Hit all the marks for me: the food was fresh, the owner as our serve made it intimate, and the neighborhood customers gave it a local gem vibe. Our service never faltered - I fully intend to be back to try something new. This place has been on the map for over 20 years and for a good reason. Thank you, Gillespie for a wonderful experience! read more

A true Sicilian restaurant! So if old school authentic Sicilian food is your game stop right here Is it fancy ? Nah Is is hip ? Nah Is it the latest fad .. nope It's just a very passionate owner who loves his small and intimate kingdom. Proud to be a restauranteur and proud of his heritage, Nico is a delightful man who insists on pleasing his customers We started with a beautiful glass of multpuiciano generously poured. Before indulging into the perfectly prepared artichoke stuffed with seasoned breadcrumbs and olive oil. We also had the eggplant rollatini with goat cheese instead of ricotta! Nice switch For dinner we opted for the linguine vongole perfectly Al dente with tiny clams oh so sweet! Dessert was one of the best crème beloved had outside of a French restaurant Service very attentive and Nico is truly a character! Go! Experience a true Sicilian kitchen it's not a chain or a formulaic bore. Priced reasonably and fair read more

Unfortunately didn't love the food/experience here as much as I was hoping for as this was recommended to me. Perhaps just an off night? I got the white truffle gnocchi which was highly advertised/recommended to us, and while it was fine I was hoping for a stronger truffle flavor, and the texture of the gnocchi wasn't bad. The flavor was potato forward, and they're on the larger side - think large American-style "dumplings," as it were in texture and flavor. I wondered if this was a creative spin on gnocchi or if it were more traditional; my Italian friend (showed him the picture I took) noted that traditional gnocchi is smaller & has little indentations on it. Doesn't mean this way is wrong, just that I wasn't imagining what we got when we ordered it. They are more golf-ball size here. I will say texture wasn't bad though, they said it would be like biting into a cloud which I could see why they said that. Also got the appetizer caprese, but didn't find the basil flavor all that powerful and think it could have benefited from a glaze of some kind. By the way, there's a $40 minimum per person. And, if you look at the other negative reviews some mention feeling uncomfortable if you do not fit a certain type of clientele. I and my friend did feel this vibe as well, feeling a bit ignored and unwelcome when comparing our experience to the few other tables adjacent. read more

Nica Trattoria - White Truffle Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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I would not come to this restaurant. It's clearly a price gouging place that has no desserts on the menu so they can arbitrarily charge you $18 each. The coffee was also $8. A BLACK COFFEE. They wanted us to tip before we showed the receipt. Honestly, there's a reason why they don't have a dessert menu. They want to rip you off and it would be your fault because you didn't ask. If you go to any other Italian restaurants around the corner, most desserts are max $14 (and there's a menu) It's such a shame because this restaurant could've been so good. But it left such a bad taste in my mouth I'm never coming back. There was also hair in my food. read more

Nica Trattoria - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

Recommended cash only establishment. Came here during Christmas week and it's a small but mighty Italian restaurant. Very limited tables, I'd recommend calling for a reservation. Our group of 3 got a few appetizers to share and pasta to share as well. I recommend the penne alla vodka pasta but the ragu rigatoni and the linguini with clams were also very solid. Wine selection is great. read more

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My 3rd time at NIca Trattoria. Really delicious Sicilian food. We went on a Sunday and it was early enough he recited the specials to the entire room. Very cozy and not a lot of tables, so reserve early. The gnocchi are perhaps the lightest I've ever had. We had 3 pasta dishes and they all arrived with a perfect degree of toothiness. The owner is a character and service is prompt. They also do corkage. They used to be cash only. They now accept credit cards but they prefer 1 card for the table. Highly recommended. read more

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This place appeared like a mirage to us one night, and we decided to give it a try sans reservation. We got a table quickly in the very cozy front of the house. In warmer weather, it looks as though the front opens--which probably helps. The owner/chef (I assume) was in the dining room providing hospitality and personality, which we really enjoyed. My only real issue was the food, which was only fair. There were four of us this night, so I was able to sample a little of everything. Some dishes were alright, some completely lacked any seasoning whatsoever. My bolognese was almost completely without flavor aside from tomato. They do have some nice wines available, and some of the appetizers were fairly good. On this visit they had fresh figs and prosciutto, which was absolutely delicious. All in all, I wished the food had been more even and had lived up the our host's hospitality. This is a neighborhood spot, and I'm sure a lot of people go just because he creates such a warm atmosphere. Would love to give them another try in the future. read more

