Classic Italian in a Suburban Town: Can It Be That Good?

Penne pasta with marinara sauce from Nick’s.

Nick’s Italian Restaurant located in Northern Fort Collins, Colorado, offers delicious Italian food in a tasteful, yet comfortable environment. From high end carbonara and eggplant parmesan, to your typical spaghetti and pizza, Nick’s offers a wide variety of mouthwatering Italian dishes.

I attended Nick’s for dinner one evening in hopes of filling my stomach with some tasty pasta, and, thankfully, I got just that. As I entered the restaurant, I was greeted by a kind hostess who escorted me and my family to our table. Our waiter, dressed in a button down shirt and an apron, came almost immediately and presented our table with jugs full of cold water, allowing us to serve ourselves depending on how much water we desired.  

Looking around, I noticed that the walls were bordered with pallet wood, adding character to the restaurant. The kitchen is open and allows the customers to see the food being made as well as who is cooking the food. My favorite part was the giant wood burning oven where all the pizzas are cooked to a smoky perfection. Nick’s also offers a full bar where customers can enjoy a flavorful drink, although, I am too young to enjoy this aspect of the restaurant.

We began our meal with an appetizer of Fried Mozzarella, four pieces of mozzarella cheese fried in batter and served with marinara sauce, all for $9.25. Personally, I believe this appetizer was delightful, but quite pricey as it is just a starter and only offers four pieces.

Quickly after my family and I scarfed down our appetizer, we were ready to order. I decided to cure my craving and get penne pasta with marinara sauce, which was $12.00. In about ten minutes, my pasta was brought out to me. The meal was portioned well and was not too overwhelming, and looked delicious from the start. I really enjoyed that I could see the steam coming off my pasta, making it clear that it was freshly made and at a great temperature to eat.

Throughout the dinner, our waiter checked on us twice, making sure we were happy with our food and refilling drinks as needed. Even the manager came to our table, making sure our food and overall experience was pleasant. I thought this was very professional, and it felt good as a customer to know that the staff cared about my experience at their restaurant.

Overall, my experience at Nick’s Italian was better than I imagined. The food was more than appetizing, the decor felt warm and inviting, and the service was impeccable. If you are looking for a friendly, sit down restaurant to enjoy some delectable Italian food for lunch or dinner, Nick’s is the place to go.