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    Nicola Restaurant

    4.3 (81 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    NICOLA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Upscale
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Nicola Restaurant

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    Gelatos
    Nancy T.

    All I can say is food and Service is fantastic from start to finish. Nothing's changed since we went there before. And it was quieter this time which was very nice. Will be back again soon.

    Let me start off by saying I am always anxious and nervous at restaurants stemming from working in the service industry. This place was the exception I felt more comfortable here than at my own dining room table ---(depending on the company). The food was awesome and I was yearning for every bite on my fork. The Gelato was creamy and crisp and had the perfect amount of sweetness in each bite. I will be back. ------/ also it was by dads 55th and there bday celebration there was pretty hilarious.

    Gnocchi with chicken
    Natasha S.

    It was super cool to get dinner at this restaurant in slo bc it didn't really feel like slo. Such a fun feel inside of the restaurant. We all got a pisco sour which was a fun drink! The cede was a great appetizer. The sauce it was in seemed a lot for the amount of fish in the bowl. The bread and oil and vinegar they give you was soooo good. Ossobuco norteno - favorite meal, he wants to come back every week for this. Risotto was awesome Gnocchi- rich and amazing. I just got the chicken because I needed protein but a weird combo, wouldn't recommend on the regular. Carbonara- strong bacon taste and super rich Braciole- steak was a little dry and chewy but overall good meal Service- outstanding service. Everyone was so friendly and knew their stuff. I will definitely come back to try more things and get more of this atmosphere!

    Stephanie O.

    Located in slo and has a parking lot so that was nice. Came here on a Friday night and made reservations for 6:45 but we got seated at 7:30! It was packed but honestly so worth the wait. The host and waiter were all so nice. The restaurant is super cute and ambiance is great. We got served bread and this delicious garlic olive oil balsamic sauce to dip it in. We shared the bachiche (pasta with such tender filet strips) and the tortelli de zucca (butternut squash ravioli with delicious cream sauce and tender meat). The food and service were amazing! Was so impressed with how good the food was. Will definitely come again to try more dishes!

    Cureso
    Olivia S.

    We had the best date night at Nicola on a Sunday night. We made reservations and did not have to wait long for a table. All of the staff was extremely welcoming and upbeat, you can tell they enjoy being there. We saw the pasta being hand made (with love) and you can tell! Food was super yummy. Shout out to our server Rory. He was very personable and put a smile on many faces. The interior was also beautiful and felt cozy. Plus if it's your birthday they have a whole song and dance for you. Pretty cool. I will definitely recommend this place!

    ...Sierra? salad
    Erin S.

    This review is for Friday December 5th around 5PM My husband and I were in SLO doing some shopping and decided to be spontaneous and wanted to try this new restaurant. It was around 5pm so we thought we might get lucky with a table. When we walked in it was pretty empty and we were greeted immediately by Rory. He asked if we had a reservation and when I said no, we were told that the only table we could get would be outside or the bar. Rory explained that they had reservations due in and needed to keep the inside tables opened. I opted for outside. My first impression of the decor was WOW. Totally my style. Soft warm creams, gold and greens. Not overdone, just the right amount of class and style. I wish I had taken photos when we first walked in since the room was empty but I am sure there are some on other reviews. I was a bit bummed not to sit inside but since we didn't have a reservation I understood. The outside patio was lovely. Cozy and plenty warm. It has tall walls and the heaters were more than enough on the evening we were there. The decor outside was nice and they did a great job bringing the warm, cream tones to the outside as well. Our waiter was Rory and the "busser" was Alyssa...both were top shelf. Alyssa was lovely to speak with as she was finishing setting up the other tables for the evening. She was very knowledgable about the menu when I asked her what her favorite dish was. She seemed to really enjoy her job and was obviously trained on the menu and was able to answer questions confidently. Rory, was just a delight. We decided to step out of the box and try some new things and we were very happy with his suggestions. He, like Allyssa, was very well versed on the menu and it was clear he enjoyed what he was doing. He was able to explain what "Bachiche" was and how this restaurant came to be. We split a cocktail and salad to start. The Pisco Sour was delicious! Totally not something that I would have ever ordered. I mentioned I don't like really sweet drinks...just a hint and it was perfect. I didn't get a photo in time before the bubble burst but the smoke had such wonderful aromatics...it made the drink even better. The salad (I forgot the name!) was fun. It had fruit in it which was totally different for me and it was delicious. I think it would be great on a summer evening especially! Main courses were without a doubt some of the best pasta we have had! I decided to splurge and get the Tortelli di Zucca...OMG. Just a perfect blend of the sweetness of the Butternut Squash and the savoriness of the Beef Short Rib Asado on top. My husband got the Cannelloni. It was more simple than mine, but equally delicious. The homemade pasta just elevates everything! We could have finished our meals but we stopped ourselves so we could get dessert. I can say that I was very happy with my leftover the next day :-) To end our evening, we split an Espresso and the Tiramisu. Of course, you guessed it, it was perfection. The only thing I did not care for was the bread surprisingly. I found the roll to be a bit hard and it was not easy to use it to dip in the fantastic tapenade/dip they serve it with. I am actually glad that I didn't care for it. I prevented me from filling up on it so it left me more room for the other delicious food that was to come! So to wrap it up...This is a must go if you want to treat yourself to an amazing evening in a beautiful environment eating delicious food. The prices are absolutely fair for the quality of food, drinks and service you will receive. You will probably need a reservation as when we left, it was packed...it was a Friday evening and there were obviously people celebrating for the holidays but I have a feeling this place will be busy most of the time. The parking is great! So happy they decided to NOT be downtown SLO. What a joy to not have to fight for parking and worry about getting a ticket! Treat yourself!