Yesterday my son and I had a experience at the restaurant. It's a small but very cozy Italian restaurant on and managed by the owner. The food was amazing. The appetizers, the dinner option and the dessert were superb. A must go for a great meal. read more

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You have not had amazing gnocchi until you've had it here! Nica Trattoria makes the most wonderful truffle cream gnocchi that will make your taste buds soar. It's from the heavens. Pillowy soft. Melt in your mouth. Like eating a cloud of deliciousness. It's that good. The taste is amazing. In fact, everything here is beyond good. The service and hospitality is well above par. The food is served up warm, authentic, and with love. The owner is a funny and caring man. Now this is authentic Italian done right. We have dined here a bunch of times and gravitate to the same plates which we enjoy. The pastas, artichokes, and desserts. Nice wine list too. It's a small spot so reservations are a must. You won't be rushed once you're eating. It's not really cheap but worth it for a very enjoyable dinner. You'll leave content and happy. Then dream about that gnocchi. read more

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Nica Trattoria is a little gem on the Upper East Side. My wife and I have eaten here many times over the years. We have been tomMichelin starred restaurants in Sicily, Florence, Rome etc Bologna. I'd put the food here up against any of those. The eggplant rollatini is a standout with homemade marinara sauce as is the gnochi with truffle gargonzola. The proprietor Guiseppi is a great host whose recital of the daily specials is highly memorable. Only wine and beer so no Negronis . A truly special place for a wonderful dinner! read more

The best guy, the best team, the best gnocchi. Always my favorite. I couldn't love this place more. We spent my dad's 70th here. Anytime he visits, we make time for Nica. ‍ read more

Nica Trattoria - My dad, his sig o and the chef extraordinaire! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

As someone who is a performer, I appreciate what this place is going for. The eccentric "owner/chef" (trust me, he has a SAG-AFTRA card) treats you like royalty, even though he never saw you before. You open the menu and see a bevvy of alleged daily specials. The Chef recites everything, to the point you want to search for a baguette to shut him up. Overkill! (The daily specials are regular items, for there is no way this "chef" could remember all of the items.) We had a 7pm reservation and the VERY small space was not full yet. I enjoyed my artichoke app and my friend's stuffed mushrooms were really good. My friend smartly went for the orecchiette with broccoli rabe and sausage while I stupidly chose linguine with white clam sauce. The clams were cockles - which I knew in advance - and so small that this was basically linguine drowned in oil. Worst, I like cheese on this. I know, I know. Cheese is frowned upon on anything with seafood and the zombie-like waiter would not give me any. I summoned the Circus Master who was not pleased. He called me weird and finally relented by giving me a tablespoon of cheese on a plate. A huge portion if it was cocaine, but not enough for my pasta. He made me feel uncomfortable. I ate recently at one of the best Italian restaurant's in Las Vegas - Piero's - and had the best linguine with clams ever. They did not make a federal case when I asked for cheese. This was Jerry Lewis' local hangout where "Casino" was filmed. What a great time. Nica's is pretty shabby in comparison to that or any other decent Italian restaurant in NYC. The only bright spots? Come 8pm, the placed was packed. We had a charming young married couple next to us who appreciated our joke that we had already heard Act 1 of the buffoon. We chatted some more, so maybe there is something to say about close tables. But not again. I do not like being on top of strangers. I want a table of my own tucked in corner preferably. When the best thing we ate was dessert - the chocolate mousse - you know the joint has a problem. Oh, and no cocktails. Only beer and wine. And even that they could not get right. My friend wanted a non-alcoholic beer and they were clueless whether they had any. Eventually they found one. Oh, and they only take cash. A real shit show, sorry. When I left this Bunuel like experience (except I got fed) $200 later, I felt ripped off and sad. This is not a good place. read more

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Had an awesome dinner- great authentic Italian food. Recommend the Caesar salad, the vongole, and the bolognese. Service was great. Awesome wine selection. Place does not have a lot of seating so make sure to make a reservation. Recommend for Italian food in the area. read more

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This restaurant is worth a trip to the Upper East Side. But also perfect for dinner after a day at the museum Guiseppe is a riot. His truffle gnocchi is one of the best pasta dishes in New York City. If you don't already love gnocchi, this dish will make you love gnocchi. But only his gnocchi. Because it is the best. The Casesar salad is also the best in the city. His dressing is home made. And perfectly balanced. The artichoke is also perfect. Everything Guiseppe recommends is worth eating. The restuarant is small. So make a reservation. . read more

