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Nico

4.5
4.5
3530 Reviews
$30 and under
Italian
Nick Varano invites you to enjoy superlative and classic Italian fare in this boldly colored and romantic atmosphere. NICO’s friendly and enthusiastic staff set the bar for quality customer service. The kitchen is under the direction and expertise of celebrated Boston chef, Farouk Bazoune.

Not bookable

This restaurant is temporarily offline. Please contact the restaurant directly or check back shortly for availability.

Additional information

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Cuisines

    Italian

  • Hours of operation

    Dinner Thu–Sun 4:00 pm–10:30 pm

  • Phone number

    (617) 742-0404

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Dress code

    Business Casual

  • Executive chef

    Farouk Bazoune

  • Private party contact

    Fruittie: (617) 737-0290

  • Neighborhood

    North End

  • Cross street

    Between Harris St. and Hanover Ave.

  • Parking details

    None

  • Public transit

    MBTA Blue Line<br /><br />Aquarium, Government Center<br /><br />MBTA Orange Line<br /><br />Haymarket Station

  • Entertainment

    Join us on Tuesday nights for Street Magic!

  • Additional

    Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wine

Popular dishes

What 3,530 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.2Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

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  1. OpenTable Diner

    Minneapolis

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    overall5food5service3ambience5
    Everything was fantastic, the service could have been better, but didn’t put a damper on the overall night!
  2. TommyKCT

    New England

    47 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    47 reviews

    Dined on March 10, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience3
    Enjoy Nico whenever we visit Boston. The Meatball is the absolute best. It’s very tight and loud but we don’t mind it. Good overall is very good. Prices are reasonable as well.
  3. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 9, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    The restaurant wasn’t busy at all (we went on Wednesday night at 8pm). Servers were nice and attentive, I’ve been to this restaurant twice and got the caccio e pepe both times. Incredibly delicious!
  4. MichaelM

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on March 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Outstanding dinner in a charming setting. Service was professional. Great selection of Italian wines that were fairly priced too!
  5. TimC

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 4, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Best Italian food in Boston. Amazing atmosphere and service, and the food was incredible.
  6. CarolR

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 22, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    We have eaten at Nico many times and are never disappointed. The food is excellent and the service is always top notch! We sat at the bar this time. Kudos to the bartender, Everett, for being extremely attentive and for making great drinks!
  7. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 19, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    When you have a craving for Italian dinner in the North End… you indulge.
  8. Mandy

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food was so good I’m dying to go back. We had the best experience, starting with the host who was so nice and gave us great recommendations and sat us at a cute table by the window. Robbie was our server and he was awesome and gave great service. We are definitely going to come back and ask for Robbie again… the burrata and cheese wheel pasta are worth coming back again and again for alone. 10/10
  9. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 18, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Great time. Great waiter
  10. Kayla

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    vip
    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 17, 2023

    overall2food2service2ambience2
    Has went downhill since the last time I came. Used to be one of our favorites, but after this experience probably won’t be back. Brought out of town guest to show off the North End and they were thoroughly unimpressed with the food.
  11. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 17, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    We got the table side Caccio e Pepe. It was so cool to watch and very delicious!
  12. CarolineS

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on February 14, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience2
    Came here with my bf for Valentine’s Day! Great decor, food, drinks and service. Only complaint is that TMZ was on big screen TVs and the music selection was good but kept getting interrupted by JC Penney commercials loudly over the speakers. Like.. come on it’s Valentine’s Day lol but otherwise a great experience
  13. Juan

    New England

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on February 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and service, it was our second time there and we'd definitely go back.
  14. UmairK

    New England

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on February 11, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience2
    The food and service were beyond excellent! The Cacio e Pepe and the Truffle Ravioli were absolutely delicious, and Robbie's service was impeccably on point! That said, the noise level was so loud that on a two person table, we could not hear each other talk. We were more aware of the conversation at the table behind us than our own! Part of it was that the tables were very close to each other, but also it could help if the staff politely asked the patrons at the tables at least, not the bar, to be a little more thoughtful of their fellow patrons sitting adjacent to them.
  15. RichardG

    New England

    26 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on February 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Meal was excellent and the service was outstanding
  16. HHan

    New England

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on February 11, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4
    Birthday celebration. Calamari delicious. Scampi fantastic. Eggplant phenomenal. Cacio e Pepe was good but not WOW.
  17. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on February 11, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    #The building of he pasta dish in the 100 lb Parma cheese wheel was impressive. A delightful Valentine’s Day meal !
  18. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on February 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Food was so good and unique. Staff super friendly.
  19. KatieB

    New York Area

    1 review

    vip
    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 4, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    They sat us downstairs and we were the only table down there for most of our meal. Staff was not welcoming or very attentive. Food came very fast and felt very rushed. Our entrees came out with no time between courses. Caesar salad had enough dressing for 5 salads and was soggy, meatball had little sauce and was dry and the veal parm was rubbery and inedible. Basically a huge waste of time and money. Got a nice dinner elsewhere 2 hours later.
  20. WiniB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 2, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a lovely evening. We got the veal parm and the cheese wheel pasta and both of them were great. Our sever was really nice as well.
  21. LivG

