Nic + Junior's

Nic + Junior’s is a new go to for us and what a gem we’ve found tucked away from Michigan Ave amongst the trees. The food has not missed so far. Each plate is delicately crafted in flavor and presentation. Pretty great happy hour menu, too.

Already one of the best restaurants in all of Chicago. Food, service, decor, wine, and cocktails were all perfection. Crab claws with pepperoni chili crunch, pao de queijo, beef tartare, Caesar salad, the burger, the wagyu Bavette, and all the pastas were the standouts. So pretty much the entire menu. And don’t forget to ask for their house hot sauce. Get in immediately before you can’t get a reservation soon!

Really good burger and fresh Yuca fries. I didn’t think the brunch menu had a big variety, it would have been nice if they had more pastas on the menu.

5 stars all around. To be honest I didn’t even want to leave this review because I want to keep this place all to myself. The staff is so warm and wonderful, dirty martini and music on point, and the food was absolute perfection. Can’t wait to make this my new go-to. Definitely get the tapioca Brazilian cheese fritter with mortadella and the cheeseburger!

Fantastic tasting menu with healthy pour wine pairings. Great friendly service too. Check out the cocktail menus….they have a fantastic strawberry Negroni.

This is my favorite kind of restaurant. Bright and inviting atmosphere. Friendly staff. And most importantly of all amazing food! The pasta is all so fresh and I had the garbanzo beans and shrimp which was amazing.

Delightful & thoughtful menu with a sophisticated vibe. Friendly and efficient staff provided a wonderful dining experience. Can be a little hard to find if you are not familiar with the location.

Looking for Brazilian influenced cuisine, head to Nic + Junior's. We elected the A-la-Carte side of the restaurant and wasn't disappointed. A fine selection of Small Bites, Appetizers, Pasta, and Main Dishes. Check out that Rack of Lamb entree.

Everything was perfect from the beginning to the end. Costumer service impeccable and food remarkable. This is not just one more of the same Italian, it has the Brazilian flavor on it. Please make yourself a favor and try the Spaghetti Moqueca! Dadinhos were delicious too. Highly recommended and planning to be back for the tasting menu soon!

Truly your one-stop-shop! I was blown away by the drinks, apps, main course and even enjoyed the soft serve dessert. Give this new gem a try! A little something for everyone on the menu 🍸🍔🍦I’ll be back!

Upscale experience. Delightful, attentive staff and service. The sourdough bread was incredible and not to be missed.

Two powerhouse chefs have created the best blend of cuisines- Brazilian and Italian. Their 12 course tasting menu is a must as is their caiprinha. Location is best!

The snow crab claw had a little kick from the peppercorn chilis, and the crispy potato with sturgeon caviar was a nice starchy salty dish went beautifully with the wine. The dadinho had iberico lardo, and really just melted in your mouth. The pizelle for gras was also so rich and my favorite from the beginning courses. Then some seafood which we first had the smoked scallop, it was dissolving on the tongue, just incredible. The branzino course was great and flavorful too. We chose one of each to try each others pastas. My garganelli pasta had octopus that was soft and the pasta itself resembled a stew-like flavor. Malia’s spaghetti was creamy and I loved the caviar in there too. The Rohan Duck was delicious and salty skin always gets me to food heaven. The A5 Wagyu Picanha was one of the best meats I’ve ever had. The wagyu just melted, and the wagyu is from Mizayaki Japan showcasing its glorious marbling. The End consisted of 3 desserts starting with the olive oil cake was remarkable, the dark chocolate dessert had a nice crunch, and last but not least the mini cone was smooth and there was a little surprise at the bottom that was fun. The service was exceptional too.

One of the best new restaurants in Chicago. Amazing food. Amazing service Amazing wine. Highly recommend

This is a new spot so I had to immediately check it out! It’s right in front of the Trump hotel so if the GPS directs you to the building address keep walking around the corner! When I visited it was not busy but so worth the visit! The espresso martini is to die for! Unique because it’s not the color you would expect it to be. I tried the apps with potatoes and caviar plus wagyu tartas. Small so keep in mind if you want to share because you may want it all to yourself. The salad is delicious and super unique. You have definitely not tried it before. @thelifeofmarija on instagram for more video reviews! I visited this spot on my own after finding it online!

Great food great service love the setup you can see right Into the kitchen . Try the cheese on a stick!

My fiancé chose this place to celebrate after proposing and OMG he did again! Matt Lukas, David, chefs, my night was perfect!! Thank you everyone

Fantastic happy hour! The staff were all wonderful, with great service. Highly recommend the oysters and focaccia.