    Braised short rib Butternut squash Tortelli di Zucca
    Ricky K.

    I would definitely recommend Nicola! The service was amazing. Andrea was our server. She was very kind very helpful always had very nice compliments to say to the Table great service from her. The food was amazing all the appetizers all the entrées all the desserts the ambience of the Restuarant with the windows in the private party room was just fantastic.

    Pisco sour with a fun flavor bubble
    Kellie C.

    Wow, what a find! The remodel of the former Upper Crust is gorgeous. Exciting Peruvian-Italian cuisine with well-trained service. Pisco sour cocktails have a bubble of extra flavor - see photo. Very New Vegas! A really creative and unique menu for SLO. We had the quinoa arancini ($20 for four, 4/5), Sol y Tierra salad ($15, 5/5), Velutata (asparagus soup, $15, 5/5), special ceviche ($25, 5/5; fair warning, a side of rice is $10), Timbal de Langostinos ($30, 5/5), Tortelli di Zucca with short rib ($40, 4/5). For dessert (all $14) we tried the Andrea (flambéed marshmallow and cookies, 3/5, flambéed at the table), Banana Crème Brûlée (4-5), and the Cherry Stracchiatella gelato (5/5). Cannot wait to return! A lovely night out with friends, family, or solo at the bar.

    Erica V.

    5 stars. The food here was incredible. I will be back. Fav food items were the quinoa arancini (the mint sauce was a really nice touch, I wanted more of it!) Nicola (like a poke bowl, from the crudo bar menu); the tallarin pesto pasta, and bistec ai fierri. The steak was cooked absolutely perfectly, the quality of the meat was top level good. Wine- the red wine Querciabella Chianti was the best wine I've had in a while. I tasted another one and it was okay. Drinks-My husband had the Maracuya Pisco Sour, which I think is exactly the same one served at Mistura- Very, very good. Dessert- We ordered the Banana creme brûlée- it was good. I do wish it had more banana flavor in the actual dessert, not just on top. I would still order it again as a solid choice. It's a great creme brûlée. I will be back to try the Ossobuco, gnocchi, Sierra dulce salad, alpaca carpaccio, ceviche, tiramisu

    Drinks
    S M.

    Amazing drinks, great ambiance, excellent service and tasty food! If you like exploring different flavors of food, Nicola is a great place to check out.

    Shrimp pizza
    Nory B.

    Great new place on Madonna and LOVR by Nicola, the owner of Mistura and Mamas Meatballs. Lots of parking, great ambience in a beautiful modern setting. Seated immediately at noon on Thursday with no reservation. Complimentary warm roll with a delicious olive garlic tapenade came out shortly before my asparagus soup. The soup was light yet full of flavor, with a delicious Parmesan chip. The only drawback was the shrimp pizza came out right after the soup, just a slight timing problem from the kitchen. The pizza was amazing! Crispy thin crust with a white sauce full of spicy Peruvian flavor and a generous amount of perfectly cooked shrimp on each slice. I could only finish half of the 10" pizza--yummy leftovers for home! And although I was full, I had to try the flourless chocolate cake bursting with the passion fruit sauce on top--oh my goodness that was so delicious! Service was friendly and solicitous, but there were only two servers and the restaurant was full so there was a little lag in the pacing. That's easily fixed once Nicola gets a sense of how busy they're going to be as the word gets out how amazing this place is! Highly recommend!

