Nicos is a welcoming neighborhood restaurant with a clean, unfussy design. The attentive but unobtrusive service complements the comfortable atmosphere. The menu is substantial, but not exhaustive, catering to varied tastes with options for meat, fish, and poultry. Attire is flexible, with both casual and dressy outfits fitting right in.
One notable luxury is tableside service. There is a margarita cart, a guacamole cart and flambe stations from which servers prepared apps to entrees. A fresh salsa station makes individual servings for each table, yet it’s unpretentious because it was business as usual. I felt as if I was dining in the home of a friend on the receiving end of exceptional hospitality.
I planned to be adventurous while dining in Mexico, but my confidence was shaken by a menu entirely in Spanish. That posed a challenge, with descriptions beyond even google translate’s reach. Yes, we could identify general categories—salads, soups, fish, poultry, and meats—but not the finer details, especially with daily specials. Servers tried their best to help, but language barriers persisted, making for some guesswork and nervous anticipation for each course. Nicos is truly a local gem, designed to serve its community rather than cater to tourists, adding to the authentic experience.
The Restaurant
Margarita Service
Our Menu
Curacao Mezcal Margarita and table side Guacamole
Spinach Queso and Pork Taco
Sauteed escamoles and Escamoles with Salsa Verde Taco
Pulpos Antigua and Octopus Taco
Cerde en Adobo and Fresh Salsas
We can attest that chef Gerardo is doing something right. Actually, many things right. Nicos was ranked #37 in the Latin America top 50 Restaurants for 2018. A meal here is amazingly affordable with a total including food, drinks and tip of $119 U.S. dollars.