NICO Kitchen + Bar

The food was delicious Chef Courtney made a great presentation of the food and service was outstanding. The food came at a timely manner and the drinks also was served with courtesy from friendly bartenders. And also the waiters was amazing

Atmosphere was very calm and smooth .Nirah was an excellent host and made sure all are needs were met.Very pleasant.Ray the bartender was great loved every single drink.

Easily some of the best Shrimp Scampi I have ever had because the sauce was deliciously creamy yet delicate and buttery

Pleasantly surprised! Pre-show dinner on a Friday night. Service was attentive and our server was very informative. It was still happy hour when we arrived and took advantage of the 1/2 price patron spicy margaritas. All drinks, draft beer and wines by the glass were also 1/2 off. The food was excellent - we started with the honey bbq wings and the buttermilk biscuits. The wings were extremely meaty and tasty. The biscuits were warm and delicious and the honey whipped butter was fantastic. The entrees, chicken skillet and steak frites were both outstanding. Portions were generous so we had leftovers. The only negative was nobody told us we weren’t allowed to bring our to-go bag into the theater and they didn’t have a coat check or anything so we had to leave the bag in an open area until we left or just forfeit our leftovers.

We ate here in November before a show and had a very good meal with attentive service. We did not have a reservation so we were seated on the "bar" side. We enjoyed happy hour drink prices and a full menu. I had pasta, my dining partner had steak. It was very good. Fast forward to February. We were looking forward to another great meal at Nico before an NJPAC show. We were seated at the same table and noticed the same waiter. This time we sat for 10 minutes before we were offered water by a server. The waiter came over to take our drink order. We declined an alcoholic drink and asked for a full menu. He explained that they only offer snacks on the bar side and he'd be back to take out order. We waited about 10 minutes but he never came back so we left.

Nico was surprisingly good for a restaurant in an event space. The prices are very reasonable, food was great and the service was prompt, friendly (& funny) and we really enjoyed it. We went to a concert and made reservations before the show. It was a great way to start the evening, enjoy the company and the food. We will be nack

Made reservations to eat here before we went to the show inside NJPAC Saturday 9/29/2023. Arrived 15 mins before our 5pm reservation & even though we we choose to dine inside, we were given the option to dine either in the front area with the bar or in the back room where it was more quieter. We were seated promptly & our server (Juan) was extremely professional with his approach, attitude, & attention to detail. He offered the seasonal dish & even explained to me the dish I was thinking about & eventually ordered. Food came out quickly, was hot & definitely delicious. Seating in the back room was spacious, food & drinks were good. Would dine here again if we happen to have another event.

Big disappointment since last visit. Strange service rules: they don't serve dinner menu in the lounge area or at the bar anymore. 🙄🤔 You can only order drinks and some kind of snacks. Lounge area is very cozy with dinner tables. Dining are is horrible 😮 It's just a part of theater's hallway with cheap cafeteria tables. Staff is extremely nice and friendly but unprofessional at all. Cocktails are watery. Fish cakes and salmon were tasty but not hot enough. Food looked like it was waiting for awhile on the kitchen to be delivered. Steak was horrible. So overcooked and dry but we ordered it rare. And it was precut because they don't provide steak knives for eating steak. Restaurant management should do something about it. It was such a cool and pleasant place. Sorry to see it falling apart.😪

Great spot conveniently located in NJ Pac building. Ideal location to grab dinner or drinks before a show or event at the prudential center. We went for a happy hour event for work and were easily able to walk over. Staff was very friendly and attentive. The only issue I would say is parking if you don't take the train in.

Finally! We made it for dinner. It has been a series of unfortunate events that led us here. Even today we almost didn't make it. There was snow, traffic, construction and the lobby was flooded with vendors and guests watching the performers. We were late for dinner but were able to share a quick meal. We ordered the salmon with vegetables and the salmon cake which were delicious. They were well seasoned and fresh. Our server Tania A deserves FIVE stars. She was so wonderful - thank you for great service. The decor is simple but modern. We made it to the show on time and enjoyed our dinner. I look forward to coming back.