Had a wonderful dining experience at Nica Trattoria- Chef Nica selected our meal as my niece is a vegetarian.... Everything was delicious! Do yourself a favor and stop by! read more

Nica Trattoria - Vegetarian appetizers! Eggplant was Sooo good. Chef Nica chose our meal!!! Amazing! - Italian Near Me - New York, New York

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I feel like I'm in Moonstruck! Sometimes it's heavy on the salt. Typical prices for UES Italian, but great by uptown standards! Would not say the same if it was in a more densely populated restaurant area. I always leave with a clean plate and a little happier. read more

Magical Italian dinner- Best gnocchi I have ever had in a restaurant! Tiny spot with authentic old school Italian playlist a little louder than usual but appropriate for the vibe. No host is better than Giuseppe. I will certainly be back with my entire Italian family read more

we were literally in italy for the duration of dinner idk. giuseppe was super friendly and gave great recs! pasta was a little pricey but the restaurant is cozy and cute so i think it was worth. the mushroom pasta was sooo good and shreya really liked the cavatelli pesto! tiramisu was delicious, i'd go back just to try all their desserts read more

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My fave Italian cuisine experience this side of the Mediterranean. Roasted cauliflower is my fave among many outstanding appetizer. I'm guilty of sticking to the robust pasta Puttanesca for main course and the Tiramisu is exceptional. The atmosphere is warm, service impeccable and the host wonderfully entertaining. Note: Cash, only n read more

I just had a TERRIBLE experience here. Many many things that prove this chef is just greedy. First, he tried to get me to order a special - a $30 entree and asked multiple times if I wanted an appetizer. Then the service took forever - to get my order, bring the bill, get my payment - I understand the pasta is made to order and takes time but the other parts of the experience shouldn't take a long time. And once my pasta was brought out I was on a business call and the chef tried to interrupt me multiple times. In the end, I was irritated about how slow the service was and then I gave my card for payment and the server asked me how I was tipping and I told him 15%. My bill for one pasta and one Diet Coke was $33. $6 FOR A DIET COKE CAN. Is this the Ritz?! I wanted to leave a $4 tip and he asked if I said to make the total $40 and I said no. Then the bill was brought out and it was a $7 tip with $40 total. I told him this was wrong. Then the old chef came out and said the "menu says the minimum spend is $40" which I didn't see once in the menu. And then told me "$7 was a 20% tip and everyone leaves a 20% tip" and I told him I didn't want to because I didn't have a good experience. He proceeded to try and argue with me. I have never been treated so poorly at a restaurant by someone who is so greedy and arrogant. I will never go here again and feel like I was cheated out of money and owed money back. ALSO THE FOOD WASNT EVEN GOOD. I could have ordered takeout for less money and better food. AWFUL. DO NOT GO HERE. GO TO LUNA ROSSA AROUND THE BLOCK. read more

Nica Trattoria is an experience! Came in here with a group of friends for dinner and fell in love with the dinner service. Not only is every dish here outstanding, Giuseppe the chef is truly the star of the show. The dishes he recommended for us were all insanely good and truly memorable. Not sure if they're still cash only, but check before going! read more

I've been to Nica numerous times. The owner was very nasty and when I placed an order to go he gave me the wrong dish. My friend who was eating with me is highly allergic to almonds and pine nuts and they gave her the wrong dish which included both nuts. She almost had to go to hospital. When telling the owner or the gentleman in charge he said why do you panic. He did not care about the allergy at all. The service is horrible. read more

Ordered from here as its close to us and we've been looking for a new go to favorite Italian place. Some of the best bolognese we've ever had (split this & the penne alla vodka). The prices were reasonable for the generous portions. We will definitely be going here in person next time! read more

They completely messed up my order had to go back three times. While they did correct it they failed to acknowledge the mess up or apologize. Oh and to top it off they served me something I was highly allergic to. While their food may be good....I'd stick to Napoli food instead of Sicily...they may accidentally kill you. read more

THE CLOUDSSSSS try the truffle clouds you won't be upset i promise love the place, v authentic read more

