I went to an event where Nicole's catered I was not very impressed by most of the appetizers, BUT - the pumpkin ravioli is one of the most delicious things I have ever ate...in my life read more

A nice intimate Italian place with some cool white lights hanging from branches that have been affixed to the walls and ceiling. We got an early start for a Saturday, since we were trying to catch an early movie, the place was quiet to start but was filling up when we were on our way out. I agree with Ticia on the house dressing, it's a nice touch and I would much rather have this than a choice of the all to common mediocre dressing that are offered at a lot of places. The salad was fresh and topped with some gorgonzola cheese. Both my wife and I had veal dishes, she had the veal puttenesca and I had the veal theresa (battered veal with prosciutto and mozzarella). We were happy with both dishes and my only complaint with the menu is, that with some of the entrees hitting the $30 range, it's a little on the high side for an Italian meal. The convenient location (right down the street from the Spectrum) and the usual coupon you can find in the paper or in one of those coupon mailers help balance out the prices a bit. The wine list had a good selection with quite a few Italian wines and was reasonable priced. The dessert tray looked really good but we were in a rush so we had to pass. For a special occasion or a nice romantic night out this is a good choice. read more

We hadn't been to Nicole's in years, but remembered it as one of the better places in town. What with the resurgence of Delaware Avenue, this is probably a good time to have a well established restaurant. But despite the great atmosphere and fine staff the food was underwhelming -- nothing really turned the corner from ordinary to memorable. When they offered to pack what was left of my pasta with broccoli, chorizo & cannelloni, I declined. A suggestion: turn off the darn TV at the bar, especially when there are no customers sitting there. read more

We've heard (and read) good and bad about this place. It is my wifes b-day and we wanted to try something new. We sat right down and were a little fearfull when the server started with "I'm in training". That turned out be nothing to fear. She was in good hands with another seasoned server. The bread was fresh with a good crust, herb butter soft and the pesto tapenade was even better. I ordered Veal Theresa and my wife the Pomegranate BBQ Salmon. My veal was perfectly cooked but that just needed to said. The sauce was one of the freshest tomato sauces I've ever had. I don't usually ask for more bread to wipe up the plate but I did that tonight. My wife really liked her salmon as well. We both also ordered the roasted potato wedges with a light, garlic parmesan. Also delicious. I'm really happy we chose to ignore the negatives. The ambience was nicely lit with comfortable music in the background. We had a wonderful dinner and we would definitely come back... often. read more

We have been frequenting Nicole's for many years. First as eat-in customers and lately as take-out customers (not wanting to drink and drive). They have always treated us wonderfully and remembered us over the many years we have been going there. The food is great and they always accommodate "off-menu" requests. read more

Just went to dine in brunch. Outstanding!! Had chicken parm bites and lobster benedict. To die for! Our waiter was great as well. One of the best breakfasts Ive ever had! Good social distancing and cleanliness. They supply sanitizer also. read more

Took 20 minutes to get drinks took longer for the food by the end I wasn't hungry anymore and the salmon was cold as possible as if it was cooked in the freezer. read more

I really like Nicole's. I've been here a couple times for work functions in the large room in the back and returned today for dinner in the regular dining room. Food and service were both really good although my chicken saltimboca was very salty as was the spinach served with it. As I guzzle my glass of water to offset the salt, I think it was worth it as my meal was really good! I'll definitely visit again! read more

Valerie is no longer here. It was still great just missed valerie. Still worth checking out.

The food was delicious but I sadly won't ever come back and it had more to do with the customer service. When I walked in I was immediately shoo'd to the back without being asked what I was there for despite my multiple attempts to explain myself. The bartender simply repeated "straight back, they're in the back!". When I reached the back I saw the only other Black people in the restaurant who I totally did not know and definitely disturbed their intimate gathering. Being that I did not know those people and am not even from the area, I walked back up and was finally able to speak to the bartender who then apologetically told me she thought I'd said I was looking for the party. We'd never spoken she saw the color of my hands and forehead and I literally was just Black. It's understandable to not have many Black patrons but when you do at least engage them like actual paying customers. Maybe some implicit bias and discrimination training is in order because it was not only embarrassing for me but extremely awkward for the other people at the bar. read more

