Read the full review! You get this French meets Brazilian meets Italian menu. And I'm living for it. The ham and raclette sammy - beyond. The Brazilian cheese was so good! I then did the restaurant week menu with wine pairing. The staff is so amazing! As a lone diner I always appreciate when I feel tended to. Though I probably still spend what 2-3 people would spend dining. I like to eat! The art deco vibes are SO cool! Though the bar, it's a bit narrow to feel comfortable (for me) being a lone diner. You feel in the middle of things vs tucked in and comfy. My one big critique - and easily fixed - when someone orders the wine pairing with the tasting menu... all courses should be covered with a wine. I had the waitress with each course, bring me a new tasting of wine. Dessert shows up. Nothing. I wait and wait. And finally the GM, who had already been so lovely and introduced himself already - comes over and asks if all is ok. I ask if my final tasting is coming. He says he will go grab it. Upon his return he informs me that there actually isn't a final tasting with dessert. But he brought a lovely tasting of a dessert wine on the house. BUT... you cannot offer a wine pairing without covering all courses. It's frankly unacceptable. I give 5 stars cause it's fixable. But you have to set your guests expectations in some form - give the pour, or, say on the previous course "this is for the next two courses" - so people can manage their intake and savor for both, but just ignoring the fact that you don't cover desert when people pay for the wine pairing, is not great. I will absolutely come back. Will absolutely recommend this to friends. And... fix the dessert course wine pairing my friends read more

Nic + Junior’s - Brazilian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here for dinner the Friday before Valentine's day. We had a later reservation, but it seemed they did not prepare well for the dinner menu preferences. They had a limited menu, but ran out of buns..so they weren't serving their burger or sandwich options. The gnocchi however was really good and the oysters were a must have! I'd go back, just not on a holiday :) read more

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I'm modifying this review after attending valentines dinner here. I made my reservation for Valentine's Day just over a month ago after experiencing a wonderful happy hour here. I was excited to get a full meal experience, especially after seeing the ambiance of main dinning room with a peak inside the main kitchen. This was my husband's and my first valentines as a married couple. We arrived on time for our reservation (8:30 pm) and the couple before us was just being seated and taken to the main dinning room. I was extremely surprised and more so disappointed when they took us to our table, which was located in the back of the bar area. We passed by several cute half rounded booths that were empty (we even sat right next to one) but they took us instead to a two-top where we sat across from each other. The music was a bit loud and the lights were brighter--not the moody ambiance I expected as is in their main dining space. Once we were seated I got up to use the restroom and walked through the main dining area to get there--it was half empty with plenty of seating available. I got back to our table and noticed they sat another couple at one of those half rounded booths right next to us. This really hindered the whole experience for me. It felt more like an area of the restaurant that you give to someone who didn't have a reservation, rather than someone who planned and made a reservation far in advance. I was really looking forward to a romantic and unique experience with my husband--I had been raving about being able to see the chefs cook and to enjoy the dark and romantic atmosphere the main dining room offers. The service was exceptional though, our waitress was so kind and attentive. The drinks were superb. The food didn't blow me away, but we were pleasantly surprised by the type of steak used for the steak frites (meaty, juicy, and cooked to perfection). We also had the caesar and rigatoni--both which had some interesting flavor profiles that seemed to overuse serval ingredients rather than blend together. The happy hour is definitely worth it, but sadly I don't think we'll be back for dinner again. read more

Really cute space with a happy hour and a Girl Dinner special! Brazilian fusion (Pao de queijo was so good) with a super knowledgeable server. Located right along the river while still feeling tucked away. We had a group of 7 and felt nicely attended to! I will be back! read more

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This little place is intimate and worth your time. Perfect venue for a great conversation over a good meal. read more