Great spot to grab food and hang out prior to shows at the NJ Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). Stopped in with my daughter (17 yrs old) last night before the Third Eye Blind show. I didn't think to make a reservation which is a must. Only bar was open which wasn't an option due to my daughter's age. They do have couches with large tables in between which they offered as a seating for us. The hostesses were amazing in finding an option to accommodate us. Very friendly and didn't make us feel awkward for not thinking to reserve a table. That was a great start! From there the experience continued to improve. The service was top notch and the food was excellent. We got the Hennessy Glazed wings off the specials menu as well as the braised short rib sandwich (also a special offering). Sandwich came with their sidewinder fries which are epic! So much food! Super convenient, friendly and accommodating staff, excellent food. Nothing more could be expected. Highly recommend but would also be sure to reserve a table and do it far in advance as there is limited space. Wouldn't hesitate to come in again at our next show.

If you are going to a show at NjPac or Prudential, this is a great spot to go to before the show. A diverse menu with great cocktails that you are able to take in to go cups and bring into the venue. I ordered my steak frites medium rare and it came out more well done, so that was my only issue, but other than that the service was quick and efficient and the food was great.

Fabulous place for lunch meeting, dinner meetings and happy hour for a specialty cocktail. A new chicken sandwich is in the menu that is superb. Got try it! I'll be back!

Went here recently for a lunch on an early January weekday. Not many people were in there at the time.. Place is open and airy. Decent decor, nothing to write about. It seemed clean and inviting. Our waitress was very pleasant and accommodating. I ordered a chickpea salad which was light and tasty. Mixed greens, tomatoes, chickpeas (of course). Just filling enough. I loved my butternut squash soup topped with pumpkin seeds.. also another solid choice, that is probably seasonal, but was still around in January. I'm glad that it was still an option! Believe it or not, the standout was the earl grey tea that I ordered. It was floral and beautiful, I smelled it as soon as I poured it from the cute tea pot that it was served in... I just added a bit of cream, and it was a great choice on a very cold winter day. Parking is really difficult, so that may hinder me from coming back, unfortunately. But, overall, pleasant experience.

Stopped at their bar before attending a Saturday evening concert. At this point there were 2 bartenders and a few open seats at the bar. Both bartenders were quick to attend all that approached their area of the bar. As the concert was soon to begin our bartender was quick to close our tab and send us on our way. Throughout the show we continued to go to this bar as the service was well worth it. After the show we decided to go back to Nico's and stumbled upon double the amount of customers at the bar and seating area. At this point, there was now 3 bartenders and all 3 were extremely attentive to every single person. Maya was our favorite! The manager Carlos was also great! He made his rounds to assure customers were good. Handled the establishment very professionally and yet with a charisma to his employees. Behind the bar walls is a dining area. Looking forward to planning a dining experience.

Convenient place located right within NJ Pac so came here before a show. Walked in and the place was EMPTY however hostess mentioned reservations for a table were required as only the couches or bar seating were available. (Weird but okay) Decided to sit at the bar and got a few drinks to start with. The server who was taking care of us was a bit slow at first. We were sitting around with empty glasses for a bit as they chatted with the couple next to us so it was a bit irritating. Eventually our server got better and quicker as the night went on. I decided to order the pizza which was a huge mistake. Again, the place was empty so it was hard for me to understand why the pizza took almost an hour to finally get served to me??? My friend had already finished her meal and my pizza still hadn't arrived. Our server was apologetic mentioning that the pizza did usually take a bit long to make however it was inexcusable how the people sitting next to us had gotten their pizza at least 20 minutes before me despite getting seated after us. All in all- very convenient location when going before a show. Drinks were good. You can even take some in a to-go cup to bring to the show. If you end up coming, do not order the pizza, especially if you're in a rush. Not sure what on earth was happening back in the kitchen but seems like they need some adjustments made.

Went here for lunch midday in the middle of the week. It was pretty empty, which was good because it's a pretty small restaurant. The waitress was nice, but service did take a while. The steak was on the tougher side, but it was cooked to perfection. The salmon was good, and the gnocchi was delicious. The best part, though, were the beignets, which had caramel on the inside and were absolutely delicious. I would go back just for those!

Amazing, the food, the service and the ambience was just perfect before the concert. One of the best burgers I've tasted, and the potatoes were perfect with the burger. My daughter wanted me to put in a good word for the biscuits, delicious! I will eat here every time.

