Il Nido Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Vancouver

This Italian restaurant has been around for decades. I went 30 yrs ago when a bf took me here on a date. I moved back to the city and have returned now. I'm a more experienced eater (and home cook, and know Italian food) so my standards and expectations are higher now, but I also value other things as well, and those are what are prompting me to write this review.

First, it is a true respite in the city. It's so difficult to find a good but quiet restaurant, and this place truly is a little oasis of calm. I sometimes need a calm and relaxed experience, and that's when we come back to Il Nido.

The decor is a bit dated and needs a refresh, but I will forgive them for that in these financially trying times.

I wish Italians worked here, which would be nice (being able to pronounce the Italian menu words properly - it was memorable to me that an Asian-Cdn server mispronounced something basic), but other than that, the staff is very good. They always do their best to make it a pleasant, warm, satisfying experience for guests. You will not be ignored (and you might even have a lovely conversation, if you're up for it). On this note, Lisia (Lycia? I really have no idea the spelling) is a gem. She's blonde, tatted up, with arty glasses, and is the perfect combination of warmth and utmost professionalism. She takes care of you, and truly makes it an experience. She's knowledgeable and fun. You'd be lucky to have her anywhere in your orbit.

I need a larger menu. I need items that I don't already know how to cook at home, and that's starting to get tougher and tougher, given I've been cooking for decades. I like restaurants to do something special, add a unique ingredient on top of or in a classic dish, for instance. But it doesn't mean skipping the classics. Il Nido pretty much stays with classics.

The 10oz Top Sirloin was very good. Chewy (I'll order a filet if I have a choice), but it was perfectly seasoned and cooked, and the side roasted vegetables were excellent. $45 is spendy, but I'd recommend it. Next, I want to try the Tomahawk Porkchop. It sounds great and I bet it will be, given the steak.

Not a fan of their cocktails. I personally think they could use some revamping and updating. And the wines by the glass are spendy. But they're accommodating, will try to make whatever you ask for.

If you want a quiet place with great service, give them a try. I have good associations with this place because of this. Restaurants up stairs, or through a back walkway (Nido is the latter) tend not to be found as much by passing tourists etc. But that's precisely what makes this place worth visiting. The courtyard is also lovely. You might just forget the crowds and horns honking on...

My fiancé brought me here for my birthday last night (Saturday) and I couldn’t be happier with the choice.

From the service, live piano, atmosphere, and food, everything was spectacular. The staff are warm, attentive, and knowledgeable.

Sometimes in a small space, it can be difficult to maintain a conversation over live music which was not the case. The live piano was a wonderful bonus - we were able to both enjoy and appreciate it as well as our conversation.

I can’t rave about the food enough.

We started with Italian Meatballs - perfectly flavoured and cooked, the sauce complimented them perfectly without overpowering them.

For dinner, I had the Spaghetti alla Carbonara and my fiancé had the Chicken Mushroom Risotto. Both dishes were delicious - fresh ingredients, freshly made, perfect portions that only left us wanting more due to how divine they were but satisfied our hunger perfectly.

We couldn’t leave without dessert and went for the Tiramisu and Pannacotta al Cacao. The Tiramisu is the best we’ve ever had. Both desserts were delicious without being overindulgent, each component being complimentary. The Pannacotta al Cacao is a great choice if you’re feeling like a sweet fix without wanting anything too rich. Again, perfect portions.

The prices are extremely reasonable, especially for the level of detail and care.

We can’t wait to return and try the rest of the menu. Thank you for such a wonderful...

Very bad experience. There were plant pots full of cigarette butts right by our table and we they charged us extra for asking for extra bread. Unbelievable! I will never come back here.

PS1: They charged ~$6 for 3 small slices of extra bread which was actually stale!

PS2: They were not just a few cigarette buts from neighbours. That’s a lie. The two plant pots beside us were filled with 100-200 cigarette buts, hinting that it was a regular spot for people to smoke and leave their butts in the plant pots which created a very disgusting experience for our table.

PS3: If you go out of business for offering an extra 3 small bread slices, and if what we saw is your level of service, I’m sad to say that, you’re right, you’ll probably go out of business soon.

This post was edited after owner’s response:

Response from the owner: Dear Customer, we are sorry to hear about your experience. Our Focaccia bread is made in-house and the first one is free. If we serve it bottomless like you requested, then we might as well be out of business. Most restaurant in downtown Vancouver charges for extra bread as well, bread cost money too. Thank you for understanding.

As for any cigarette butts, we are an open patio and sometimes customers and neighbors occasionally litter, we try our best to clean it out and warn them...