My boyfriend and I dined here last night and opted for the tasting menu. The food was delicious (I think it will be better as the restaurant has more time to bloom!), but what we really enjoyed was the service and ambiance. We sat at a table that had a front row view of the kitchen, and it was fun to see the kitchen staff banter and have fun with each other while remaining dialed in to create beautiful and tasty dishes. The pasta was excellent, the caviar potato bites were a favorite, and we loved the ice cream surprise at the end. Our server, Scott, was friendly and enthusiastic about the restaurant. We had a great time conversing with him and sincerely appreciate how attentive and kind he was throughout service. We can't wait to go back!

This place is amazing. The caviar was delicious. I had the bass dish and a cocktail. They didn’t hold back on the flavors. I love this place.

We chose the Pão de Queijo and Oysters for appetizers and Coppa Steak and Grilled Short Rib for entrees. The food was incredible. My only mild criticism is that the Pão de Queijo was a bit small. I'd add two more pieces of bread to sop up that delicious sauce. And the bartender mixed us a complimentary gin cocktail that was excellent. Service/vibe was excellent.

Truly an unforgettable night at Nic + Juniors! The staff were incredibly welcoming, attentive and genuinely kind. The food and drinks were absolutely delicious. Highly recommend this place if you’re looking for great food and even better hospitality!

Fantastic Brazilian spot in a hidden outpost by Michigan Ave, Trump Tower and Wrigley. Server Tania B is an absolute asset. Sommelier Charlotte embodies hospitality in its highest form. Food is top-notch, burrata over a brilliant salad, tuna crudo over citrusy Japanese leaves. Tagliatelle so al dente it hurts, with a nod to cacio e pepe. Picanha was amazing but should have been served warmer. Stellar performance in a tough space that deserves your attention!

Can’t say enough good things - was so surprised that it wasn’t booked out. We were only one of 3 parties in the dining area. The food was immaculate - and you can see into the kitchen and watch how meticulous the chefs work. I’ll say - best martini I’ve ever had, great homemade pasta, juicy half chicken. And the tomatoes we had with ricotta as an app… wow!

Review: Exceptional Dining Experience I recently had the pleasure of dining at this restaurant, and I must say, the food was surprisingly excellent! From the appetizers to the main courses, every dish showcased the chef's remarkable skill. We indulged in the tagliatelle with pork ragu and the grilled short rib, both of which were full of flavor and cooked to perfection. Each bite was nothing short of delicious, and I genuinely couldn't find a single flaw in the preparation. This culinary experience exceeded my expectations, and I highly recommend this gem to anyone seeking a fantastic meal. Appetizer size could be larger though

I recently dined at Nic and Junior with my son, and it was a truly exceptional experience. The food was amazing and the service was outstanding; we were treated with great hospitality. I highly recommend their spaghetti scampi and the short ribs, the meat was tender and flavorful. Be sure to try their homemade bread, it's a culinary delight.

This place is a gem! The food is absolutely delicious, the staff is super friendly and on point, and the vibe is perfect whether you’re grabbing a drink or sitting down for a full meal. Great cocktails, tasty bites, and an atmosphere that just makes you want to stay longer. Easily one of my new go-to spots!

Miguel provided EXCELLENT service! We sat outside, near the river, and had a great meal. Very peaceful. Best Caesar salad I've ever had, pasta was phenom and I highly recommend the baked cheese bread.

Beautiful spot just off the river - I stopped in for lunch. The food was excellent (burger and soft serve are a MUST), all of the staff was lovely and very attentive. I would recommend a visit and can't wait to come back and try the Tasting Menu + wine pairing. Their wine list is great!

One of the best dining experiences in the City of Chicago. The best food and the kindest people. Make sure you save room for dessert, the soft serve and Tiramisu are insane!

We stopped in this afternoon - just needed some AC, drinks, and a snack. We ordered the yuca fries and cheese fritters and they were amazing! So much flavor! Our service was excellent and if this review ever reaches the lovely lady at the entrance - I'm enjoying the Gilded Age very much.

Loved this spot! The food blew me away, the team working there couldn’t have been nicer, and the drinks hit the mark. It’s got that perfect mix of chill and fun - whether you’re here for dinner or just cocktails, you’ll leave happy. Definitely a place I’ll be coming back to.

