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  • Cafe il Nido

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Cafe il Nido
Cafe il Nido

Cafe il Nido Details

  • Dining Style: Casual Dining
  • Website: http://www.cafeilnido.net
  • Email: ilnido@telus.net
  • Phone: (604) 685-6436
  • Hours of Operation: Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:30am -2:30pm; Dinner: Monday - Saturday: 5:30pm - 10:00pm
  • Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa
  • Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
  • Executive Chef: Franco Felice
  • Dress Code: Smart Casual
  • Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
  • Additional Details: Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine, Wine Bar
  • Catering: Home-in Chef for private events.
  • Private Party Facilities: Special menu on request within their budget.
  • Private Party Contact: Franco (604) 645-6436

Getting there

  • Cross Street: Robson
  • Public Transit: Bus stop & skytrain station walking distance in the heart of downtown
  • Parking: Public Lot
  • Parking Details: Best place to park Alberni and Thurlow St across from the Shangri-la Hotel.
A word from Cafe il Nido
Here's a city gem as hidden as a Mafioso in the witness-protection program. This courtyard patio tucked away between the Manhattan Apartments has that la dolce vitta atmosphere and Italian dishes as finely crafted and imaginative as a Fellini film.
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Diner Reviews
  • "We visited Cafe Il Nido last Saturday night; the food was okay but overpriced. Though the restaurant wasn't busy our server keep rushing us though the meal."
    Dined on 3/1/2014
  • "The food at Café il Nido is very good but not worth the cheap décor and questionable staff. We had two staff members serve us - one male who was extremely personable and happy to serve us, the other a woman who seemed constantly distracted. The worst of it was that she actually asked my companion and I if we would switch tables between our main course and coffee/dessert so she could accommodate a party of three where we were sitting! We had made a reservation that we were only an hour into and she had sat us at that particular table! Appalling at a restaurant supposedly of this caliber. I won't go back there... There are other Italian restaurants in town with equally good food (or better) and with much better service and ambience!"
    Dined on 2/28/2014
  • "We enjoyed our evening, but I qualify my approval rating for the following reasons: the restaurant does a limited menu very well, but is is expensive. There is no veal on the menu other than Osso Bucco, even the pastas are very few. The wine list is good, but again it is expensive. However, the service was excellent and not intrusive and we did spend three and a half hours, so a very leisurely evening was the result."
    Dined on 2/28/2014
  • "We tried Cafe il Nido during Dine Out Vancouver, - 6 of us - what a find! The service was friendly, attentive, accommodating. From the bread to the desserts - the food was excellent - portions were very generous, especially as it was Dine Out. Everyone enjoyed their meals and the evening was a ton of fun! We closed the place down. We will definitely revisit, and have already referred them many times!"
    Dined on 1/22/2014
  • "I took my girlfriend here on Valentines day, mainly because they didn't have some lame "V-Day Fixe Prix" menu. They had their regular menu with a couple special entrees for the occasion. I was greeted by one of the ladies up front who promptly asked for my reservation details and were seated right away. Yes, our table was PROPERLY reserved, and through OpenTable, woohoo! I will add that my particular server (I believe his name was Momo?) was incredibly courteous, prompt, and friendly. He made a great recommendation to a bottle of red off the wine list which accompanied our meal perfectly. On to the food: I was very impressed with how everything tasted so fresh, delicious, and was presented elegantly on our plates. Delizioso, be back!"
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "The first strange thing was trying to book through Open Table. For the second time in a week OT told me that a restaurant was full then to telephone them to find table and in one case to go and find we were the only ones there!! You guys need to get your act together. The food here was perfectly acceptable, the service a little chaotic, the wine list expensive. My only complaint was that after the main course the service seemed to be terminated as the staff concentrated on closing the restaurant (9.30)and making a fast escape Fortunately i had delightful dining companion so it didn't matter, though we were not offered any dessert or coffee or the bill until I finally attracted a waiter's attention. Attention to detail is important il Nido"
    Dined on 2/15/2014
  • "Great food but you are too close to everyone else.. not too romantic... tables are too close"
    Dined on 2/14/2014
  • "Tucked into a quiet courtyard just off busy Robson St, Cafe Il Nido is a favoured spot for casual business lunches and intimate dinners. The food is consistent and the service is excellent."
    Dined on 2/12/2014
  • "The food was tasty and nicely presented but portions were small. Lobster ravioli tasted a little "fishy". Pork chop was a bit dry. The atmosphere was disappointing. Seriously needed updating. No view even to the street, felt like being in someone's basement in the 80's - had a musty smell. Service was great and staff was lovely."
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "The dine-out menu at Cafe il Nido was wow. So many dishes to choose from especially at dine-out where most places offer 3-4 choices. Our meal was exceptional. Enjoyed every bite esecially my Ossobuco. There were 7 people in out party so it did take awhile for out main course to arrive but it was hot and delicious. Unforturately your lemon tart was to to tart for my husband and my friend. The service was wonderful and our whole evening was very very enjoyable especially since it was my birthday."
