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    Uncle Nicky's

    4.1 (247 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Cafes
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Uncle Nicky's Takeout or Delivery

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    UNCLE NICKY'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Uncle Nicky's

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    Aperol Spritz and Kale E Tartufo
    Jazmyn P.

    Wow this kale salad was so refreshing and tasty. The dressing was lemony with olive oil, so I assume, definitely worth the try if that hits your taste bugs! I added grilled chicken to it for my protein. Mind you this is the half portion, which worked out well for lunch. I imagine the full size is good for dinner and sharing with others. The server was very helpful in answering questions. I loved sitting outside under the umbrellas, the weather was nice.

    Basil Pesto Pasta
    Mia B.

    The best part of uncle Nicky's is the location for sure: nestled in a quaint, intimate corner of Hyde Park, the spot oozes neighborhood charm. We opted for outdoor seating, and indoors felt cramped. They have a bar and nice drink options. The food was just ok in my opinion. The pasta portion was quite small for the price. The sandwich bread was really squished and dense, I would've wanted it to be springier/more fresh. Service was quick, although it was relatively empty when we went. In summary: it's a good place for quaint vibes and a treat at Quack's afterwards.

    Uncle Nicky's covered patio
    Lori F.

    Ever since I saw a segment during the Milan Olympics about Italian Aperitivo Hour, I have wondered if there were an authentic Italian restaurants in Austin that have complimentary Italian snacks with purchase of a Aperitivo drink. I found that perfect place at Uncle Nicky's in Hyde Park. It's a quaint neighborhood eatery with both covered and uncovered outdoor seating. They have Aperitivo hour every day from 2-5pm. My husband and I decided to try something new and opted for typical Italian options. I had an Aperol Spritz and my husband ordered the Classic Negroni. We both enjoyed our cocktails and I found a tasty new, light drink for summer. The complimentary snacks included marinated artichoke hearts, olives, chickpeas and mozzarella as well as pasta salad and mortadella finger sandwiches with mayo. They were all flavorful and appetizing. Several other guests were ordering meals and all of the food we saw going by looked amazing. We didn't have time to stay for dinner, but definitely plan to visit Uncle Nicky's for a full meal soon. And I look forward to trying their other location on S. Lamar.

    Rachel T.

    Stopped here on National Ice Cream day for discounted soft serve. I added chocolate espresso sauce and crushed cannoli shells, and it made it a very delicious treat! Great service and cute location that feels totally different from the South Lamar spot. We sat on their little enclosed patio on the side and enjoyed our ice cream. We'll be back!

    Bre M.

    Pretty good! Definitely depends on the dish. I got the basil pasta the first time I went. It was okay. Today I got the rigatoni de la casa and it had a nice creamy flavor. The meatballs were the best. They were served in this delicious sauce that I could drink. The tiramisu was ok. It had a nice flavor, but the texture was firm/creamy and I prefer a more wet tiramisu. Would go back again.

    Frozen Italian Marg and Aperol Spritz.
    Karla D.

    What's not to love? The food is incredible. The drinks are incredible. The service is incredible. It is very reminiscent of being at a small cafe located in an Italian village. I dig the little happy hour snack bar. When ordering, it is done at the counter (European-style) and the food/drinks are brought to your table. We sat inside but they have outdoor seating as well. I look forward to returning to this location.

    Nice lasagna portion that was delicious and hot
    Ari R.

    Came in here on a Monday night and was surprised by how empty it was. There were a couple of folks sitting in the little area in the front, but that was it. There was just one guy working behind the counter. No one else was there when I arrived. I waited a bit for a friend and still no one came through. We ended up sitting in their covered outside area since the weather was just right for it and it was incredibly warm inside, like definitely uncomfortable. Our food was brought out and Oh My GOODNESS the lasagna was delicious. There's no meat in it so it's a veggie safe option and it was so good. The portion size was substantial I couldn't eat my last two bites. My friend got the chicken alfredo and said her was good as well. She too didn't eat all of it and didn't think she had enough leftover to actually take back home with her. While we were eating more folks showed up and sat in the same area we did. It still wasn't the amount I would expect for such a solid restaurant. I'll definitely be back for sure.

    Happy hour
    Roshini T.

    Went to happy hour at uncle Nicky's and wasn't too satisfied. We went because there is supposed to be a complimentary snack bar for those who get a drink during HH. When we got there, the entire snack bar was empty and they only refilled it after we asked twice. The drink itself was good (espresso martini). Might return to try the food on their menu

    Tina M.

