Nicola's Ristorante

Name: Nicola's Ristorante
Address: 1420 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, OH, United States, 45202
Telephone: (513) 721-6200
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.8

4.8

2892 Reviews

$50 and over

Italian

1420 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Make a reservation

2 people

May 9, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 46 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Great for fine wines
Romantic

Nicola's Ristorante is a fine-dining Italian restaurant in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, serving guests for almost 30 years. Step inside to experience a warm ambiance and the delightful aroma of freshly prepared dishes. Our extensive menu features housemade pastas, fresh seafood, and a rotating 5-Course Chef Crafted Grand Tasting Experience. Complement your meal with selections from our exceptional wine list, featuring Italian and international options, selected by our in-house Sommelier. We have private dining rooms available for parties of up to 80 guests. Sourcing only the freshest ingredients, both locally and imported, Nicola's Ristorante is the perfect destination for your next business dinner, date night, celebration, or excuse to get out of the house! Our warm and welcoming team is excited to take you on a culinary journey through Italy, without ever having to get on a plane!

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Italian, Modern Tuscan, Contemporary Italian
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Phone number
(513) 721-6200
Website
https://www.nicolasotr.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Adam Reed
Catering
For Catering, please reach out to Daniel Dicks at events@viaviterestaurant.com for detailed information.
Private party facilities
Our award-winning food, wine, unique private & semi-private dining spaces, and professional service combine to create truly memorable experiences for business meetings, social celebrations, weddings, and rehearsal dinners. We can tailor the event to your individual needs.
Private party contact
Daniel Dicks: (513) 721-8480

Location
1420 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Neighborhood
Over the Rhine
Cross street
Liberty & Sycamore Street; Sycamore & Orchad Street.<br />
Parking details
Street parking and valet parking Monday through Saturday.
Public transit
Walking Distance from Cincinnati Metro Bus Stops, Cincinnati Bell Street Car- 12th Street & Main Free Parking available on Liberty street; Paid Public Parking availble on Sycamore Street & 14th Street. Valet- $10 Monday-Thursday $15 Friday/Saturday Cash or Venmo Only.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

100 Cincinnati / Dayton Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Experiences

Mother's Day 2025 at Nicola's Ristorante
$65.00 per person
Prepaid
Mar 13, 2025 - May 11, 2025
Celebrate Mom on her special day with a luxurious Mother's Day Experience at Nicola's! Enjoy a Pick Two Menu that includes both brunch and dinner options, complemented by signature cocktails. Our Mother's Day Menu will feature a variety of iconic dishes like handmade crispy gnocchi with Italian Truffle, jumbo shrimp cocktail, Roasted Faroe Island Salmon and more! *Reservations for parties of 2-5 have a reserved dining time of 1 hour 45 minutes. *Reservations for parties of 6+ have a reserved dining time of 2 hours. *This is a prepaid experience. We require minimum 7-day notice for cancellations without penalty. Any reservation, cancelled for any reason, less than 7 days in advance will be non-refundable. Cancellations will only be accepted via email at info@nicolasotr.com
Bolo-Monday
Multiple dates available
Enjoy our Signature Tagliatelle Bolognese and a refreshing field green salad at a discounted price, only on Mondays! Made in the traditional Bologna style with Beef & Veal and housemade tagliatelle pasta. Tagliatelle Bolognese with Nicola's House Salad for $17.00 FULL A LA CATE MENU IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

Private dining

Insalata Siciliana$16.00
fennel / oranges / red endive / taggiasche olives / golden raisins / apple cider vinaigrette
Tuscan Salad$16.00
fresh fava bean / pecorino / Casa Cares extra virgin olive oil / house made croutons / Tuscan vinaigrette
Boucheron Goat Cheese$17.00
crushed pistachios / spring mix & live lettuces / apple-truffle vinaigrette
Roasted Mushroom Soup$16.00
porcini / morel mushroom / truffle shavings / puff pastry