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I personally think they have a potential to take a Michelin star someday. If you're curious, go try their tasting menu now. Nic + Junior is a new spot tucked into a garden near the river in downtown Chicago. We came in a sunday at 5pm and it's pretty empty. It's got a quiet, intimate vibe, especially in the tasting menu area, which is separated from the à la carte section and feels a bit more private. You can even watch the chefs in action there. The tasting menu follows a progression of small bites, then a few composed dishes, then dessert. The overall flavor direction is clearly Brazilian & Italian combo, pretty rare to taste. Small Bites: * Wagyu tartare was my favorite -- juicy beef with black truffle. The use of shiso was brilliant. The balance was just right. Rich, but still fresh. * Snow crab claw -- chilled and fresh. Clean, simple. * Dadinho -- a Brazilian crispy rice snack, tasting like a fried rice cracker to me. I liked it. * Foie gras pizzelle -- fine, but didn't leave a strong impression. * Crispy potato with caviar -- really well done. Golden crisp shell, fluffy inside. A great little bite. I loved the concept of these small bites. They were great for conversation, easy to pick up, and fun to explore. Cold & Hot Dishes: * Smoked scallop with coconut + dende -- interesting flavor, though not a standout for me. * Branzino with prawn cannelloni -- excellent. The sauce worked beautifully with the fish, and the shrimp had that nice springy bite which went well with the al dente wrap. Loved the Italian-Brazilian fusion here. * Garganelli with octopus -- great texture again. I think it used the same sauce as the branzino? * Spaghetti alla Chitarra -- my friend swapped this in for $20, found it a bit heavy to finish, but I had a bite and really enjoyed it. Probably because I'd just had two very sour dishes in a row. * Rohan duck -- juicy meat, crispy skin, nicely done. But this was the third dish in a row with the same sauce. And at that point, it started to feel a bit repetitive. A Note on the Sauces and Flavor Profile: The chefs definitely lean into a bright, sour flavor profile, especially in the Brazilian-inspired dishes. I actually enjoy sour flavors, but even for me, it started to feel like a lot, like really really sour by the end of the dining. Scallop, branzino, octopus, and duck all used a very similar yellow sauce (which I think had dende oil). It's a beautiful color and tasted great at first, but after a few dishes in a row, I found myself wishing for more variation. Maybe a little more of the Italian side to balance things out. That said, it's clear the chefs are thinking deeply about flavor, texture, and originality. It's not like I got blown away by every dish, but the creativity and intention behind the menu did stand out. And when a restaurant makes me try something totally new and it works, that's a good sign. If they rotate and adjust the menu, I'd probably come back. Extra shout-outs: * The pacing of the meal was perfect. Smooth, unhurried, and no conversation interrupted. * Our server was lovely! He's warm, attentive, and he seemed genuinely happy about we liking the food. His good energy really added to the experience. The tasting menu is $185 per person excluding drinks, tax, and tip. I'm glad I caught it early. read more

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I hope hopes of enjoying the dishes from here as it was raved about on an Instagram reel. A group of friends and I came on a Thursday afternoon to indulge in happy hour (HH). We ordered all the entrees from the HH menu minus the burger and we ordered some drinks: espresso martini, boulevardier and a rose. Our server: She really should inform herself better with the menu. She didn't know how to pronounce the name of the bourbon drink I wanted. She barely tried any of the menu items to provide recommendations and she didn't check in as frequently. I'm not sure if she was new or just had a bad day so we gave grace but I do believe that she should work on that. Our food: It's really sad to say this but the food was horrible. Absolutely disgusting. I'm really baffled that no one has given critiques to the chef. I love food and I'm aware that many people cook and season a certain way. Unfortunately, the food was dressed and plated in a beautiful way that just didn't meet taste requirements. The Caesar salad was watery. The dressing was at the bottom of the plate. The arancini bites didn't taste like anything. I felt I bit into air. The ingredients chosen in the fritters didn't pair well and I slightly tasted cheese but nothing more. The rigatoni was the best dish but overly salty. I wouldn't return as I'm not confident I'd enjoy my dining experience. read more

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The one star is for the drinks and decor. We went during happy hour and we all enjoyed our drinks, I especially loved my espresso martini. On to the food, an absolute no. Everything was either too salty, or had absolutely no flavor and it was very disappointing. The most edible item was the rigatoni vodka, but still very salty. My kohlrabi Caesar salad was resting on top of a puddle of water & dressing, 0/10. We tried every food item on the happy hour menu except for the burger and needless to say, I won't be back. Lastly, the server knew very little about what was happening on the menu. Any question we asked was either met with "I don't know" or incorrect information. Maybe she needs more training since the restaurant seems to be new. read more

