Nicola's RistoranteFirst TimersWe had an opportunity to try Nicola's for the first time this weekend. The overall experience was great. The food is fantastic and the wine and indoor/outdoor atmosphere equally great. I would recommend Nicola's to anyone looking for authentic Italian cuisine.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMOur waiter, Peyton, was outstandingOur waiter, Peyton, was outstanding. Highly recommended that lighter appetites share one choice from antipasto, salads, secondi, and primi in order to sample the many outstanding dishes, and extend the experience to be the fine dining event it ought to be. This is a really good restaurant. We ate inside, but the outside area surrounded by a ivy filled wall seemed quite nice, and seemed to be a popular choice. Still, every table inside was also full.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMIncredibleNicola's was an incredible experience. Food and service were impeccable. Highly recommended.6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing restaurantWe went to dinner here for our 9 year anniversary. We mentioned it in the reservation and when we arrived the server congratulated us and provided the first round of cocktails on the house as part of our celebration. We also sat in a nice private booth and were able to enjoy each others company without interruption. The food was out of this world but the service was even better. We are a fan of this place and will be back again soon.6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat night of foodService was great, and food we had was also great.
The pesto was rich and very satisfying and the gnocchi was great with
a very interesting fondue sauce! Generous portions so I recommend sharing.
The beef tenderloin was maybe the best beef I have had in Cincy.
I teach Italian cooking here and in Italy so I am a tough critic and I
Recommend not leaving Cincinnati without eating at Nicola's.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful findNicola's is wonderful. Great food and atmosphere. What a gem for the city!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMA delightful night. Our waiterA delightful night. Our waiter was exceptional and our dinner was very good. I appreciate the consistence in good service and food!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways exceptional!This fine dining establishment is one of my most favorite places to dine. We come for all our special occasions and anytime in between. The food is always fabulous, I love the atmosphere and they always makes us feel like old friends. By far the best restaurant in Cincinnati !6/5/2013 12:00:00 AMBetter than any in Manhattan!We travel to NYC extensively. Nicola's beat all the famous NYC restaurants hands down. Go during the week for the phenomenal tasting menu. What a delight!6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat special occasionA wonderful special occasion. It had a very extensive wine list, a Creative menu and very Italian. The sever was a great guide and we followed her suggestions to a tee. It was pricey when we did all the courses and paired wine, but that is what we were prepared for and it was worth it! Thanks for a great evening! We may miss the Maisonette...but this for me was a great substitute!5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect anniversary dinnerOur waiter Aaron was awesome, the food was perfect, atmosphere lovely! We would highly recommend it.5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, Great service, PriceyThe gnocci is a great reason to try this restaurant. We enjoyed a great meal to celbrate my wife's birthday. All of the dishes were prepared well.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful foodWe had a very nice experience at Nicola's. it was a busy Sat night so our service was just ok. This was our first time dining at Nicola's...we are making our way though the top 10 list. We would dine here again but it would not be our first choice. If you want it ALL...absolutely amazing food, impeccable service, and beautiful surroundings hit the #1 restaurant on the top 10 list....absolutely WONDERFUL. Nicolas would be our 3 or 4th choice. Don't get me wrong although it would not be our first choice it's still a great choice. You will not be disappointed.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMgnocchi is the best ever!gnocchi is the best ever! Worth going just for it. Service was great and just an outstanding time.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMFood and service were veryFood and service were very good, as always. Gnocchi is outstanding. Definitely not kid-friendly though, unlike many other higher-end places, as our nine-year old could not get buttered noodle for less that $25.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMRustic yet sophisticatedThe wine list and recommendations from the wait staff were amazing at Nicola's. The food is exquisite. I tried the signature gnocchi which lived up to its strong reputation. The goat cheese salad and the selection of breads were also tasty.5/20/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Italian Food & WineThe dinner was fantastic, as it always is. Gnocchi was amazing!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of Cincinnati's bestFood and service go hand -in-hand to make this a totally enjoyable experience.
There are cozy separate areas for group dining.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMTh BestSo far, Nicola's is thebest Italian restaurant in Cincinnati.
