When Nico Scavone came to Greensboro in 2003, he came for love. Since he arrived, he has focused on Italian family recipes, fresh ingredients, homemade pastas and the development of a local Italian gem.
The sounds of Italy danced through the air as soon as I stepped into Nico’s Restaurant and Bar and within moments of being seated, the waiter brought a basket of fresh Italian bread.
Drizzled with a balsamic reduction and covered with rosemary-infused olive oil, the bruschetta had the right amount of fresh, diced tomato upon a crunchy, toasted slice of bread.
The Linguine Con Le Polpette (Linguine with Meatballs) had a creamy and mild tomato sauce, topped with Parmesan, and had a spicy aftertaste. The Risotto Agli Asparagi E Gamberi (Shrimp and Asparagus Risotto) was impeccable. The shrimp were cooked to perfection and with the crunch from the asparagus and the al dente risotto, the meal provided a great blend of culinary textures and tastes.
To finish the meal, I was presented with a tasting of classic Italian desserts — tiramisu, cannoli, chocolate mousse and chocolate chip mint gelato. The tiramisu, a recipe straight from Nico himself, was covered in cream and fresh cocoa. The cannoli had a crunchy shell, a sweet, creamy filling and a honey drizzle. The smooth chocolate mousse was creamy with a whipped cream topping. The chocolate chip mint gelato sat in a shot glass at the perfect temperature, and can only be described as delicious.
Kati's Recommendation: Tortellini, Ravioli, Lasagna