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Nicli Antica Pizzeria
Category: Restaurants Pizza Pizza [Edit]
62 E Cordova StVancouver, BC V6A 1K3
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Gastown
(604) 669-6985
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
92 reviews for Nicli Antica Pizzeria
Review Highlights
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"The Funghi (pomodoro, fior di latte, mushroom, basil) was a..." In 10 reviews -
"...with a chili and rosemary olive oil which was very tasty." In 3 reviews -
"The tomato sauce is unbelievably good." In 12 reviews
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92 reviews in English
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Review from Jeff F.
5/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Quite good... first time here, and when we got there, it wasn't too too busy (was early for most of the dinner crowd), but by the time we were leaving it was packed, with a few people waiting at the door.
Servers were very friendly and helpful... can't fault them there... the salads came out quick... drinks were speedy and tasty (and so were the salads). Girls split an asparagus, prosciutto, and artichoke salad... I had a insalata mista.
Pizza time... I had a cappocollo... was a nice blend of heat and tomato, and basil. Quite a tasty pizza. Wife had a prosciutto e ruccola which was a middle point to my pizza and the last one... our friend had a buffalo margheritta (very tomatoey, and mild... but delicious in its simplicity).
All the pizzas were very tasty... a little tough to cut though... took a lot of work to get in there... worth the effort when you were there though.
Go back? Sure... but not every day at those prices (just came back from Italy... and pies at the same level and better were running for about 8-12 euro). -
Review from Anna P.
Vancouver, BC
Rating: 3.5
We heard about this place on yelp and had to drop by since we live so close. Not surprising there was a 20min wait, but the best part of this was (I haven't seen much of in this city yet) that they would text you when your table's ready. Way better than standing around the tiny waiting area with 10 other people breathing and staring at each other...AWKward.
After 15 min we received the text and walked on back to be seated immediately. The server was friendly and got our order in quick. We didn't have much choice in seating since it was so full, as we had to sit at the back. Not a problem though, it was next to the super awesome oven. And you could see the chefs cutting up potted herbs for the pizza.
We had the Margherita and the Napoletana pizzas. Drinks: Absinthe of Temperance cocktail & Moretti beer. Bill came out to about $58 (after tax and tip).
Dress Code: Mixture of casually dressed to the well dressed. -
Review from The Curvy Gourmet H.
Vancouver, BC
5/3/2012 7 photos
After hearing rave reviews about "Vancouver's Best Pizza", I had to investigate for myself. Named after the owner Bill McCaig's mother, Nicli Antica Pizzaria is Vancouver's first true source for authentic Neapolitan pizza. Their simple decor with tons of natural light and the warm glow of the wood fired oven creates a classic yet modern eatery. Towering to the ceiling and gleaming with crystal white tiles is the wood fired oven, an import from Naples and built from stone from Mount Vesuvius. Chef Christopher Picek has created a menu with variety and tradition while their daily specials allow for inventive toppings on a classic crust. They provide the delicious addiction of fast fresh pizza while in a high class dining environment. My gripe with some restaurants is that once they get to a specific area of town they take on an attitude. Nicli keeps the class and comfort, ditches the attitude. Think "Romantic Italian Pizza".
My server recommends his personal favorite, the Prosciutto e Rucola. A combination of pomodoro sauce, grana padano (a rich Italian cheese), fior di latte (Italian mozzarella), Parma prosciutto, and fresh arugula atop their crisp thin signature house crust. My table is equipped with two bottles of oil to add a zing of rosemary or chili.
Made by hand and cooked for 90 seconds in the 900 degree oven, my pizza arrives at my table before I even have a chance to finish the best Caesar salad I have ever had. Normally croutons are not the most impressive part of a salad. They are typically dry, flavorless, and just plain boring. Nicli uses their signature pizza dough, cuts it into perfect little squares and deep fries them to chewy flavorful perfection. Combined with the hand made dressing and real smokey prosciutto bits, the croutons soak up the dressing like delicious little sponges and play perfectly off the crisp young romaine.
With a drizzle of the rosemary oil on my first bite, I dive into my pizza. The thin crust, with its charred flame kissed bubbles is the perfect texture. While the prosciutto and arugula burst with flavor and blend amazingly. The award for best pizza, is absolutely deserved. Fresh locally sourced ingredients along with Italian tradition has given them a serious leg up on their competition.
