A comfortable neighborhood Trattoria located between Georgetown and Dupont Circle serving rustic Italian cuisine. Trattoria Nicola's features a dramatic entrance on 23rd street, al fresco dining on the patio and private dining available in the Wine Room adjacent to the bar. The main dining area is split level and features romantic high backed booths and rich, colorful decor that stimulates the appetite. The sophisticated bar features happy hour and daily martini specials.

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42 Current Reviews

Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews

Overall

(Very Good) 3.7 / 5

(42 Reviews)

Rating Breakdown 42 reviews

5 stars

(14)

4 stars

(11)

3 stars

(9)

2 stars

(7)

1 star

(1)

Food

(Very Good) 3.7 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 3.5 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

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Diners classify this restaurant as:

good for groups(16)
neighborhood gem(11)
fit for foodies(10)

great for lunch(10)
romantic(9)
special occasion(8)

Trattoria Nicola's Reviews List

Review 1 for Trattoria Nicola's

Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

OpenTable Diner

Dined on 4/30/2013

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"The food was spectacular!! We thought we were in Florence, Italy. Everything was fresh and tasty. The service was great and
the restaurant was nicely decorated."

Dined on 4/30/2013

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem

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Review 2 for Trattoria Nicola's

Overall rating

(Fair) 2 / 5

OK For lunch, but Lacks distinction

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/18/2013

2011

Dined on 04/18/2013

2011

Food

(Fair) 2 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Fair) 2 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"We shared a pasta appetizer with parmesan sauce which was quite good. My dining partner had swordfish which he labeled dry and was unfinished. My chicken piccata with arugala was quite picquant but lacked sophistication. Bar drinks were pedestrian at best. A Margarita was sent back. My gin an tonic lacked any distinction. We did not consider dessert."

Dined on 04/18/2013

2011

Special Features: great for lunch

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Review 3 for Trattoria Nicola's

Overall rating

(Fair) 2 / 5

such slooooooow service -

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/14/2013

2004

Dined on 04/14/2013

2004

Food

(Fair) 2 / 5

Service

(Poor) 1 / 5

Ambiance

(Fair) 2 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"such slooooooow service - waiter had to be constantly prompted to return to table. He was much more interested in "chatting it up" at the bar than waiting on us. Restaurant was almost empty,even though it is attached to an Embassy Suites hotel, so that was not the problem. Pizza was decent - thin crust, not much sauce, and cheesy. Prices reasonable. Would return for take-out pizza as I live in the neighborhood."

Dined on 04/14/2013

2004

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Review 4 for Trattoria Nicola's

Overall rating

(Fair) 2 / 5

restaurant was just ok. food

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/31/2013

2011

Dined on 03/31/2013

2011

Food

(Good) 3 / 5

Service

(Fair) 2 / 5

Ambiance

(Fair) 2 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"restaurant was just ok. food and service was fair."

Dined on 03/31/2013

2011

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Review 5 for Trattoria Nicola's

Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Food was very tasty & well

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/07/2013

2012

Dined on 03/07/2013

2012

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Food was very tasty & well prepared. Service was not particularly attentive, but was adequate."

Dined on 03/07/2013

2012

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Review 6 for Trattoria Nicola's

Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Very nice discovery. We went

Top 500 Contributor

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/03/2013

2010

Dined on 03/03/2013

2010

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Very nice discovery. We went early and on a cold sunday, and it was nearly empty, but both, the food and the service were very good. The only minor fault is the the white wine that we ordered was not cold enough, and they did notd anticipate, and thus did not find a way, as we were ordering by the glass, to keep it on ice to improve glass after glass.."

Dined on 03/03/2013

2010

Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch

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Review 7 for Trattoria Nicola's

Overall rating

(Fair) 2 / 5

Like Salt?

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/23/2013

2006

Dined on 02/23/2013

2006

Food

(Poor) 1 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"The food was extremely salty in order to cover up the blandness of the real taste. The best thing about the food was the bread they brought out before our meal."

Dined on 02/23/2013

2006

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Review 8 for Trattoria Nicola's

Overall rating

(Fair) 2 / 5

We found this place next to

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/16/2013

2013

Dined on 02/16/2013

2013

Food

(Poor) 1 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"We found this place next to our hotel we stayed at. The food was not great. My husband was not impressed with his food. I ordered ravioli ricotta and it came out hard as a rock and with meat inside (the menu didn't state it was a meat ravioli. They did take my food off the bill which I appreciated. My 6 year old daughter ordered the kids fettuccini and it came out heaped in a small bowl which was hard to eat (they should have put it on a plate. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone. The service however was the best part."

Dined on 02/16/2013

2013

Special Features: good for groups, kid-friendly, late-night find

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Review 9 for Trattoria Nicola's

Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

A Pleasant Surprise

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/13/2013

2011

Dined on 02/13/2013

2011

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Trattotia Nicola's was a surprising find. I didn't know what to expect when I realized it was located in an Embassy Suites hotel. While the seating arrangements are a bit more open than the OpenTable description suggestions, the atmosphere was nice and cozy. The service was EXCELLENT and I really enjoyed the food. Don't get put off by the prices, the food was very good, except for the apple tart thing...it was cold when it should have been hot. All in all, Nicola's is well worth a visit."

Dined on 02/13/2013

2011

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Review 10 for Trattoria Nicola's

Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Delicious and worth the effort

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/06/2013

2007

Dined on 02/06/2013

2007

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

"Off the beaten path, but worth it. The asparagus wrapped in prosciutto was delicious, as was the ravioli with prosciutto and ricotta. The tortellone with spinach and ricotta, in a white wine sauce, was a special, but was AMAZING and hopefully going on the regular menu. The service was very nice and unobtrusive--never in the way, but any time I looked around, someone was there. Nice wine selection. Definitely going back."

Dined on 02/06/2013

2007

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic

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Review 11 for Trattoria Nicola's

Overall rating

(Poor) 1 / 5

Terrible Food

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/01/2013

2007

Dined on 02/01/2013

2007

Food

(Poor) 1 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Poor) 1 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"The food was TERRIBLE --- even DEPLORABLE !!! It was listed as an Italian Restaurant --- first hint that it wasn't going to make the grade: There were no pasta spoons at the place settings. The salad had brown stems and produce. The bleu cheese crumbles were good - how could you ruin already molded cheese? Entree was Chicken Alfredo. The Alfredo sauce was definitely a mix --- little more that warm skim milk with some powdered cheese product. The chicken was 1/2 in square cubes of chicken chunks. The pasta was uninspiring. Appetizer was Calamari --- heavy batter fried rubber bands would have been tastier. The food was terrible.
The mgmt and the parents of unruly children chose not to manage their noise.
The server was pleasa"

Dined on 02/01/2013

2007

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Review 12 for Trattoria Nicola's

Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5