Antipasti

Nicola’s Eggplant Parmigiana$19.00
circa 1998 – smokey pomodoro sauce / basil
Wagyu Beef Carpaccio “Harry’s Bar”, Venice$18.00
house mayonnaise / black garlic aioli / shallots / arugula
Nicola’s Baked Oysters
mortadella mousse / Parmigiano Reggiano / lemon juice / chives
Mussel Guazzetto$19.00
Italian parsley / shaved garlic / white wine / butter croutons
Grilled Octopus$26.00
“Bagna Cauda” dressing / Italian pickled giardiniera
Braised Berkshire Pork Belly$23.00
celeryia puree / chili roasted romanesco / 100 years old aged balsamic / basil oil

Uncategorised

Esperienza di Caviale$55.00
Caviar Experience Calvisius Italian sturgeon caviar (10 grams) / buckwheat blini / creme fraiche / chives

Chef’s Tasting Menu

Uniquely Crafted 5 Course Dinner Experience$110.00
five-course tasting including Nicola’s selection of house made breads
- With sommelier pairings$160.00
Italian Cheese Board$18.00
selection of three Italian cheeses, aged balsamic “Villa Manodori”, fruit mostarda & lavender honey

Fresh Pasta Made in House

gluten free (pasta alternatives available) – Please notify your server

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese$30.00
classic veal and beef meat sauce
Crispy Potato Gnocchi$35.00
four cheese fondue / chives / Italian truffle shavings
Italian Pocini Risotto$35.00
Parmigiano Reggiano / porcini truffle / fine herbs
Malfatti “A True Love for Rome”$34.00
“cacio e pepe” / amatriciana / pancetta
Raviolone Lungo$29.00
florentine spinach / ricotta / Parmigiano Reggiano / brown butter / sage
Carrot Infused Pappardelle with Tuscan Rabbit Ragout$33.00
Taggiasche olives / “piccole verdure” / thyme

I Secondi Piatti

Prime Beef Filet “Salsa Pepe Verde”$72.00
white & green asparagus & potato millefoglie
Moulard Duck Breast$44.00
parsnip puree / carrot pearls / patate croccanti / cherry - duck jus
Pan Seared Halibut$46.00
saffrito / parsley-celery shaved fennel salad / Acquapazza of the Amalfi Coast
Lamb “Rossini in Crosta”$125.00
lamb strip steak / swiss chard / truffle pate / foie gras / pancetta / Jerusalem artichokes
Romanesco Cauliflower "Steak"$26.00
roasted yellow & red pepper sauce / Italian parsley-pine nut gremolata

Nicola's Classic Cocktails

Negroni Conte$17.00
Gin / Earl Grey infused Campari / Carpano Antico / Lemon
Espresso Nuovo Martini$16.00
Tito's / Cynar / Espresso
Orangecello Cosmopolitan$16.00
Absolut Mandarin / House Made Orangecello / Dry Curacao / Lime / Cranberry
Little Italy$17.00
Rittenhouse Rye / Cynar / See the Elephant Amaro / House Grenadine / Angostura

Zero Proof

Intro to (Na)perol$14.00
Lyre's Italian Spritz / Ritual Gin Alternative / Lemon Juice / Simple Syrup
Italian Mule$12.00
Ritual N/A Whiskey / Lyre's Italian Orange / Ginger / Lime / Blackberry
Fresca Superiore$10.00
Your Choice: Blackberry / Thyme / Chai / Vanilla Topped With: Lemon / Soda
NA Birra$7.00
Peroni 0.0
NA Wine
Waterbrook Clean Chardonnay / Copenhagen Sparkling Tea / Waterbrook Clean Cabernet
- Waterbrook Clean Chardonnay$40.00
- Copenhagen Sparkling Tea$65.00
- Waterbrook Clean Cabernet$40.00