Recently dined at Nic and Juniors. Great new neighborhood spot tucked behind the Wrigley Building on the River! We stopped in without a reservation for dinner and enjoyed the beautiful patio space. My husband and I shared oysters, house-made Focaccia, Tagliatelle pasta and Branzino. I wasn't planning on ordering dessert, but the Brigadero Tiramisu sounded too tempting and it did not disappoint! It was so delicious! The whole staff was friendly and attentive throughout the evening and the General Manager, Matt even stopped by several times to introduce himself and chat. I would highly recommend and we'll be back soon.

Prices are good, and I can see why it feels like the portions are small, especially for the food and drinks. We ordered the tuna tartare, but unfortunately it had almost no flavor. The bread, however, was really good. The rigatoni vodka was disappointing because it was sour, which was surprising I’ve had rigatoni at many restaurants around Chicago, and this is the only place where it tasted like that. I also ordered the prime filet steak frites, and that was the highlight of the night. It was delicious and the only dish I truly loved. As for the service, I read other reviews saying it was slow, and that was very accurate. It took about 10 minutes just for someone to take our order, and the staff who brought the food weren’t very friendly and came off a bit mean. Overall, there’s definitely potential here, and I hope this restaurant improves because it could be a great spot with better service and more consistent flavors.

Charming atmosphere with a cool but not overly pretentious vibe. Staff was professional and warm and friendly. Went with friends and ordered many things off the a la carte menu. Everything we had was very tasty - Bolinho de Bacalhau - (salt cod fried balls), Pão de Queij (cheesy bread, freshly made and warm), Scallop crudo, Spaghetti with crab, Tagiliatelle with Pork Ragu, Piri Piri chicken, and two desserts. However we all were a bit surprised that were not many (or any?) vegetables on the menu. The only "vegetable" option seemed to be a caesar salad. We are not vegetarian, but just thought it was interesting that there didn't seem to be any vegetable dishes (appetizers or side dishes), other than vegetable garnishes that might come with your entree. So we left feeling a bit bloated and overly full from all the protein and pasta and wished we could have had some more vegies. Otherwise really liked this place!

I wish I loved this place more than I did. They have a beautiful space but both the food and service was quite disappointing. The pão de queijo was enjoyable and drinks were decent but it was downhill from there. The rigatoni was overcooked way past al dente and very salty. Chicken had great flavors but was very dry. Service was cold and aloof at times.

We arrived for a 745pm reservation and waited for 35 minutes before being told to sit at the bar to wait for another 30 minutes. 2 hours after reservation time was set, we received a salad that was close to inedible with the tartness of 1000 SourHeads and lettuce loosely resembling a cross between rabbit food and dirt. For the love of all things enjoyable in this world, please save your money and seek just about anywhere else in the great city of Chicago to dine at other than here.

We had an 8:30 reservation for my Wife's birthday for 19 people. We were told we'd have a private room where we'd all fit and be able to celebrate together. We didn't get seated until 9:45 a whole hour and fifteen after our original time. We weren't given the private room because it was double booked, instead they pushed multiple tables together in the normal dining area (they also gave us the wrong number of tables only enough for 16). The food was not memorable, watery and under salted. We had to ask for table salt for the food which was disappointing. They did give everyone a free shot and they gave my wife a free appetizer. We also called to confirm it was alright to bring a cake we had made, they told us that this was completely alright. After the night was over they brought it out and cut it for us, they didn't mention the fact there was a $100 charge to cut our cake. I did talk to the manager and had them remove it, but still. All together we were very disappointed, we had plans for the evening and half our party had to leave because we were an hour and a half behind schedule. Save yourself some time and go to another place.

We dined at Nick & Junior’s on a Saturday night with a party of four. We were initially seated in a front booth, where we quickly noticed that the heat was not working—the temperature inside was approximately 50 degrees. After requesting to move tables, the staff graciously accommodated us, and our food service began. Unfortunately, the wine pairing felt rushed, with all selections being delivered at once rather than throughout the meal. While the food was acceptable, it was nothing particularly memorable. Dessert service was also disorganized: one dish was brought out as if it were meant to be shared, and only after we had begun sharing it were the remaining desserts delivered. To add to the experience, when the check arrived and we split the bill, the credit cards were mixed up, and we were charged incorrectly. Overall, the evening was extremely disappointing.

The food was not memorable at all. The pastas we got had a funky aftertaste. We were seated when it was fairly empty, but the service was not the best. Our hostess seemed to be annoyed with no real customer service. I think this is an overpriced restaurant, where I would not recommend to others.