieved the food for his favorite customers and then brought the cheese for them and then brought it to us. Maybe they are big tippers but as someone that was looking to be a regular I may have been too. The food was good but for gluten free they really do not have many choices. I have been going to another restaurant in the area and they have excellent choices with better service. Unless I am dragged here again I most likely will not return for their food.
(2)Doug P.
This place has what I'd call good pizza, but the lasagna was just awful so skip that completely.
(3)David G.
Been a patron for years. Eat- In and Carry-Out, never a tab below $50. Disappointed again last night for the last time. Food was inedible, we joked that we should feed it to our dog, but we really love our dog, threw it away. Shrimp Emperial, $18.95, Shrimp was clearly frozen too long and tainted the whole watery, bland dish with bad fish smell. Baked Ziti, $10.95, watery, bland, have had better from a can. Biggest disappointment... Antipasto Misto, $10.95 for Oscar Meyer and Rubbery Caprese. Really sad because it used to be a great neighborhood restaurant, now its perfect if you're from out of town, don't like good Italian, and will never be back.
(1)John Z.
My wife and I ate at Nicks last night. We had claims, Lasagna, wine, coffee and tiramisu. Here is the bad then the good news: Bad News: The bread is the worst I have ever had in an Italian Restaurant. My wife's water tasted like Vinegar. After complaining to the server, they found that the water had been contaminated by white vinegar. My wife and I both woke up in the middle of the night with stomach pains, probably due to the clams. The Good News: Lasagna was good as was the coffee and tiramisu. Thanks to Groupon we saved $40. We will not be going back.
(2)Gary L.
OMG you talk about getting lucky when you happen to pop into a new restaurant. Had never heard of this place - had never seen it before, and we just walked in after shopping near by. AMAZING! My wife and I have been there a few times now and every time it just got better. (Probably because we ditched the kids for some adult time) Not that you have to... they'll feed them too. Last time I was there I got the lobster ravioli and it was to die for! I love italian food and Nick's is my favorite. I don't know for certain that it's all made from scratch, but it sure looks and tastes that way. Perfect food. Great service.
(5)Amy B.
I came here on a date Saturday afternoon and have to say, this place is great! Holy cow! Total gem! This place is suprisingly located in a strip mall of all things. I walked in and really liked how the place was decorated. Its not a huge resturant, but has a more fancy feel to it. Not a place I would walk into with jeans on. Classy enough to put on a nice outfit for a great experience. (Im normally not a fancy diner, but for dates, I tend to turn it up a notch.) I was impressed with the service that I had here. Menu is loaded with just about any and every dish you could imagine. I like variety, and this place had it. Our meal started off with a bread basket and some dipping oil which I liked a lot. Server got our drinks and we took our time reviewin the menu. I went with the Lasanga. I think my date had the chicken parm. Servings were nice and big! Tasty too! It was funny, because even though the service was great, the service was kinda funny. Date took notice and we had a good laugh about it. I was taking my time with my lasgana, and the server kept asking me all the time if I was done. I kept telling him "no, I'm just a slow eater." Then, he would come back like 5 minutes later and ask the same thing again. rinse, wash, repeat for the last half hour of the date. Plus, the mexican bus boy literally stood table side to refill my beverage after I took more then 2 sips. It was actually hysterical! Date and I had a great chuckle over this! Anyways, I really enjoyed my experience at Nicks. I guess they have several valley locations, and I plan on returning. Great place for dates, parents, or just something nice!
(4)David M.
My wife and I met some friends here for dinner. We were seated right away at 6:00pm on a Friday night which was nice. The bread was good, and the service was very friendly and on top of things. I really liked their fried calamari. I had their baked ziti which I saw a few times in other Yelp reviews. I liked the big portion, but it wasn't anything special. My wife had the chicken Parmesan and she said was pretty good. Nice local place that we will probably check out again.
(3)Lindsay T.
My boyfriend and I ate here because he had a groupon. Normally I don't dig italian but I tried to stay open.... The menu is great and all but, man, SALTY food! My minestrone soup was good, but both my salad (who salts a salad??!!!) and my boyfriend's Chicken parmigiana dish were SO heavily salted you could barely taste any distinct flavors. The service was good, and all else but man, I couldn't drink enough fluid the rest of the night to
(3)Morgan D.
