Being locals, we watched and waited with excitement as this place was beautifully renovated. We've gone to it at least 3 times since it opened. Yet one thing that was consistently lacking - good service. The first time, we went in for a late lunch at 2pm. The place did not look busy but we soon found out that there was no service either. The host ended up being our server because we were told that the waiter was not feeling well. Last time around, we came in with another couple on a Wednesday night. We were seated right away. Our friends were excited to be there for the first time. Again, the same pattern occurred. First we ordered Ceasar salad to start with. Ours came in first but our friends had to wait at least 10 minutes for theirs. We waited as well before starting of course not to seem rude. We asked for extra anchovies, charged us $12 without telling us first, which basically came out to more than a dollar per extra anchovy. Our friends liked the freshly made in-house pasta. In the meantime, no one checked in to ask if we were enjoying our meals or not. Then came time for dessert. We waited long for our server (who was busy pouring wine at other tables) to check on us, all the while our conversations had dried up. After about 30 minutes or so we all ended up saying let's just get outta here and have ice cream nearby. Even getting our checks took awhile. So yes, the place gets popularly busy but obviously ill-equipped to handle the crowd properly. Based on our last experience, I don't see us returning anytime soon...too bad. read more

I love everything about this restaurant - the ambiance, the food, the staff and the owner (and his mother!) By far the best fish (Seabass) I've had in SLO county. Family owned with its own character to it, like nothing else in SLO. Highly recommend for lunch or dinner. read more

Nicola restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - San Luis, California

Truly proud and pumped to have a restaurant of this caliber in our neighborhood. Nicola is special. The people, the place, the food... it's up there with best in SLO county. read more

A great experience The food and service great. I had the porcini risotto with shrimp- a fabulous treat. My partner enjoyed the yellowfin tuna and a butter leaf salad Another member of our party had the grilled shrimp appetizer - perfectly cooked and substantial enough for a main. Dessert was disappointing Might try the gelato next time. Cocktails a bit pricey and not great but fun presentation. Wine choices limited All in all I will go back but definitely a date night place as it's a little pricey. read more

Walking into the restaurant we couldn't believe we were in SLO. The interior is inviting, classy and comfortable. Attention to detail is obvious. Our only complaint is the restaurant is a little loud. Each staff member was attentive. Our server, Paula, was excellent. The food....each dish was a treat. Beautiful presentation and new and exciting flavors. It is now "our" restaurant. read more

went there for lunch on Friday beautiful inside waiter came over took our orders. My companion ordered a tea which took forever and ordered a salad. I ordered the seafood miso. It took forever and was completely way. Overcooked and breaded. Everything was late. It turns out I my pasta order came and I just said box it up. Turns out the one waiter was working the whole restaurant by himself ridiculous won't be back read more

Food was exceptional, service was fantastic, ambiance was lovely, white table cloths and soft lights. Gold utensils. Need reservations, we didn't know so we ate at the lovely marble topped bar. Great drinks with torches that creat bubbles and smoke other drinks. A special ocassion place. read more

Nicola restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - San Luis, California

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took friends and my husband there for his birthday dinner. my meal was burnt. my husbands meal was tasteless. my brother in laws Oso Bucco was too salty. the only good meal was my friends carbonara. very disappointe.... read more

Food was good, but the ravioli at Cage Roma are better. We had reservations, but it was pretty busy. They were unable to sit us for about 40 minutes after we showed up. Nice decor, but pretty noisy read more

Enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner with our family at Nicola - the food was simply outstanding all the way around. We all ordered different drinks, entrees and dessert and everything was on point! Delicious! Will be back for sure. read more

11560 Los Osos valley road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 439-0262. Excellent only scratches the surface when I try to describe our families experience at Nicola's restaurant. Sea Bass cooked and presented to perfection. I am 81 years old and have eaten way too many meals and this was by far the very best ever. Husband had Chicken Parmesan where the chicken was moist and flavorful. Everyone at the table was pleased with their food. Thank you Nicola. And a great party experience as well. read more

About 50% into our meal, my wife and I looked at each other, and agreed this may be the best restaurant in SLO County. I know that's a big statement. The fusion of Italian and Peruvian food is an undeniably amazing fusion. And Nicola pulls it off exquisitely. We had a squid ink pasta and seafood dish (Porto?), and also a pizza with shrimp and a sauce that was squash inspired? Both drop dead amazing. Full racing bar. Pisco sour and dirty martini for the Mrs. Both perfect. Great staff, great ambiance. Of course on the pricier side but worth it when a splurge is in order. Super high recommendations! read more