Great food & service.
What do you need other than that!
May feel a bit expensive, but it does worth for money.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMwonderful mother's day dinnerwe took my in-laws and our 3-yr old son for dinner at Nicola's. We were a bit nervous about taking our son, but he was treated very well and no one acted as if he should not have been there. They made him a special plate of plain pasta and he ate tons of bread. With a full belly, he behaved well and we did not feel as though he was disturbing other tables. As for the res tof us, the food at Nicola's was amazing, as always. We've been to italian restaurants all over the country and we've been to italy, and this is some of the best italian food you'll find anywhere. The service is very good, but this time we thought the food could have come a bit faster, especially with a 3-yr old at the table.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best mealsI have been hearing about Nicola's for years and finally had a chance to go there last weekend. It not only lived up to the hype but far exceeded my expectations. This was the best Italian food I've ever had -- and I've been to Italy. The service is superb and the whole experience was outstanding. I'd recommend this restaurant to everyone.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMBuonissimoThis restaurant never fails to please. The pastas were fabulous.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best meals ever.One of the best meals ever. Expert, unbelievable service. Lovely decor and ambiance. Truly exceptional.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMFavorite SpotNikola's is a Cincinnati hidden gem. The food is made with such passion, creativity and enthusiasm. Then service is always great too. They have group rooms but that does not detract for the intimacy of the tables. Nikola's is a special place to us.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMDefinitely going againWhat an amazing restaurant! Everyone there, especially our waitress was really kind and helpful. To start off, we got to try their amazing bread basket; it by itself was enough to make me satisfied with dinner. The waitress really knew everything about what was on the menu. Next I got the goat cheese salad which was absolutely divine, and for the main course I got the gnocchi. Like all the other reviews on here and top have said, this dish is to die for. It had a rich cheese sauce and had truffle oil which was strong enough to cut through the cheese but not overpower it, and the gnocchi itself was amazing and satisfying. Just a wonderful experience, and I will be going there again soon even though it is a little expensive.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a Treat!The food and the service were outstanding! Will definitely go back again and again.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant is one ofThis restaurant is one of the best Italian restauarants I have visited outside of Italy. It does Cincinnati proud to have an istitution as good as this. Leonardo, the waiter is a gem.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMEvery time I have been here,Every time I have been here, everything has been flawless.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMWhen only the very best will do.Top scale restaurant with top scale prices but worth every bit. Food was unique, flavorful and quantities did not overwhelm. Sauces and flavors left you saying, "how did they get that taste?" Even the bread was different, a basket of assorted rolls, and bits of bread of every shape, size and flavor, the perfect companion to the antipasto that we shared with 4 people. Even that was different, few vegetables and lots of different meats. My goat cheese was served slightly warm with melted goat cheese underneath, very different. The duet of pork was beyond description, with a sauce that defied description. Service was sophisticated, attentive and unobtrusive. This is a special place for a special occasion.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThe dinner was excellent.The dinner was excellent. We were seated right on time, our server was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful bur intrusive. Not my first time there and not my last.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful place for a dinner for 2Nicola's menu selections is terrific -- its a mix of familiar favorites and something new. This has become one of our favorite near-downtown spots. Be warned that its a little pricey -- our dinner for two sans dessert was $120. If that's too much for your budget, try Nicola's Via Vite which is right on Fountain Square. Some of the same great recipes at perhaps 1/2 the price but without the ambience. And the really really great service.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMNicola's continues to supportNicola's continues to support its reputation for excellence that has been built over almost two deades. Menu is creative though somewhat limited. Execution is first-rate. Servers are knowledgable and willing to share "inside info." Wine list diverse and creative -- first time I've seen Barolo by the glass in a long time.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and service are alwaysThe food and service are always excellent. However, we were a little disappointed in the menu this trip. It wasn't the most exciting or creative , lacked variety and was flat. The Ossobucco was tender but could have used a sauce as it was a little dry. Also , would not serve it on a bed of kale. The salads and desserts were fine.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMWe celebrated a birthday atWe celebrated a birthday at Nicola's with family - the food was superb, the service was at least as good, and the atmosphere was simply outstanding. The staff worked hard to accommodate split entrees between two people, and graciously prepared and served the special birthday cake we had brought with us - then boxed up the left-overs so we could enjoy a second piece later!
