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Exterior - Nico, Boston, MA

Nico

4.7 (3979)
$30 and under
Italian
417 Hanover Street, Boston, MA 02113

Make a reservation

A photo of Nico restaurant

Nico

4.7
$30 and under
Italian
North End

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 23 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
Nick Varano invites you to enjoy superlative and classic Italian fare in this boldly colored and romantic atmosphere. NICO’s friendly and enthusiastic staff set the bar for quality customer service. The kitchen is under the direction and expertise of celebrated Boston chef, Farouk Bazoune.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Thu–Sun 4:00 pm–10:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Farouk Bazoune
  • Neighborhood
    North End
  • Cross street
    Between Harris St. and Hanover Ave.
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    MBTA Blue LineAquarium, Government CenterMBTA Orange LineHaymarket Station
  • Entertainment
    Join us on Tuesday nights for Street Magic!
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Nico.

4.7

4.7
(3979)
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Nico offers an "amazing dining experience" in Boston's North End with "delicious food" and "attentive service." Known for its "phenomenal pasta," especially the tableside cacio e pepe, the restaurant features a "cozy environment" and a "great vibe." Despite some communication hiccups, the "friendly staff" ensures a memorable visit.
3,979 Reviews
  1. ANDREA

    Chicago3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    EXCELLENT! Our server was amazing and very attentive . Food was out of this world and ambiance was intimate and vibrant!

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  2. Erica

    Greater Boston1 review

    4.0

    Dined on October 24, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Food was great but we were seated in the basement and we went there for the table side cacio e Pepe and they don’t make that in the basement. You can still order it but they don’t make it table side and it kindof ruins the experience

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  3. Jonathan

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 24, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Been there many times but last night with my wife was amazing atmosphere and food was second to none.

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  4. Hanna

    St. Louis18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 23, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Staff was friendly, food took a little long but it was delicious and well worth the wait. Cocktails and beer were cold and tasty as well. Love the bread for the table here too! Would recommend the rigatoni di Nico, fresh seafood and a fabulous white sauce!

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  5. Lo

    Greater Boston2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 21, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Nico is a small, lovely restaurant with a distinctive menu. It's tucked away at the end of Hanover Street. Great wine selection but no dessert offerings. Great for dates or business.

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  6. Julius

    Greater Boston7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 19, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everybody loves the cacio e pepe - for good reason. We had it as an appetizer for three and loved it. Tracy was a great server. Love Nico's - will be back.

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  7. Shellie

    Orange County2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 18, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Six million stars!! Ambiance? One million stars. Food. One million stars. Drinks. One million stars. Service One million stars. And whatever else makes this equal six million stars. We started with calamari. So good. The servers were nice. The manager was amazing. The bread was delicious. Our meal was so good. Espresso martinis for dessert…you guessed it. So. Good. If you’re coming expecting an intimate quiet meal this isn’t it. It’s loud and just such a great vibe. I would come back to Boston to have this meal again.

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  8. Todd

    San Antonio1 review

    2.0

    Dined on October 11, 2026

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    This restaurant is not good at communicating with the customer. I called and specified that I wanted the table side pasta special. They said okay, never stating that I had to sit in a certain area to get it. We were then sat downstairs, which is not a good place to east. Noisy, no windows, just blah. Waiter stated we could not have the table side down there, but did not offer for us to get moved upstairs either. Food was relatively good as far as taste. We were just very disappointed in the lack of communication since we called ahead. They should have mentioned you have to sit upstairs. Told the manager and he didn't seem to even care. Said you should have came back up, but that was never offered to us by the waiter. He just said, "it's the same thing", which is a lie. Then, when we decided to leave, the waiter had three beverages on our bill that we never ordered. Took a long time for them to fix that, and again, manager didn't seem to care at all. Just said we will fix it. All the while never apologizing for anything, from the lack of food service or the bill. Didn't even bother to help out and buy us a drink since we were not happy with the service, which usually is a typical thing for a manager that cares to do. Overall, food was good, semi-decent pricing. Wait service was average, just check your bill. And, if you want tableside pasta, only sit upstairs. This should be mentioned on the menu, when you call and ask for it, or when you arrive at the restaurant. Very pool experience due to the lack of communication and the lack of care by the "manager" on duty. Will not be back.

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  9. Tony Gold

    Greater Boston14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 10, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our new favorite Italian restaurant in the north end Nico’s is everything you want in a good Italian restaurant. Friendly service, great atmosphere and even better food. The Night Manager or maître d’ is friendly and made the experience even better. Thank you for making it a great evening in the North End!

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  10. Chris

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 8, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    The food was phenomenal. Service was good. The whole atmosphere was really good

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Thu–Sun 4:00 pm–10:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Farouk Bazoune
  • Neighborhood
    North End
  • Cross street
    Between Harris St. and Hanover Ave.
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    MBTA Blue LineAquarium, Government CenterMBTA Orange LineHaymarket Station
  • Entertainment
    Join us on Tuesday nights for Street Magic!
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Entertainment, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wine

FAQs

Nico often fills up during peak visits, several reviewers describe the place as packed or very busy, while Sunday evenings have been noted as a quieter, more relaxed time to dine.

Nico pairs a boldly colored, romantic dining room with an energetic neighborhood vibe; it has two levels, with the upstairs feeling livelier (often with a vocalist) and the downstairs a cozier, more intimate space.

Business casual is the guide, aim for neat, polished clothing rather than anything formal.

Nico is at its calmest on Sunday evenings, guests report Sunday nights as “pretty quiet”, while Friday and Saturday nights, often with live vocalists, bring a much livelier, louder vibe.

Yes, families are welcome: multiple guests describe bringing children (one picky 6‑year‑old called it their best dinner), staff being accommodating, and kids enjoying the tableside pasta experience.

For a quieter meal, Sunday evenings are a good pick, guests report the restaurant being pretty quiet then; if you want a livelier night with singers, Friday can be festive.

Nico is owned by Nick Varano, and the kitchen is led by celebrated Boston chef Farouk Bazoune.

Guests frequently describe portions as generous, the meatball is often called large and shareable, and dishes like the porcini ravioli have been noted as a bigger serving (eight ravioli reported).

Yes, many guests recommend Nico for anniversaries and date nights, praising its intimate, cozy atmosphere and outstanding food.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Greater Boston
  4. Boston
  5. North End

Make a reservation

A photo of Nico restaurant

Nico

4.7
$30 and under
Italian
North End

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 23 times today
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