Why: Nick's saved me from Olive Garden! I'm not bashing the ol' Garden, but it isn't fun, unique, or original- nor does it have great ambiance. This area is full of chains and I came up empty with suggestions when my friends and I decided to meet up for an Italian dinner. Inside: Small and cozy. I really enjoyed the ambiance. It's nothing fancy, but it's also not too laid back- dimly lit with tables snuggled in close to each other. Great date place. The Food: I had spaghetti with Alfredo, mushroom, chicken, and I believe one other ingredient that I can't recall. It was pretty tasty. Not my favorite all time pasta dish, but definitely worth getting again and better than plenty of places I've dined before. Everyone seemed to be satisfied. Bottom Line: If you are looking for Italian in this area, I can wholeheartedly recommend Nick's... at least over Olive Garden. Also, I was the first to arrive and the bar was a welcome place to wait and have a glass of wine. Not bad Nick, not bad!
(4)Amy R.
Seriously? I didn't review this place? Oops! I've been here twice now and must say there is some good food coming out of their kitchen. The Eggplant Parmesan has some AMAZING sauce with it unlike any I've had before. A lot of red sauces all taste somewhat similar but this is something special. Both times I've come home with leftovers so portions are on the larger size. Complimentary bread and oil starts your meal off. Service has always been spot on. My only major gripe about the place is the seating and size of the place. Be warned... this location is SMALL. Both times I went I ended up with ass in my face when someone sat next to me was leaving.
(4)Al P.
Decided to gamble on a groupon to Nicks, overall it was okay. Started with the garlic cheesy bread which was awful. Next was the baked ziti which was a little dry but decent. Tried some lasagna which was good. The best item was the pizza which was similar to Red Devils pizza. Service was fast and the plates were scolding hot which was perfect for me. Price was just right for the portions just wish everything tasted as good as the pizza.
(3)Nancy T.
This place is amazing. Some of my favorites are the minestrone soup, Greek salad, spaghetti Bolognese, gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce, fettuccine with white clam sauce and much more. Everything here is good. The sausage and meatballs are great, too. This is one of the places I miss the most after moving from the area. Hard to find really good Italian food like this.
(5)Jeff W.
The food is really good, but the service is a bit disjointed, and they really pack you in like sardines. It's small but that doesn't mean I want the next table asking me to pass the parm!
(4)Mark C.
Nick's has been a pretty popular gathering place for a group of my friends. I have had their pizzas, calzones, and chicken parmesan. Those dishes have been pretty good. Last night I wanted to try something new, so I tried the baked ziti with meatballs. I don't recommend it. The issue was that it was overcooked. The ziti was rubbery and the dish was dry. The ends of the ziti were hard and crunchy. The best thing about the dish was the meatballs. Even though my food was not up to par, the service was exceptionally good.
(2)Daryle W.
I read all the hype on this place and was hoping for some great food and instead left wishing we had just eaten fast food. I tried the old staple of chicken parmesan as it seemed a popular choice and I will never go there again. It tasted like a frozen chicken patty with canned tomato sauce. It came with spaghetti on the side and that too was not only overcooked, but just gross. My girlfriend had the gnocchi with pink sauce and again it underwhelmed. I know finding good gnocchi is difficult but to me, the sauce again fell flat. It all tasted store bought and out of cans or jars. When I go out somewhere I want to eat something that I can't fix at home myself. Not only could I have made it but I could have made it MUCH better. The only redeeming thing I liked about the food was the bread at the start. As for the ambience, it is small and had a quiet feel to it but looking around, all the artwork (most of) are pictures you buy from Target...And there wasnt much other decor around to give you that Italian feel to it other than the waiter's accent which to me seemed very over the top whether he is authentic or not. Sometimes I couldn't even understand him. Either way, for the price I know you can get better Italian food. Try Cucina Tagliani. I felt Nick's was overpriced, underwhelming, and not worth me ever going back. It wasn't the worst food in the world but it wasn't anything memorable by any means.
(2)Susan W.