    Dined on 1/27/2014
  • "Excellent Service! Delicious food! Perfect ambience!"
    Dined on 2/1/2014
  • "My boyfriend and I had been to a few restaurants for dine out Vancouver and chose Cafe Il Nido for the gnocchi entrée option. When we arrived we were pleasantly surprised with such a cozy restaurant tucked away in the corner. The manager was extraordinary and he set us up with a table as we waited since I was on crutches. He insisted that we order drinks to make the waited more enjoyable. He was very lovely and made us feel like family. We were then brought into the dining room and he took my jacket and crutches so I could be more comfortable as we dined. Service was impeccable and the food was to die for! We have definitely found our new "special occasion" restaurant!"
    Dined on 1/25/2014
  • "Great customer service. Quick with food. Good atmosphere. A little crowded and noisy, bur overall pretty good. A little pricey, considerin the portion, but the service makes up for it."
    Dined on 1/29/2014
  • "We had a party of 7 and everyone remarked on how good the food was. Not much in the way of character or ambiance. Service staff were friendly."
    Dined on 1/29/2014
  • "Found this gem of a restaurant by searching online for romantic dining close to our hotel. Got a table using OpenTable after phoning and being told they were booked solid. Staff were great, food was excellent and the mood was just right."
    Dined on 1/28/2014
  • "I'm not one to go to high-class dining often - usually the more you pay the less you eat and the more likely you'd have to top up your stomach with a trip to McDonald's. I was so happy we chose this restaurant during Dine Out Vancouver. We went in early at 5:30 as I was late to reserve a spot but I'm glad we did, it was quiet and not crowded with people. Food was incredibly delicious and the portions for the mains were way bigger than I expected. Service was prompt, never needed to call for attention as our drinks were always refilled and meals came out fast. Servers were a delight and the room felt very cozy and warm. I'd love to come back to try out what else on the menu they have to offer."
    Dined on 1/25/2014
  • "We had a really good night there, the food was exceptional."
    Dined on 1/25/2014
  • "Th is little gem in the heart of downtown was inviting and warm.. The food was excellent . Can't wait till summer to have brunch or dinner in their beautiful outdoor garden patio"
    Dined on 1/24/2014
  • "Professional yet relaxed staff, with excellent food. Even though the restaurant was full, the noise level was low enough to permit pleasant conversation without having to raise one's voice to be heard. The lighting was subdued, but not to the point of having to search for your dinner. All in all, an excellent choice for an enjoyable dining experience."
    Dined on 1/24/2014
  • "Hostess was not friendly when we first entered. Nobody offered to take our jackets. Food was delicious though. Not sure if inwould recommend people back to this restaurant."
    Dined on 1/24/2014
  • "Dispite server/bartender communication issue, over all service was great and efficient. Also, presentation of plates, portion, quality of food was good.. This was during the dine out event, and we had dine out menu. only things was that size of dessert was really tiny and looks like cut it half or 1/3 of reguar size, so got Only two bite out of it. I will definitely dine here."
    Dined on 1/23/2014
  • "The menu was not exactly as shown on Dine Out Vancouver, house wine was very over priced for the quality. food compared to our favorite Italian restaurant was not even close."
    Dined on 1/20/2014
  • "First time here, wasn't sure what to expect since it seemed like a little hole in the wall. Turned out to be a remarkable experience and we would definitely go back. Make sure to try the osobucco & tonno both were beyond exceptional."
    Dined on 1/18/2014
  • "We were greeted warmly upon entering the restaurant and shown to the best table in the house. Each of the 4 diners at our table chose a different appetizer to share, and all were very good. All entrees were delicious. Popular dessert choices tiramisu and lemon tart did not disappoint. Presentation for each course was very appealing. Our server was knowledgeable, attentive without being intrusive, and actually listened to our request to bring our courses to us slowly. She gave us the perfect amount of time between each course. Our party of four agreed to the following scores: Food: 3.5 out of 5 Service : 4.5 out of 5 This restaurant gave us an enjoyable dining experience"
    Dined on 1/18/2014
  • "The service was extremely slow. There isn't much ambiance for an Italian restaruant, it really lacked that cozy feeling and definitely doesn't feel like fine dining. We ordered off of DOV menu at a 38$ pricepoint.We ordered: antipasti plate & grilled squid, oso bucco & bolognese and tirimisu & lemon tart. It was all okay but not great. The primi: enjoyed the squid...the secondi: osso bucco was lamb and a good portion size but had strong undertones of nutmeg.The bolognese was okay too but sauce not very meaty. The desserts were average...not memorable. So essentially saved 4$ pp and got a free dessert w/DOV menu price? I wouldn't reccomend this place. Over priced for quality, lacks Italian ambience and food is just okay."
    Dined on 1/18/2014