    My husband and I decided on Uncle Nicky's for our anniversary lunch after much deliberation. We're both foodies so we tend to weigh the pros and cons of each restaurant option outing before reaching a final decision. Uncle Nicky's was a gamble, but I'm happy to report that it paid off. We were both very happy with the outcome. We had the three cheese fonduta and the caprese as appetizers, and shared a rigatoni as the main meal. We also ordered two coffees (one was on the house, offered by the barista when she learned it was our anniversary, nice!) and he had a negroni. I ordered the custard for dessert and he had the cannoli. Everything was very tasty and exceeded our expectations. The fonduta and the rigatoni especially were each a nice surprise, something we'd order again in a heartbeat. The caprese was fine, although I've had better and possibly even fresher mozzarella before - this one was a bit too firm, I think. The coffee was good and the custard was delish! My husband liked his drink but did mention that Mandola's cannolis are superior. You can't win them all... But overall this was a success, a very good meal. The ambiance is very laid back (my style) and the staff was beaming. That's always a plus! The bathrooms were clean (I remember when this very same location used to be the Italian coffee shop Dolce Vita a few years back... clean / working bathrooms were not guaranteed due to failing plumbing) and so was the restaurant, both the outdoor patio and the interior section. I think we'll be back, we had a good time, plus that rigatoni is calling my name, I can hear it miles away...

    Felecia I.

    If you're looking for a relaxed spot for good coffee in Hyde Park, consider Uncle Nicky's. The light filled space was clean and inviting. Both indoor and outdoor seating were available. We enjoyed our coffee on the outdoor patio as it had air conditioning -- sooo nice as summer-like temps continue to stick around. A friendly server behind the counter made our hot bevs. Their coffee cake looked tasty so we had that, too. Lovely afternoon break!

    Pane tostata
    Erika Z.

    Since I ordered takeout I won't be able to comment about the in-restaurant service, but the two servers behind the counter were very friendly! I ordered the pane tostata and the rigatoni. The tostata was super good - the meat, cheese, and honey were such a good combination of sweet and salty. The rigatoni was good as well. I added some black pepper and chili flakes on my own which added a nice little kick. The only part I didn't like about the pasta were the artichokes. They were a little sour(?) and I'm not sure I've had artichokes before so I'm not sure if that's how they're supposed to taste or if they were just a little old. Overall, though, both dishes were solid. I didn't get the best look but the restaurant looked a little small inside, but there is an enclosed outdoor dining area too. There are a few parking spots in front and a parking lot in the back, but the lot does have signs instructing you to pay.

    Aperol Spritz
    Lana K.

    Cute place that has indoor and patio seating. We opted to sit at the counter, which was not an ideal location. Since you order at the counter and there is a single point of sale contact, the line tends to get long. Once you order, a number is given to you and you grab a seat anywhere. We chose this restaurant due to previous reviews, but apparently older information. They no longer have a happy hour option. Instead, there is an "Apertivo Hour" on the menu, but that wasn't valid either when we went. Instead it was an ice cream special, but I didn't see that anywhere. Regardless, we ordered an Aperol Spritz, which is the reason we went in the first place. The bubbly was flat, which didn't make the cocktail enjoyable. We also ordered meatballs and Clasico Pane Tostata. The meatballs were the highlight... and the bread dipped in the sauce was delicious. I would order that again. However, I don't know if I would go back again just for that as it got so busy and having to get up each time to order something was not ideal. It was a bit chaotic for us. It may be a better spot geared towards families with kids to grab a bite to eat and some ice cream. Not a relaxing cocktail vibe. Just a thought. The restaurant is small enough that table service might be a better option rather than counter ordering, especially if someone wants to keep their tab open... and if gratuity is involved.

    Classico Pane Tostata, Kale salad, and Uncle Nicky's Meatballs
    Stephanie K.

    Very good food with delightful counter service and indoor/outdoor seating. The Kale e Tartufo salad is fresh & simple, an easy pairing with heartier Italian dishes (note to kitchen - would recommend massaging in a touch more dressing for flavor & improved texture). A Classico Pane Tostata has spongy housemade focaccia topped with fresh ricotta and the best Prosciutto San Daniele then dressed with spicy/sweet honey and garden-fresh herbs. Loving it for a lighter lunch or alternative to pizza dinner. Uncle Nicky's Meatballs are incredibly rich in a white Masala sauce (a little heavy on the salt when I visited), but springy and moist with lots of toasted focaccia for dipping. Cute neighborhood hang spot for dining in or quick carry out!

    Chicken Alfredo soo good ask for extra sauce

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    Hunter T.

    Thanks so much for your support, Meryl!

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    Page 7 of 7

    Ask the Community - Uncle Nicky's

    Is there a happy hour?