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Came here with 3 other Yelp Elite ladies and we unfortunately did not enjoy our experience nor our food. 2 of the ladies arrived before me - I bought a spot hero across the street (right next to dunkin donuts). Wow was it difficult finding this place based on the direction maps gives you! I had to call my friend and she came out to get me and explain directions. The 4th did the same exact thing I did haha so it's not the easiest place to spot. The 2 stars I gave was for the espresso martinis as they were good and fairly priced for happy hour at $7. The food was a DISASTER! The arancini's were filled with a taste I can't explain but was not expecting - I shared this with my friend and she instantly said it was disgusting upon taking a bite. The tomato sauce was decent though but it still didn't mask the weird take of the balls. The fritters inside had a weird texture that was not appetizing. One lady got the caesar salad and it looked like wet paper - I wish I had a photo but just know she was disappointed. The last person ordered the pasta and instantly said it was salty- i tasted it and can absolutely attest to this! Service was mediocre as our waitress did not know what things were on the menu and you could tell she just did not want to be there. The decor gave hotel front lobby. Overall I don't think I'd return. read more

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Really fantastic meal with a group of work colleagues. The Italian/Brazilian menu had plenty of veg-friendly choices. Starters were beautiful, tasty, perfect for sharing. The Pão de Queijo is worth the short wait- delivered warm from the oven. Delicious on their own or with a slice of perfectly salted mozzarella on the side. Roasted beets were fantastic and the Caesar salad, made with long ribbons of shaved kohlrabi was amazing- a fancy improvement over the typical romaine. I shared the spaghetti shrimp scampi (yum) and branzino (even better) with a colleague. Honestly, every dish was a win. Our server was friendly and efficient, and the dining room was warm with a view of the open kitchen. Definitely recommend! read more

Enjoyed checking out the newer spot Nic & Juniors. Sat in the bar area to enjoy the open windows and atmosphere, but there also is a nice dining room. The food was all excellent, I usually never waste space on focaccia, but the girlfriend insisted we order it and it was actually worth the price and calories. The stracciatella was amazing and I'm very glad we ordered it. Definitely will go back and even consider the tasting menu. read more

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My friends and I came to Nic & Juniors to check it out after it opened. The vibes were relaxed and the service was good. We ordered a variety of drinks, small plates and mains to try. Everything was SO delicious. A few of our favorites: Espresso martini Sake south side Strawberry Negroni Mixed blessings The chicory and Caesar salads were so different from any I've had before. The pan de quiejo was delicious, the chicken parm and tater tots were both so crispy and fluffy at the same time. And you have to try the spaghetti and ragu pasta dish! We had a great night!! read more

We can't give Nic + Junior's enough praise. The service is outstanding and the staff attentive. The restaurant has two beautiful spaces--the dining room with an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs in action, and a moody, modern, yet comfortable bar area. We sat in the dining room this time, which felt stylish and inviting, with just the right atmosphere--not too loud, perfect for conversation. The food is consistently excellent, with generous portions at a fair price. We started with the pão de queijo, which was outstanding: warm, cheesy, and perfectly crisp on the outside while soft and chewy inside. If you've never had Brazilian food, this is a must-try and something everyone at the table will love. For mains, we shared the orecchiette and the burger with yuca fries--both were phenomenal. The yuca fries were especially memorable, with a thick, fluffy interior and a crispy, salty exterior. Though we were quite full, we still thoroughly enjoyed the stracciatella soft-serve affogato for dessert. The drinks were equally impressive--strong yet well-balanced with generous portions. My personal favorite was the Mixed Blessings, which was bright and refreshing. Special thanks to GM Matt for making our evening feel personalized and special. We can't wait to return and hope to see this business continue to thrive. read more

This is probably some of the worst pasta for its price and size i've ever had. And it didn't help the service wasn't good. The only positive was the ambience read more

Really nice first time visit at this new neighborhood spot. Kenneya gave great service at the bar and the food was very good. Look forward to coming back. read more

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Went for a Birthday celebration. The coursed meal was superb and the staff were fantastic- friendly - delectable food and great ambiance. Cocktails were also delicious. I've been to almost every whispered or talked about restaurant in Chicago by now and this one is top 3 instantly! read more

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We were really excited to try this spot. I agree with others that it was difficult to find- but once we did we walked in for our reservation and enjoyed the atmosphere. We sat down and the restaurant was about 1/2 full on a Friday night. We waited almost 15 minutes and no server came to our table. We asked the table next to us if they had seen their server-- they said they had not and encouraged us to leave as the food they had was not good and to go somewhere else. We waited another 5 minutes and still had no server- so we got up and left. Very disappointed-- I hope they get things figured out as service seems to be a major issue. read more

Beautiful spot just off the river - I stopped in for lunch. The food was excellent (burger and soft serve are a MUST), all of the staff was lovely and very attentive. I would recommend a visit and can't wait to come back and try the Tasting Menu + wine pairing. Their wine list is great! read more

