There are few places these days that remind you of a bygone era when hearty food, genteel service and live entertainment was part and parcel of eating out at a restaurant, but Nicolino’s in Sunnyvale fits the bill. Reminiscent of a swank New York or Chicago supper club, Nicolino’s is the kind of place that could pass as a regular haunt for Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack, thanks to its tuxedoed waiters, brown-leather banquettes and classic Italian fare.
While the elegant, dark wood-paneled restaurant is ideal for a leisurely midday meal,
it really shines at dinnertime. Even though it’s a white-tablecloth establishment, Nicolino’s is far from stuffy with its romantic feel and lively atmosphere, both of which have drawn in customers for nearly 30 years—from couples sharing a special evening to large gatherings of family and friends.
Order some wine and start out with the savory sausage bread, featuring house-made Italian sausage and served with marinara sauce. Need more to whet your appetite? Then order the sampler platter, which includes scallops topped with bread crumbs, butter and oregano; broiled oysters with spinach, bacon and Hollandaise sauce; grilled mushrooms on crostini; and prosciutto-wrapped melon slices.
As you graze and decide on an entrée, enjoy the musical stylings of Nicolino’s performers. Monday thru Thursday you can hear Yelena on piano; Fridays, there is a strolling gypsy violin player; and on Saturdays, you can catch singer Kaye DeVries, whose repertoire includes everything from opera to jazz standards.
The musicians aren’t the only ones who entertain, though—the charismatic staff prepares salads and entrees tableside with great flair. For starters, try the hot spinach salad, cooked especially for you by the general manager himself. For the main
course, carnivores will appreciate the prime rib or the house specialty, Steak Diane—
filet mignon flambéed tableside in cognac and red wine, simmered in a mushroom demi-glace.
Sit back and watch as a waiter cooks your meat with panache, taming the flames just as they are about to jump out of the pan. After your first bite of Steak Diane, don’t be surprised if you’re still craving it a week later. It’s just that good.
It would be a crime to leave without dessert, so leave room to try the classic cherries jubilee, flambéed in cognac and served with vanilla ice cream. It’s a delicious ending for your experience at Nicolino’s, by which time, you’ll probably already be planning your next trip back. —Stephanie Soong
Lunch: Mon-Fri, 11-3
Dinner: Tues-Fri 5-10; Sat, 5-midnight
Private dining on Sundays
Location:
1228 Reamwood Ave., Sunnyvale
Info/Reservations:
408/734-5323
www.nicolinosgardencafe.com
