Reviews & Ratings for Nick's Italian Cuisine

10/13/11

Best Secret in Bellevue

by jack of woodinville at Citysearch

I have been visiting Nick's for over 10 years for Lunch. (nicky chicky thursdays) The service and food are terrific. The owner "Nick" has been in business for over 30 years and has refined his menu over that period of time. My favorite dish is his marinaded chicken. Just ask for the Nicky Chicky. Enjoy

05/28/10

Worst Meal Ever

by chefskid at Citysearch

My husband and I were out for an adventure in food. We often try little out of the way places and have discovered some jewels. I saw Nick's while getting coffee from a nearby mocha stand one day and today we decided to try the food.

I absolutely regret it. I can't even be polite enough to say that it was interesting. I ordered chicken noodle soup and got i-don't-know-what that consisted of orzo heavy on the basil and dill without a balance of a bitter or salty herb and no chicken.

The salad was a very small bland salad that had a hair in it. The waitress tried to console me by saying, "The health department said that hairs won't make you sick." Fine and I understand that hair will be in food from time to time. That doesn't make me want to keep eating the dish.

I hoped that they would redeem themselves with the main entre. I ordered the manicotti and was sorely disappointed. Getting past the fact that it looked as though it was a frozen dinner, the cheese was far from melted and the temperature tepid. The sauce was greasy and bland and once again, heavy on the dill and sweet herbs without the balance of a bitter or salty herb.

I decided since the meal was not worth the price we paid for it, neither would the cheesecake be; so we didn't order. Nick, however, in apology offered a slice to make up for the hair in the salad. I wish he hadn't. I love cheesecake and have had many slices of homemade cheesecake and this was the worst cheesecake I've ever tasted. I took two bites and the citrus, either lime or lemon, overpowered the other spices and made it taste closer to key lime or lemon pie.

If you like greek spices, which I do but only if they're balanced, then you may like Nick's food. I don't recommend it though and I will never eat there again.

• Pros: It was empty, so seating.
• Cons: Everything else.

01/04/09

FRESH AUTHENTIC MEDITERRANIAN CUISINE

by FoodieAmI at Citysearch

I've been lucky enough to have eaten in Greece, Italy, Spain and more, so I feel confident when I say that the food at Nicks is the real deal. It is authentic, fresh and tasty. We started our meal with the Greek salad and bread which were both delightful. Next came the lemon egg soup, creamy with light lemon overtones. For my main dish I ordered the Greek spaghetti- a flavorful blend of sausage, peppers, feta and much more : } My wife had Nicks special plate, which she loved. Said best ever dolamades, yummy roasted whole peppers, asked me to try a slice of her pepperoni- WOW! Cheesecake for dessert, it's served firm and when it melts in your mouth you know why it won awards!!! My recommendation...find this place and eat!!!

• Pros: Menu selection Great food
• Cons: None

08/08/08

Diamond In The Rough

by caffeinecemetary at Citysearch

First off let me just take issue with some previous comments. While I won't doubt that it's indeed a possibility that these customers had a negative experience, I do doubt their taste in authentic greek/italian food or knowledge of a cultural experience outside of perhaps the Olive Garden. I arrived in WA a year ago from Europe, where I lived for 3 years. I have tasted various multicultural dishes and been blessed with the opportunity to experience many diverse tastes. While I haven't been to Greece, I have been to Italy five times.

Since recently being introduced to this restaraunt, I have eaten there 3 times. I have come back- and will continue to come back- because of the high-quality food and the mellow, family atmosphere. I am Sicilian, and it's rare that I would go out for Italian food; I would much rather make it myself. But Nick's Italian Cuisine has astounded me with their dishes thus-far. Their Greek spaghetti is ridiculously delicious, as are their soups. Their lasagna, manicotti and veal to die for.

Have I mentioned Nick's cheesecake? Not only is it far better than The Cheesecake Factory's could ever hope to be, but it's by far the best that I've ever tasted. Oh yeah, and it used to win the annual Best of Seattle desert competition every year for several running. From what my brother told me (who enjoys their food as well), they had to stop allowing it as a submission due to all the bigger name restaraunts not having a chance. Whatever the story though, it's a must-try for all you cheesecake fans. I urge you to try it and find out for yourself how great it is.

My only possible complaint is that, upon leaving, you feel like you need to be rolled out. While that feeling isn't great necessarily, it is one well worth experiencing after tasting any of Nick's food. I know my family and I will come back to this hole-in-the-wall for many years to come. Recommended to anyone who actually knows what five-star, authentic food tastes like.

• Pros: Authentic, Quality Food
• Cons: Lighting is a bit low.

06/23/08

I could have made better at home.

by brandihaglund at Citysearch

I wish I could give it a half star. My husband and I were looking something different. The food was bland and my lasagna swimming in sauce that looked like soup. The only thing that was good was the bread. It was over priced for something I could have made at home.

• Pros: Ambience
• Cons: Food and Prices

04/10/08

The worst Italian food ever

by Nirvahna at Citysearch

My wife and I visited this seemingly nice restaurant for dinner the other day. The decor was nice but that's where niceness ended. The lamb appetizer turned out to be 3 small triangles for $8. The main course cost us $17 and consisted of nothing but boiled vegetables on top of boiled spaghetti. No sauce, no condiments. The garlic bread that came with the main course had freezer burn. The only good things were the included salad and Minestrone soup. When we asked for some hot sauce to give our spaghetti some flavor, we were told that they don't carry any. I would never go back to this sham of a restaurant.

• Pros: Quiet, parking
• Cons: Bad food, poor service

12/06/03

Weird greek/italian combo

by cinetic at Citysearch

Bad red meat sauce, strange meat used in combo plate and boring chicken. Very boring overall.

• Pros: Decent environment
• Cons: Boring Food, Really Greasy Food, Did I mention boring?

07/21/03

Definition of mediocre.

by stef_ at Citysearch

This place is definite a 5 out of 10. I mean, it's food. A friend recommended the place to us, but after we'd eaten there, he admitted that he might have gotten it confused with another restaurant. Boring spaghetti, veal parmesan, sauce, service, and ambiance pretty much sums it up.

• Pros: quiet, not busy
• Cons: bland food, bland service