No trip to such a gourmet Italian eatery would be complete without dessert and not just any dessert, THE Italian dessert. The made from scratch in their own kitchen Tiramisu. Be forewarned, this Tiramisu is going to wreck you for many others. With Frangelico syrup drizzled around it and the cakey lady fingers soaked in as much espresso as they can handle, it is absolutely perfect. I would imagine you will be as grateful as I, that they give you such a generous portion.
Nicli Antica offered me exactly what I needed. Fresh superbly prepared food in a great atmosphere. I am currently plotting my next visit to meet my mushroom fixation with their Funghi pizza and most definitely the highly recommended Antipasto Misto. Buon Appetito! -
Review from Russ P.
4/24/2012
It's hard to find good pizza in Canada and luckily I found Nicli.
Cool place that gets crowded at lunch and dinner. The margherita di bufala pizza I had was great. There were lots of nice leopard spots from a very hit over and the crust was a good balance of chewy and crispy.
Solid choice in a sea of crap pizza chains in Canada. -
Review from Cara P.
4/10/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I love Nicli, it's definitely the best place for authentic Italian pizza in town, best place for pizza in town, period. It doesn't hurt that the cocktails are great and the staff are super friendly.
My only complaint is the crust being so hard to cut through! Sharper knives please. or offer to cut the pizza for patrons before serving? :)
So good, I can't eat pizza anywhere else. -
Review from Brittany W.
North Vancouver, BC
3/31/2012 3 photos
Yes, it`s a pizzeria worthy of a trendy date night, and yes, I`d consider going there for late-night drinks too!
With a modern art gallery type feel --white walls and high ceilings, this Gastown pizzeria offers authentic Italian pizza coupled with fine wines and an elusive cocktail list. With one of the few imported wood-fired pizza ovens in Vancouver, the pizza is deliciously hand-crafted.
- Margherita - my favourite of the three
- Prosciutto e Rucola
- Pesto. A little to pesto-y for my liking, but still good.
What`s more:
- 3 speciality oils are on each table to compliment the pizzas
- Cocktail list $9-14 -
Review from Gary M.
Updated - 3/29/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Fancy meeting you here, lol
Ahhhh this is heaven.. Today's special was a Margarita with bacon and wild leeks.
I am a Pannecota virgin no more. My first time was bliss.
gListed in: My absolute best favorites
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/1/2012
13 words, 4 comma's, 1 period.
pomodoro, eggplant, grana padano, Nicli guanciale, fior di latte… Read more »
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Review from Liza M.
Marpole, Vancouver, BC
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
First off...I love, love their pizzas! Went there for dinner with a friend and ordered the:
Margherita pizza and Prosciutto & Arugula pizza. We cut the pizzas in half so we could both try them.
All I can say is both were delicious, but it was love at first bite with the Margherita pizza. |t was melt in your mouth good!! The flavours of the tomato sauce and melted cheese with the light drizzle of the chilli oil - perfect combination of yumminess.
The crust was lightly charred on the edges and soft in the centre. It was perfect.
My (Italian) friend thought it was good, but said he's had better. I disagreed so we're both on a quest to find the best pizzas in Vancouver!! So far Nicli is the front runner on my list.
I've been to Nicli several times after my first visit, each time still loving every bite of the Margherita pizza. Mouth watering just thinking of it...may have to drop by for dinner. -
Review from Rick C.
3/15/2012 6 photos
On another one of our adventures in lunch, Sophia and I braved the snowy downpour to hit up one of Vancouver's most authentic pizzerias.
We ordered up a couple o' pies to split. Sophia went with the classic margherita with pomodoro, grana padano, fior di latte, and basil. We split the pizzas for a little bit of best of both worlds. The bare, minimal goodness hit the spot with tasty tomato sauce flavour.
I picked the capocollo with pomodoro, grana padano, garlic, marjoram, cured pork shoulder, and chili oil. I appoved of the pork loins and fine tomato sauce and soft doughy taste.
For neapolitan authentic style Pizza straight out of the special brick oven and the hills of Italia, Nicli definitely met expectations a la The BiBo in Kits. Authentic style, we cut and ripped our own slices for some messy tastiness. I liked the decor, open space and centrally viewable pizza oven.
On the edges of Gastown, this pizzeria packs a mighty taste of Italy with lots of flavour. For classic Italian goodness, it did the trick. -
Review from Sarah S.
Vancouver, BC
3/22/2012
Nicli Antica is the best pizza I have ever had! I often have Nicli cravings its so good! Awesome service
Good prices.
Nice atmosphere.
The staff are all very knowledgeable about the process of authentic pizza and the wine selection. All in all a very great experience for good quality authentic pizza! -
Review from Kari C.
