Nicosi

“Have you ever imagined eating desserts for an evening meal? Last night, my family took me to Nicosi in downtown San Antonio. We waited outside, then 18 people were seated around a square bar area. DO NOT BE LATE!! Once the curtain closes, no entry is allowed. What an incredible experience!! The dining atmosphere was very elegant. Presentation was wonderful. I never realized the importance of smell when tasting food!! The chef and staff brought out 8 courses of tiny portions of exotic desserts paired with a different wine (mine was non-alcoholic), I was amazed at the science of how something tasted bitter but when you sip what is in the glass, the flavor changed completely. I even experienced taking a small bite, smelling a fragrance the then taking another bite and it tasted different!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT EVERYONE TRY this restaurant 😀👍👍👍👍👍”

“Hi ladies and gents, my name is Josh. I try to keep my digital footprint as low as possible, but I wanted to share my lovely experience at Nicosi. For background I am not a big fine dining person, I’m not a chef or a food critic. I just like food and I have only been to one other restaurant that was given a star by the tire company that has a hold on the restaurant industry. It was difficult not to compare the two when they had so much in common at baseline, such as how they presented every dish with care, creativity and reason; but were very different in the type of food and flavors. Unlike other restaurants, Nicosi focuses on desserts, a seasonal menu, and going through the natural flow of tastes from bitter, sweet, umami and sour. It was a joy to partake in. Like my other experience, the host and chef walks you through every ingredient on the course and why it was chosen. It’s a fun show and experience. I understand why it has a star, but I felt that Nicosi lacked one thing, that I wish it had. I wish it had an extra bite, an extra course, an extra drink, 8 felt a little lacking. I needed something spicier, like literally spicier, from maybe Indian or Latin heritage to fill my mouth and stomach. It was just missing that one extra course that would have captured the whole picture for me. Yet, I don’t regret going, I had some of the best desserts of my life and a fun time, which is saying a lot as I’m extremely lactose intolerant and took like 9 lactaid pills throughout the meal.”

“We tried Nicosi that features an 8-course dessert tasting menu with four flavor profiles highlighted—acid, umami, bitter, and sweet. Two courses were presented for each flavor profile and are paired with either a cocktail or non-alcoholic beverage offering. It’s a very unique experience curated from Chef Tavel, who San Antonio is blessed to have as founder of this Michelin restaurant, Esquire Pastry Chef of the Year, and James Beard National Outstanding Chef Nominee. No photography was permitted during the experience, and the menu rotates every 3-4 months”

“I really wanted to like Nicosi since I love the concept, but the place felt like a ripoff. Out of all the desserts, only the first one was good enough to be considered memorable. As far as the dessert for dinner remark, food was really not much and we definitely needed a second dinner. Service was nothing out of the ordinary and having to linger around the door until someone approaches you to confirm your reservation feels kind of awkward. Parking is available at the pullman market and it's really limited.”

“I wanted to love Nicosi because the concept is creative and the ingredients felt high quality, but the execution left me disappointed. The menu had innovative ideas, but the dishes did not feel as balanced or memorable as I expected. For example, the chicken wing caramel sounded exciting, but it did not really have that “wow” moment, and I wish the desserts had more balance, especially with saltiness. For an experience built around interaction, I expected more audience involvement and more molecular gastronomy. Instead, many dishes felt pre-plated, and the service felt rushed. The small counter-style setup reminded me of hibachi, but honestly, hibachi feels more fun and engaging. Here, the conversations with staff felt a little scripted, almost like a guided tour. The alcohol pairing was also underwhelming, with strong alcohol-forward flavors that did not seem to complement the dishes. Since this was my birthday dinner, I was hoping for something more exciting and memorable, but my roommate was nearly falling asleep during the experience. Overall, I appreciate the creativity and concept, but the menu felt more playful in idea than in execution. I left disappointed and expected more care, surprise, and refinement”