Nicolini's — Restaurant in North Island

We've enjoyed the great atmosphere and many authentic Italian meals at Nicolini's, meals just like Nonna would have made! We've celebrated special occasions and milestones, birthday's graduation and catching up with family and friends.

I haven't been there for awhile but I look forward to trying out the new larger premises just around the corner on Blair Street, next time I'm in Wellington.

However I've been to the previous address in Courtney Place and I have very fond memories of how amazing the atmosphere was, buzzing and a whirlwind of activity. The noise of happy diner's talking and laughing and clinking of wine glasses and the clatter of pots and pans in the kitchen was palpable and at the end of the night the chef would come out and mingle with the diner's, many who have probably been coming there for years. That's what I love about Nicolini's. It's like live theatre, it's rustic, it's unpretentious and authentic. It's the essence of Italian hospitality. It's more than food, it's an experience and the highlight of any occasion.

The tables were set with traditional red and white check table cloths and it was dimly lit and romantic, with candles flickering in old Chianti wine bottles. It's really not hard to imagine that you were somewhere in Italy.

From the moment you walk in the service is warm and welcoming, so here's a very special thank you to the wonderful front of house staff who ensure your dining experience is seamless and enjoyable while working in a whirlwind of activity but remaining calm and focused. Their knowledge of the menu and wine list and their recommendations is really appreciated. While you are waiting for your meal you're offered appetizers and drinks from the bar, antipasti, bruschetta, and garlic bread.

Nicolini's has a proud reputation of setting a high standard and are known as the benchmark for authentic Italian food in Wellington and the restaurant is always packed.

My favourite dish is the Lamb Shanks, slow cooked to perfection, in an age old Napolitan recipe, passed down from generation to generation-from Nonna to Nonna. The shanks were gelatinous and succulent. Tender and mouthwatering New Zealand lamb ready to fall off the bone.

Usually we share a variety of pasta dishes among us eagerly tasting each dish with excitement and anticipation. Some of the most memorable and favourite pasta dishes that come to mind were:

*Fettuccine Puttanesca, has a bold savory flavour with a prominent salty briny taste from the anchovies, olives and capers with a tangy tomato base, garlic and slight spice from the chilli.

*Lasagne al ragu Bolognese, rich and creamy, meaty and deeply flavourful from the slow cooking process with herbs and spices allowing the complex flavours to develop, with a subtle sweetness.

*Chicken and Blue Cheese Ravioli, rich and creamy and velvety texture with a pronounced tangy salty flavour of the blue cheese, balanced by the savory taste of the chicken, with hint of garlic and herbs.

*Chicken Tortellini with Mushrooms, rich and creamy combination of cheesy pasta pockets filled with chicken, enveloped in a savory, earthy mushroom sauce with a slighty umami flavour

Each accompanying sauce is different and has it own defining characteristics, but all are lovingly prepared, with layers of flavour, well seasoned and balanced. The taste is rich and harmonious as it lingers on your palate. The sauce is crafted to carry the flavour and to elevate and enhance the characteristic of each dish.

The Garlic Mussels and Calamari and The Fish of the Day (Snapper) were plump, juicy and delicious, locally sourced and presented at the peak of freshness, deftly seasoned with restraint to highlight the star of the show without overpowering the delicate flavour profile.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do"

Traditional Italian desserts are famously decadent and indulgent. Tiramisu is my favourite dessert because it has the rich combination of everything I love in a cake, espresso coffee, alcohol, chocolate, mascarpone and...

Ok, if I could give 6 stars, I'd still want to give 7 stars for this restaurant. This is Italian food served by an Italian family like you are one of them and they love you and it's sincere.

I had ordered cannelloni, which I had never had before and discovered I am not a fan, not because of the restaurant skills but the dish itself (in hindsight, it's generally a soft flavoured dish and I like strong flavours).

