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! read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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 read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - The food is good and almost gone - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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! read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

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. read more

Food was greatttttt the wings were a perfect blend of spicy but a lil sweetness to it. The crab cakes were good not the best but def werent bad at all the salmon was great! Seasoned perfectly and it was topped off with a refreshing drink from a great bartender name Fadi. He made me a ginger margarita that will have u wanting more and more. read more

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Sat at the bar - neat scotch (5) for me side car (4) and buffalo wings for my wife(5). Ambience is great and sophisticated with a Newark style welcome. Great view of the water right outside and easy parking. read more

Has a reservation yet waited to be seated. Waited another 15 min for waitress. Ordered Pinot red wine & gnocchi w shrimp. Arrived quickly as I'd asked. Skimpy portion. Few shrimp or asparagus found. No spoon for souping up tasty sauce. $19 for gnocchi. $11 for Pinot. read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - Gnocchi w shrimp & vegetables - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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. read more

We stopped at Nico after work for a happy hour celebration for a co-worker's birthday. I can't comment on the food, but the place is beautiful inside-beautiful decor and furniture. As others have said, I don't think you could possibly go wrong by stopping in for a drink or a meal before an NJPAC event. When we arrived at about four, the place was empty and we were the only ones there for about an hour. The bartenders and the manager were great and attentive (well, even when there were OTHERS to attend to they were still attentive). Simple happy hour specials were $4 drafts (not quite the $3 drafts at some other places, but we also weren't drinking swill). One of my coworkers mentioned that the off-menu drink prices for happy hour are steep so you may want to check with the bartender before ordering. I'll be back soon so I can try their food...the reviews are great! And if I can walk to it rather than having to find parking it's a bonus read more

Overall: Good food, professional and attentive service, parking available. Went to Nico's for the first time for a business meeting during a weekday afternoon. It's connected to the NJ PAC in Newark and has Seperate parking for the restaurant which is convenient. Atmosphere/ Service: Given that this was a weekday with no performance going on, the restaurant didn't have many diners and we were able to have a good conversation in a quiet atmosphere. The waiter was professional, attentive and helpful. Food: The food was delicious as well. I ordered the Margherita Pizza, which is a hearty size and can be shared with two people. The pizza was very tasty, with fresh cheese, and the right balance of crispy and chewy-ness to it. For dessert, I ordered the Peanut Butter and Jelly Yodel, which is a unique twist to the Little Debbie's childhood cakes. There's a blonde sponge layer rolled with a layer of Peanut Butter and Jelly, with whipped cream and blueberries and strawberries on the side. This was my favorite part of the meal and would certainly recommend trying it! Overall had a great experience here and would come back for another meeting during a weekday when there isn't a show going on. read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - Peanut Butter and Jelly Yodel, with Whipped Cream and Blueberries and Strawberries on the side. - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Check in and get a free drink! What a fun surprise =) Keys the bartender makes one damn good cosmo! Definitely order that. Other than the great drink the rest of the bar is pretty nice. Wish I was able to try some food - maybe next time. read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - Cosmo compliments of yelp for checking in!!!!! Shout out to Keys our bartender! - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Meh, gave this place a second shot before a performance and we once again disappointed with the food quality. I had the short rib with rice and it was so dry...and not good. I will make sure to try another local restaurant the next time. Fool me once...but fool me twice... read more

Nico is a hidden gem for Newark business professionals. It's not as if the place is hard to find, or not visible. It's located right at NJ PAC and there is a giant sign out front, but I get the impression people think it's only open for business when there's a show in town. I typically go here with a group of co-workers on Friday afternoons. They run happy hour during the week from 4-7. $4 drafts, $5 wine, and $6 cocktails. They also do great pizzas and other happy hour appetizers. The rice balls with saffron aioli are phenomenal. We usually get Keys as our bartender. The guy is one of the best bartenders to ever serve me. He's friendly, helpful, prompt, and attentive, and he makes the best damn sidecar I've ever had. To quote Frank "The Tank" from "Old School," "once it hits your lips, it's so good!" read more

Super dope spot!!! Nice ambiance. Went there for dinner and drinks before a concert and sat at the bar. Fadi is my new favorite bartender!! Nice drinks and my wife loved the chocolate martini.... we'll be back!!! BTW .. filet mignon, wings and pizza.... awesome! read more

Very nice spot to have a nice meal before an event at NJPAC or just for a night on the town. It's a lot bigger than I expected. Lots of seating, a room in the back that can accommodate a medium to large party and a large bar with TV's. It's very new looking and the decor is modern. I was very impressed with the service. Friendly staff and attentive. The food was very good as well. I sampled the crab cake and their pizza. Both were very good. I enjoyed the quattro formaggi over the margherita. The crab cake was melt in your mouth and very fresh. About the location: Getting here is not very difficult. The area is safe and they do have parking. I would recommend dinner before an event here. It's also not far from the Prudential Center. Their prices aren't too bad either. read more