Nick's has Portobello mushroom ravioli that can be served with their house pink sauce. It's one of the best things I've ever tasted.
(4)S C.
My husband and I have been living in ax for 20 years. Nicks is our favorite. Weekly we are there enjoying happy hour to eggplant parmigiana, and chicken Marsala and salmon at dinner time. Happy hour has "good food instead of fried food floating in oil like most other restaurants". Personally I enjoy his tomatoe sauce, simple spices and delicious, the staff is always professional and courteous even in their busiest times
(5)Dale E.
Dirty, slow service, I've had better food out of a can! And so busy. Obviously we don't get it and or have been spoiled by fresh quality ingredients all over town.
(1)J. C.
I was originally in town for business but then connected with family and ended up celebrating our belated birthdays at Nick's. All I can say is that I wish this place was right around the corner from me. It was SO GOOD!!! I could totally become a regular at this place. It's nothing but high points folks: 1. Authenticity - the waiters are actually, get this, ITALIAN! 2. Service - fast and friendly, which is impressive for such a popular place. 3. Beverages - good selection of affordable wines and specialty drinks. The house Pinot Grigio was great. 4. Seating - though it's small inside and by the looks of it, very popular, we walked in and were seated immediately without a reservation. 5. Food - 5 stars! FANTASTIC! The bread that comes when you are seated is delish (and a generous selection of a few different breads). We started with the yummy antipasto salad - fresh and delicious. It could only by topped by the entrees - each meal was so good and was a decent portion - Shrimp Scampi, Baked Ziti and Butternut Squash Ravioli (my fave). Though definitely full, I couldn't resist dessert and ordered a cannoli. Oh...my...gosh... delicious. Such a fantastic meal. I hope that business or other travel brings me back again.
(5)Jennifer L.
My husband located this place and wanted to try it because they had gnocchi on the menu and that's the only thing he likes in the world of Italian food. They make their own pasta here and I have to say the pasta was very good. I had chicken fettucine alfedo. The fettucine was good, the chicken was good... the sauce, not so much. Bland and boring! My husband had a lemon chicken dish with gnocchi on the side. I did not like the pink sauce on the gnocchi one bit and when I tried his chicken I didn't taste lemon, I tasted wine. Yuck. I like that they make their own pasta but they really need better sauces to go with it. Very limited indoor seating as well, and when it's 108 degrees, sitting outside is NOT appealing.
(2)Irma G.
Well, reading these reviews it seems like there are 2 totally separate Nick's in the same place! We went, the first time, on a groupon, we had the seafood linguini with white garlic sauce and I thought I was in Italy or Sicily. It was amazing, tasted home made and real! Service.... Well it seemed the "other servers" were taking better care of their customers than ours. To get 5 stars all has to be fabulous! 2nd time, wonderful food (I ordered the same thing, just can't get over how good that was) and the service was worse, including mistakes on the bill. Nick is a great host and, when I get to know him better, I might talk about the friendly, but sub par service. Something is just miss there. The place is crowded which attests to the excellent food. In my NSH opinion, this is real Italian! How you can compare Olive Garden to ANY real Italian place is beyond me. Obviously, you belong in Olive Garden if that is your "standard" that you compare Italian food to. I'll take Nicks! Now I want the cannoli.... After reading about them here! I've never been to happy hour, but my son says it's pretty good as well.
(4)Cindy D.
I typically love this restaurant and eat here about once a month. I was disappointed this last week, when my cheese pizza was delivered to my table with pepperoni on it. The waiter asked me if it was okay, to which my response was "No, I'm sorry, I am a vegetarian." He apologized and said that he would have the kitchen make me a fresh cheese pizza. No problem. He returned about 10 minutes later with what I thought was a fresh cheese pizza. To my surprise, the kitchen staff pulled the pepperoni off of the pizza and then reserved it to me. After being a vegetarian for 35 years, I noticed the pepperoni taste immediately. I quickly paid my bill so that I could run home, afraid that I was going to get sick. It will be a long time before I frequent this restaurant. It was a disappointing experience to say the least. I expected more.
(3)Ben D.