This was our second experience, and I will say our first experience was great. We ( a table of 7) arrived for a Mother's Day 4:30 reservation. Seating right away in their " extra " dining space they normally only open for events etc per our water server. Initially the experience was great. Our waitress let us know the specials , which one was described as " a filet, atop a layered potatoe ( similar to lasagna) with a white Alfredo type sauce and arugula to finish. My best friend and I changed our original order to 2 specials. Hers cooked medium well, and mine medium. EVERYONE had their meals about 15 mins earlier than ours were delivered which was uncomfortable. We then were asked who ordered medium and he ( the food runner/ water server) then placed it in front of me. We were definitely surprised by our meal. No filet but pieces of steak sliced and surrounding that was whole small purple fingerling potatoes with other vegetables and a MOUND of arugula, making it look like a salad. Very odd presentation based on our servers description. We decided to complain but not right away. Once we realized we had each others meal( cooked quite differently) we switched and then decided to speak up. We initially were trying to be respectful as our entire table was almost finished with their meal once we got ours. We finally let her know( I remember her name as Paolo and this is where I'm finding our experience incomprehensible) and she said "I'm sorry , it is a new special and I did not do well describing it properly". I said had I known it was not a full filet l, I would have never ordered it. My GF mentioned we do not want to make a scene talking to a manager and took our plates away( we had not eaten much). She said" I'll take them off the bill and would you like something else?" We did not. EVERYONE WAS DONE AT OUR TABLE. The bill came and only ONE was taken off. We then called her over to explain. She did not do as she said she would, AND she took our food away!! Just incomprehensible and completely unacceptable. We did not go further to talk to the manager but we ABSOLUTELY SHOULD HAVE. Being local, we were looking forward to enjoying this establishment again and now I'm so bothered by the experience and lack of communication by her specifically that we may never return. DO BETTER!! I've had better customer service at many other fantastic restaurants locally. We were very disappointed in her and her excuses and then her dismissive attitude at the end. I'll add she said " you told me you did not want to speak to the manager". We did then say that she told us she was REMOVING BOTH meals from our bill!! Still no resolution. Paolo continued her rant adding she covered dessert instead of removing both meals. It literally made no sense, especially as we looked at our $550 bill after she walked away and it included the entire 6 desserts we ordered at our table. We absolutely should have made an effort to talk to the manager and wished we had! Just unacceptable! read more

This new restaurant is beautifully decorated. We had the spagetti bolognaise with meatballs and Gnoche. Both were delicious. The service was excellent and the gelato for desert was excellent. Definitely would recommend this restaurant. I saw a negative service review. I might point out that, at the time of our visit the restaurant was only open a few weeks. Service glitches should work themselves out. read more

Delicious food and such a beautiful restaurant that has been added in SLO! Service was great, the server gave great suggestions and background for each dish. Highly recommend :) read more

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Great restaurant, packed for a Tuesday night which I like but I did recommend a reservation. Croquetas were great, the pisco sours (especially the maracuya/passionfruit) on point. Will be back soon! read more

Nicola restaurant - Croquetas + pisco sour - Peruvian Near Me - San Luis, California

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The service was very good. The food was not worth the money. Sixty bucks for a ribeye that was not cooked to perfection, I ordered it medium rare and it was definitely medium at best. The steak wasn't that good, a lot of suboptimal pieces. Our server was very nice and attentive and the sides were good. I think for sixty bucks I should get a supreme piece of steak and it definitely wasn't. The ambiance is really nice, the bathroom is in the hallway to the kitchen. read more

Ambiance: B Food: B+ Service: C Have eaten here on two occasions. Great menu. Love the ambience. FIRST VISIT: Pizza and Caesar salad SECOND VISIT: Lamb chops Both visits EXCELLENT food Both visits...Service so so Service did not match quality of food.....disappointing. read more

Overall, this place is fantastic. Food is amazing. Service is over the top and the atmosphere is wonderful soft lighting, beautiful date night vibes! read more

First, be sure to make reserations. We did even though it was a Tuesday night. It was our first visit. The ambiance is charming and I loved the comfortable chairs! Staff were very professional. I will say that service was a bit slower than I'm used to. Luckily we had plenty of time to enjoy a leisurely meal. The cocktails were lovely! My partner had a Pisco Sour and a smoked Old Fashioned. I forget the name of my drink. Something Mist? It was delicious, then I had a glass of Cal Poly Chardonnay which was surprisingly good. We adored the bread and tapenade. The alpaca carpaccio was delicious. Then we shared the shrimp risotto special. It also was excellent. We were there for about an hour and 45 minutes. We were relaxed and enjoyed each other's company but I could see where some people might become impatient with the wait. read more