We had a dinner reservation here before going to a concert at NJPAC on a Saturday night and enjoyed our meal. Service was friendly, attentive, and prompt. The martini and beer were at Happy Hour prices, which was great. We enjoyed the French onion soup, watercress salad with chicken, and risotto. I'd definitely come back when we have tickets to a show at the adjoining venue and perhaps sit in the bar area next time. The atmosphere in the dining room is a bit open and sterile aside from some great artwork for sale and a few plants. Very echoey, big dining room, that could use some more decor. Lacking a bit of charm, but overall a good experience.

This is a perplexing restaurant: the service is impeccable, the decor is lovely, but the food is mediocre at best. The biscuits -- which our server highly recommended -- were so overbaked that they were crunchy and tough to break apart. The greens served with one entree were well beyond fresh. The Maryland fish cake had little flavor and hardly any sauce. The pizza was ok but nothing special. And worst of all, the napkins smelled so terrible (mildew?) that we were concerned we might get sick from using them. Such a disappointing meal, but now we understand why the restaurant was half-empty on a Friday night, even with a show happening at NJPAC.

the food was amazing.. Raymond our server was fantastic.. attentive, friendly..wonderful atmosphere.. good selection.. fair prices.. convenient.. make sure you try this place.. you'll make it a regular!!!

Excellent service ambience & food. However I ordered something that was too spicy for me and did not complain. HOWEVER when the waiter Isaiah asked us how I liked it I said it was too spicy HOWEVER the manager Ulysses just came and apologized (although there was nothing to apologize for) he did not charge. Everyone I was with loved their choices. It was my mistake not asking if it was spicy but everything was fresh with nice presentation and seemed quite fresh & told were excellent. I would recommend

We came to area to see a show at the performance center and made a 6 o'clock reservation and got here about 20 minutes early. Checked in and was able to be seated right away! Waiter and waitress came over to the table right away to take our drink orders. Food came out before our drinks. Waited over 45 minutes for a mule and an old fashioned. Waiter apologized and not for nothing he has not stopped moving at all! Husband ordered a soup and was not given a spoon. We ordered the pizza and a side of fries . We're given no plates as well. Food was absolutely amazing!!' Prices are great. Once we got the drinks, the mule was watered down properly from sitting over at the bar, but all tasted great. Over all we would definitely come back and would suggest if you're in the area to stop over. It does get a little loud once it starts to fill up. But lighting is soft and just over all a nice place to eat.

I came here for dinner before a show at the performing arts center. It's a roomy restaurant with a modern decor. We sat in a booth. To drink, I ordered the Bla Bla Bla Mojito. It came in an unexpectedly tall glass. It was tasty. A little sweeter than I would've preferred, but the fresh mint gave it a refreshing balance. However it wasn't very strong; I could barely taste the alcohol in it. To eat, we shared one of the pizza specials with pesto, tomato, and honey. I really enjoyed it. It had a buttery, crispy crust and great flavor. We also ordered a side of fries which came with ketchup and a slightly sweet flavored mayo. The fries were very uniquely shaped. They were spiraled, but much larger and thicker than regular curly fries. They were nicely seasoned. Our waitress asked if we were attending the show when we first sat down and made sure the food came out in a timely manner. The bathroom was spacious and clean. Their dinner menu was a bit limited and didn't have many dishes for vegetarians. Still, this is a good option to grab a quick bite before an event next door.

Enjoyed a good meal here before a show at NJPAC. Conveniently located near the lobby. Seated right away and the restaurant had modern decor. Waitstaff was all very friendly. They just released their fall menu, we enjoyed the chard apple salad and the herbed chicken - the potato's were fantastic! I ordered a burger which was a little undercooked. Overall a good experience

My wife and I attended a show at NJ PAC on 12/23/2023. From about 7:15 PM to 7:35 PM I waited at the bar to order a drink however I was totally ignored by the bartenders/customer service team. There was only 1 other customer at the bar eating. The bartenders literally had their backs toward me and did not turn around. No acknowledgment , no greeting, nothing. Therefore I left. DS

The food was delicious and our server, Cassandra D, was top notch. If you're ever in Newark, NJ you should stop by for a bite and a Lemon Drop martini!

The atmosphere, location, and staff were 5 stars. The 3 star rating is really for the food. My friend and I went there early on Saturday. We both had drinks which were pretty good. We ordered the wings for an appetizer. The wings had good flavor and were not overly saucy. My friend ordered the lamb and I ordered the gnocchi. The lamb was slightly salty. I love gnocchi but this gnocchi was extremely bland. I actually sent it back because it just was not good. I then ordered the Margherita pizza which was ehh. I don't think I'll return for food but definitely for the drinks and service.