Nick's is our favorite Italian restaurant in the valley. The Baked Ziti is the best. We frequent Nick's once a month. Great happy hour specials and friendly staff.
(4)Jennifer S.
Good, consistent food in a nice setting with good service. This is not stand out Italian food, but still worth checking out!
(3)Dana G.
I just realized that I have never wrote an actual review on Nick's, my favorite Phoenix spot. Maybe it's the nostalgia? I've been coming here since High School. Maybe it's the casual, family owned atmosphere? No matter which location you visit, you'll most likely see Nick checking up on things. Most importantly, it's the consistency. No matter which location you choose, it all tastes great, every time. For me, this is good Italian food, but in the American way. If you're looking for real Italy italian, you may choose another spot, but I find the typical Lasagna, Ravioli, Baked Zitti to be fantastic! I love their Bolognese, and if you notice on my profile, my last meal on earth would be their chicken parmesan with a side of spaghetti bolognese- each entree comes with a huge side of either fresh veggies or pasta. The portions are huge, so I love to eat some, and it's always even better the next day! Here are a few of my favorite dishes: -Di Mare Salad (with grilled calamari like Gabi M says) - Tilapia Picatta - Chicken Ravioli (my best friend Natalie always tells me that if you get the Chicken tortellini, you actually get more!) -Chicken Parm (note the above) -Baked Ziti (have them add meatballs) -Cannoli (I'm pretty sure I could spoon feed the filling like ice cream! Was that too much?) Go to any one of their locations for a casual, quick Italian meal- I'm never disappointed!
(5)Liz D.
We decided to try Nicks at Pinnacle Peak on Friday night and our server was Jake. Jake was great and the manager who came over to ask how everything was was extremely pleasant also. We were given a taste of bruschetta, which was a nice touch, and our salads arrived which were very fresh and very large! My husband ordered the veal chop and grilled vegetables and I ordered chicken breast with cheese, tomatoes garlic...sorry cannot remember the a tubal name of the dish. My husbands veal chop was perfectly cooked and swimming in a cream, red onion sauce which was delicious! WAY TOO MUCH SAUCE. The vegetables were perfect and served on the side. Now if you are looking for a dish that is beautifully presented, and garnished in an appealing way....this is not the place. The great thing about not garnishing is that the food comes out HOT and looks like it is home cooked...a very good upside. As for my chicken.......disappointing, very bland. A few Italian herbs added at home the next day perked it right up! The manager said that he found it lacking in flavor too. HHMMMmmmmmm why doesn't he talk to the chef about that? WE WILL GO BACK...best veal chop in town according to my husband.
(4)Andy C.
Nick's is a small local chain that does a lot of things right. The portions and service are just right, and there's a lot of variety on the menu. Nick's has a bunch of home made pastas, along with pizza, salads, and appetizers. They have a soup that sort of like a Chinese egg drop combined with minestrone. Try it! I'd recommend this spot for lunch or dinner, business or pleasure. Don't forget to check the board for the specials and try something new.
(4)Miss C.
I have recently become addicted to checking reviews to new places to eat before I head out & based on other reviews was pretty optimistic about trying Nick's. My boyfriend and I got there for an early dinner (around 5ish) and were seated very promptly. The decor was simple and classy, fresh flowers and cool colors filled the room. The server was prompt and rehearsed spiel-less, which I always find to be a plus. The busser was quick to refill beverages before half empty and offer more of the delicious bread once we had finished the original. The bread is a highlight, there were two options, one a common french loaf type and the other a lighter, beautifully seasoned variety. To dip your bread in there was a nice seasoned olive oil. The food took a fairly decent amount of time to arrive considering there were only 6 or so tables, plus the happy hour crowd at the bar top. Perhaps they were understaffed in the kitchen, who knows, I didn't dock them any stars for that. The thing that got me to click 3 vs. 4 stars however was the fettuccine alfredo. The plate arrived to the table and I had dreams of what I was about to dig into (beautiful memories of the sadly closed Pasta Pomedoro came to mind) However, these dreams were not realized. The noodles, although lovely and wider fettuccine type, were over cooked and verging on mushy. And the sauce, while it smelled lovely, lacked any sort of mouthwatering goodness. We also shared the pizza, which was a fabulous price, but nothing to write home about. Although we left Nick's not planning to come back as soon as we can, I think based on other reviews that perhaps we just did not find their star dishes, and for the price (2 sodas, pizza, and pasta for $26) I will most likely be willing to give this place a try again. And after all, I did not have an opportunity to try their tiramisu, (how I truly give Italian eateries the thumbs up or the boot) so I will have to make sure to try that next time...
