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Nicosi, San Antonio, TX
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Nicosi

$50 and over
Dessert

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Innovative
  • Good for special occasions
  • Fancy
Submerse yourself in a dessert bar that will challenge your expectations by embracing acid, sweet, bitter, and savory all while extracting the nuances that truly makes them unique. Located at The Pearl, Nicosi only has only 20 seats that hug the kitchen, fostering one on one dialogue with the chefs.
To best accomodate your experience, reservations are required. We are offer 2 seating times per night: 5:30 and 8:00. Chef Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Chef de Cuisine Karla Espinosa will guide an intimate journey through every dish, its ingredients, what makes it special and why it has been chosen for the evening. We offer wine and cocktail pairings or non-alcoholic beverage pairings for each course. Because Nicosi is about delighting in the present, we have a no phone/photography policy and the menu will be revealed as you dine. We are able to accommodate most dietary aversions and special requests with 24 hour notice. Please allow 90 minutes for your visit. Guests 16 and up, please.

Why they're an Icon

From the OpenTable editors: Dessert takes center stage at Nicosi, an intimate, omakase-like tasting experience from acclaimed Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group. In a sleek space with velvet curtains and 20 seats overlooking an open kitchen, chefs Tavel Bristol-Joseph and Karla Espinosa whip up an artful, eight-course dessert menu that’s one of the city’s most singular dining experiences.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Dessert, Dining Bar, Fusion / Eclectic
  • Hours of operation
    Wed, Thu, Sun 6:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:30 pm
  • Phone number
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual

Experiences

  • Nicosi Tasting Menu

    $120.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    Immerse yourself in a dessert experience that redefines expectations, balancing acidity, sweetness, bitterness, and savoriness in a way that highlights their unique nuances. Nestled within The Pearl, Nicosi offers an intimate, 20-seat counter where guests engage directly with the chefs in a thoughtfully curated setting. With limited seating each evening, Nicosi presents a 90-minute, multi-course tasting menu, available by reservation only. Designed for guests 14 and older, this experience embraces the element of surprise—menus and dishes remain undisclosed until your visit. To fully appreciate the artistry and intention behind each course, we maintain a strict no-phone, no-photography policy, encouraging guests to be fully present. We look forward to welcoming you to Nicosi, where every bite tells a story.
    Nicosi Tasting Menu Photo

What 90 people are saying

Nicosi reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.9Ambience
  • 4.7Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Antonio

    Best Overall

  • San Antonio

    Best Food

  • San Antonio

    Best Service

  • San Antonio

    Best Ambiance

  • San Antonio

    Best Value

  • San Antonio

    Innovative

  • San Antonio

    Best Overall

  • San Antonio

    Best Food

  • San Antonio

    Best Service

  • San Antonio

    Best Ambiance

  • San Antonio

    Best Value

  • San Antonio

    Innovative

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Nicosi offers a "unique experience" with an 8-course "dessert for dinner" concept that delights guests. The "amazing" presentation, "engaging" staff, and intimate ambiance create a memorable culinary adventure. While some find the portions small, the "creative" flavors and "innovative" dishes make it "worth every cent." Highly recommended!
90 Reviews
  1. Kimberly VIP

    San Antonio4 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    The experience was unique, and the food was very innovative. I found the quality compared to price not worth the price tag. We also gave specific food preferences ahead of time (dairy intolerance, vegetarian). They acknowledged these preference at check in, but throughout the entire experience they were not taken into account. In fact we had to remind them at courses about our food preferences. For an experience that cost $300 (non-refundable), I found that to be a complete oversight by the restaurant. This felt like a one and done experience, and not something I would ever do again.

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  2. Walter VIP

    Washington DC1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The entire night was amazing. I had let the Nicosi team know that it was my wife and I’s anniversary and they made a special night even more memorable. The chef and owner were engaging with all the diners. It was great to be able to ask questions of the chefs about techniques used and inspiration that aided the development of their menu. Do not miss out on this unique culinary experience. Who doesn’t want dessert for dinner!

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  3. DavidG1225

    San Antonio2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 16, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience for me and my wife’s anniversary the staff was amazing and the food was a great unique experience!

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  4. Mayra VIP

    San Antonio4 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on March 16, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautiful ambiance, fantastic service. Very cool vibe. Only reason I didn’t give it a 5 star was a few items served were things I don’t care for like a course that was a carrot. It was too much sweet stuff and not enough savory to balance it out. It was just way too much sugary stuff for my palette. If they would do a menu where they incorporated more savory things it would work for me. If you have a total sweet tooth, this place is for you.

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  5. Princess

    San Antonio8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 13, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such a unique experience! I'm a pretty picky eater, but I ate everything. The chef described each course and how it was derived.

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  6. Barbara

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Unique experience. Personal interaction with staff. Creative combinations.

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  7. Eric

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing experience! The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. I enjoyed learning about the different food combinations and trying interesting courses which all tasted great! Highly recommend!!

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  8. JonR

    New York City2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very interesting experience. The food was a bit out there, which was cool, but I would have liked a dessert that was a bit more decadent.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Madrid1 review

    3.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    A interesting restaurant boasting a dessert tasting menu, the presentation of which was exceptional. However, the flavour profile left alot to be desired. The drink pairings while affordable were hit and miss. I definitely would have paid double or triple in order to have more exceptional drink offerings. The biggest issue is the flow and tempo of the meal. You are put through 8 plates in just an hour. The feeling is beyond rushed and doesn’t provide time for more understanding of the food pretested to you. Service is good, nothing wrong, however not to the standard of most tastibg menu restaurants. They are extremely accommodating for any requests or restrictions you have, so do not shy away for that. Over all it’s fun experience with loads of potential if they fix their tempo it would be the biggest positive impact they could do.

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  10. Larry

    San Antonio1 review

    4.0

    Dined on February 28, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great dessert, great ambience and tremendous service. For me and my wife, it was too much dessert. The chef and staff did a great job of their presentations, service, as well as the information they provided about each dessert course. In our opinion, the experience would be better if the 90 minute session started with a few light appetizers followed by a 3-4 dessert courses.

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FAQs

Nicosi is rated 4.9 stars by 90 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 5 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Nicosi

221 Newell Ave, San Antonio, TX 78215-1240

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Karnes Street and Newell Avenue
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown
  • Hours of operation
    Wed, Thu, Sun 6:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:30 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Dessert, Dining Bar, Fusion / Eclectic
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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