  • "We arrived quite a bit later than our reservation time due to horrid traffic. However, the maitre'd made us feel at home and at ease. Awesome service overall. A slight bit crowded on the floor, possibly due to extra tables being set up for the dineout season? The food was pretty spectacular, but I do wish that they would scale back in the seasoning. A bit too heavy handed with the salt and seasonings, to the point where I had to wash down my appetizer, the fried funghi, with 5 glasses of water. The osso bucco was fall off the bones tender, koodos to the chef for that. Again, a bit too heavily seasoned IMHO, where the taste of cloves and seasonings were so heavy that I could hardly taste the meat's original taste. 7/10"
    Dined on 1/17/2014
  • "We went with a group of friends as part of Dine Out Vancouver 2014, which meant the restaurant provided a set menu for a set price (3 courses for $38 per person). This also meant that the portion sizes were tiny so we left feeling unsatisfied and hungry. As we were a group of 6, an 18% gratuity was already added onto our bill so we felt the waiting staff didn't have to try very hard, and they didn't. One of my friends ordered a beetroot salad and she was given a plain green salad (that consisted of 5 pieces of salad leaves and some dressing) with no beetroot or feta. I ordered the prawns and they gave me calamari instead. Tiramisu had no sponge in it! We also had to wait for a good 20 mins to be seated, even though we had a reservation."
    Dined on 1/17/2014
  • "Restaurant was empty when I arrived for my noon business lunch . First time here. Service was fast, friendly and courteous. However, when the food arrived (pasta special), I noted what appeared to be 3 manmade threads or fibres mixed into my pasta dish. I set them aside, but pointed them out to the waitress when she came to remove the dishes. She seemed to be indifferent to this and did not respond, even though it kind of put me off my appetite and desire to finish the meal. Did something fall on the floor and was put back in the dish? Did it happen in the kitchen? Does someone on the serving staff have an overly-woolly sweater? Don't know, but it appears that the food preparation isn't without its hazards?"
    Dined on 1/15/2014
  • "Everything was excellent....delicious food,observant service, and friendly atmosphere. It is always good to return to this downtown gem."
    Dined on 1/9/2014
  • "My recent visit was the 5th in just over a month. Have been there with my wife and with business associates, up to a group of 12. Each visit has been handled with the same high level of friendly service, great food and great ambience. Thanks Cafe Il Nido! See you again soon."
    Dined on 1/8/2014
  • "The menu was small but the taste was big! I had the Osso Buco and it was very good. I tasted my wife's Lobster Ravioli and thought it was fantastic. We found coctails were expensive but prepared well. The service was excellent and all around, we really enjoyed our dinner at il Nido."
    Dined on 1/4/2014
  • "For the last dinner if 2013, we were satisfied! Appetizers and entrees were truly delicious! Very professional service!"
    Dined on 12/31/2013
  • "Nicely prepared meals with a twist on traditional Italian dishes. Very efficient service. Waiter does not hang around to chat, but came by when needed and everything was on time."
    Dined on 12/27/2013
  • "Haven't been to this restaurant in awhile. Used to be a fan but service and food has gone downhill. Staff acted like they were doing you a favour, and chatted amongst themselves about someone they knew that was lazy and slept too much. Odd. The first service of wine was corked which they didn't seem to accept because "it was a new bottle"???? I've had many nice enjoyable meals at the restaurant before but certainly am not inclined to return or recommend to others now."
    Dined on 12/16/2013
  • "When we arrived for our reservation at 7pm an employee said, "Oh yes, there are some of your party here already" and then pointed down the hallway. I took this as an indication that I should go investigate for myself. When we looked around, none of my guests were there yet so we had to assume that the unoccupied table for 6 was for us. During the meal, there seemed to be a disconnect between the staff. Up to three staff members attended our table but yet my guests had to ask repeatedly for their drinks and for the bills at the end of the night. The main dish was really good but the bocconcini in my appetizer salad seemed a bit off and the Tiramisu I ordered for dessert was an edge piece. I won't be going back."
    Dined on 11/30/2013
  • "Really great food and service, I will be back for sure!"
    Dined on 11/27/2013
  • "I requested a quiet table and they did their best. They had a couple of parties happening but it was still quite romantic. The food was extraordinary and we were very pleased (as I always knew it would be). We started with ensalata and it was so very refreshing. I had the Sablefish and it was superbly done and he had the Bolognese pasta and it was excellent. We even had their ice cream and lemon tarts for dessert - excellent evening! Will always come back."
    Dined on 11/20/2013
  • "Every thing was excellent except that we felt a bit rushed so in that respect the service was too quick also the main server who seemed to be the owner was unaware or unconcerned that when he tipped the last of the wine he poured out the sediment in our glass never the less the food was excellent as was the wine"
    Dined on 10/19/2013
  • "Always great food, quiet and refined ambience, attentive service. Love this place."
    Dined on 9/20/2013
  • "I went to Il Nido to celebrate my girlfriends upcoming nuptials along with a few other friends. The food was amazing, with a flourless chocolate torte that should have been a sin, and service that went perfectly with the classically elegant ambience, we never wanted for anything, yet did not feel crowded by the service. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for excellent food in a lovely environment."
    Dined on 9/15/2013
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