Birra

Peroni$7.00
Lombardia, Italy
Birra Moretti$7.00
Udine, Italy
Miller Lite$6.00
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Strongbow Cider$7.00
Herefordshire, England
Avery White Rascal$7.00
Boulder, Colorado
Rhinegeist Truth IPA$7.00
Cincinnati, Ohio
Bell’s Two Hearted IPA$7.00
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Guinness Stout$8.00
Dublin, Ireland

Craft Cocktails

Smile & Wave$17.00
Knob Creek 9 Year / Amaro Nonino / Madagascar Vanilla
Saronno Classico$16.00
Disaronno / Campari / Chai / Lemon
Pisseli Martini$17.00
Pea Infused Uncle Val’s Botanical Gin / Italicus / Lemon
Hard Thymes$16.00
House Limoncello / Thyme / Prosecco / Lemon
Sergio Leone$16.00
El Jimador / Amaro Montenegro / Ilegal / Blackberry / Lime

Bourbon/Whiskey/Rye

Angel’s Envy Bourbon$21.00
Angel’s Envy Rye$36.00
Basil Hayden’s$20.00
Basil Hayden’s Rye$22.00
Buffalo Trace$20.00
Bulleit Bourbon$16.00
Bulleit Rye$16.00
Crown Royal$13.00
Elijah Craig$18.00
Elijah Craig Rye$17.00
Four Roses Small Batch$16.00
Four Roses S.B. Select$22.00
George Remus$20.00
Jack Daniels$13.00
Jameson$13.00
Knob Creek$16.00
Knob Creek Rye$16.00
Makers Mark$16.00
Makers Mark 46$20.00
Michter’s Rye$17.00
New Riff$20.00
New Riff Rye$21.00
Noah’s Mill$32.00
Weller Special Reserve$20.00
Weller Antique$23.00
Whistlepig 6 Year$16.00
Willett Pot Still$26.00
Willett Rye$33.00
Woodford Reserve$17.00

What 2,892 people are saying

Nicola's Ristorante reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.8Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Cincinnati / Dayton
Great for fine wines
Cincinnati / Dayton
Romantic
Cincinnati / Dayton
Italian
Cincinnati
Great for fine wines
Cincinnati
Romantic
Cincinnati
Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Nicola's Ristorante offers an "outstanding" dining experience with inventive, delicious dishes and impeccable service. Guests praise the "amazing" gnocchi and a memorable ambiance. The restaurant is celebrated as a favorite spot in Cincinnati, offering exquisite dishes like Bolognese and tiramisu, alongside attentive, knowledgeable staff. Perfect for special occasions.