(3)Angela G.
this nicks is the closest to our house there was one closer on scottsdale and grayhawk however they closed it down and moved it more north on pinnacle peak and pima rd. this one is not very big however its never really packed so we are always seated right away. i always get the chicken parmesan with the pasta for a side (spaghetti pasta) and it comes out sizzling hot and the chicken is covered in cheese. soooooo good!! ive tried the veggies as a side before and it just wasnt good. they had this weird flavor on them but the pasta is yummy and my daughter loves to share the pasta so it works out so i don't have to get her her own meal.
(5)AMber W.
Wow. I was really shocked at how much I enjoyed Nick's considering it is inside a strip mall! I figured it would be more of a low-key type place, but it was really nice inside and the food was FANTASTIC. The only complaint I have is that every time someone opened the front door (which was frequent; the place was PACKED) it was absolutely freezing, but the restaurant was able to move us to an area away from the door and the problem was solved! I started with a glass of Riesling, as usual. I was happy that it was only $5 per glass versus the normal $8, and I was not disappointed with the taste. The busser immediately brought us waters and bread with dipping oil. I could have eaten it all day!!! I opted for something not even on the menu: Penne pasta with pink sauce (combo of white and red). It was ABSOLUTELY Delicious!!! The service was great, and I love that our waiter even had an accent! Overall, I really enjoyed Nicks and will be back for sure!
(4)Kate A.
I love this place! I love sitting outside here! The seating is very comfortable. The atmosphere is very laid back and elegant. Even though they were busy at the time our waiter was very attentive. I had the Gnocchi soup for the first time. I am sad that I can't find a place that could compare to that of Nick's Gnocchi. I also had the Caesar salad which was yummy! This is such a nice place for a date or a night out with the family. This is also my grandfathers favorite restaurant in Phoenix!
(5)Luna L.
Chicken Marsala and alfredo sauce were delicious, but the marinara sauce left little to be desired. I would have preferred the bread that was brought to the table to be warm or at least soft. All in all ok but we probably won't be back.
(3)Bob G.
I usually poke fun at Olive Garden as having bland food for people that have no idea what Italian food should really taste like, yet I'd still choose them over Nick's. I've read and respect the other reviews, and perhaps we just caught a bad night, but Nick's was awful. We began with a service issue however that was minor and not worth repeating. That problem would have been easily overlooked if the meal was good. Instead, we got uninspired bland food that seemed like it came right out of the jar or box. The are too many quality choices in the area or not too far from he that are much better. I would not go back to Nick's.
(1)Adam B.
I was originally going to dine at another place...then I saw "Nicks" I am a sucker for Italian food and try to visit every one I see and try the alfredo sauce....the best I have ever had is at some place in the Bellagio in Las Vegas... I walked in and was greeted and seated very quickly.....drink order very fast. Service was top notch...every time my ice tea got nearly drained...it was picked up...any questions answered... This place should really be a rated a $$$....my entree was $15 my girl's was $16 and her glass of wine was $9...mix that with salads...it came out to $57... So....with that much cash this alfredo must be outstanding right? Not even close....it was greasy and had lots of garlic, was not creamy and in my opinion didn't even taste like alfredo should....even olive gardens alfredo is better...Brios' sauce slaps it in the mouth! XD I ordered a side of the alfredo as my entree came with "pink" sauce.....which was a mix of red and white....they should have left the red alone... I also like my bread warm....this was not....oh well If the service had not been good...I would have knocked another star off. First visit...and most likely the last.
(2)Bob R.
Definitely nothing to write home about. Generic Italian food. Pizza crust wasn't bad, but the pastas we had were on the gummy side. Also the Mozzarella Carrozza appetizer was nothing more than deep fried grilled cheese sandwich. Tomato sauce tasted like canned tomatoes heated up. Lame.