    Yes! They just added a happy hour- $1 Peroni Drafts, $6 specialty cocktails and I believe a selection of apps.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Red Ash

    4.4(1.6k reviews)
    2.9 miWarehouse District, Downtown
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    The food and service here were amazing! I highly recommend making reservations. I'm not sure that…read moreyou will get in otherwise. I could eat their bread all day long, it's so good. The bruschetta was the only appetizer that I wouldn't order again. It wasn't bad, but not my favorite. The bone marrow was smooth and buttery, definitely my favorite appetizer.

    We've always heard so much hype about Red Ash and just had to try for ourselves. Takes a few…read moremonths to get a reservation. I had made a reservation a few weeks prior for our anniversary month. When we sat at our table they had a cute little greeting card from the staff wishing us a happy anniversary. Pro Tip: Just make a reservation way in advance and if you make it you make it. Even if you don't think you will be able to make it. If you can't go just cancel with enough advance. We started with the Meatballs that pair wonderfully with their Italian Bread. Flavorful and plentiful dish and def get the bread! Next came the Bone Marrow & Tuna Crudo. I will say though for some reason after we finished our Meatballs it took them quite a while to bring our dishes after that. Bone Marrow was divine and also paired well with the Italian Bread. Tuna Crudo was not what I expected because it was warm and I was expecting it to be cold. But it was good and I love eggplant. Our main dish was the Agnolotti Alla Piemontese. From the description it seemed to hit all the boxes since we are meat lovers (contains braised beef & pork shoulder) and truffle. I love me some truffle. When we ordered the Agnolotti Alla Piemontese I asked him does it have a lot of truffle flavor because I love truffle. He said oh we can definitely add more truffle if you would like when the dish comes out. When the dish came they had the chef come shave an extra truffle on the dish. I honestly could not taste the difference. Was not enough truffle flavor for me. Note the extra truffle is an added charge. Overall lovely experience. If we return we will need to try some different dishes to give it another try.

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    Cousin Louie’s Italian American

    Cousin Louie’s Italian American

    4.0(89 reviews)
    16.4 mi
    $$

    Never heard of this place but got a coupon in the mail for a buy one lunch, get a free lunch…read more Decided to try it as I'm always looking for decent Italian food. As it turns out the coupon was only good during the week and it was Saturday. No big deal. I ordered a Meatball Sandwich, my friend an Italian Sandwich (after asking our excellent young waitress about it). She brought out two very tasty types of bread with olive oil for dipping. The sandwiches came with Garlic Fries. The Fries were delicious but unfortunately mine were lukewarm. I certainly could have asked for a fresh portion, but was hungry enough not to bother. That's the reason my rating wasn't 5 Star. Because the restaurant was pretty empty on this Saturday afternoon, I feel the Chef shouldn't have sent out fries that weren't piping hot. The Meatball Sandwich however was marvelous. Freshly made, tasty meatballs with sauce and cheese on their focaccia bread was a real treat. I took half home and ate the rest for dinner. All in all, I'd come back here again as the food was excellent as well as the service.

    Great Name.! Amazing Expectations! Beautifully decorated space! Franky''s crooning in the…read morebackground. Lots of families out celebrating. Must serve tons of spaghetti and meat sauce for the kids. But we're not here for the early bird family special. This is big time birthday celebration for the patriarch of this gang of Bostonians out for some wicked Italian food. We started with the beautiful bread basket nice fresh slices with some soft focaccia. The Calamari was standard some crispy tentacles with tough chewy meat. Meatball appetizers were big and beautifully blended globs of ground beef and sausage served with sauce. Now the it's Primo time. The Molto Grande Patti. Pork Chops with Giardiniera . Somebody forgot to make golden brown cutlets so they served an overcooked slab of pork chop underneath an assortment of pickled vegetables over a bed of pasta in red sauce. The only taste was pickled everything. Back to the kitchen and off the table. Veal Piccata consisted of two slices of meat, non tenderized, non dredged in flour and non pan seared. Served atop linguini swimming in a sea of lemon sauce and capers. What a wonderful disaster this was. Then the Lasagna served in casserole. If the traditional Lasagna is too time consuming to make then don't fake it with a casserole that the old Irish Lady makes. Good lasagna is made with layers of pasta, rich sauce, gooey cheese made with ricotta, mozzarella and parmigiano cheeses and loads of ground beef and sausage. Come on that's too easy to mess up with this awful thing you put in front of me. Ok the Penne was cooked to perfection. The sauce with green floating in it tasted good once I got past the floating algae. Sorry Folks but Cousin Louie's is best left for the kids spaghetti feast. No place for grown ups to dine.

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    Cousin Louie’s Italian American - Inside

    Inside

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    Rocket salad

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    Uncle Nicky's - italian - Updated May 2026

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