2,892 Reviews

J
Jim
Cincinnati3 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Austin, our server, was attentive and orchestrated a delightful dining experience. We were celebrating our wedding anniversary. A tasty, and tasteful, dinner and visited with high expectations that are consistently met at Nicola’s!
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j
john VIP
Charlotte11 reviews
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I’ve dined at Nicola’s for over 15 years and it’s always a great experience. Our server Haily did an incredible job and made my birthday celebration perfect!
Nicola's RistoranteResponded 4 days ago
Hi, John! Thank you for your continued support over the past 15 years! We're so grateful to have loyal guests like you, and we're thrilled to hear that your recent birthday celebration was a great experience. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Haily—she’ll be so happy to know she helped make your day extra special. We look forward to celebrating many more occasions with you at Nicola’s!
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A
Austin
Seattle1 review
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Nicola’s was all around fantastic. The staff made a very memorable, special dinner to celebrate mine and my girlfriend’s 5 year anniversary!
Nicola's RistoranteResponded 4 days ago
Hi, Austin! Thank you so much for your kind words! We're honored that you chose Nicola’s to celebrate such a special milestone. It means the world to us that we could help make your 5-year anniversary memorable. We’ll be sure to pass your compliments along to our staff—they’ll be thrilled to hear it. Wishing you and your girlfriend many more happy years together, and we hope to welcome you back again soon!
1 person found this helpful
K
Khenadi
Central Texas1 review
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great experience at Nicola’s! Our server, Jamie was wonderful! Everyone was so accommodating. Can’t wait to go back!
Nicola's RistoranteResponded 3 days ago
Hi, Khendai! Thank you for the kind words! We're so glad you had a great experience at Nicola’s, and we’ll be sure to pass your compliments along to Jamie. It means a lot to hear that our team made you feel welcome and well taken care of. We can’t wait to see you again soon!
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D
David VIP
Cincinnati23 reviews
3.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 5
Food was good but too expensive for the quality and the amount of food you received. Even with the $16 bread bowl my wife and I purchased, I was still hungry at the end of dinner. I have dined several times at other higher end Italian restaurants, and for the price point will likely go elsewhere. The server made us feel rushed. At one point, she tried to take my wife’s salad away while she still was eating it. Did the same for me on 2 separate occasions with my dinner. The restaurant was not overly crowded at the time and there was no reason to take plates away while we were still eating. Was not a fan of the $15 valet charge. If you are spending $200 for a dinner for 2, you should not be charged such a high price for valet. Beautiful interior and nice ambience.
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L
Libby VIP
Portland1 review
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
After being away 8 years, we were pleased that Nicola’s is still as outstanding as we remember it. Every dish was excellent and Corey’s recommendation for wine was spot-on delicious. It was a wonderful way to celebrate a night back in Cincinnati.
Nicola's RistoranteResponded 4 days ago
Hi, Libby! Welcome back, and thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad to hear that Nicola’s lived up to your memories after all these years. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed every dish and that Corey’s wine recommendation hit the mark. We’re honored you chose us to celebrate your return to Cincinnati, and we hope to see you again soon!
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S
Sylvia
Cincinnati3 reviews
5.0
Dined on May 1, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The consistency in quality of the food and service never changes!
Nicola's RistoranteResponded 7 days ago
Hi, Syliva! Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you consistently enjoy both our food and service—it truly means a lot to our team. We look forward to serving you again soon!
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t
theresa VIP
Cincinnati54 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 28, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We very much enjoy Nicola’s. The Food is delicious. Feels just like eating in Italy. The service provided by Jinxii was outstanding! Michael also stopped by to say thank you for dining at Nicola’s. It’s about the entire experience! Outstanding!
Nicola's RistoranteResponded on April 29, 2025
Hi, Theresa! Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience at Nicola’s and that our food reminded you of Italy—that’s the highest compliment we could receive. We’ll be sure to pass along your praise to Jinxii for her outstanding service, and to Michael as well. Creating a memorable experience for our guests is what we strive for, and your feedback means the world to us. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon!
1 person found this helpful
R
Rebecca
Cincinnati8 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It was excellent as always. It is my friend's favorite restaurant so when she is in town we come here. The bolonaise is our go to and it is always delicious. I tried the mussels for the first time and they were very good. The staff is attentive and the drinks were top notch. Nicola's never .
Nicola's RistoranteResponded on April 28, 2025
Hi, Rebecca! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re honored to be your go-to spot when your friend is in town. It’s great to hear that you enjoyed the bolognese and that the mussels were a hit too! Our team always strives to provide attentive service and top-notch drinks, and we’re thrilled that it made your visit even better. We can’t wait to welcome you both back to Nicola’s again soon!
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E
Evan and Jennifer VIP
SW Indiana6 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 25, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food and service was outstanding, this is our new #1!
Nicola's RistoranteResponded on April 28, 2025
Hi, Evan and Jennifer! Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you had an outstanding experience with us. It’s an honor to be your new #1, and we can't wait to welcome you back for more amazing meals and service. See you again soon!
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FAQs

Nicola's Ristorante offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (513) 721-6200.

Nicola's Ristorante is rated 4.8 stars by 2892 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

May 9, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 46 times today

Experiences are available.