The dining room food was horrible tasting the water tasted funny. When leaving we walked through the bar and there was a completely different menu and the food looked good. Don't waster your time and money in the dining room and we never told there was another menu. The staff was very nice.

Street Cart menu, Ritz Carlton prices. $22.00 cheese burgers, 2 oz of steak and caramelized onion sandwich is $24.00. Got your favorite side as long as it's French fries, that's it. $20 brownies with small scoop of vanilla. $100.00 meal- no tablecloth or placemats. 1star (coffee good) Total rip off.

I went to a concert at NJPAC and enjoyed a meal at Nico Kitchen & Bar Restaurant. It's a good start before the start of the show. The service was quick and I love that they had a healthy dish on the menu. It definitely sets the tone for the concert ahead.

Great drinks, decent service but a little slow and not a huge selection on the Menu. I'll probably return on a Weekend and give it another chance.

Great food with fast and friendly service! We ordered the Skillet Half Chicken, Margherita Pizza, and the Buttermilk Biscuits with honey butter and it was all so delicious!! Highly recommend!!

MEH!! We decided to dine here since it's conveniently located inside of NJPAC. We made a reservation for 6pm and they honored it as soon as we walked in. The hostess was friendly and so was our waitress which was refreshing. The menu is extremely limited and most items are over $20. I was in the mood for fish, so I decided to go with the salmon. The order took about 30 minutes to come out, and when it did I was completely disappointed! The food was subpar and almost tasteless. They only offer a wine menu. The waitress informed us that the bar can make any drink you want- they just don't have a menu of drinks. I ordered a Malibu bay-breeze and it tasted like everything but Malibu! I suggest ordering a glass of wine to stay on the safe side. If you're looking to pay big prices for small tasteless portions, then this is the place for you! Otherwise, I suggest venturing out to one of the other great restaurants that Newark has to offer.

Slow service. 20 minute wait for a beer when the place wasn't even busy. Sausage and pepper pizza was more like 'essence if sausage and hint of pepper,

When attending an event at NJ PAC we ate here before the performance Our expectations were low since they have a captive audience of being adjacent to the venue Service was excellent Food was very good I would plan to go there again

Meh. Atmosphere: crowded the night before ringo starr concert. On show nights they severely limit the menu, so the website is really not useful. Luckily, it wasn't "price fixed" and the app and dessert was complimentary with whatever dish you chose. There were about 6-7 main dishes. Food: seasonal soup was sweet potato. Okay, a little on the sweeter side, not enough candied pecans as stated. Eggplant stuffed with spaghetti squash in quinoa and spicy marinara. The eggplant was okay, just a little cold. The sauce was good and had a great kick to it. Dessert: they had devils food cake and fig bread pudding. They somehow happened to run out of creme brulee at 6pm (ugh wtf, and everyone else around me had creme brûlée delivered to them while we all dined). The devils food cake was a small bundt cake, and it was dry. Did not enjoy. But the coffee ice cream on top of it was yummy. Service: lacking, hard. The friendliness does not match with the competency. Our main server asked us if we wanted bread, and we said yes. Bread was not delivered to our table. When they served the soup, we asked if we could have the bread, and they said yes. After ten minutes no bread. So, we asked our main server again, and she said sure. No bread. Finally, someone came to our table to give us water and we asked again for bread. She then told us that they ran out of the bread and only have the crunchy thin breadsticks. It was ridiculous, why even offer bread. We just sat there in silence and watched everyone around our area have actual bread and creme brûlée, all at the same time while we were dining. Leaves you with many questions. I won't be returning. There are other establishments in Newark that are much better.

Dinner before show at NJPAC. Waiter took our order for 2 beers. Waited awhile for the beers...had to ask waiter. We ordered salad to start to share. Another waitress brought bowl of salad, no plates. We both ordered the mushroom Risotto. It was undercooked oily and mushrooms were very chewy. Service was poor

We knew ahead of time we were going to be late and tried to call. We called FIVE times and there was no answer. However, we arrived and were seated. It took 15 to get our first drinks which came after my cold soup with no spoon. #waitertastethesoup. We then got served the steak frites sans steak knives, which comes with arugula salad. Our salad was a dry pile of leaves and the steak, albeit tender, was flavorless and underwhelming. Our waitress never came by to ask how anything was, for if she had, we would have let her know. Even getting the check was difficult, and was not busy. The service was terrible. Do not waste your time or money here.