1/23/2012
There has been so much hype about this place from before it even opened, wow! I hadn't yet tried Nicli out until last week, because life was ridiculous (I worked a block away, starting when they opened for lunch service, and finishing after they closed!), and was glad that I found the time to come in.
First thing's first, awesome news for any fellow restaurant people in Gastown who are also suffering through the daily trials of service! This comes from a Foodists interview with the owner, Bill McCaig..."they're starting to offer a special "Industry Feature" to their neighbours working in the numerous restaurants in Gastown. From 10pm - midnight daily, anyone that works in the restaurant business can purchase an entire Pizza Margherita and a Draft Howe Sound Lager for $12." (the article is here
http://foodists.ca/201...)
So, a margherita pizza there is $12, which means they're giving you a free beer, because your ass probably just got kicked. Yeehaw!
I hope people don't abuse this privilege, like say they work for restaurants, when they actually don't...because that would be uncool and it's already hard to get a table...don't ruin this for cooks, who have so little to live for already...they'll getcha.
I walked in, and it was PACKED, because it was a Saturday night, and I needed a goshdang pizza after work.
First thing I thought was, "wow, the restaurant is sleek and pretty, and so is everyone who works here, and so is everyone who is eating here, and I'm wearing skinny jeans, gum boots, and a lacy wifebeater tank, with my hair in a ponytail. Eeek. I'm cute, but not THAT cute!" I didn't realize how "hot" the place was, from any time I'd glanced at its exterior from afar in my prison down the road. To me, it looked like somewhere the Ninja Turtles would go for lunch. Like an old-school pizzeria with a fat guy named Sal working the oven! I don't know!
I asked if they did take-out, not wanting to occupy a 2-top, and there were no seats at the bar, but was informed that the pizzas didn't travel well, they were best served straight out of the oven, but no problem! Gino, the GM, who was working the host stand, didn't even bat an eye at my appearance, whisked me to the first available table as soon as it opened up, and made me feel like a first-class citizen. He was friendly and kind, and funny, on a busy night, too. I was very impressed.
For as busy as the place was, the service was very attentive, both from Gino, and from servers. I'm a compulsive water drinker, they made sure my glass was never empty, and when I declined the beer and suggested that one of their cooks could have it instead, if they would allow it, because I don't drink (their deal is generous and I didn't want to be a jerk and expect them to change it for me), they offered to bring something else, and I ended up with a refreshing glass of pineapple juice, my favourite. Yum!
I was seated right by the oven station. I like watching people work. The pizzaiolos were moving swiftly, naturally, precisely, and quickly. The pizza was beautiful. Noticeably gooey, melty cheese, whole basil leaves (freshly clipped from their flats of live herbs) and a crust that was crispy and blistered around the edges, and softer and chewier under the toppings. I noticed that there was a lot of moisture going on, from the cheese, sauce, and oil, but am not complaining. Every pizza place does it different, and I liked it.
Also great: The rosemary and chili oils at the table, to drizzle over, swirl, or dip the pizza in, especially the crust edges, which had about an inch of width all the way around. They don't cut the pizzas here, so I guess you could cut it into 4 and wolf down the entire thing like a wild animal (see my "reunited and it feels so good" experience at Pizzeria Barbarella http://www.yelp.ca/biz... ), but the atmosphere is upscale, and it seems more appropriate to fork-and-knife it through, to savour the act of eating something wonderful, and enjoy the company of your friends.
Besides, it was really bright in there, and I was already under-dressed, and alone, and didn't want to look completely, absolutely foolish. So I ate the whole pizza as daintily as I could, and felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.
Other bonuses: They were playing RJD2.
Thanks, Nicli!
I'll be back!
In a sexier outfit!
With my hair done!
And someone to eat with!Listed in: Surefires
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Review from Florence C.
Vancouver, BC
3/8/2012
This is a low-key hang out place after work. The concept is great with open kitchen, decent beers on tap. I like the small food menu, not like some restaurants who list everything the universe can cook.
Ok pizza.. they have good facilities, supposedly 900 degrees wood-fired oven BUT unfortunately:
- Use the wrong ingredients. I've been here 5 times and I can tell you the only one worth trying is the margherita. I tried the pesto yesterday and it was tasteless. Wrong pesto recipe, wrong bacon.
- Lack of techniques for pizza dough - Chewy (it's supposed to be light and airy) and hard to cut through. -
Review from Diana L.