Nicole's is one of the few restaurants in the area offering Italian fare & open on Sundays. We arrived craving good Italian food. We were impressed with the excellent service. I ordered the shrimp genovese as my main and a "pound cake" topped w a glazed pear and ice cream for dessert. I enjoyed my main course, but there was nothing special or earth shattering about it. Our waiter recommended the dessert and we loved it. It was one of those fantastic summer to fall desserts where you pretend neither has fully come or gone. The restaurant is intimate and charming. I would return and go with a different main course based on the the recommendation of the waiter. read more

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Had dinner here last night. We were seated on their patio which was beautifully lit with string lights. It was a nice night, but they also have outdoor heaters in case it gets cold. The food was great and our waitress, Briana, was really considerate and cautious about my gluten allergy. Definitely would recommend! read more

Went here tonight for the first time with my fiance and I have to say that we were both pretty impressed. I called around 6:45 to make a reservation and they had no problem giving us one for 7:30 and I thought this was impressive considering it was a Saturday night. The staff was very efficient with getting us seated and taking our drink orders. I ordered the Veal Theresa and he had the Veal Saltimbocca and both dishes were delicious, even the steamed vegetables on the side had a great texture and flavor. We also really enjoyed the atmosphere here, its very romantic and it has that hidden feel to it. I would definitely go here again and would recommend this place to anyone looking for a quiet dinner night. read more

On March 23rd my girlfriend, my daughter and I dined at Nicole's. The service was excellent! Our waitress was friendly and very professional. The food was fantastic. We had crispy artichokes and polenta fries for appetizers, filet mignon, salmon and shrimp scampi for entrees, and an assortment of cakes and cannolis for dessert. The atmosphere was relaxed, and at least four tables celebrated birthdays that evening. A great dining experience. Highly recommended. Michael H. read more

The place is cute & the staff is super friendly but overall the food was ok. The pesto kalamata dipping oil was amazingly delicious but the bread was mediocre. Our sales were all delicious including the house salad. The eggplant parmigiana was subpar & the salmon was over cooked. However, the Italian fried potatoes were very flavorful. For the price, there are better places nearby. read more

The best dinner! I'm a vegetarian and I had a wonderful summer peach salad and a fabulous cocktail. My friend, (not a vegetarian) loved her shrimp scampi. I highly recommend this restaurant read more

There's a reason this restaurant has been here for 30yr. The food is delicious. I had the crispy catfish which was a large portion covered in capers roasted red peppers and artichokes. My husband had salmon which was well cooked and accompanied by pasta and spinach. The bread is served warm with pesto. The room is cozy. Parking is on either side. read more

Very nice dinner -had the warm Brussels sprout Cesare salad. Excellent attentive non intrusive service. Delightful ambiance.

My previous review was four stars for catering event they do for my daughters middle school. This review is based on the dinner I had tonight with my two daughters. If it was about the food it would be 3.5 stars. The pasta dishes were both a bit dry, the chicken dish I had was very good. Bread was served before meal, with the major drawback that it came with little packets of butter, the kind that is cold and unable to be spread. Didn't expect that from an upscale place. This review goes downhill however. The service tonight may have been as bad as I have ever experienced. Was the waitress overworked? Didn't appear so. We were there for almost two hours, never got a drink refill. Waitress non existent for 15 minutes at a time. Lack of attention to those of us dining upstairs started to become a bit of a joke among the tables. If I were to go back I would only do it if I sat at the bar where the waitstaff would have a more difficult time avoiding the customer. read more

When I walked into Nicole's Restaurant, I was a lonely, hungry derelict with booze on my breath and a warrant for my arrest. When I finished my meal and walked back out onto Delaware St, I was a handsome father of three with a PhD in Astrophysics and a Lamborghini. My Italian-American-fusion dining experience at Nicole's Restaurant was so good that it changed my life forever. It goes without saying that Shani, our waitress, restored my faith in humanity. Her greater act of divine providence, however, was recommending a salty/sweet juxtaposition of Chicken Parm for myself and Hazelnut Chicken avec jus de l'orange for my first mate. The heavenly impact of this culinary climax could only be matched by the crescendo brought forth by the lightly fried calamari appetizer. My religious experience was later capped with a eulogy that was pretty much just Shani eloquently listing the deserts, finished by a communion of cannoli's. Logan, Nicole's manager, kept an attentive eye on all its patrons and employees, guiding the masses toward culinary bliss. Is this an allegoric comparison to God? That's up to you. What's also up to you is the decision to walk in the light...the well-lit sidewalk outside of Nicole's Restaurant on Delaware Street. I was blind but now I see, thank you Nicole's! read more