We sat at the bar with the best bartender ever! THANKS FADI! He made the best French Martini and Ginger Margarita (he had just made this one up) EVER! I love ginger and I never thought of having it with alcohol, but I'm so glad he recommended it! He catered to us and made sure that our cups and plates were always the way we wanted them. We had some shots also, but they were also made by Fadi. The place is super convenient and located at the NJPAC, the outside scenery is also very beautiful. There's outside seating (it was closed when we got there), but I would come back to enjoy the outside seating. As an appetizer we had wings (ranch sauce on the side) and crab cakes with slaw. The sauce the wings came with was amazing, the crab cakes weren't the best but they were decent. As a main dish we had the Brick City Chicken, the sauce the chicken was laid and covered in was amazing. The sauce was not too thick, but it also wasn't watery, it was the perfect texture; the mushrooms (which I usually don't eat) were great as well. I don't eat broccoli at all, so I subbed mine for fries. The other main dish we enjoyed was the grilled salmon, with a side of fries instead of the market vegetables. The fries were a great complement to both entrees. Overall, the food was great and the service was even better! Thanks Fadi for making our evening entertaining and allowing us to try some of the best drinks we ever had.

Review for prix-fixe menu only. On this trip to see the Holidaze Cirque show at NJPAC, we decided to try Nico primarily for the convenience of one stop parking, dining and entertainment. Unfortunately for us, on this trip Nico did not offer its regular, Italian inspired menu. Our choices were limited to a slim 3 course prix fixe menu that did not deliver what the NYT raved about in its 2013 review, and what my fellow Yelpers find so spectacular about this restaurant generally. The Good: The room is suave and sophisticated -- cavernous -- with upscale decor and efficient service. Nice wines by the glass and decent beers on tap -- at reasonable price points. They offer a kids menu (pasta and chicken fingers) which keeps the tab a bit more manageable with youngsters in tow. We had 5:30 reservations for a 7:00 show. The kitchen and servers time the courses and the meal to give you plenty of room to comfortably eat then find your seats next door and settle in for the show. This efficiency is better than what you find at some other neighborhood restaurants who are not as invested in the NJPAC show schedule. The Bad: They ran out of bread. Really? At 5:30? Bread freezes well (meaning you should always have an emergency stash on hand). For an operation this size that represents saucy Italian food -- breadlessness is almost unforgivable. Having offered us bread at the start of our meal then telling us 10 minutes later that they were out -- only added insult to injury. The shrimp "not" gnocchi was mostly sautéed shrimp and vegetables with a few gnocchi thrown in as an afterthought. If the menu did not say gnocchi, I'd have thought I was eating some sort of Asian stir fry. The chicken over broccolini was a plain, tiny roasted leg and thigh over a stalk of steamed broccolini. Skimpy, bland and uninteresting. Costco roast chicken is better. At the price of Nico's chicken dish, I could buy several of Costco's birds and be happier munching on them in a Costco food court. The Ugly: My burger was inedibly hammered beyond well done. No amount of juicy toppings could save it. The fries were wilted. Safe to say this was the worst burger I have ever been served. It was cardboard in my mouth. To top it off, desserts were so forgettable -- I won't even go there. I hate starting a new Yelp review year with a meh review but this was truly a disappointing experience. In fairness, I'd try Nico again when seeing a show at NJPAC, but only off the regular menu -- or just for cocktails. The room, convenience to the venue, service and ambiance are great. Too bad for us that the food on this occasion did not live up to the hype.

Went for a group dinner - probably about 25 on a Tuesday evening around 6:30. Place was deserted - not another customer in the restaurant, so that was intimidating. Parking though was good given the emptiness - right in front of the door in the private lot. Group had drinks, several appetizers - fries with cheese was a bit odd; wings; shrimp toast; fried calamari and a couple of others. Everyone ordered from the menu, which took the kitchen a long long time to prepare. Staff though were attentive filling water glasses, other drinks, rolls. I had a broiled salmon on a bed of veg with baby potatoes - really good and filling. I hope this restaurant is busy on the lunch hour and weekends, as it seems like a great choice in the area and the kitchen and staff are competent.

Great dinner before NJPAC speaker series. Jenny, our waitress, was exceptional. She made excellent recommendations ( which we wisely followed.) Great food and attentive service.

