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Nicola's Ristorante, Cincinnati, OH

Nicola's Ristorante

4.9 (2927)
$50 and over
Italian
1420 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 43 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
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Cristian Pietoso
  • 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
  • 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

Experiences

  • Cincinnati Opera Tasting Menu

    $85.00 per person

    Jun 12, 2025 - Jul 26, 2025
    An exclusive opera tasting menu experience combines authentic Italian cuisine with the drama and elegance of the Cincinnati Opera. Available only on nights in which the opera is performing. Enjoy a 3 course pre-fixe menu, with the option to choose from some of Nicola's classic dishes. *Menu is subject to change. Please note any allergens or dietary restrictions upon booking. Taxes and Gratuity not included in menu price.
    Cincinnati Opera Tasting Menu Photo
  • 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.
    Bolo-Monday Photo
  • Chef's Grand Tasting Experience

    Multiple dates available
    -Uniquely Crafted 5 Course Tasting Experience- Five-course Tasting Experience, including Nicola’s selection of house-made breads $110 Per Experience; $160 with Sommelier Selected Wine Pairings *Optional cheese course with a selection of three Italian cheeses, aged balsamic, fruit mostarda, and lavender honey for $19 *Rotates Weekly. Taxes and Gratuity not included in menu price.
    Chef's Grand Tasting Experience Photo

Private dining

What 2,927 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

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Cincinnati / Dayton

    Great for fine wines

  • Cincinnati / Dayton

    Romantic

  • Cincinnati / Dayton

    Good for special occasions

  • Cincinnati / Dayton

    Italian

  • Cincinnati

    Great for fine wines

  • Cincinnati

    Romantic

  • Cincinnati

    Good for special occasions

  • Cincinnati

    Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Nicola's Ristorante is a beloved Italian dining destination in Cincinnati, renowned for its "wonderful experience" and "creative food." With a warm, inviting ambiance and attentive service, guests rave about the "best gnocchi" and standout dishes like the Bolognese and tiramisu. The knowledgeable staff ensure a memorable dining experience.
2,927 Reviews
  1. Ryan

    Cincinnati / Dayton6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was an excellent experience to celebrate a new job. The food was excellent the ambiance was amazing and the wine was spectacular. The service was great and we felt special that night.
    Nicola's RistoranteResponded 1 day ago
    Hi, Ryan! Thank you for celebrating such a special milestone with us—congratulations on the new job! We’re so glad the food, wine, ambiance, and service helped make the evening memorable. It means a lot to know you felt special, and we look forward to celebrating many more moments with you in the future!

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  2. Olivia

    Cincinnati / Dayton1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic from start to finish. Every detail. Food was phenomenal
    Nicola's RistoranteResponded 1 day ago
    Hi, Olivia! Thank you! We’re so glad to hear everything was fantastic from start to finish. It means the world to know the details and food stood out—we look forward to welcoming you back soon for another phenomenal experience!

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  3. Joe VIP

    Cincinnati / Dayton21 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a wonderful Italian restaurant. Beautiful main dining room. Wonderful food with attention to seasonal ingredients. Current Tuscan salad with fresh favs beans is an example. Just warm and welcoming with no loud music! A wonderful experience!
    Nicola's RistoranteResponded 1 day ago
    Hi, Joe! Thank you so much for your thoughtful words! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the atmosphere, seasonal touches, and especially the Tuscan salad! Creating a welcoming, relaxed environment is so important to us, and we're glad that came through. We look forward to having you back for another wonderful experience soon!

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  4. Ryan

    Cincinnati / Dayton2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My wife and I got the tasting menu, I got the wine pairing and it was one of, if not the best dinner, we’ve had in Cincinnati. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. Our server Andrew gave in depth descriptions of the courses and wine pairings and it was a really good experience. We will be back to try more of the menu.
    Nicola's RistoranteResponded on June 9, 2025
    Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the tasting menu and wine pairing experience—Andrew will be delighted to hear your kind words. We can’t wait to have you back to explore more of the menu!

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  5. Conall

    Cincinnati / Dayton1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service, great food and great wine! Will be back for sure

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  6. Bruce VIP

    Cincinnati / Dayton79 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nicolas has been one of our favorite fine dining restaurant since it opened 30 years ago. The cuisine is always amazing and very creative. Service is consistency perfect and attentive in every respect. The wine selection is superb and offers selections in every price range, with a large selection of Italian wines. I had their Lamb Wellington done in a favorite Italian recipe. My wife had the Duck breast. Both were impeccably delicious. We recommend Nicolas to all, you will never be disappointed!!!
    Nicola's RistoranteResponded on June 9, 2025
    Thank you so much for your kind words and continued support over the years! We're honored to be one of your favorites and thrilled you enjoyed the Lamb and Duck Breast. We look forward to welcoming you back again soon!

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  7. Christine VIP

    Cincinnati / Dayton12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a lovely dinner at Nichola’s this past weekend! The overall atmosphere was very pleasant and our table for 6 worked great for conversation and to celebrate three birthdays. Our server was clearly experienced and took such good care of us! He had read ahead of time the comments we provided on Open Table and did an excellent job with suggestions for food and drink selections. The food was delicious and the desserts were yummy. We always look forward to our dinners at Nichola’s and this evening did not disappoint!
    Nicola's RistoranteResponded on June 9, 2025
    Thank you for celebrating with us! We're so glad to hear your evening was special and that our team helped make it memorable. We truly appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back again soon!

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  8. Nathan VIP

    Cincinnati / Dayton77 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nicola’s was outstanding. Each course was excellent at just the right pace. Service was attentive without being intrusive. Loved the wine discussion with the sommelier Thanks to everyone there for helping us have a great evening !
    Nicola's RistoranteResponded 5 days ago
    Hi, Nathan! Thank you so much for the kind words! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed each course and appreciated the pacing and service. Our team, especially the sommelier, takes great pride in creating a memorable experience, and it’s wonderful to know that came through. We truly appreciate you choosing to spend your evening with us and look forward to welcoming you back again soon!

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  9. Mick

    Cincinnati / Dayton10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    First time dining at Nicola’s. We had high expectations and the food and the service meet our expectations.

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  10. Mike

    Cincinnati / Dayton24 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 31, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As always, we had a wonderful experience at Nichola's. We left the Cincinnati area almost 4 years ago so we hadn't visited there in a while. Hannah's team provided great service from beginning to end. Starting with baked oysters, mussels, and mushroom soup, everything was exquisite .Two of us had the rabbit and two of us had the scallops. Both were wonderful. As was dessert. We will miss the patio space when they move next year, but we will certainly be back for a great dining experience.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

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

Nicola's Ristorante is rated 4.9 stars by 2927 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Cincinnati / Dayton
  4. Cincinnati
  5. Over the Rhine

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 43 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Nicola's Ristorante

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
    Cristian Pietoso
  • 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
  • Phone number
  • 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
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