Meh,nothing to write home about. The setting was beautiful and romantic! I'll give it to them on that. The desert was the best part,but th actual food was not impressive. read more

Great food, beer and ambience! I have been back a couple times. If want to get away from the business of New World, this is right down the road. read more

The first time I ate at Nicole's the influence of the Silver Palate Cookbook cuisine was in high gear, and while satisfactory, I was not terribly impressed. Then again, that was a long time ago, and I'm glad to report that Nicole's is infinitely better than my original visit. It's still visually the same: twinkling lights hang from branches under the ceiling and an overall cast of dark subdued brown lends an intimacy to closely placed tables. Sound is pleasantly muffled here, no loud clattering. Overall, it has the distinctive feel of a haven, you feel immediately comfortable. Service is attentive and prompt but not intrusive, and the kitchen has matured into quiet confidence not dependent on flashy trends. After a well prepared perfect martini and a beautifully presented salad (and yes, the house dressing is as amazingly delicate as other yelpers have described), I ordered a pretty simple dish, linguini with white clam sauce, and was thrilled to find the pasta entirely covered with meaty, shell-on clams. The meal was modest and fantastic. Sadly, I have no smart-ass commentary for Nicole's. read more

We love Nicole's for special occasions! Casual yet fabulous! The hazelnut chicken is our favorite dish - it never disappoints and we generally take half home to enjoy again the next day. :) :) The service is always excellent. We're so fortunate to have such a gem in Albany! Highly recommended for fine dining in a casual atmosphere. read more

Incredible dinner! We went elsewhere to try appetizers and came for dinner here! Second time and loved it again!! Salads were perfect! Special that my husband had, beef stroganoff was great!...along with the land and sea that I had! Valerie who has been here a long time is a perfect waitress along with the bartender who actually gave us the rest of our Grey Goose martini in a small glass, not to waste it! The only reason we skipped on dessert was that we were stuffed! We will enjoy left overs tomorrow! Everyone was very attentive!! Must go again!!! read more

Nicole's is a cute little restaurant on Delaware Ave with a lot of charm and very good food. My husband and I first discovered this place while looking for a caterer for our wedding last year. We were impressed right away with the friendliness of the staff and their willingness to work with us regarding our dietary restrictions,we needed to have a kosher style buffet,upon the Dutch Apple Cruise. The tasting we received was an amazing, full, 8 course meal with complementary martini's. The job they did for our wedding was wonderful,and beautiful. The waiters and waitresses were so friendly and accommodating. Let's put it this way,when ever anyone starts talking about the wedding,people always comment on just how delicious the food was! So last night, a year later, for our anniversary we decided to make it a tradition to go back to Nicole's for a celebratory dinner. We started with drinks, manhattan's to be exact and some interesting apps. Pumpkin ravioli's that were to die for. so rich and spicy,floating gently in a maple cream sauce,so decadent they could have been dessert. Also,we had Beet and honey goat cheese "layer cake" with crumbled pistachio,this was a fun take on a beet and goat cheese salad,a very nice light starter. For dinner,Dear Husband had the fried white fish topped with marinated vegetables, which he said was very delicious. I suspect so because there was not a scrap left on his plate. I had the grilled filet. It was so insanely tender and came accompanied with sauteed spinach and some house steak fries,which were more like roasted potatoes,with seasoning. We love it here,the food,the friendly staff,the great cocktails and the sweet ambiance. I highly recommend Nicole's to cater your next event or for a romantic little date night. read more

I ate there about two weeks ago following a movie at the Spectrum. Chicken Parm was soggy. Prices are high. The worst thing was the constant presence of fruit flies buzzing about. Very disappointing meal. read more

Nicole's catered our wedding reception. They were amazing. They coordinated everything for us, and were able to put together an amazing meal at an off site location. The appetizers were beautifully presented, plentiful, and delicious. We dd a buffet style meal, and friends and family are still raving about it. The food was fantastic and again, plenty of it. Everything we ate tasted like it was made just for us, and not mass produced like it can seem sometimes at large events. The staff was attentive and wonderful. If you're looking for an off site caterer with an attention to detail and a "can-do" attitude, Margaret at Nicole's is the person you want to talk to. I highly recommend her, and her staff. read more

As a $$ restaurant, Nicole's fails to deliver the mid-priced items you expect. Frankly, the service was solid, the decor is beyond pleasant, and the meal was better than most. The value is solid as a $$$ and should not be listed as $$. read more

This place is cozy and romantic. The food was really good. Especially the Firecracker Shrimp that they had as an appetizer special. My husband didn't love his pasta dish, but everything else was great! read more

A quaint little place that tries very hard, but falls a little short. Simply put, we were underwhelmed in every regard. We consider three stars a generous review. The staff tries very hard, but they seemed to lack experience and confidence. The recipes were passable, the preparation was acceptable, the ingredients were tolerable and the presentation was unimpressive. read more

Just had them cater our event at the NYS Museum. Everyone raved about the food. Well done.