(2)M A.
Friendly neighborhood italian restaurant with solid menu and great service. Just wish they were open for lunch on weekends.
(5)Aaron T.
Great little Italian place. Very small dining area, so a long wait. The food was good. The arrabiatta was actually spicy which is rare here since most places dumb it down for the general population. Service was good. A solid 4 star place.
(4)Emily B.
Good atmosphere, good service, good pasta. We have always driven by this place and finally stopped in the other night. We both enjoyed the pasta dishes we ordered (with plenty for left overs the next day). Our server was very good, she was attentive but not overbearing. The restaurant was small so tables were a little close together, but we sat in a corner so it wasn't too bad. The only thing we didn't really like was the mozzarella carrozza- it tasted like someone deep fried a grilled cheese mozzarella sandwich, not much flavor. Overall, a nice neighborhood restaurant. Leftovers were still delicious when reheated. :)
(4)Matthew S.
Nick's Italian is one of my new favorite little places. I have eaten there about six times. Some of their stuff is just okay, but some of it is great. The items that are great, are great enough to keep coming back. First of all, ANYTHING in the white wine garlic sauce is practically orgasm inducing! Especially the Penne a la Campagna! Penne pasta, chicken, spinach, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes combined with the white wine garlic sauce make for a fantastic combination. The marinara sauce is very tasty, conidering it seems to be very basic. The Cioppino in the WWG sauce is probably my second favorite thing. It seemed like an overwhelming avalanche of multiple sea creatures; Shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari. all over a huge portion of linguini. I also highly reccomend the baked ziti with sausage... Its hot!!! Nick's has a great little dinning room. Small, but intimate. Its mildly reminiscent of some of the little restaurants in San Francisco or New York that i've been to. The service is very hit or miss. It seems like the female staff is much more enjoyable, not because of their gender, but because it seems like they know HOW to be friendly and efficient. Most of the servers at Nick's seem to be overworked, as they always rushing and and sometimes it takes longer then it should to be greeted. While there is one male server whos section i refuse to sit in, most of the other servers do a great job.
(4)lance d.
little neighborhood italian gem. About everything on the menu is great, and the staff is nice. I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could. Wish we had more like this in the PV 'hood.
(4)Stephanie S.
I could eat pasta all day long and so living across the street from the place is torture (torture because I *shouldn't* eat pasta all day long). Anyway I might be exaggerating but this place is really good. It can be a little spendy but I find that the portion sizes are generous. My dish is the baked ziti with bolognese sauce & that runs about $12, I can eat the whole thing in one sitting but I do sometimes force myself to stop and take half of it home. The menu is HUGE though, I just stick to what I like. The atmosphere is nice, better for small groups rather than large but I think they can be accomodated when necessary. I've wanted to sit at the bar but haven't done it yet. Nice patio as well. It is in a strip mall next to a beauty supply store but what's new in this town? Highly recommended!
(4)m s.
The food is good, but, if your having a party, go somewhere else! We had my son's graduation party here, and planned the menu from the menu pricing listed on the menu, which was done with the catering person, and then when the bill arrived it was a whole different price. Nick, the owner, changed all the pricing, without asking, charging us double for the food we ordered and would not change or correct the pricing. WOW, what a rip-off. How would you like to pay double just to do your party here? I think NOT!!!
(1)Nick S.
I have driven by this place for a while now so I finally went for lunch. I must have got the wrong thing. I ordered the alfredo with chicken. The chicken was ok, lacked seasoning. The alfredo sauce was very thin and watery and totally bland. I did not care for it at all. The fetticcini noddles were ok. They are fresh and big in size. I see lots of good reviews, so they must have something there they do really good. If I do go back ill try the marinara sauce with chicken parm or the pizza. Staff was very friendly and quick service.
(3)Jenn E.