We went into the Resturant, a hostess saw me and grabbed the menu. But when we told her we are with baby, she said it is all booked. The Resturant were almost EMPTY!!! So we left and called them to make a reservation for 4 adults now, they said that the table are available. They are so BABY haters! My baby was just quiet and sleeping in stroller. They don't have to LIE to us. If they just told us no baby, we would've understand. I am never using this place for private or company parties. read more

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

Beautiful restaurant and surprisingly convenient to get there. I was a little unsure of what the parking situation would be, with Nico being downtown and part of the Arts Center, but there was ample parking, both for NJPAC and two rows of parking for just Nico's. The interior is spacious and elegantly modern. The wait staff was very attentive, cordial and friendly. I came here for an event so reviews are on the served appetizers and desserts. My favorite by far was the Crab Cake slider with bacon!! Amazingly good! We also had lobster mac and cheese, prosciutto lettuce wraps, an assortment of mini pizzas, an octopus pasta dish ... all delicious. Cocktails were very good; I had the blood orange ginger martini which was very refreshing and had a good kick to it. White chocolate macadamia mousse for dessert ... great way to top off the meal! It's been a while since I have been in Newark, usually because of transportation logistics or lack of upscale dining options. But I would happily return to Nico's for a special evening out after this experience! read more

Good food and nice server. Happy hour portions are kinda small, but not sure how the area compares as I'm visiting for the first time. We got the wings (6) and pizza. read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - HH wings - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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Fantastic spot to grab a drink before a show at NJPAC, but be forewarned that it will be crowded. We didn't have time to stop and eat, but did see that the restaurant beyond the bar was quite crowded and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Beautiful upscale decor with a glimpse into NJPAC. I wouldn't wear jeans and a pair of sneakers here. Bit more of an older mature crowd in a lovely setting. read more

Great pre-theatre option at NJPAC. My sister and I grabbed dinner at the bar before catching the Indigo Girls and Folk Rock Matriarch Joan Baez. We didn't have a reservation but there were seats at the bar which was IMO a more enjoyable experience. The servers were very nice. We each had a glass of white wine and a fish entree. Both were prepared expertly and the fish cooked spot on, moist and not overdone. The sauces and accompaniments also paired nicely. This place won't knock your socks off but it is a nice pre-theatre destination and is certainly worth a visit. read more

Attached to NJPAC. Super convenient if going to an event there. Sharp place and good vibe. Not very large. Nice local menu with good microbrew selection Service is friendly as well polite but SUPER SLOW!! Food was okay. Solid but definitely not mind-blowing by any means Overall if you're going to an event not a bad choice just be sure to allow ample time read more

I've only been to Nico's for my firm's holiday parties (been to 2 so far), so I can't exactly speak to the typical dining experience, but I'd have to say that the staff has consistently been attentive and polite and with the accompanying food and drink generally appealing to all palettes. They put out some very decent hummus and guacamole spreads, and their carving station maintains a steady line. Atmosphere is not super foofy or stuffy, so you feel a bit more at ease to relax and pretend it's not a 'firm event'. All in all..consistently pleasant experiences, if in the area, I wouldn't be opposed to stopping in for a sit-down. read more

We went back to Nico last night and the meal was nearly as good as the concert (Yuja Wang, brilliant young pianist). The appetizers were roasted beets with goat cheese croquettes and cheese platter with Mimolette, caraway chêvre, and a rich brie. Wine was a delicious Valpolicella. The lamb shanks were fabulous, the glâce d'agneau was perfect, and the duck breast with apricot farotto was very tasty. Desserts were also quite good and our server was perfect! We are so much more impressed than we were a year ago! Want to go back. - - - We went to Nico before a concert last Friday. Pre-concert you get 3 courses for a $42 prix fixe price. Two of us started with the Duo of Fowl which was really good - a few "coins" of duck sausage and a couple of tablespoons of chicken liver "foie gras" which was pretty convincing. My wife ordered Duo of Tartare which involved salmon and tuna, both more or less not recognizable, didn't enjoy. For entrees, I ordered the Tagliatelle with short rib ragout. Good texture but too tomatoey. My wife ordered the duck which was very tender but the tomato confit was a bit undercooked, it should be melting. Our friend ordered the salmon which was the winner, crispy outside, very tender inside, and rich in flavor. We will return but will order different dishes. This was the first night for their winter menu and there are many choices that look intriguing. We ordered all three desserts and none were worth mentioning. Corkage is not allowed -- why not? Frog and Peach allows it for $25 per bottle. Anyway the wine list runs toward a low end of $35 and higher around $80, with some super high end choices. I ordered a NZ Pinot Noir which was very primary but OK with the food. Would have given 3.5 stars for service, we were ignored for nearly 30 minutes but we did make the start of the performance at 8:00, and once we got started the service was good. I posted pictures of our entrees. read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - Roasted beet appetizer with chêvre croquettes - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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After the concert at NJPAC we were hungry and figured why not it's close. I can honestly say from the stellar service (Surayyah) to the amazing food I WILL be coming back. Gnocchi and shrimp was amazing!!! Highly recommend this gem of Newark! read more

