Nicola’s

Though Nicola’s restaurant might not stand out along this busy section of Market Street, the stellar menu, which is loaded with a wealth of Italian favorites and decadent specialties, will lead visitors and locals back to this Italian joint again and again. With a surprisingly expansive interior, and plenty of fare to choose from, this friendly destination is a convenient and easy spot to feed a need for Italian fare.

The lengthy, four page menu features a full range of appetizers and salads to start with, including unique dishes like mushroom and parmesan risotto cakes, and a lemon salad with prosciutto topped and a goat cheese vinaigrette. This inspired fare carries over to the pizza section as well, which features roughly a dozen individual pizzas or strombolis / calzones to choose from, like the chicken presto pizza or the white pizza with three kinds of cheese. The pasta selections are just as varied, with classics like lasagna and manicotti paired side by side with unusual items like butternut ravioli, and the entrées will satisfy any carnivore, thanks to big plates of short ribs, chicken or veal parmesan, and chicken carbonara. Hearty, delicious, and slightly different from the traditional Italian joint, Nicola’s is a pretty fine dining experience that everyone can dive into.