Really wanted to like this place, but have to say the experience was not for me. We came here because my boyfriend loves gnocchi and we had heard good things about theirs. Found out the place was cash only and asked about an ATM on site, but was directed to one around the corner-- not a crazy deal breaker, but I think in 2020 if you're going to be a cash only place in NYC that enforces a $40 minimum per person... maybe have an ATM on site? Service here is... strange? You have one person taking your drink orders and then another actually taking your food order? Ok sure. After taking our time to decide our drink choice and food choice we ordered a bottle of wine with who we thought was our server and tried to order our entrees, but was then told our sever would be with us to take our order. Server arrives and was this guy we observed earlier chatting up and laughing with other tables when we first arrived. Based on reviews, I think this guy was the chef? We tell him this is our first time here and he responds with excitement about telling us what this place is all about. So I think "Oh, nice. We're going to get some really awesome service and leave super happy and laughing like those other people." Nope. Attempted to order, but was cut off. Server then proceeds to recite by memory all of the specials and appetizers -- basically reading the menu (all of this was listed). I get the novelty around this, but it honestly went on for an awkward amount of time especially given the fact that we already had our menus for 30+ minutes and ordered drinks already. Maybe it was the wine, but my eyes started to glaze over a bit. When we finally get to order, he asks us if we'd like an appetizer and I politely decline as I wasn't super hungry at the time (late lunch). He then proceeds to ask my bf the same and he had to decline twice as the sever kept pushing us to share one. Honestly, we didn't appreciate being made to feel bad about not ordering appetizers. Bf got his gnocchi and I got the mushroom truffle pasta and the food was really good. Unfortunately, we got pretty much no attention afterwards and my bf pointed out the server/chef-man visited and chatted up every table except ours after. This is a small place so it really left us feeling like a second rate table. Didn't help that we were seated in the dark at the boondocks with world's smallest table. Needless to say we skipped out on dessert because we just wanted to leave at this point. Some might find this place charming, but I feel like if you don't fit a certain profile of clientele you really get treated differently. We had a good laugh about it after, but we won't be back. There are plenty of great Authentic Italian places in the UES with food just as good that don't force an "experience" on you. tl;dr: Cash Only. Food was good. Condescending staff. Maybe get takeout instead (if they even offer it) read more

The food is fantastic, specifically the gnocchi in the white truffle sauce. The owner is wonderful, engaging, funny, truly makes it an experience. This is my favorite place to go for a special occasion. read more

A small, authentic Italian restaurant run by a charismatic owner originally from Sicily. Shared the Caponata and Gnocchi with a Gorgonzola sauce as starters and a delicious fillet of sole with a lemon and caper sauce accompanied by perfectly cooked broccoli. Shared a delicious Tiramisu to end a perfect meal. read more

My bad, I did not realize they were cash only. When I made reservations, that probably should have been brought up. But I had to be a big shot and tell the owner that I had dined their previously when asked. This a an Italian restaurant that has a Sicilian chef that is friendly and accomaditing. The dining room has limited tables, and the restaurant can be somewhat tight when seated. But that all does not matter whatsoever because the chef can really provide you a dining experience that you will not forget. We had the muscles and cauliflower as appetizers, and I had the home made pappardelle pasta with mushrooms. What a wonderful delicious meal. We had also cannoli for dessert which was the best we ever had. Why? Because they were not sugary sweet, just perfect. Just one issue seem to present itself. We had an early seating, and the chef's partner was making some of us feel anxious by rushing us through dinner. I get it, he did not know us and was afraid we might make it a four hour tour. I don't care, the meal was fabulous, but I will next time take the later seating. read more

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I have dined here at least 6+ times in the past and have always spent $250+. Tonight I was in the area and wanted to grab a quick casual bite. My friend wasn't feeling well and was not eating. I ordered 2 dishes and a glass of wine. We were informed that they were out of the polenta and that we needed to spend $80. I told them that I would pay for the glass of wine that they had served me but that they were being rude and that we would go ahead and leave. I will never go back. I would rate this experience 0 stars if I could. The carpaccio had no flavor whatsoever. read more

Authentic, friendly and neighborly, Nica Trattoria is your local restaurant often filled with regulars. Currently all outdoor seating, Giuseppe takes good care of his customers. Extensive menu, delicious food and a welcoming host, this is where you want to be. read more

