Nick's Italian Cafe
Business Information
RestaurantsFamily Style Dining
Message from the Business
Nick's Italian Cafe opened in 1977 in historic downtown McMinnville, which is now the heart of the Oregon wine country. Nick's grew up with the wine industry, quickly becoming a favorite gathering place for many of area winemakers. Nick's wine list reflects this friendship.
The format of a multi-course, fixed-menu dinner was borrowed from many fine restaurants in the North Beach section of San Francisco, where Nick and his family often dined. This concept was novel here at the time, but news of the restaurant spread, and soon diners were coming from Salem, Portland, and beyond.
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Customer Reviews (20 reviews)
chuck_in_salem
on Citysearch May 23, 2009I must admit, I was a bit out of sorts when we walked in having been not greeted for several minutes and then treated rather shabily at the Bistro Maison just down the street. (see review). All in all I thought Nick's was... (more)
soulpatch
on Citysearch Aug 04, 2008My wife and I have been to Nick's on several occasions over the years. Although the menu is limited, it seems like they usually have something that is edible and tasty. The soup is very good although I have noticed that... (more)
porque
on Citysearch Jul 12, 2008Nick's has to be one of the best kept secrets in the Willamette Valley, and we were quite happy to discover it. I was a little shocked to read some of the negative reviews. I think if you go in knowing what to expect from the... (more)
nancylewey
on Citysearch Apr 01, 2008This establishment has alway"s had a good food,but nothing oustanding.It's also very pricy for what you get. If you plan to eat here, you should plan to spend at least 2 hours.Service is at a snail"s pace, if your... (more)
marklehmann
on Citysearch Oct 14, 2007I've traveled through the beautiful Oregon Wine Country for many years and feel blessed to have come across Nick's. I've gone several times and my latest visit was exceptional. The rumors are true that Nick's... (more)
btm9661
on Citysearch Oct 06, 2007If you want to spend an exhorbitant amount on dinner, this is the place. The quantity of food is at best lunch size. The service was disappointing, ordering and getting the bill took over 30 minutes, way too long. The... (more)
jahdee
on Citysearch Jul 04, 2007I have heard rumors for years about Nick?s but was only recently able to make it in for dinner on my last trip to the Oregon wine country. All I can say is wow, the food was truly something special. Generally speaking I am... (more)
hkilber
on Citysearch Jul 03, 2007We made the trek out to McMinnville and what a surprise. Nick recently retired and his daughter Carmen and her fiance Eric have taken over. They're fresh from cooking at Quince in San Francisco - we tried to go there... (more)
vestelle
on Citysearch Aug 10, 2006The value of five courses for 42.00 is incredible, and you will not go home hungry. Try the Avocado with Bay Shrimp and Sauce Louis; it will blend a symphony in your mouth. In addition, don't pass on the pasta, its three... (more)
Contributor
on Citysearch Jul 10, 2006<b>In Short</b><br>Tucked into quaint downtown McMinnville, Nick's mixes rustic neighborhood charm with gourmet panache. Cozy booths, mismatched dinnerware and friendly servers make you feel right at home.... (more)
danhughes
on Citysearch Feb 25, 2006Do not patronize this establishment. This may seem quite hard, but I witnessed a young couple being treated quite unfairly over the weekend. This disgusted myself and the members at my table. We couldn't eat fast... (more)
karasuzanne
on Citysearch Apr 26, 2005After having grown up in McMinnville, lived in San Francisco and having lived in NYC for the past 5 years, Nick's is one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. Through my travels and the many different... (more)
daweston
on Citysearch Nov 09, 2004I've had the pleasure of dining at Nick's a number of times since their new chef, Jeremy Buck, took over in June. On my last visit, I had finger-licking-good lamb chops, perfectly cooked med-rare, with a lovely celery... (more)
jeffhazen
on Citysearch Nov 05, 2004We came to Nick's expecting to experience some exceptional food. Instead what we received was very bland and uninspiring. I got the roast duck with fig sauce and my wife got the roast lamb. I could not detect any fig in... (more)
reverendmother
on Citysearch Sep 12, 2004Having read the Citysearch member reviews and the March 2004 feature article in Saveur, we were looking forward to quite a memorable evening. We loved the melt-in-your-mouth grated pecorino cheese that welcomes... (more)
ruote
on Citysearch Sep 03, 2004Nick has a good thing going - and it's even better with his new chef. On my last visit, I had lamb's liver pate (first try for me, hopefully not my last), stellar minestrone, greens with goat cheese, beautiful pine nut... (more)
snowyrivergal
on Citysearch Oct 05, 2003Being a 20-year McMinnville resident, I finally made it to Nick's after mixed reviews from peers. I found the food to be less than mediocre for Italian cuisine and grossly overpriced. The ambiance was typical of... (more)
mjlstocks
on Citysearch Jan 21, 2003I have, too, heard all the hype about Nick's growing up around town. I finally tried it a few years ago, and I was surprised by the casual, yet elegant ambience of the place. The food was exceptional, the service was... (more)
jasmine_xoxo
on Citysearch Aug 05, 2002As a native McMinnville resident, I have lived for years with the hype of Nick's Cafe. Alas, it was all hype and no good. We spent well over $100 on a dinner that was ill-prepared and not very Italian. The fish was fishy... (more)
Brian
on Citysearch May 21, 2002Our five course meal was sublime: especially the pasta and dessert. Casual surroundings are nice, with great jazz playing overhead. (more)