The service was *chef's kiss* The food was amazing, the cocktails were super well curated and Scott answered every question we could think of. Everyone was super helpful and I'd recommend it to my best friend or even my worst enemy. (We all need a smile). read more

Great food, great ambiance, and some of the most welcoming staff in all of Chicago. The service along with the food here is out of this world. I've never felt so comfortable in a restaurant before in my life. I took the architecture tour and came right in here and was warmly welcomed but some of the nicest staff I've ever encountered. This place needs to be talked about more as far as top restaurants in Chicag read more

Multiple disappointments. Menu lacks legend to point to vegetarian options. They are not rookies here, all menus should have these. The only fish entree was sold out, early in the evening. Tock is supposed to be sophisticated, and when you mention you are a pescatarian, maybe the system should flag that and let you know, hey you are going to be SOL if you dine with us tonight. Had to ask for knives to eat the salad. Coffee came out well after the desert. I don't expect this place to make it. read more

Amazingly delicious food and such a fun vibe! Great location too! Highly highly recommended!

My foodie friend and I had originally planned to eat at a different restaurant that was so noisy we escaped soon after being seated. We were so glad we left because we couldn't have been happier than we were with the experience we had at Nic and Junior's. We were warmly welcomed and quickly seated in a quiet patio space that felt as if we were at a cozy restaurant in Europe. Our delightful server was charming, knowledgeable, and described each dish, guiding us a most memorable meal. We started with a passionfruit old-fashioned and moved on to a Caesar salad unlike any I have ever had. The perfectly dressed salad was served on mixed greens with a house-made dressing that was delightfully flavorful. Instead of the chunky croutons that typically come with a Caesar salad, breadcrumbs were lightly mixed into the dressing, providing a delicious crunch to accompany the brilliant tang of the dressing. This is a salad I will forever to attempt to recreate. My friend loved the plump Dungeness crab pasta that was served with a light the broth the server poured over the raviolis. I had the amazing tagliatelle, a pork ragu, which I could gladly eat at every dinner forever. In spite of being comfortably full, and receiving a small watermelon/gin cocktail gifted by the server, we decided to split a vanilla and chocolate ice cream dessert. We were further surprised when the server arrived with a heaping bowl of strawberry-rhubarb sorbet. Needless to say, we did not get through much of the sorbet, but it was the delightful end to a truly memorable meal. It was also a meal where we could hear each other and enjoy pleasant conversation. read more

Nic + Junior’s - Our vanilla ice cream with olive oil, drizzle, and chocolate shavings. - Brazilian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Beautiful new spot (such great both seating for small groups!) with even better food and cocktails. I couldn't believe they've only been open a week! The bar menu was so creative - Brazilian inspired and my favorites were the chicory salad, capicola, both pasta dishes we tried - even the burger was a surprise and delight. My friends and I tried quite a few cocktails and loved the Mixed Blessings and Strawberry Negroni. I think you'll hear everyone talking about this restaurant soon! read more

My wife and I visit Chicago 1x month. We have found the best kept secret in the city and the entire Midwest . If you can find this restaurant you'll love it. I posted a couple of months ago and went back.. a few times...happy hour was awesome. Very reasonably priced and friendly staff. We just booked NY eve.. can't wait read more