3/2/2012 1 photo
I learned about this restaurant from my friend Steve, and coincidentally, they started following me (@thinkouthere) on Twitter the next day. Soon after, Steve and his sister, Sophia, invited to partake in pizza at this establishment.
Upon arrival, I immediately noticed the decor: very open and quaint. The restaurant is dimly lit, perfect for a romantic pizza date with a friend and his sister....
Anyhow, we ordered three pizzas. Our selection was a bit limited, since all three of our pizzas were very similar in taste. However, they were tasty. The crust was crispy and the tomato sauce is rich. My friend and his sister really enjoyed the infused oils, which they dipped their crust in.
Overall, the experience was pleasant. The thing about this type of pizza is that you know it is fresh, which is something anyone can appreciate. Try it and don't forget to take your friend and his sister...(or not).Listed in: True Comfort
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Review from Matt L.
Vancouver, BC
4/13/2012
We ate here a couple of days ago and had an excellent experience. The food was very good, and the wait-staff made our stay memorable. We visited on a Wednesday night, so the lineups were non-existent and we were one of only half a dozen tables in the whole place. We tried three dishes (1 appie and 2 pizzas) between 3 (including 1 four year old) and were satisfied. I will do no justice to the names of the dishes that we ordered so I'll just try to describe them - our first was the appetizer - two kinds of warm olives - both were delicious and unique in flavour. Our pizzas arrived at the same time as the appetizer (about only 10' from when we ordered) and were obviously fresh. Mine had cappicollo, basil, garlic and should have been topped with chili oil too, but we had it on the side to keep the heat down for our little one. The pizza was great and the chili oil that I added to it, only made it that much better (this one was both mine and my wife's favourite). My wife ordered one with arugula pesto (a bit weaker than anticipated - no prominent garlic or arugula tones), and topped with "bacon" and sliced tomatoes - good but not quite as much kick as expected. Both crusts were delicious!
Despite what the description says above, I would say that this restaurant is somewhat kid-friendly. This observation was mainly driven by our interactions with the staff - no less than 4 helped us juggle our two-under-4 group of ragamuffins! ;) This included a waitress wiping down the bathroom sink area so that we could change our little one (yes, there were no change tables), another waiter getting a steaming bottle chiller filled with boiling water to warm a bottle without a moments hesitation, and a third waiter magically appearing at our table every time I felt like we were in need of an extra pair of hands! Admittedly, the menu does lack options for children, but again the staff was very accommodating for substitutions.
Overall we had a great family experience, and would return for another visit, particularly on a week night! -
Review from Joyce D.
Burnaby, BC
3/31/2012
Sometimes you try a place for the first time and you get a little shafted but Nicli Pizzeria gave it to me big time. Worse f***en pizza ever!!! Nothing more but an over pretentious hipster hang-out. Ok, ok I get it the whole hipster thing is in and all but can you at least produce a pizza that will put a smile on my face. I have gotten better slices at the 99 cent places, now 1.50 but still. I went for the cappicola one and the toppings were bleh or meh either way. I will give them one star for the crust which was crispy but toppings were so under-whelming what is the point really. I ate half of it, paid and walked out never to return.
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Review from Karen R.
February dinner club takes us to Nicli Antica Pizzeria. We chose it because, well, we drove by it last year when we went to L'Abbatoir.
You're going to have to wait - no reservations and a lot of accolades lately - you're going to have to wait. We walked in and gave them our name - then they asked for a cell phone number so that they could text us when our table was ready. We headed down the street for a drink at Chill Winston and then headed back to Nicli when they texted us. Once we got there, they were finishing up clearing our table and then we sat down. The table was great - we were seating across from the pizza oven which was neat because we could watch them make and garnish he pizzas with the garden of fresh herbs in the back. Even though it was super busy it wasn't loud at all and we didn't have to yell at each other over any noise.
Our waitress was really nice and knew the menu very well. She also made sure our water and wine glasses were full at all times.
We ordered the $5 house red which was delicious! We ordered the caesar salad to share and it was good. The croutons were definitely the star - cheesy and charred. The crispy bacon added a layer of smokiness on top of the classic romaine and creamy dressing. It was a nice way to start the evening.
We ordered the Margherita di Bufala which was very tasty - the tomato sauce was so fresh and bright. The mozzarella was melty goodness and then it was topped with 4 leaves of fresh basil (I could have used more). The pesto pizza was chock full of sweet and creamy roasted garlic, roasted tomatoes, and bacon (deliciously fatty). The last pizza we got was the feature of the night which was tomato sauce, smoked beef, gorgonzola and italian parsley. All of them were fantastic - the crusts were charred and rustic - we were all really happy with our choices.