Nicola Restaurant is a delightful addition to San Luis Obispo's dining scene, offering a unique blend of Italian and Peruvian cuisine known as Bachiche. The restaurant's atmosphere is both elegant and welcoming, making it perfect for special occasions or a relaxing lunch. Chef Nicola Allegretta's vision shines through in every detail, from the thoughtfully curated menu to the stylish décor. The food is consistently praised for its freshness and creativity. Dishes like lasagna and seafood pasta are described as luxurious and flavorful, while small plates impress with their generous portions and inventive combinations. The drinks menu features handcrafted cocktails and a well-chosen selection of wines, adding to the overall experience. Service at Nicola is professional yet personal, with staff making guests feel truly valued. Damian, our server was excellent. Whether you're celebrating an anniversary or simply enjoying a serene lunch, the ambience and attentive service ensure a memorable visit. Reservations are recommended, as Nicola's popularity continues to grow. In summary, Nicola Restaurant stands out for its exceptional cuisine, inviting atmosphere, and outstanding service. It's a must-visit for anyone seeking a culinary adventure in San Luis Obispo. read more

I went with my coworkers for our end of the year/Christmas celebration! Everything was amazing! From the friendliness of the staff to the cocktails and food! I had the Chilcano cocktail which had their house made pisco, lime juice and ginger ale. For my main meal I had the Las Sabinas which was braised chicken in a Peruvian red sauce and side of potato coins with an amazing white cheese sauce! To finish out the night I went with Andes dessert! The meringue was beautifully piped onto the Peruvian cookie base. The best part is the table side flambé off the meringue! I can't wait to go back I loved it that much! read more

Food, service and ambiance were all exceptional! We sat outside. This is a wonderful addition to the sparse dining options in slo. read more

Some other site had a review of Nicola which awarded it a * because the reviewer (Stanley of San Francisco) didn't get the attention of wait staff after waiting 15 minutes. Perhaps Stanley got lucky and noticed that Burger King is just a short walk away. By contrast, I judge Nicola to be a ***** effort. Nicola represents the owner's 3rd restaurant in SLO. This is by far the family's most ambitious undertaking ... it shows. The menu draws a bit from Mama's and Mistura's menus ... Italian entrees with distinctive Peruvian influence. We found the food to be excellent and generous ... trout and osso bucco. The ambiance probably ranks as the swankiest in SLO County but you wouldn't know it from the attentive, well-informed, good-humored wait staff. Amazing Saturday night performance for a brand new venue. I'd also like to put in a good word for the table layout ... lots of tables available for couples as well as groups of four or six. There's a 6- or 8-stool bar for those wanting the bar experience or dining alone (unless they want a table, of course). Open til 10pm on weekend, 9pm otherwise. This is a great and welcome addition to the restaurant scene in SLO. read more

AMAZING!!!! Ate here tonight at their Grand Opening and was celebrating a Birthday. I am from LA and was completely blown away, with the quality of EVERYTHING! From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with such tangible hospitality. I didn't feel like I was in SLO, I felt like I was in the big city! This is now my favorite go-to establishment! I still can't get over how amazing the food, service, hospitality and atmosphere was! Thank you for bringing such a fine restaurant and not only that, for the only one in the United States! Cheers!! read more

Nicola restaurant - Peruvian Near Me - San Luis, California

Highly recommend Nicola! Our family went to dinner there on Sunday, Dec.28th. Fortunately, we made a reservation. It was busy, but still very nice. We had a chance to met Nicola, who has such a wonderful personality, and his staff was very attentive, friendly, kind and courteous. It's a great reflection on him. They were all working extremely hard. The entrees we had were all very delicious, and the pasta was homemade by Nicola's mom, which you could see being made from a large window. The various dishes that we ordered were all so very delish and nice; the pollo alla lean (an oven roasted chicken which was very tender and juicy with small roasted potatoes), carbonara alla Sebastian (a favorite), lasagna, tagliatelle al ragu, and the nicola from the crudo bar menu. Our 3 yr old grandson even loved his spaghetti with just butter and olive oil, which we requested, since there wasn't a child's menu. The server and chef were very accommodating. Our grandson absolutely loved it, since he ate his entire meal, which isn't too often. I think he knew it was homemade pasta. You won't go wrong ordering any of their sumptuous dishes!! Prices are pretty reasonable, especially nowadays. Thank you so very much to Nicola, the staff and chefs!! Lucky we live in SLO, since we'll definitely be back. We've already raved about Nicola to many of our friends. read more

