Uncle Nicky's

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...

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!

Love everything the serve make or cook You gotta get the Uncle Nicky's MeatballsPork Meatballs smothered in Creamy Marsala Sauce topped with Pecorino Romano and served with Toasted Focaccia- over the meatball Sammy that comes with marinara which omg is earth shattering- I need to try the brunch I always just get the Meatballs, kale salad and the all day breakfast Sammy- that roll is to die for !!!! I would also suggest getting a spritz of you are a drinker of not just get a sparkling water and bitters

I have been Jonesing for a good simple Italian restaurant forever. I just happened to notice this place driving by today so I popped in. Best move. I've made in a long time! Of course I had to order the lasagna with a side of focaccia bread. I also ordered one of the house spritzers . This is definitely the best lasagna I have had in many years. It ticked off every box; overflowing with delicious mozzarella cheese, packed with succulent Italian sauce, and smooth, creamy ricotta cheese, it really doesn't get better than this! Also, during happy hour they have a free Meze collection to enjoy with your cocktail, this takes me back to the good old days in Greece. Definitely an excellent five star restaurant experience, I will definitely be coming back.

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!

I've been to uncle nickys a couple of times and have never been a super huge fan of the food. But I was excited to go for happy hour. We got there towards the end of the happy hour, and normally they have a complimentary appetizer set up for anyone who orders a cocktail but since we were there about 30 minutes before most of the food was gone. I ended up ordering a tea instead of a drink, and noticed that the tea for a really small cup of chamomile was the same price as a glass of wine. I think the happy hour is definitely worth checking out if you're getting drinks, but the coffee and tea is pretty overpriced in my mind. There's also limited parking and all of the neighboring businesses seem to have signs for towing if you park in them the only other option is a paid parking lot which feels ridiculous in Hyde Park. The vibes inside and the patio are really cute though, and I would highly recommend coming with a group of friends or even just alone to chill and read a book!

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.

Great quick and casual lunch spot with great drinks and food. Love that you can order at the counter and there is a cute patio! The meatballs, pasta and salad all were tasty.

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.

My friends and I came to Uncle Nicky's for lunch this week. First, I was surprised to find Uncle Nicky's wasn't terribly big, but it was a super cute spot. I loved the bright, natural light.Next, the service for our meal was great. Suzy took our order and got everything right. She was very friendly and helpful as we made our decisions as well.Now, on to the food/drinks. I got the Sunset Spritz cocktail which I highly recommend. The three of us pretty much split the food. We had the Fonduta, Cesar Salad, Chicken Alfredo, Mambo sandwich, and a cannoli. The Fonduta we really tasty. It's like the Italian version of queso fundido with red chili paste, pesto, and a raw egg. It went great with the foccacia. The Cesar and Alfredo complemented each other nicely. I didn't feel either the salad or the pasta was over dressed. While I didn't get a bite of the Mambo sandwich, it sure did look good. Finally, the cannoli was great. The shell was nice and crunchy and was perfectly filled with cream.I look forward to coming back to try more items on the menu.