For Dessert we shared the daily chocolate special. IT was a chocolate and hazelnut cake topped with a dark chocolate ganache (heated up in the pizza oven), mascarpone whipped cream and caramelized bananas. It was pretty rich and more than enough for the three of us and the perfect end to a great meal. They called us cabs and that was the end - definitely a place I'll come back to. -
Review from Brad K.
Port Moody, BC
1/21/2012
SERVICE :
A group of four of us head out to Nicli's on a busy friday night, getting there around 8:30. We were expecting a wait, and told it would be around an hour. Unfortunately this process involved the coifed and crisp man at the door looking at us like we had shit in the entrance way by asking for a table. We were not made to feel welcome and he had the word 'imposition' stitched across his forehead as he hemmed and hawwed.
With an hour to kill we headed to Revel Room which was really busy but we were greeted very warmly by multiple staff who charged off to try and get us a seat. We waited around 4 minutes and were apologized to twice by different staff for the wait. Excellent drinks and service later we were texted that our table at Nicli's was ready and off we went.
Our waitress at Nicli's did not introduce herself, or look at us in the eye. She did not welcome us to the restaurant or in any way attempt to engage with what I consider a pretty polite, easy going and well dressed crowd. Food was delivered in the same way and this chick was definitely going through the motions. Everyone at our table usually tips really well but the service was so impersonal and poorly done (especially compared to revel room) that we all came to the same conclusion it wasn't going to be case here.
We had four people and three payees. We were presented with a single bill and pulled out the iphone to start crunching numbers. After a few minutes (excellent cocktails make math harder) I asked the waitress to split it. The restaurant was mostly empty now, and she wasn't doing a lot.
"In half?" She said.
"No, these two seat are together and the rest is separate." She looked confused and instead of attempting to clarify just left the table.
So I guess not.
FOOD:
I've had plenty of naples style wood fired pizza. Mostly in Naples, and the Cinque Terre. But there are also a couple close alternatives closer to home in the form of Bibo in Kits which features close to the real thing.
This stuff was pretty crap. Waste of caputo AA flour if that's what they are actually using as the dough was overly tough and dry. The sauce was not bad but nothing you couldn't make at home relatively easily. I ordered the Lamb sausage pizza...ehhh...
Our warmed olives were fairly good but they're pretty hard to screw up.
The bread soup was quite good, probably the best thing I at that night
Dessert was a chocolate and orange cake was was fine, but not great.
OVERALL:
Really dissapointed. The food is fine in a city that has few options for wood fired pizza, but the service was horrible. I'm not sure where the popularity of this place stems aside from being nearly the only game in town. If you're looking for similar food, try Bibo's in kits for warm service and better food, or keep your eye out for the excellent 'Famoso' which is opening in Oct here in vancouver. Used to live next to one and hit it up a couple times a week. -
Review from David R.
North Vancouver, BC
3/20/2012
Maybe a bit more style than substance. Have only eaten here once, and the pizza (claim to fame) was good, but not outstanding. Decor a little sterile, and some too cool for customers attitude going on. Lets see if the food can catch up to the hype, some service layered on top too.
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Review from BR G.
Burnaby, BC
9/23/2011
Came here with some girlfriends, and thought the pizza was pretty good. The only dilemma now having tried Verace near tinseltown is that this place seemed less appealing. The pizza was a bit oilier at Nicli, and I thought the crust was actually better at Verace. Price wise it is about the same.
Only way to solve this is perhaps to try both again! -
Review from Kevin C.
Vancouver, BC
11/4/2011
Big fan of this place.
One of my favorite pizzarias of all time. I've had pizza at Lombari's in NY, Serious pie in Seattle, original Uno's in Chicago, and several of the "best" ones in Calgary as well... amongst others. But I have to say that Nicli is my favorite!
Prosciutto e Rucola is my favorite pizza -
Review from Ly H.
12/4/2011
I'm surprised by the mixed bag of reviews for Nicli. Maybe pizza is one of those foods that warrants many different opinions from the peanut gallery.
Well, this particular peanut and her date really enjoyed the food at Nicli. We started with the antipasto, which was top quality but simple. The pizza was amazing with a nice, soft, succulent top filled with fresh flavors and a crispy bottom. They grow fresh basil and oregano on the counter that they pick and put on your pizza right before they bring it to the table, it can't get fresher than that.
