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    Nicola restaurant

    4.3 (83 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Nicola restaurant Takeout or Delivery

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    NICOLA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

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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.

    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!

    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

    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.

    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!

    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.

    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.

    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

    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

    Cesar with shrimp ($27)

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    11 days ago

    Outstanding food and service. Ambience is quality. Cosmos is excellent. Table cloths. LOL

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    Ask the Community - Nicola restaurant

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    4.2(2.3k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$$
    Locally sourced ingredients
    Outdoor seating

    We came here in April -- but I wrote all the notes on the food below while eating -- on our way…read morehome from NorCal. Service here was excellent, we were checked up on enough and our server gave great recommendations. Thanks to our server Talia D! We sat in a cute garden area with vines, plants, and fairy lights, very cozy like you're in a friend's well-decorated patio. They also gave us complementary bread before we received our meal, and a lot of the dishes were unique and plated well. I would come back if I'm ever in the area and would recommend this place to all my friends! All ratings below are averaged (from me and my bf): salmon bisque // 9.25 // very yummy and unique. my bf didn't think he'd like it -- he usually dislikes seafood -- but it was great!! creamy, clear salmon taste but no unpleasant fishy/ocean taste that a lot of seafood has. i've never had this anywhere else, props to the chef! thai green curry // 8.5 // my bf says it's a 9. it's good but i feel like it was not my fave, it's lowkey your good, standard green curry that you can get at any thai place duck breast (curry) // 8.75 // very delicious and unique, i'd rate the curry, rice, and duck breast as 9/10, the duck breast itself was a 10/10. the curry was creamy, and they were all delicious and fragrant, pairing well together. however, the mushrooms, carrots, and other veggies it came with are too sweet. they seem like they're glazed with a sauce that has too much sugar. the black rice was surprisingly very filling strawberry matcha trifle // 8 // yummy, nothing majorly wrong with it. reminds me of a strawberry matcha latte. matcha whipped cream was a nice, unique touch i haven't really seen elsewhere despite it not sounding difficult to make. i'd order it again but i feel like it's on the sweeter side, so you can't eat too much of it.

    I ordered the FILET MIGNON AU POIVRE (8OZ) and the description was grilled filet mignon topped with…read morea sichuan, pink, & green peppercorn-brandy sauce, herbed roasted potatoes, glazed baby carrots, sugar snap peas, crispy onions, over a charred onion puree. I ordered the filet medium but it was served more on the well side. I would not order this again. I also had two Lavender Linen cocktails that were great. My husband ordered the FRESH AVOCADO-SHRIMP SPRING ROLLS and the description was glass noodles, julienned vegetables, ginger soy and chili sauces, cilantro, mint, bell pepper garnish, roasted peanuts. He loved them. Normally, he eats spring rolls with peanut sauce but the sauces that accompanied the spring rolls were perfect. The outdoor setting is very romantic and not what you would expect from a downtown restaurant. We left at dusk but I'm sure it's spectacular at night. Service was spot-on. We were with a large party and our server was very accommodating; giving recommendations and double checking once items arrived that they were correct. I highly recommend trying the lavender linen cocktail and spring rolls if you're in the area.

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    Embassy Suites by Hilton San Luis Obispo - Hotel Exterior.

    Embassy Suites by Hilton San Luis Obispo

    3.0(487 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Had a great experience here at Embassy Suites. My bf and I arrived for a concert at the Madonna…read moreInn. We were happy to do an early check-in for a small fee. The room was excellent! Large bedroom with a comfy King size bed. Which matters when you need a nap and a good nights rest. We loved walking down to the lobby for happy hour. Happy hour includes a round of cocktails on the house. We did enjoy that! A little pre-party before the concert. If we are back in SLO, we will definitely make sure we stay here! Thank you Embassy suites!