Nic + Junior's has good food and good vibes, but slow service prevented my boyfriend and I from being able to finish our dinner before needing to leave. I found Nic + Junior's because of the Eater Heat Map list and was excited to try this restaurant based on the description. The restaurant is very conveniently located near the riverfront, which was perfect considering that my boyfriend and I had scheduled to take a boat tour immediately after dinner. When we walked in for our reservation, we were seated promptly. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very nice - low lighting, good music. The restaurant looked like it had a good amount of customers, but it wasn't slammed. Our server took our drink order within about 10 minutes of us being seated. My boyfriend and I were looking for nonalcoholic drinks, but the menu only listed nonalcoholic beers for their spirit-free options. We asked our server if the bar could make a mocktail, which they did and they were good. I think the restaurant would do well to add some spirit-free options besides beer to the menu. My main problem with the restaurant was slow service. Our drink order seemed a little slow and my boyfriend and I were trying to make sure we finished dinner soon enough to walk to our boat ride 5 minutes away. So we ordered all of our food at once after drinks arrived. We ordered the apricots, the foccacia, the pork loin, the gnocchi and a side of spigarello. We received the foccacia and the apricots about 20 minutes into our seating. Both were very good. After that, we fell into kind of a "no man's land" of service. No other food was coming out. We could see our server talking to the kitchen multiple times, and at the same time, there was minimal effort by our server to check on our table or account for the delay in our order (with the exception of one time where they reupped my boyfriend's mocktail). I'm not sure where the bottleneck came from, but we didn't have much communication with our server to shed light on things. My boyfriend and I made plans to eat quickly and run to our boat tour since it seemed like we were running out of time. Still, we didn't receive our gnocchi until a little after an hour of us being seated. We let the server know we needed to go and to please bring the check, which they did. I also asked if the pork loin could be brought to us in a box since we had to go. It arrived on a plate a few minutes later and we left without it because we didn't have time to wait. I don't believe we ever saw the spigarello. Ultimately, my boyfriend paid for all of the food we ordered plus tip, even though we didn't get to enjoy one of our mains or the side. I will say the gnocchi we had was delicious. My boyfriend and I definitely own the fact that our reservation time was within 90 minutes of the time we needed to leave. However, 40 to 45 minutes of no dishes being served seems excessive. My boyfriend and I liked the food we had, but definitely left disappointed. read more

I did the tasting menu. The service was top notch. The food presentation, flavors and quality was PHENOMENAL. Five-star experience.

I loved this place. Pasta was very fresh and meals tasted very good! The tiramisu was the star of the show. I will go back for that alone.

One of the best meals I've ever had. The food, ambience, and service were all excellent. Everyone in our party raved about it especially the special bread. We will definitely be back! read more

The atmosphere and whole vibe was excellent comfortable service. The food was incredible. Incredible blends of flavor.

Had dinner at Nic & Juniors on a perfect Chicago evening. We were honored to meet the chef, Junior, in person, who came out to speak with us and recommended some exceptional dishes. It's a gem. Thank you to all the staff who gave us a wonderful experience. read more

Decided not to eat here after not being served at the bar for 20min. Bartender was overwhelmed, but a martini with a twist of lime is a tad unheard of. read more

The snow crab claw had a little kick from the peppercorn chilis, and the crispy potato with sturgeon caviar was a nice starchy salty dish went beautifully with the wine. The dadinho had iberico lardo, and really just melted in your mouth. The pizelle for gras was also so rich and my favorite from the beginning courses. Then some seafood which we first had the smoked scallop, it was dissolving on the tongue, just incredible. The branzino course was great and flavorful too. We chose one of each to try each others pastas. My garganelli pasta had octopus that was soft and the pasta itself resembled a stew-like flavor. Malia's spaghetti was creamy and I loved the caviar in there too. The Rohan Duck was delicious and salty skin always gets me to food heaven. The A5 Wagyu Picanha was one of the best meats I've ever had. The wagyu just melted, and the wagyu is from Mizayaki Japan showcasing its glorious marbling. The End consisted of 3 desserts starting with the olive oil cake was remarkable, the dark chocolate dessert had a nice crunch, and last but not least the mini cone was smooth and there was a little surprise at the bottom that was fun. The service was exceptional too. read more

It was spectacular. Maurice generously found my son and I a quiet place to talk, drink and dine in the comfortable, warm decor of Tasting Room overlooking the kitchen, which filled as the evening progressed. We had a couple of perfect Old Fashioned to start, then put our experience in Scott's knowledgable and hospitable hands. Three elegant starters: caviar toast, crab claws, amazing ravioli, with an Austrian white. We split a gorgeous, light/rich housemate pasta dish. Entree time: they all read great, but we made the brilliant decision of ending by splitting the Double Cheeseburger -- one of the great burgers of both our experiences -- with an easy pinot. They've only been around in the shadow of Wrigley and Trump for three weeks, but they've got it. Go. read more

Went here a few days after it opened and immediately came back a week later. The food was incredible and really reasonable for the quality you get. Service was also excellent and very attentive. read more

Wonderful meal with creative, exciting and absolutely delicious dishes and friendly, attentive service. Our new favorite restaurant in Chicago! read more

Nic & Juniors is hands down my new favorite spot in Chicago. Every cocktail and every dish we ordered was the absolute best. The Southside cocktail, cheeseburger & tots, and tagliatelle were some of my favorites. And the Pan de queijo is the perfect snack to have with a cocktail, they are magical bites of pure heaven. The ambience was perfection, good vibes all around. Excellent service. I can't wait to come back! read more