I have to start with the fact that Raul is the bomb dot com. He is attentive, friendly and knows and loves Nico Kitchen & Bar. He had wonderful recommendations and he was super helpful throughout my time there. I'm literally writing this review whilst waiting for my desert (brownie a la mode). Will be back just because of the wonderful service and delicious food. You have to stop by!

Several years ago, we had a decent dinner with good service at Nico Kitchen + Bar, which is in the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, but on Sunday, we went for a jazz brunch -- a buffet with a soul food theme and after the meal, entertainment by tenor saxophonist Houston Person's quintet. The music was great -- Person just celebrated his 85th birthday and a birthday cake was brought out to the bandstand -- but the food disappointed. The soul food buffet favored meat eaters, with entrees of Applewood Smoked Bacon, Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Beef Brisket slices in smoky barbecue sauce. My wife tried the fried chicken and brisket, and found both overcooked and dried out. And a pescetarian like me was disappointed not to find any fried whiting or catfish among this so-called soul food. So, I had to satisfy myself with side dishes -- a spring mix salad, Hoppin John (black eyed peas and rice), collard greens (without the hunks of duck) and candied yams. There also was mac & cheese and potato salad. I also went to the omelet station, where I ordered vegetable omelets without bacon for my wife and I. And there were mimosas and Bloody Marys lined up on the bar, but the latter ran out first, and the bartender asked people who wanted a Bloody Mary to take a mimosa instead. There were several sugary desserts, including banana trifle, but I was happy with the fruit salad with plump, sweet blueberries and strawberry slices. Service was awful. Servers came around to fill water glasses and bring coffee, but I never got the Earl Gray Tea I asked one server for. And when the music started, none of the servers made a move to clear tables, and I had to bus our dishes. (We shared the table with two other couples).

Went a there a few months ago worst food ever, service followed suit! The sevichi was sour sent it back! Entrees were a sad excuse for edible! Asked for the bill had to tell them to take the rotten sevichi off the bill. Never again!

09/15/18 Decided to stop in for a bite after the Kem concert tonight. Was seated pretty quickly but the service was extremely slow. At least 3 couples walked out without being served. The folks next to me received their order before we did even though my girl ordered the same margherita pizza as the other party, and when she finally received it half an hour later it was a cheese pizza. The other party's burger was sent back because it was raw. Evelyn was doing her best but had no help from the kitchen or management. We weren't sure where the manager was as no one tried to stop diners from leaving or even offer an official apology. Here is a pic of what they considered a margherita pizza. Evelyn told us the manager comped the meal but that still doesn't make up for the lack of service. Unfortunately this is my 2nd visit here, both times I was underwhelmed.

They were able to accommodate our reservation early on a Saturday. The pre fixe menu is $44 per person for three courses. Some of the bread was stale. The lobster Arancini were great, crispy and creamy. I appreciated that they asked me how I wanted my salmon cooked. My wife really enjoyed the filet mignon but would have preferred a different vegetable besides roasted potatoes. The goat cheese cheesecake was crumbly and dry, wouldn't eat again. The experience overall is overpriced just because it is connected to NJPAC. Draft beer is $8.50 and the pre fixe price was already mentioned above. We were seated at a wobbly table when no one else was there. Thanks to the server who placed something underneath to even it out. While we would possibly return in the future when seeing a performance at the theater, it won't be before trying some of the other restaurants in the area.

This is an awesome restaurant!!! Nico is Newark's Best fine dining restaurant. This is one great restaurant in the entire Metropolitan area. Nico has a wonderful lunch menu: -If you enjoy fish, I've had the Blacken Yellow Fin Tuna sandwich ($16.00) on several occasions. The fish has always been extremely fresh. -For those Burger lovers, their cheddar cheeseburger ($12.00) is excellent. Their meat is definitely high quality beef. You do have a choice of a side salad or fries. I opted for the very fresh green salad. -It's great to go during lunch, because the food is quickly prepared and done to perfection. Therefore, leaving you time not to have to rush your lunch to get back to the office. -Bar service is excellent for drink and food. -They have a great wine list. I recently had a lovely glass of 2013 Bordeaux ($10.00). -Customer service is always super friendly. The restaurant is very easy to get to as it's right off of McCarter Highway (Rt.21). Nico is located right in the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Looks like Newark is starting to have its "Heyday Again" with wonderful restaurants like Nico!