    Very amazing food and great service! They took a little bit while to help us but we could definitely tell they were busy. We went to celebrate my 21st birthday so they offered me a complimentary dessert, which was delicious! Our waiter was amazing and had a fun vibe!! I loved the atmosphere as well. So pretty and great for Instagram haha

    Fran M.

    Wow!!!!! I was so impressed with this amazing resturant. From the second we stepped foot in the door we were waited upon. Great service, amazing food, great drinks and wonderful desserts. It was just perfect for our anniversary. The staff went above and beyond. Thank you

    Cesar with shrimp ($27)

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    Mistura Restaurant - "Apasionada" - scallop tiradito, passion fruit leche de Tigre and a touch of Aji Limo. Served over ice, with smoking dry ice.

    Mistura Restaurant

    4.2(1.3k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$$

    Came here for dinner Friday night at 8pm for 2 with no reservation. We parked in a nearby free lot…read morebut they said they validate if you park in the structure. We were walk in, the hostess offered us seating in two bar areas and also made room in the front room for us. We sat at a table in the front room. It had nice ambiance and nicely decorated with plants. Our server was super sweet and helpful. We ordered a Paloma which was great but I heard the pisco sours are good and homemade. Wish we tried one but next time! The service was so fast. When we got our cocktail the food arrived! We ordered the señor lomo which was their lomo saltado. It was sooo good. The sauce was so flavorful and the filet mignon was very tender. It came with a lot of veggies, fries and rice too. Also ordered the escabeche which was a sea bass with similar delicious sauce and veggies. It had mixed colored roasted potato's underneath. Fish and the dish was soft and equally flavorful and delicious. I would say the sauce was slightly lighter than señor lomo. They had a platter of desserts on display. Wish we could have all of them. They all looked pretty and delicious. We tried the papaya creme brûlée. Thought it mostly tasted just like creme brûlée. Highly recommend. It is one of the best Peruvian places I've been. Kinda pricy though, each dish was about $40.

    I came during graduation weekend but I haven't stopped thinking about Mistura since I left town!…read moreI'd been here once before this visit and was excited to come back..Mistura CLEARLY knows what it's doing, from the moment you walk in, the entire environment changes and it feels like you're in a new place! From the hostesses to the bartenders to the chefs, everyone knows how to create a beautiful experience for the guests! In the past I've tried the afrodisíaco dish and was blown away but I wanted to excite myself with a different dish so I chose the Mixto dish and wow! The flavors just burst in your mouth with how bright they are, the dish is set under Ceviche but this is so much more elevated than your typical view of ceviche dishes! My boyfriend ordered the Dragon Lake cocktail and absolutely loved it! The ingredients are so well incorporated you don't find yourself tasting a drink with overpowered liquor that drowns out the other ingredients! He's a bartender so he appreciates a well made drink! On his end he loved his plate although I didn't catch the name of it, it was beautifully plated and it showed through with the taste of each bite as well! This is a MUST visit if you're ever back in the SLO area.

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    Mistura Restaurant - A colorful Sunday afternoon at the bar

    A colorful Sunday afternoon at the bar

    Mistura Restaurant - Mushroom gyoza

    Mushroom gyoza

    Mistura Restaurant - Pisco Sour (lychee) - such an impressive presentation

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    Kiko Peruvian Restaurant & Pisco Bar - Peruvian Ossobucco ( Seco)

    Kiko Peruvian Restaurant & Pisco Bar

    4.7(227 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    My experience at Kiko's Restaurant was exceptional from start to finish. Peruvian cuisine has…read morealways been one of my favorites, and Kiko's only made me love it even more. Kiko and the entire staff were incredibly kind, welcoming, and genuinely made us feel at home. We sat on the beautiful patio, which created the perfect atmosphere for a relaxing meal. Following Kiko's recommendations, we tried several dishes, including the Ceviche SLO, Scallops Parmesan, Shrimp Causa, Pulpo de Olivo, and Arroz con Mariscos. Every single dish was beautifully prepared, fresh, and absolutely delicious. It's hard to pick a favorite because they were all outstanding. I can't wait to visit Kiko's again the next time I'm in SLO. Without a doubt, it's the best Peruvian restaurant I've ever been to. If you're anywhere near San Luis Obispo, do yourself a favor and eat here--you won't be disappointed!