Many thanks to Jennifer our waitress, Nicola, and the entire staff for making this a quite special occasion!4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMI go to Nicola's quite often.I go to Nicola's quite often. Nicola does a fantastic job of leading every aspect of the restaurant. The cuisine is creative and delicious. Highly recommended. (Have the Tagliatelle Bolognese).4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic! Wonderful atmosphere.Fantastic! Wonderful atmosphere. A culinary masterpiece.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food and service.Excellent food and service. We will definitely be back.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMContinues to be one of theContinues to be one of the best restaurants in cincinnati. I continue to think about a special they had, fried chicken saltimboca, and am dying for them to have it again!4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMA consistent, very good restaurant.A consistent, very good restaurant. One of my favorites in town. Dan, our server was was particularly good. We informed him we had theatre tickets and hoped to leave around 7:30. He had us out the door right at that time, without us feeling rushed. Great job!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had overall a nice experience:We had overall a nice experience: The food we got was very good (scallops and asparagus as entree, special maccheroni with salmon and mushroom risotto as entree, tiramisu as dessert). All very good, especially the risotto. Service is OK, but not up to the standard of a restaurant of that price. Hostess was a bit clumsy and valet took a 100% tip himself (gave 10 USD change on a 20 USD bill and asked if it was OK), until I insisted that I wanted 15 USD back (I prefer to decide on the tip myself).4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyable........all aroundEnjoyable........all around enjoyavle..........pricey, but will come back for special occasions4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMReconnectingWe had an amazing night of food and conversation. An excellent atmosphere for reconnecting. The Sea Bass and Gnocchi were perfectly prepared and plated. Everything was beautiful and cooked to perfection. Thank you.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMIncredible eveningAmazing evening - delightful food , great service and wonderful table side Caesar! The evening couldn't be more delightful4/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThe four of us had a lovelyThe four of us had a lovely time celebrating two birthdays. I am impressed with the changes in the pastry chef. She is a gem, hang on to her.
The pork dish I had was delicious from start to finish. Everyone enjoyed their meals.
We have been to Nicola's several times and it wi well worth the drive from Trotwood.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMOUTSTANDING EXPERIENCE!!!!I've been to alot of fine dining restaurants in the Cincinnati area and I must say that Nicola's is in the top 3! The food was exquisite. We shared half portions of 2 entrees and had the sea bass as well. Our waiter was excellent and extreme helpful since that was my first time there. HIGHLY recommended. Will definitely go back in the near future!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMI can't say anthing on hereI can't say anthing on here that hasn't already been said. The bread basket is worth the price of admission alone. We also had a goat cheese salad which sounds mundane but was divine. The gnocci in cheese fondue sauce was easily one of the best dishes I've ever had, hands down. I wish we had saved more bread from the bread basket to sop up the leftover cheese sauce. Our main entree was walleye, which Nicola himself deboned at our table. For dessert we had a decontructed tiramisu that was soaked in espresso so delicious it momentarily made us forget about the bread basket. Sometimes when I sleep at night, I dream about that bread basket. It might be what they serve in heaven.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AM50 Shades of AwesomeNicola's buried the needle on awesome on our dinner. I am not one to gush, but I can only heap praise on the experience. Each course was outstanding, and the service was the right balance of attention without being intrusive. Particular attention must be made to the mushroom risotto (probably have the spelling wrong) which was spectacular. Just a tremendous experience.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMI have been fortunate to travelI have been fortunate to travel extensively the last 20 years and I would say when it comes to Italian food Nicola's right in my hometown is as good as any other Italian restaurant I've been to in the world.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother great meal at Nicola's.Another great meal at Nicola's. The experience is always consistently wonderful! The best Bolognese sauce within 100 miles of here.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place to go for a specialGreat place to go for a special date or just a nice night out.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AM