When the attentive, sweet waitress saw I barely touched my massive dish, she asked how I found the food. I replied it's my first time trying this and I just found out I don't like it. She offered to replace the dish by anything else. I wasn't comfortable doing that because the risk was on me so it didn't feel fair to the restaurant to replace the dish. She said, as a figure of speech of course, without pressure and in classic Italian style: "If you don't get something else, the chef is going to kill you and me!". Which really means: This is a classic Italian family restaurant and you are our guest and we want you well fed before you leave. I said I'd have a look. The chef eventually came to our table 😅, which I dreaded because I didn't want to make a fuss. But he was very reassuring, kind and loving. I picked the soup of the day to go simple on them because I still felt bad for the wasted cannelloni. He checked in on me with the ingredients to see if they appealed. It sounded great.

Later, another cook or chef delivered the soup to my table, with a big loving smile, you could tell they take a lot of pride in what they do.

I really felt cared for and loved. I was so overwhelmed by the service that I let out tears for a solid 5 minutes at my table.

I had to pause eating to let out a cry at the dinning table because I never felt this cared for and loved at a restaurant.

Go with your eyes closed, trust the staff to make sure you're looked after.

I will most definitely be a regular at that restaurant and recommend it any chance I get. Never, ever, in my entire life have I experienced this at a restaurant.

They cook with love and pride and you will feel it.

The portions are huge, even the garlic bread so...save up some space! This is NOT at all your average classic super stingy Kiwi restaurant. If you care about quality and can tell, you will be pleased.

From memory the prices are around 35-45$ per meal but do check again if you need.

The atmosphere is very homey and cosy, warm lights, wooden floor, cute red checkers tables, candles. Somewhat on the romantic side, which I love even with platonic friends.

The playlist was soft jazz and very soothing. Suited the venue and the entire experience very well.

I am someone who has no patience for mediocrity or slack, and I can assure you, I was absolutely and utterly impressed.

Go with your eyes closed, you will come out happy, full and with a new must-go restaurant to your favourites in town.

The hospo scene has a lot to learn from this restaurant! This is what a restaurant that has a soul feels and tastes like.

I just wish they did pizza because I am not too impressed by any pizza in this town and I'd trust Nicolini's with my life on any...

Very neutral feelings about this restaurant. We arrived at 8:20pm on a Saturday night. No reservation, but we got seated within five minutes. Maybe five minutes later we were able to put our order in, so 8:30 by the time that occurred. So far, so good. I ordered a salad and a lasagna bolognese. My wife and I were starving.

50 minutes later, our food comes out. During the wait, we only saw our waiter once (aside from when we received our drinks, which did show up on time). Look, I’ve worked in the service industry for ten years in NYC, so I know how it can get on a busy Saturday night. But still, at least bring my small salad out before my main course? I got the salad handed to me after the lasagna. That’s either counterintuitive training, management, or awareness. To her credit, when I asked about it later, my waitress said that I could have asked for it to be delivered earlier, but I shouldn’t have had to. Additionally the small salad had two croutons in it, and both were stale and chewy, with no crispness at all.

As for ambience, the restaurant has a nice, lived-in feel, but the soundtrack is essentially a blend of Frank Sinatra and….comedy lounge lizard and lounge covers singer extraordinaire, Richard Cheese, who does jazz covers of hits by Radiohead, Nirvana, and most famously, Sir Mix-A-Lot. Maybe the manager doesn’t realize it, but it’s probably just better to stick to the classics, like Dean Martin and Tony Bennett. Unless mariachi covers of U2’s Sunday Bloody Sunday is your bag.

Overall, the food was fine (my wife liked her special — the rigatoni Roma), the service was so-so, and the ambience veering wildly from The Lady Is A Tramp to truly camp. Inconsistent at best, bewildering at worst. Maybe the experience is better when one arrives at 5:00-6:00pm, but I would not come in for a ‘late’ meal again. The restaurant closes at 9:30pm and we got our meals, entrees and all, at 9:20pm. Unforgettable, for the...