I ordered steak medium well and twice it came out well done. In addition the time to receive my meal was extremely long. The menus very limited.

I feel bad writing this review as it was plain to see that the waitress for our station was overwhelmed. That said, we were served the wrong dishes repeatedly and our order was sent to the table next to ours. Had a glass of water spilled by the busboy all over our table and on my coat. After we were done with the meal our drink order hadn't arrived. As for the food the Thai chili wings were descent though it would have been better had we had napkins. The Brussels sprouts were soggy and certainly not crispy as billed. The spinach artichoke gratin was not served with crostini but with chips. Best eat elsewhere.

We ate here after a concert at NJPAC. The hostess was terrific, very friendly and accommodating. We arrived early, with three people instead of the two in our reservation, but she accommodated us right away (the place wasn't crowded). The menu is very limited -- more a bar menu than a fine dining restaurant, but there are some interesting choices. The waiter was businesslike. Service was very slow. The food was a mix of hits and misses (in alphabetical order): Burger was ordered medium, came well done, but the fries were excellent and piping hot. Risotto looked gorgeous but was kinda bland. There was what looked like a pesto topping but I didn't get any pesto flavor. Wings were very good, a generous portion of meaty wings. My biggest complaints are the slow service and the overcooked burger. We will consider returning the next time we're at NJPAC.

Came here the first time for a Yelp event. I liked what I ate at the event and really wanted to try their lobster macaroni and cheese. I decided to order take out since I wasn't in a mood to actually eat there, but when I called I was told they only had a limited menu that evening and did not have the lobster macaroni and cheese. I somewhat accidentally ordered the "Fascino Ricotta Gnocchi" (when she told me the items on the phone, I meant to see "the third one" but said "the second one" or something of the like). After I got off the phone, I realized she had confirmed my order as the gnocchi and was a little worried as gnocchi can sometimes be tough or heavy. I was pleasantly surprised with what I got. The take out was served in a plastic bowl that looked nice enough and was super functional (no leaking sauce, etc.). The gnocchi were soft and soooooo delicious. The ricotta was perfect-- I don't normally like gnocchi much but I loved these. It had this really tasty sausage bolognese sauce with the right amount of cheese, a lot of meat (but not too much), and a bit of basil. My food was about $15 including tax and tip which is a lot less than I expected for the location and quality. Also, this dish is actually from Fascino which is the owner's other restaurant and there it costs a bit more so that's another reason to come here. I definitely want to come back to eat here in the restaurant or try their happy hour (described on their website, seems like a good deal). If I do so, I will definitely update my review accordingly but 4 stars for now!

No food quality can compensate for the incompetence of the kitchen. We waited too long for just the appetizers. I would not return.

Nico was a stop after a fantastic Charlie Wilson show. There were two servers One tried to take all the tables. The younger female was chillin. Maybe that's why it took 20 min to order with the male when the restaurant was not crowded. The server assistant was amazing. SHANE IS fantastic. He's on top of asking are you good keeping your water glass full etc. our server not so much. I Don't know why Shane is not a server, but what a shame, he should be promoted. The actual server seemed discombobulated and inefficient unfortunately. Although he was very pleasant and new I learned so learning the lay of the land. The food was good. And did come out fast. The friend Brussel sprouts were Amazing. For a late night bite. Good choice. Ask for Shane

Service is slow. Waitstaff probably got hired today that's how clueless they were. Food is terrible. I would give zero stars if I could. This place needs new management definitely.

I came here with a friend before a show at NJPAC. We got there about two hours before the show without a reservation, hoping we could still be seated. We got seats at the bar, which was totally fine by us! Unfortunately, the service was very very slow, which is to be expected pre-show, but honestly, a restaurant that is literally connected to NJPAC and draws in the pre-show crowd should be better prepared to handle the volume of people that come in before a show. After sitting down, it was over an hour before we got our food. There were some people who sat down at the bar after we did whose food did not come in time for them to eat before the show. The food was fine, nothing fancy; overpriced for what it was but honestly you're paying for convenient proximity to the theater. The only reason I'm not giving this place a lesser rating is that the staff was pleasant, acknowledging the delays and such. For the people whose food did not arrive in time, their drinks were comped. We likely would have had a better experience with service time had been seated at a table, and we were well aware of that going in for dinner.