    This place is amazing. Service is excellent and the staff acts like they are genuinely concerned…read morethat you have a good experience. But then there's the food. And then there's the pisco... I have eaten at a few Peruvian restaurants, and once upon a time even worked with a Peruvian kid whose mom cooked food out of her home for the family to sling as a side gig, so I have an idea of Peruvian food. I'm not an authority, I just have an idea. And while there are common denominators, everyone does it their own way, and Kiko's way is to lend a fine dining twist to the traditional cuisine, without feeling pretentious. The energy goes into the flavors and preparation, and every dish is unique. And then there's the pisco. I went on a dive into pisco years ago, and it never stuck. I had some fantastic stuff from the aforementioned friend's family, but I never found anything that compared, so my infatuation waned. Well, who'da thought Kiko's also distills their own pisco? I had to try it, and it was lovely. Is lovely. While pisco is its own thing, I'd analogize their pisco to a very high-end blanco tequilla- buttery smooth, a hint of vanilla, with the base flavor of the grapes forward on the palate. I liked it so much I bought a bottle. And yes- they sell their house-distilled, world-class pisco in bottles! Unfortunately I don't live in SLO, but I visit as often as I can. This place is now on my list of restaurants I must visit every time I'm in town. I left the best for last- their pisco sours are off the hook! Whatever they do to give it that textured head is crazy good.

    Photos
    Kiko Peruvian Restaurant & Pisco Bar - Outside

    Outside

    Kiko Peruvian Restaurant & Pisco Bar - Shrimp Causa

    Shrimp Causa

    Kiko Peruvian Restaurant & Pisco Bar - Scallops Parmesan & Ceviche

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    Scallops Parmesan & Ceviche

    Ventana Grill - Quesabirria Tacos

    Ventana Grill

    4.1(3.1k reviews)
    7.7 mi
    $$

    My wife wanted to visit a nice restaurant with a view for our anniversary. I opened Apple Maps and…read morechecked the pismo beach area and Ventana Grill was the first restaurant that stood out to me based on location, therefore, I made a reservation. Note that the parking lot, depending on which day you go, can fill up very quickly. The location is right off of the 101 and easy to find. We checked in and was seated within 10 minutes at a booth that overlooked the beautiful views of the Pismo Beach coast line. Our server, a younger black woman, who told us her nickname was 'TiTi', if I'm not mistaken, was wonderful. Her personality and hospitality was infectious and exceeded 5 stars. She brought us fresh hot corn and flour tortillas with a small cup of brown sugar butter and three different salsas to try. Everything was delicious. We ordered the surf and turf special which was a jumbo shrimp on top of a filet mignon that rested on mash potatoes and a creamy/savory white sauce. We also ordered the lobster Mac and cheese. Everything was exceptionally good. My only takeaway would be that I found the food, especially the lobster Mac and cheese to be pretty salty. Definitely excited for my next visit.

    This restaurant has a beautiful beachfront location with gorgeous ocean views, making it a great…read morespot to enjoy a meal with family. We had a reservation for a birthday dinner and arrived about 30 minutes early. We were told we'd be seated closer to our reservation time, which was completely understandable. However, as we waited, we watched several groups (including walk-ins without reservations) get seated before us. Even after our reservation time had passed, we had to check in with the host again before we were finally seated, despite there being plenty of empty tables. The service at the front definitely could have been handled better. The food, on the other hand, was very good with a great variety of options. I loved that they start you off with freshly made tortillas, cinnamon butter, and salsa to share. I ordered the Campechana de Mariscos, which was fresh, generously portioned, and perfect for sharing. We also had the Molcajete, and it was delicious! It came with a great mix of steak, chicken, chorizo, jumbo shrimp, nopal, and cheese. The portion was generous and easily enough for two people. Other dishes we ordered also included the pozole, chicken nachos, and lobster mac and cheese. Everything was delicious as well! The mac and cheese especially. For drinks, I tried the Golden Hour nonalcoholic cocktail, and unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend it. It tasted like watered-down ginger beer with no carbonation and only the faintest hint of pineapple. It was more on the bitter taste. Overall, this is a great restaurant for the ocean views and flavorful food. The portions are generous, and there's something for everyone on the menu. The only downside was the host service and the unnecessary wait despite having a reservation. I'd still come back for the food and the scenery.

    Photos
    Ventana Grill - View of the lounge

    View of the lounge

    Ventana Grill - Molcajete

    Molcajete

    Ventana Grill - Salsa and chips with guacamole

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    Salsa and chips with guacamole

    Nicola Restaurant - peruvian - Updated July 2026

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