At Nicolini’s you will find pasta, meats, breads and ..more pasta. Experience the feeling of being whisked away for an Italian evening as you step into the small, intimate rustic interior, where the service is excellent and the feel of the place is charming. Nicolini’s is family owned and run by an Italian, traditional pasta-making family. Raffaele with sons, Antonio, Fabrizio and Marlon are third and fourth generation restaurateurs with over 170 years of combined experience in Italy, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. Since 1997, our mission at Nicolini’s has been to bring age old recipes to the local community using local produce and imported ingredients, maintaining the authenticity of our age old recipes.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 9 Blair Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
Phone: +64 4 802 4442
Website: http://www.nicolinis.co.nz/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Order: Order online
Photo Gallery
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Reviews
Bernard Savage
Nicolini’s used to occupy a much smaller site right on Courtney Place; these current premises are much less claustrophobic although quite a lot of the old decor is on display. Reservations are definitely advisable and on Fridays these need to be done on the phone. The food is ready good and the menu remains much the same as it was prior to moving to these new premises. Service was friendly and efficient. We went on a Friday night and the restaurant was really busy.
… moreMarcus Lim
Came by myself for dinner. The mussels were really nice and buttery. For the main I got the bolognese, which was served hot and was decent. The main thing I came for was the family recipe tiramisu. The portion size is large and the flavour is on point. Only dislike was that it was a bit too airy for me, otherwise the presentation and all the flavours in and on it was perfect. Staff was attentive. Would go again just for the tiramisu.
… moreKat
The restaurant was extremely busy the night we ate there, possibly even more than usual due to the closed restaurant next door. It took an hour before we were served the starter we ordered, though the mains weren’t too long after this. We were asked when we ordered drinks ‘if we wanted to order some bread which comes out quickly from the kitchen’ and probably should have taken this as a hint other dishes would be slower.
The staff were generally very lovely and were working hard. The atmosphere is lively with good jazzy covers of songs / jazz and blues.
The food was genuinely very good. My husband said the garlic mushrooms he had for starters were brilliant, and we both enjoyed our mains. The portions were absolutely huge, much too big to finish in my opinion but good value if you get a takeaway box for the rest.
My issue is related to when we finished eating. We were asked if we wanted a takeaway box for the leftovers – very kind, we said yes. However no one ever bought the box. We waited around 20 minutes and the server had clearly forgotten. I can forgive that given she was busy, but many other servers served tables near us and would look at our remaining plate on the table but not come near enough for us to ask them again for a box, or ultimately to offer us any additional drinks or desserts either. We were seated right at the back where they also keep guests waiting for a table, and seeing them frustrated at how long it was taking to get a table knowing we wanted to leave and free ours up but couldn’t was so uncomfortable. Even if we had wanted more drinks or desserts we were never offered them, but also couldn’t leave and give the table to someone else. In the end I had to go and ask at the bar for a box and finally a waiter gave me one. Ultimately this soured the experience. I’m sure it’s a one off, the staff were clearly friendly and enjoyed their job. However I do feel on this night there was a lack of organisation with the staff not split by section so we were easily missed, even when the staff came near-ish.
You pay at the main till next to the bar at the end of the meal (not something clear to me as a Brit in NZ as varies by restaurant).
… moreThe staff were generally very lovely and were working hard. The atmosphere is lively with good jazzy covers of songs / jazz and blues.
The food was genuinely very good. My husband said the garlic mushrooms he had for starters were brilliant, and we both enjoyed our mains. The portions were absolutely huge, much too big to finish in my opinion but good value if you get a takeaway box for the rest.
My issue is related to when we finished eating. We were asked if we wanted a takeaway box for the leftovers – very kind, we said yes. However no one ever bought the box. We waited around 20 minutes and the server had clearly forgotten. I can forgive that given she was busy, but many other servers served tables near us and would look at our remaining plate on the table but not come near enough for us to ask them again for a box, or ultimately to offer us any additional drinks or desserts either. We were seated right at the back where they also keep guests waiting for a table, and seeing them frustrated at how long it was taking to get a table knowing we wanted to leave and free ours up but couldn’t was so uncomfortable. Even if we had wanted more drinks or desserts we were never offered them, but also couldn’t leave and give the table to someone else. In the end I had to go and ask at the bar for a box and finally a waiter gave me one. Ultimately this soured the experience. I’m sure it’s a one off, the staff were clearly friendly and enjoyed their job. However I do feel on this night there was a lack of organisation with the staff not split by section so we were easily missed, even when the staff came near-ish.
You pay at the main till next to the bar at the end of the meal (not something clear to me as a Brit in NZ as varies by restaurant).
Diana Peters
Such a wonderful restaurant for dinner!
I absolutely loved the atmosphere — it truly captured that authentic Italian charm you hope for when dining at an Italian restaurant. I had a fantastic experience; the staff were warm, friendly, and professional, and hats off to the chef — the food was delizioso.
A special thank you to Tony for making our visit so welcoming and enjoyable.
You will be seeing us again soon
… moreI absolutely loved the atmosphere — it truly captured that authentic Italian charm you hope for when dining at an Italian restaurant. I had a fantastic experience; the staff were warm, friendly, and professional, and hats off to the chef — the food was delizioso.
A special thank you to Tony for making our visit so welcoming and enjoyable.
You will be seeing us again soon
Karlita T.
Amazing food! The environment is beautiful and the staff members are very hard working and very attentive. I’ll totally come back to this place over and over again. Best Italian restaurant in Wellington!
… moreYuki L
The food was so delicious. The mains are huge. We ordered the pescatora and scotch fillet. Tiramisu was perfect. Loved the vibes of this place, will definitely come back.
… moreMan of Steel
If you’re looking for a lively atmosphere where your family can catch up, this is a good place to be. However, it’s definitely not the place for quiet conversations. The food was decent, but honestly could be better, especially considering the prices. Overall, a nice option for groups looking for an energetic setting, but perhaps not the best for those seeking great value or a peaceful meal.
… moreOllie VC
If you want a true Italian experience – this is the place to go. The staff are so welcoming and the food is Italian at its finest, encapsulated within a warm, cozy atmosphere. Thank you Tony for your hospitality, we had a great time.
… moreFaith
We had huge, delicious portions of pastas here. There’s a live pianist as well that created a lovely ambience as we enjoyed our meal.
… moreConstanza Maturana
This place offers incredible value for money. You can try authentic, tasty Italian food at an excellent price, the people are friendly, and the place is pretty cool! The photos are of the lasagne.
… more