Stopped in after a long day of working, it was almost closing time. Nicole and Emily were great as was the meal. I will be going back the next time I am in Albany. read more

There are much better Italian restaurants in the area. I have been here for dinner as well as a bridal shower and was not impressed either time. Especially at the bridal shower it was extremely cramped in their dining room and the darkness of the room made it seem even smaller. I did not like the food either time and I wont come back here. Overall disappointing place. Luckily we have a lot of other options to chose from like I said. You'd be better off stopping at the Italian deli down the street.... read more

This was the absolute worst meal I've ever had at a restaurant. To begin with, the service was terrible -- we waited over 20 minutes to be served the bottled water we ordered, and even longer to have our orders actually taken. We started with the cheese board and the polenta fries: the cheese board was comprised of unnamed supermarket cheese cubes (variations on mild cheddar) that the server didn't bother to describe, some kind of clear jelly spooned over the slate board, and mustard. The polenta fries themselves were okay, but they were served with some kind of disgusting sugary berry mayonnaise that literally made us feel nauseous. When bread and butter/pesto/tapenade were brought to the table, the tapenade was served with a plastic mini spoon and the butter had a ton of sugar in it. Sugar was the theme of the meal: even though we didn't order anything sweet, there was a ton of sugar in everything. For main courses we had the hazelnut chicken, which was soggy, barely cooked, and covered with what tasted like melted orange sherbet and clementine wedges; it was revolting. We also had the sea bass with blistered tomatoes and green risotto: the risotto was described as "overcooked rice and slime," the tomatoes were not cooked let alone blistered, and the sea bass had absolutely no flavor. $200 later we left feeling sick and horribly disappointed. Whatever you do, please do not eat here. You're better off at McDonald's. read more

A heartfelt thank you to Margaret, Faith and all of the staff at Nicole's for making our surprise birthday party so very special! The venue was beautiful with its autumn decor and twinkling ceiling lights, the food was outstanding, and the service was so very accommodating and friendly! Many of our guests made it a point to let us know how wonderful the party was in every way! I would highly recommend Nicole's for any event you have or if you want to just come by and have an incredible dinner! They are indeed THE BEST! Thank you, again!! read more

I recently used Nicole's Catering for an Awards Banquet that I organized. I highly recommend Nicole's Catering and I hope to do future business with them. In the lead up to the event, all of my communications were promptly returned and all of my concerns were addressed accordingly. The pricing was excellent and Nicole's worked with me to make sure I had the menu I wanted. Additionally, Nicole's gladly provided meals for a few guests who had dietary restrictions. On the day of the event, everything was handled in a professional matter. The bar quickly served patrons, the elegant display table during the cocktail hour was phenomenal and the buffet was plentiful. The food was excellent and everyone was more than satisfied. Thank you for an outstanding event and I hope to do future business. read more

This is well worth it for anyone that wants a major meal and an amazing atmosphere. The stuffed steak is something if you pass by, you will truly regret it. A perfect medium rare and amazing sauce with shrimp and prosciutto. A dish you will not regret ordering! read more

love nicole's. ate there on Friday 2/4 and had a fabulous meal. hubby and i both had a shrimp dish off the regular menu and an appetizer that was a special-lobster ravioli-"to die for" as my best friend would say. Highly recommend this restaurant-ambiance is fantastic but remember to make a reservation on a weekend night. The restaurant is small-which is perfect for a nice romantic meal. Parking is tough but well worth the effort. The service is top notch and they have a nice wine selection. read more

Nicole's has finally got its groove back! First time I ate here almost a year ago it was fantastic! Second time was a Holiday Party upstairs --sooooo disappointing. Food bland, overcooked, etc. Third time was awful--had to send a lot back and they still couldn't get it right. For misc reasons we ended up there last night despite that--and we were very pleasantly surprised! New menu and everything we had was well-prepared, exciting, delicious. Hurrah! read more