I am not a huge Italian food fan, while I enjoy some good ole spaghetti every now and then, when given the choice, you are more likely to find me munching on some chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant. But with that being said, when I do get a sudden craving for Italian, Nick's is my number one choice. I really like the quaint atmosphere....but it is the food that keeps me coming back. I hadn't been to Nick's in probably over a year, but it is by my parent's house, so we went for a quick dinner the other night. They always have really enticing specials, like Seafood Risotto or Manicotti. The menu is HUGE, spanning from pasta, to filled pastas , chicken and veal dishes and even pizza. They make a good pizza, and I especially adore their gnocchi in the vodka sauce, but my favorite thing to get is the Chicken Parmesan. This version is not breaded at all; it is just sauteed and then topped with an amazing red sauce and mozzarella cheese. It is not what you would expect, but it is delicious! You get your choice of either a side of pasta or vegetables, I usually get the sauteed veggies because they are so good; a nice combination of broccoli, cauliflower, squash and carrots. They are cooked perfect and even better when dipped in the extra sauce. Oh, I almost forgot, they also give you this delicious focaccia bread and olive oil for dipping when you sit down, it is so fresh it just melts in your mouth! So if you are willing to pass on the all you can eat salad at the Olive Garden....you should give Nick's a try!
(4)Kaila S.
Went to lunch today and had the eggplant parm. Awesome! Such a great sauce, and opted for the steamed veggies as my side. Yummers! Would recommend if you are in the area and craving great Italian food.
(4)Tommy G.
Fabulous little Italian joint with a couple other Valley locations. I went here for a friend's birthday, had some drinks, bruschetta and the Chicken Parmesan. The bruschetta was fabulous - the bread was toasty and there were just the right amount of tomatoes. The Chicken Parmesan was mouth-watering. I am a big fan of this dish in general and Nick's did not disappoint! An overall great atmosphere, good portions and a friendly staff will definitely bring me back to Nick's again. Highly recommended!
(5)Julie R.
My husband and I went to Nick's tonight for dinner, we split the chicken marsala with a side of spaghetti arabiatta. The spaghetti was really good as was the marsala. We also had a tiramasu, which was huge, we split it and still had to take half home. All of our dishes were really good, the bill was $24, which was good, considering the quality of ingredients. We can't wait to go back for happy hour.
(4)Michael H.
dinner is ususally good but last week my wife had a hair on the lemon garnish and the waiter just picked it off with his hands...gross. WE insisted on another entree. Nothing was credited or offered.
(2)Britt C.
Nick's offers great Italian comfort food with a pleasant but no-frills ambiance. The eggplant appetizer is tasty, as are the bruschetta and antipasti starters. For mains, they typically have a halibut "special" that is worth a try. For the traditionalists, you can't go wrong with the eggplant or chicken parmigiana (both good indicators of a solid Italian restaurant) and the lemon chicken is tasty. As tempting as it sounds, steer clear of the butternut squash ravioli...it's just too sweet!
(3)P O.
I love going to Nicks and getting their baked ziti! I have gone there for years and always get the same thing :)
(5)Glenn F.
Average in an area filled with average Italian joints. That actually makes it below average. Pizza, great pizza, is easy to come by in Phoenix. Nick's just does not have the quality of toppings or edge like an amazing crust or some sort of style. Think freezer pizza. For the other entrees, the pasta was good, but nothing that you could not make at home in 20 min. Top it off with indifferent service and you've got a solid 2 star review.
(2)Jane A.
I was pleasantly surprised when I walked through the door. I thought it was going to be a bit cheesy, but it was great. The menu was something you might find in Hoboken, NJ. Lots of pastas, pizzas, seafood and salad dishes. My pasta was great. It had farfalle, chicken, shrimp, feta, and sun-dried tomatoes. They serve very reasonably priced glasses of wine (and full bar). Overall, it was a great meal, with fairly large portions.... The lack of a final star was because of the burnt coffee.......
(4)Chelsea C.
We love Nick's!! We are huge fans of Italian food so when we moved into the area we decided to try out Nick's. The food is amazing! Every pasta is hand made and the sauces are delicious! We also love the atmosphere. Not a large place and can get a little busy on the weekends.
(5)cecilia p.
should of gone elsewhere. we thought we were taking our friends to something different and unique, but what we had was mediocre bread and salad. horribly salty entrees, and incredibly slow service.
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