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Save, I dunno, Italy, you haven't had gnocchi until you have some here. First things first, making a reservation. I call in and score a res for 4 of us on a Saturday night. He says something along the lines of you got it and I'll call you or you call me to confirm. I knew we were in for a treat. Day of, I called and left a message which he returned saying hey, come on in I'm opening a little early. OKAY! The classic Sicilian trattoria is COZY with maybe 8 tables. Immediately welcomed, you feel like you're home in the best way possible. Coats were taken and hung, and we were immediately seated. The CAULIFLOWER TORTINO was out of this world. The ARTICHOKE was standard but good. Can't go wrong by ordering the CAPRESE e PROSCIUTTO... I mean, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes & prosciutto. Yum. The GNOCCHI is something straight from heaven. They are soft pillows and melt in your mouth nearly immediately. The gorgonzola cream sauce we selected was phenomenal. It's as though all previously eaten gnocchi (elsewhere) has been some sort of joke; a poorly-executed simulation of what gnocchi CAN be. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. For some reason, I ordered the VEAL CHOP MILANESE as my main dish instead of pasta like everyone else, but I'm sort of glad I did. It was delicious. Perfectly breaded, seasoned, and covered in a mound of chopped green beans and tomatoes. It was a dish I'd never had before so it was an adventure in expanding my horizons (said the girl who eats sweetbreads and the like). That said, I snagged a bite of the SPAGHETTI CARBONARA and it too was fantastically creamy and dotted with pancetta. Passing on the solid recommendation, should you find yourself in Manhattan, head to the upper east side. It'll be worth the journey. Oh, and bring CASH - no credit cards accepted. I've seen a lot of mentions about it being expensive... but I didn't think so. Maybe it's the Silicon Valley in me or simply eating at/supporting really good local restaurants, but dishes ran $15-40. Pasta dishes were all about $17. The value is definitely present. I will 100% return time and time again when in New York. It's now one of my favorite restaurants. read more

This restaurant is wonderful. The food is great. The owner is great. The staff is great. The food is great again. It's cash only. Who cares. Small restaurants like this.. where the owner will come chat at your table... they're disappearing everywhere. Enjoy them while you can. read more

So far my favorite Italian restaurant on upper east side ! Great food and great service/ what else we should escocer from restaurant:) Small place but it has the magic atmosphere where not even fancy places don't have it! In your first step you would feel you "are at the right place" ... enjoy ..... read more

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The absolute best food I've had in the area in SO long!! Also the best staff and owner lol

This is to this day (not to say that it won't change tomorrow), my favorite 'authentic' Italian in the UES. It is very small, only 8 tables, cozy, hole in the wall feel. The chef, staff, host, owner are friendly, talkative, informative, and it seems everyone has been going there for a long time. It transports you to feeling that you are truly in Italy, which is a rare occurrence for NYC. The restaurant is cash only, which adds to the authenticity. The menu is small, and also talks about the history of its Sicilian origins how authentic the restaurant is. I am on the hunt for the best gnocchi in the city, and to this day, I have found the best gnocchi here. Right here in the UES. It is soft, pillows, billowy, melts in my mouth. It is heaven. This is your classic, authentic, italian that people travel all over the world to NYC to try. It is absolutely worth whatever it takes to find yourself at a table here. read more

Nica Trattoria serves Sicilian & Italian food with many daily specials. They have affordable wine list. Open for dinner only. Dining area is very limited, reservation is required. They only accepts Cash. Giuseppe Nicolosi is the chef, takes care of everybody's excellent dishes and chatting, singing with his guests when he is out of his kitchen. Such a entertainer!!! He also bakes bread served in his restaurant. The gnocchi are famous. Texture is like clouds. We ordered it with truffle and cream sauce. They were just heavenly. Other dishes were all good. Service was great and very attentive. Dining room is very tiny, cramped and packed. But I'm craving for that gnocchi already! read more

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Enjoyed a delicious dinner outside for our first time at Nica. All meals are made to order and the bread you could tell was from scratch. The staff is *wonderful*. Very attentive and so welcoming. A true NYC neighborhood restaurant where they introduce themselves and want to know your name. Can't wait to go back! (It is cash only but plenty of ATMs nearby) read more

My first time here but certainly not my last. My wife and I came here to celebrate her birthday. We needed to be in the upper east side for an event later that evening and chose this restaurant because it was nearby. Of course all the positive reviews were part of the the reason we came. And now I understand why it has so many great reviews. The food was fantastic! Everything was great. As others have said the gnocchi was phenomenal. It truly melts in your mouth. And the pork chops were juicy and delicious and very tasty. There is a decent wine list and the price is are fair. New York City has thousands of Italian restaurants but this one truly stands apart from the crowd. read more

Amazing Italian restaurant that transports you right to Italy. The food is beyond delicious, and the service is so friendly and warm. The ambience is cozy and lovely. I honestly cannot recommend this place highly enough! I rarely leave reviews, but this place is really wonderful. And yes, the gnocchi is next level! read more