| Dallas Restaurant Reviews |
| Nicola Upscale Italian 8111 Preston Road, Dallas, TX. 214-379-1111 |
Dallas Restaurant Review:
Nicola is a high-end Italian restaurant that costs less than what you might expect.
SETTING - The prime ground floor space in a very ordinary office building in a very pricey
part of town. The first time I drove up, there were not one but three Bentleys in the see-
and-be-seen spaces in front. Valet parking is cramped and a little chaotic, but you’ll get over
it once you step inside the door.
FOOD - This is not your common Italian fare. I highly recommend starting with the Tartar
di Tonno, a mound of ahi tuna tartar layered with avocado, capers, and shallots – one of the
finest appetizers I’ve ever tasted. The pastas are house-made and most are available in half
orders for reasonable prices, either as a large appetizer or as an entrée. My favorite pasta
is the Ravioli Brasato - plump pillows of braised beef ravioli with a pasta wrapper so thin, it's
almost transparent, served in a Marsala mushroom cream sauce. Among the entrees, the
Porco Buco is an impressive play on Osso Buco, except it’s a wonderful pork shank over
polenta, accompanied by an intense reduction sauce. The pan-seared scallops with porcini
mushrooms are excellent, as is the Filetto di Manzo, a black pepper-crusted beef tenderloin
for the carnivores in your party. Pastas $16-$20, entrees $20-$33. To see the menu, visit
their web site.
BAR & WINE - The huge bar just inside the front door knows how to mix a mean martini.
Depending on the night, it can be a happening place. The wine list is not as long as you might
expect at a top-end restaurant, but it has plenty of well-chosen wines at very good prices.
AMBIANCE - Nicola is open and airy with high ceilings and well-spaced tables. The clubby
rooms are dominated by rich red-and-gold draperies, elegant lamps, and gargantuan black
chandeliers of imported Murano glass. The service is polished and friendly.
RESERVATIONS - The trendy crowd in designer apparel has moderated since it first
opened, but reservations are still advised, especially on weekends.
BOTTOM LINE - Nicola has beyond-the-ordinary food and high-dollar atmosphere – it's the
place to take your boss or your best girl for what feels like a night on the town without
breaking the bank. Also open for lunch.
Nicola is a high-end Italian restaurant that costs less than what you might expect.
SETTING - The prime ground floor space in a very ordinary office building in a very pricey
part of town. The first time I drove up, there were not one but three Bentleys in the see-
and-be-seen spaces in front. Valet parking is cramped and a little chaotic, but you’ll get over
it once you step inside the door.
FOOD - This is not your common Italian fare. I highly recommend starting with the Tartar
di Tonno, a mound of ahi tuna tartar layered with avocado, capers, and shallots – one of the
finest appetizers I’ve ever tasted. The pastas are house-made and most are available in half
orders for reasonable prices, either as a large appetizer or as an entrée. My favorite pasta
is the Ravioli Brasato - plump pillows of braised beef ravioli with a pasta wrapper so thin, it's
almost transparent, served in a Marsala mushroom cream sauce. Among the entrees, the
Porco Buco is an impressive play on Osso Buco, except it’s a wonderful pork shank over
polenta, accompanied by an intense reduction sauce. The pan-seared scallops with porcini
mushrooms are excellent, as is the Filetto di Manzo, a black pepper-crusted beef tenderloin
for the carnivores in your party. Pastas $16-$20, entrees $20-$33. To see the menu, visit
their web site.
BAR & WINE - The huge bar just inside the front door knows how to mix a mean martini.
Depending on the night, it can be a happening place. The wine list is not as long as you might
expect at a top-end restaurant, but it has plenty of well-chosen wines at very good prices.
AMBIANCE - Nicola is open and airy with high ceilings and well-spaced tables. The clubby
rooms are dominated by rich red-and-gold draperies, elegant lamps, and gargantuan black
chandeliers of imported Murano glass. The service is polished and friendly.
RESERVATIONS - The trendy crowd in designer apparel has moderated since it first
opened, but reservations are still advised, especially on weekends.
BOTTOM LINE - Nicola has beyond-the-ordinary food and high-dollar atmosphere – it's the
place to take your boss or your best girl for what feels like a night on the town without
breaking the bank. Also open for lunch.