    New England

    1 review

    vip
    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 1, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience3
    The food, drinks, and service was great! Did not love the lighting in there, but that was a small thing in comparison to the entire experience.
  22. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on January 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Totally worth the trip into Boston
  23. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on January 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience3
    I had SEAFOOD FRA DIAVOLO. It was as amazing. The calamari was so fresh. Best I’ve had in a long time. If I could have had more, I’d have eaten more. It was that delicious.
  24. OpenTable Diner

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Best restaurant in Boston’s North End! Great food and excellent service!
  25. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 28, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Eddy was the boss. Great food stellar service. Really appreciate it.
  26. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 16, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Amazing food and staff!
  27. Angellina

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Had the cacio e pepe table side for two and it was an amazing experience. A great price, amazing food, excellent service. 10/10 would recommend to a friend and come back again!
  28. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    14 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1
    Subpar. Don’t waste your time
  29. sisi

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 15, 2023

    overall2food2service4ambience2
    a bit disappointed honestly, the starters were good but the space was SO jam packed and noisy that you could barely move around the place. entrees were not good- the meat in the carbonara wasn’t rendered down so the sauce was flavorless and the meat was super chewy. the pasta on the eggplant parm dish was flavorless and overcooked.
  30. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Such an amazing experience! The food is absolutely delicious and the ambiance is wonderful. Highly recommended!
  31. DiningDad

    New England

    15 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on January 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    Had a great family dinner—food is among the best in the North End.
  32. Diti

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 1, 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience3
    The food was ok, but not as great as I expected. It is a bit expensive given the quality of the food.
  33. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 31, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4
    I’ve been to quite a few restaurants in the north end and I always order the same thing, veal Parmesan. Nico was by far the best one I’ve had hands down and it wasn’t even close. The Manhattan was also excellent and the service was very good as well. Will absolutely go back again
  34. OpenTable Diner

    New England

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 30, 2022

    overall3food3service5ambience3
    service was fantastic! very attentive, eager to help with questions on the menu. drinks and apps were delicious — got the meatball and calamari to start, which were def the highlight! i was not actually the biggest fan of the cacio e pepe, which came highly recommended by other reviews. the carbonara was a bit bland in my opinion. the rigatoni was tasty and was our favorite pasta at the table but the meatballs were disappointing compared to the app.
  35. JSparkles

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 29, 2022

    overall2food2service4ambience5
    Service was good but food was subpar (especially for price). Tried the table side pasta and was not impressed with the taste. Would not eat there again.
  36. GiGi

    New England

    3 reviews

    4.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 29, 2022

    overall4food5service5ambience2
    Everything was wonderful except for the loud music and TVs. I didn’t realize they had TVs when I made the reservation. TVs are not Italian. Music would be ok if it were Italian. I know they use music to move tables also not Italian.
  37. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2022

    overall1food5service1ambience1
    We showed up for a dinner, they overbooked on reservations and We Did not end up eating here. We do love the food but we wished they had called and told us before that because they had an event downstairs they were unable to honor our reservation. We waited for 45 minutes, and a table still had not opened so we left. They simply should’ve just called everybody and told them that they had accidentally overbooked. There were several other groups who had the same issue
  38. bblaqz

    New England

    13 reviews

    4.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on December 24, 2022

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Great food and service. Will be back.
  39. ChristynH

    New England

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on December 24, 2022

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Visited for Christmas Eve lunch as my children saw the cheese wheel on tick tock and wanted to try it. The food was good, the service was excellent and the restaurant is charming,
  40. AmyT

    New England

    9 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on December 17, 2022

    overall3food4service5ambience3
    The food was pretty good. But the space is tiny and definitely not comfy. And welcoming you by reminding you about the 90 minute rule isn’t super welcoming. Fantastic espresso martini and great waiter.

Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
    • Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Nico offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (617) 742-0404.

Nico is rated 4.5 stars by 3530 OpenTable diners.

Not bookable

This restaurant is temporarily offline. Please contact the restaurant directly or check back shortly for availability.

Additional information

  • Cross street

    Between Harris St. and Hanover Ave.

  • Neighborhood

    North End

  • Hours of operation

    Dinner Thu–Sun 4:00 pm–10:30 pm

  • Cuisines

    Italian

  • Dining style

    Casual Dining

  • Dress code

    Business Casual

  • Parking details

    None

  • Public transit

    MBTA Blue LineAquarium, Government CenterMBTA Orange LineHaymarket Station

  • Payment options

    AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

  • Executive chef

    Farouk Bazoune

  • Entertainment

    Join us on Tuesday nights for Street Magic!

  • Additional

    Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wine

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