Everything about this new eatery is fabulous. Beautiful decor, absolutely delicious and picture perfect food, and amazing variety. I tried the alpaca carpaccio and totally fell in love, it will be my go to appetizer and I plan on visiting frequently. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly. Never hovered read more

Setting really nice! Food really good. Waiter sufficient, but not what I would've expected. He lacked attentiveness. I didn't leave a very high tip. ( I enjoy being quite generous when it's earned.) Will I be going back? Unquestionably! read more

The food was great. Two people got the risotto special, one got the chicken parmigiana and I got the bachiche. All were excellent, especially the bachiche. The interior was upscale and inviting. The service staff friendly and attentive. Plenty of parking. Definitely will be back. read more

The food is delicious... I had the meatballs with spaghetti. The service at the bar is attentive and the drinks are made are great. I enjoy the atmosphere and so glad to have a restaurant that is closer to home. read more

Excellent food, great ambiance, & excellent service (Cristiano you rock!) My favorite dish: Polpo! The flavors with the Octopus and causa potatoes/avocado - just amazing!!! Ossobuco Noreto & Porto was also amazing. Highly recommend!!!! read more

Absolute perfect dining experience. Great atmosphere great service and very good food. The restaurant is gorgeous,menu has so many things I wanted to eat. read more

Excellent food and service. I had Mel-in-your-mouth purple potato gnocchi and it was delicious.

It was just WAY TOO NOISY. My iWatch Noise app reported noise levels between a low of 77dB and a high of 95dB. Talking to the person next to me was difficult. Talking across the table to the other two parties at our table was virtually impossible. This was at about 5pm on a Sunday evening, with almost a full house. Most of the dishes on the menu were of little interest to our group. We did manage to find some things we like and the food was mostly OK, but one person in our party was served lukewarm cannelloni. We won't be returning. read more

This place is ridiculous. We were so excited to celebrate a birthday here, called them in advance, asked for a booth if possible, drove almost an hour to get there, waited for our reserved table for 20 minutes, got a table in the back... whatever. Got the food, average food not bad not great. Had birthday listed as an occasion for the reservation. The restaurant was closing by the time we were done with food, because the service was so slow, and they finally came to the table to show what desserts they have after we asked 3 times. We made a selection, the whole thing took 40 minutes (just to order and get the dessert). Asked for a candle, since the dessert they brought out after 40 minutes arrived without one. They said they'll bring one. Whatever...then they show up with a bunch of people in carnival masks and a firework candle. The restaurant is literally closing, no other guests there, just us and people who are in the middle of the clean up (like please read your own room). All I wanted was a regular candle to make a wish and blow it, not a freak show that was so odd and weird considering the timing. Then they added items to the bill that never arrived to the table. Took another 20 minutes to settle the bill. Overall the worst birthday dinner of my life, thanks for nothing I guess. read more

The restaurant is beautiful. Made a reservation and it went well. We sat at table for over 10 minutes with wait staff walking by. Finally had to ask for our waiter. Had to ask for bread. It seemed no one paid much attention to us. Waiter was very nice and we ordered. All the food we got was very good and beautifully presented. I got the Raimondi. I don't recommend. Very small portion. Very citrusy. I thought they gave me an appetizer by mistake. I asked for another glass of wine which finally came when we were paying the bill. You might want to wait until they have more staff. We haven been regular customers the other restaurants which are not as new and therefore excellent. We will go back but at a later time. read more

Made a reservation at 7:15 pm on a Friday night waited 30-45 minutes past reservation while we watched walk ins and others get seated what's the point of making a reservation when the hostess can't remember your name or gets you seated 45 minutes past your reservation we are local and trying to support local businesses but we were treated horribly won't be back if this is how they treat an online reservation read more

Pizza Margareta was boring - hardly any basil on it at all. Service just OK - waited about 10 minutes for a cappuccino, waiter had some excuse about why it was taking so long, so we went next door to a coffee shop for coffee. I gave them a second chance on 12-17-25. Again slow service, Ceasar salad was tasteless and had almost no Parm cheese. My friend begged me to go there as she had been before and liked it - she agreed it the salads were tasteless, the service slow and way too noisy. read more

Food was amazing! Ambiance was great! The waitress was friendly. Definitely a new go to dinner spot!

Unique, in the best way possible. Excellent food and service. Big city experience in a small town.