Nico's Bistro

Modern bistro in Croatian style

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Nico’s is located in the very centre of Zagreb — in the pedestrian zone of Europski Square, tucked away in the privacy of Ban Center. It is a bar and a bistro that recently changed management, and with it – its concept. If you like modern exteriors and interiors, Nico’s will be just what you need. Its spacious terrace with comfortable high and low seating that connects the bar and the bistro leaves a good first impression.

The dining area of Nico’s is located in a glass cube on two floors, where green, black, gold and copper colours prevail. The atmosphere is pleasant and unpretentious, and the food and wine offer very creative. In winter, it is very cozy to sit in the warm Nico’s and look out through the large glass walls; in summer, we believe, it will be just as pleasant to spend some time on their terrace, hiding from the city heat and hustle and bustle.

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What is served?

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Nico’s is designed as a bistro whose offer is based on seasonal Croatian ingredients and a long wine list.

The menu includes five cold appetizers — steak tartare, foie gras torchon with pickled pear, buncek (pork shank) terrine, salted whitefish sashimi, and cold cuts and cheeses. They tell us that these dishes can also be ordered in their bar, to be enjoyed with wine or a cocktail.

There are also two soups to start. Among the hot appetizers, they are particularly proud of homemade štrukli, and the offer also includes risotto with mushrooms and pancetta, octopus, tagliatelle with shrimp, whitefish brudet with polenta, breaded oxtail, and chicken liver in sauce with white žganci.

The main courses are whitefish fillet, rib-eye of Black Slavonian pig, boned chicken drumstick and thigh with zlevka, and duck breast with grilled cabbage. There is also a selection of grilled meat — several cuts of beef and a lamb French rack with various side dishes.

Desserts change daily, as do some daily dishes.

The wine list is extensive and creative, divided into Croatian and foreign wines. It is equally interesting for wine beginners as it is for wine connoisseurs, but also for those who like to explore. The restaurant's wine list is also available in the bar.

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What our chefs had?

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The Delicious Zagreb team visited Nico’s in time for lunch. To start, we decided on baked štrukli made of hand-pulled dough, which we were recommended to try, and the buncek terrine. The smoked pork shank terrine is a true bistro classic, and Nico’s interpretation comes with horseradish whipped cream and sauerkraut. This combination proves that traditional local winter foods like buncek without doubt have their place in modern restaurants when presented in a modern version. We continued our lunch with the dish of the day — ricotta gnocchi with a green winter vegetable sauce, with breaded oxtail. The gnocchi were perfectly cooked, and the green sauce was delicious. The oxtail comes in the form of a crispy croquette and is reminiscent of the classics of French bistronomy. It was served with Jerusalem artichoke cream, fried eggplant, and plum chutney for freshness. For dessert, we chose tiramisu.

With our dishes we had white wine made from red grapes, Blanc de Noir Royal Hill.