Excellent place to eat before a show at NJPAC. Service was Impeccable! Wine kept flowing. Food was tasty, though a bit pricey, but we can't complain. We gladly paid. The desserts were great. The main meal, Filet Mignon with Juicy Lobster, although a bit small for $20 additional charge, and the Beef spare ribs were well prepared. Jersey sweet corn made with Rocoto sauce was tasty. Demi Glace for Filet Mignon was classic- excellent execution! Our Server/Waitress was Outstanding! I wish I could remember her name. All around , it was a wonderful meal experience. The ambience is lovely! read more

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My co-workers and I had an after work meeting here on a weekday night. I have been here during the day for lunch, and it was nothing compared to that. We ordered a bunch of apps that consisted of calamari, brussel sprouts and margarita pizzas. The margarita pizza was not good-- the bread was hard and the sauce was bland. The brussel sprouts were very good! They were crunchy, sweet and tasty. I don't eat fish, so I did not have the calamari first hand, but my co-workers said that they liked it. We all ordered wine or beer, so their selections was pretty good. The waitress was very nice and attentive. Overall, I think Nico is way over priced for the quality of food that they have; there are far better places to eat in downtown Newark. If you want to convenience for NJPAC then Nico is great for proximity. read more

A few other reviewers have the same sentiment that I do toward this place: MEH. My daughters had tickets to an event on Saturday night, and my husband and I decided to dine here while the girls enjoyed their show. We walked in just as the show started, at 7:30 pm. As we walked in and were seated, we were handed one, very large menu. As soon as we began to peruse it, the manager came over, and handed us the bar menu, and apologized, stating that once the performance began, the bar menu was all that was available. Hum. Ok. The menu featured mainly appetizers, and there was little to choose from. However, we honestly felt stuck, since our girls had a 2 hour 15 min show ahead of them. We settled in, had some pizza and a burger. The food was just ok. The pizza was somehow both soggy and crispy, with very bland sauce. My husband enjoyed his burger, so that might be the winner on the bar menu. We ordered desserts, and those were nice-- creme brulee and a chocolate mousse cake, with coffees. Both deserts were delicious, and we enjoyed that aspect of our meal very much. Overall, service was ok. The servers were friendly, but the abrupt change in menu threw us off. We had an ok time, but wouldn't return unless for another evening performance for our children. read more

Notwithstanding the posted hours and services, this restaurant remains closed as of 18 August (verified with phone call) read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - Restaurant remains closed as of 18 August - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

After a ridiculous 24 hr nor'easter travel Nightmare, we stumbled into this great spot and met the best bartender ever! 5 stars for Nico's and 10 stars for Fadi! Go see him!! read more

I went for a business lunch with my co-workers. Selection was minimal. Food quality and service were below par. My Kale Caesar Salad had 90% Romaine lettuce and only 10% kale. The added salmon did not taste fresh so I skipped it. Salad portion size was tiny and unsatisfying. As for service, a few minutes after our waiter took our orders, another offered us menus. If you are eating ag Nico's, Mu co-the portabella sandwich and pizza look more appealing. This restaurant has a nice modern ambiance but the it does not make up for the mediocre food. read more

This restaurant, which is inside NJPAC, and, I believe, largely operates around the venue's performance schedule was disappointing in terms of menu items: the night I dined there, they did not serve items advertised on their online menu. The meal was fine; dessert and coffee superb. Limited vegetarian options. read more

Nico Kitchen & Bar - My first time dining here. Seeing Michael Carbonaro at 7pm. - New American Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

I called at noon today to make a reservation for 1pm. I called 7 times before I got an answer. Then the host transfered me to the events coordinator? The events coordinator transfered me back to the restaurant. Both confused. It's lunch for 11 people. Not a wedding party. I do events coordination at metlife and prudential down the street and wanted to treat my team to a nice lunch. It sounds like a mess over the phone. We ended up getting bbq chicken at a Portuguese restaurant that knows how to answer the phone. read more

My husband and I came here because we were going to a show. So convenient! We weren't expecting much, actually. We were wrong. I don't know what people were saying about the prices or service because what we experienced was completely the opposite. For a total of $84, we had a three course dinner with a bottle of wine. The food was outstanding. My husband had the gnocchi, which was so tasty and to die for. I was feeling a burger and fries. The seasoned fries were literally the best I've ever had. Not overpowering, but just tasty. The burger was enormous and cooked to perfection. Our server, Gabrielle was sweet and very attentive. The gentlemen filling our water (I think his name was Shane, we unbelievably sweet and at our table making sure we had whatever we needed. Caesar salad delicious as well as the dessert. We weren't crazy about the show and say unequivocally that the dinner was the high point of the night (which was initially just an afterthought to the night). What impressed us the most was the presence of management. There were at least 3 "managers" that were at all tables inquiring if we needed anything. We even witnessed them getting tables things they may have needed. True leadership and an example to their employees. Even though we went there for the show, we would return just for the dinner. It was a perfect night! Thank you to Nico for making the night so special. read more