1420 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Liberty & Sycamore Street; Sycamore & Orchad Street.<br />
Neighborhood
Over the Rhine
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Italian, Modern Tuscan, Contemporary Italian
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Street parking and valet parking Monday through Saturday.
Public transit
Walking Distance from Cincinnati Metro Bus Stops, Cincinnati Bell Street Car- 12th Street & Main Free Parking available on Liberty street; Paid Public Parking availble on Sycamore Street & 14th Street. Valet- $10 Monday-Thursday $15 Friday/Saturday Cash or Venmo Only.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Adam Reed
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://www.nicolasotr.com/
Phone number
(513) 721-6200
Catering
For Catering, please reach out to Daniel Dicks at events@viaviterestaurant.com for detailed information.
Private party facilities
Our award-winning food, wine, unique private & semi-private dining spaces, and professional service combine to create truly memorable experiences for business meetings, social celebrations, weddings, and rehearsal dinners. We can tailor the event to your individual needs.
Private party contact
Daniel Dicks: (513) 721-8480

Featured in

100 Cincinnati / Dayton Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Nicola's Ristorante

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Dining areas

Additional information

100 Cincinnati / Dayton Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Mother's Day 2025 at Nicola's Ristorante

Bolo-Monday

Main Dining Room

Garden Patio

Mezzanine

Nicola's Riserva Room

Wine Room

Custom inquiry

Nicola's Bread Basket

Selection of House Made Breads$17.00

Insalate & Zuppa

Insalata Siciliana$16.00

Tuscan Salad$16.00

Boucheron Goat Cheese$17.00

Roasted Mushroom Soup$16.00

Antipasti

Nicola’s Eggplant Parmigiana$19.00

Wagyu Beef Carpaccio “Harry’s Bar”, Venice$18.00

Nicola’s Baked Oysters

Mussel Guazzetto$19.00

Grilled Octopus$26.00

Braised Berkshire Pork Belly$23.00

Uncategorised

Esperienza di Caviale$55.00

Chef’s Tasting Menu

Uniquely Crafted 5 Course Dinner Experience$110.00

Italian Cheese Board$18.00

Fresh Pasta Made in House

Tagliatelle alla Bolognese$30.00

Crispy Potato Gnocchi$35.00

Italian Pocini Risotto$35.00

Malfatti “A True Love for Rome”$34.00

Raviolone Lungo$29.00

Carrot Infused Pappardelle with Tuscan Rabbit Ragout$33.00

I Secondi Piatti

Prime Beef Filet “Salsa Pepe Verde”$72.00

Moulard Duck Breast$44.00

Pan Seared Halibut$46.00

Lamb “Rossini in Crosta”$125.00

Romanesco Cauliflower "Steak"$26.00

Nicola's Classic Cocktails

Negroni Conte$17.00

Espresso Nuovo Martini$16.00

Orangecello Cosmopolitan$16.00

Little Italy$17.00

Zero Proof

Intro to (Na)perol$14.00

Italian Mule$12.00

Fresca Superiore$10.00

NA Birra$7.00

NA Wine

Birra

Peroni$7.00

Birra Moretti$7.00

Miller Lite$6.00

Strongbow Cider$7.00

Avery White Rascal$7.00

Rhinegeist Truth IPA$7.00

Bell’s Two Hearted IPA$7.00

Guinness Stout$8.00

Craft Cocktails

Smile & Wave$17.00

Saronno Classico$16.00

Pisseli Martini$17.00

Hard Thymes$16.00

Sergio Leone$16.00

Bourbon/Whiskey/Rye

Angel’s Envy Bourbon$21.00

Angel’s Envy Rye$36.00

Basil Hayden’s$20.00

Basil Hayden’s Rye$22.00

Buffalo Trace$20.00

Bulleit Bourbon$16.00

Bulleit Rye$16.00