    I've always enjoyed staying at Embassy Suites, and if the price is right, I'll usually choose them…read moreover other hotel chains. Unfortunately, this stay just wasn't up to the standard I've come to expect. Check-in was quick and easy, and our suite was spacious, clean, and very comfortable. One surprise was being charged to park in an open parking lot. I wish that had been disclosed upfront. We were staying three nights as a family of six, yet the body wash dispenser in our room was less than one-eighth full when we arrived. We figured it would be an easy fix, but after my kids went to the front desk, housekeeping brought a shampoo bottle that was less than half full--and no body wash or conditioner. That meant another trip to the front desk just to get basic amenities. The pool is usually one of my favorite parts of staying at Embassy Suites, but this one was disappointing. There was debris floating in the water and visible junk on the bottom of the pool. It honestly looked like it needed a good cleaning. Breakfast was where things really went downhill. My 12-year-old daughter ordered a spinach omelet and found a green beetle about the size of a dime cooked into it. When my wife brought it to the staff's attention, one cook actually commented that it "didn't look cooked." My wife pointed out that not only was it cooked, it was greasy from the oil used to prepare the omelet. Thankfully, another cook stepped in, apologized sincerely, and handled the situation professionally. It also appeared they may have been short-staffed. Around 5:30 a.m. when I left for work, there were still empty beer bottles and cups sitting around the atrium from the night before. One area where the hotel absolutely deserves praise is housekeeping. They did an outstanding job. Every day I returned from work, the room was spotless and well cared for. They were easily the highlight of our stay. The evening hospitality reception was also a bit underwhelming. It consisted of the same tortilla chips, salsa, snack mix, and cheese cubes each night. I've stayed at other Embassy Suites that offered fresh vegetable trays with ranch and a better variety of snacks. Overall, there were definitely some positives, but unfortunately more negatives than I'm used to experiencing at Embassy Suites. I know this brand can do much better, which made this stay especially disappointing. I'm hoping this was just an off week because this isn't the Embassy Suites experience I've come to expect.

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    Embassy Suites by Hilton San Luis Obispo - Exterior of the Hotel.

    Exterior of the Hotel.

    Embassy Suites by Hilton San Luis Obispo - Complimentary Breakfast restaurant with made to order omelettes.

    Complimentary Breakfast restaurant with made to order omelettes.

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    Lobby

    The Penny - reception

    The Penny

    4.6(14 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    We had the absolute best time at our wedding, it was truly the best day ever, and exceeded our…read moreexpectations in every way. The food was phenomenal, the drinks were perfect, and the table settings and everything came together so beautifully. It felt very us and we felt like we had a lot of input but that everything was taken care of and the stress off of us. The service was incredible and elevated the night in a way that no amount of drapery or flower arrangements could have. Lauren, Lindsey and her team (big shout out to Shannon) are so talented and I would 10/10 recommend trusting them with your special day.

    If you want a wedding that feels effortless, joyful, and downright unforgettable, The Penny is…read morewhere you do it. We got married here last month and it was the BEST day of our lives!! Choosing to have our day here was hands-down the smartest decision we made. From the second we stepped into the venue for our first tour, everything just clicked. We live in Arizona but knew we wanted to get married on the Central Coast. During our tour, Lauren truly listened to what mattered to us and showed us exactly how those details would come to life on our wedding day. That meant everything. We weren't just potential clients touring a venue, we were fiancés getting ready to celebrate the rest of our lives together, and Lauren never lost sight of that. Once we signed on, our planner Lindsey walked us through every detail with so much confidence and warmth that planning from a state away actually felt easy. Something we didn't really think about during this whole process is just how much time you end up spending with your planner - leaning on them to help you through the day, asking them for advice. By the end of it all, Lindsey felt like an old friend and we knew we could trust her with our vision for the day. The Penny has a preferred vendor list that is absolutely epic, and it was SUPER helpful for people like us who weren't local. They were also completely open to working with any vendors we'd already chosen. We picked our bar and catering from their preferred list and came back out for tastings with each. Both experiences were incredible - I could write full reviews on each of them too!! We also chose to use a few other vendors from their list and we were so glad we did. Great venues attract great partners, and it showed every step of the way. The entire team at The Penny brings real passion to what they do, and you can feel it in every moment. Our guests couldn't stop talking about how seamless the day was and how stunning the space is. The Penny gave us the wedding we dreamed of and then some - we want to relive this day over and over and over. We cannot recommend The Penny enough!! Makayla and Spencer

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    The Penny
    The Penny

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    Nicola restaurant - peruvian - Updated August 2026

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