The service was efficient and friendly. We went early at 5pm on a Saturday, so there was no wait, but by the time we left around 6:30, there was a small line up.
So I guess you're have to go and add your voice to the mix. -
Review from Avivos S.
11/3/2011 6 photos
I love places with less than 20 items on the menu.
Usually when I go to a pizzeria for the first time I get the pizza margherita and I that was also my intention when I was visiting Nicli however the server told me about the special of the day which was a Pizza with slices of potato and fresh black truffle. Rules are meant to be broken and I'm very glad I broke my rule, the pizza was really good however they used a summer truffle (the cheaper, less expensive and potent) and not a winter truffle which to me was a disappointment.
Nice selection of wines (it still is an Antica) and cocktails.
Decent espresso, however, the server also served as the barista and he clearly had no knowledge of how to use an espresso machine and especially how to foam milk correctly.
Bottom line: excellent place in beautiful Gastown for a Pizza and a glass of wine! -
Review from TheHungryNomad E.
12/9/2011
Nicli Antica Pizzeria in Gastown has been given the VPN designation and has also been given two thumbs up by the Hungry Nomad! Anyone who has had the opportunity to travel to Italy will appreciate a good authentic Italian pizza and this restaurant serves just that in a really modern trendy setting.
They offer a variety of pizzas (surprise, surprise)including your classic margherita (see menu. Fresh made pizza dough, fresh basil plants and buffalo mozzarella cheese all put together into pizza perfection. The pizza dough was just the right touch of crispy (no burnt crust which is a major no no). No soggy dough and perfect amount of tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Make sure you order yourself a nice glass of Chianti to wash down your meal. Followed by dessert. We tried the Panna Cotta served with chestnuts and dark chocolate mousse served with figs- both were delicious! -
Review from Cassandra E.
Vancouver, BC
8/1/2011
I LOVE this restaurant, LOVE LOVE LOVE it. There are obviously two things that matter most in a restaurant, service & food. This place wins on both counts. And I've gone to Nicli enough to know that my experience wasn't a one off.
The Food
I had no real expectations outside of the fact I wanted a nice glass of wine and a great pizza. And while the best pizza I have ever eaten was made by an 80 year-old italian immigrant in Brooklyn, the pizzas I have eaten here are the best I've had since. The soft crust threw me off a bit, but two bites in I was hooked. Normally I am a two slice girl, but the first time I went I got my own pizza so I would have some to take for lunch the next day, I ended up with a sandwich for lunch, because I couldn't stop eating. yum yum yum. Add to this a great wine list and exceptional cocktails and Nicli has a new regular.
The Service
If a restaurant has a bar I will gladly accept a bar seat, especially when the wait for a table can get a little long. And I have to say that the best service I have gotten here has been at the bar (despite amazing table service). It's more personal, you learn more about the food and the drinks. Also it should be noted that a couple of the best local bartenders now work here. I love the fact that the host will take your phone number and call you while you go for a drink somewhere else while you wait. LOVE IT. (PS someone needs to open a little cocktail lounge right beside Nicli you will make a fortune). The host is always friendly knowledgable and working hard to seat everyone as quick as possible.
In this technology age, it is important that if a restaurant is going to have a Twitter or Facebook account they use it to actually connect with their customers and create a community. Few restaurants in Vancouver have mastered this and Nicli is one of them. I sent a friend a recommendation to try this place on Twitter and Nicli connected with me the next day to say thank you. Again great customer service.
*RANT* Some diners need to start recognizing that they are not the only people dining in the restaurant (or waiting to) and that servers and hosts are not your servants, they should be treated respectfully and friendly. I have seen way too many people be rude and impatient while waiting for a table here, it's crazy. -
Review from Ed K.
Vancouver, BC
11/23/2011
I was really looking forward to trying this place and it fell way short of what i thought I was going to get. Pizza was OK but really nothing special.I could live on Pizza and spend most of my twenties eating all kinds of Pizzas.
I like the trend towards Neopolatian pizza because anytime a food is prepared in the style of its roots I am very happy ( even though I have been know to enjoy a butter chicken pizza once in a while)
The best way I can describe this place, its food and service is : OK -
Review from Carmen C.
11/3/2011
Went to Nicli Antica Pizzeria for lunch today, and it was A-MA-ZING!!!
A trendy little wine and pizza shop on Cordova in Gastown. They have a fantastic selection of wines and the pizza's are uber delicious!
The service is great and they even bring you your own large bottle of (tap) water to keep at your table which is a small, but greatly appreciated gesture.
I've never been a major fan of brick oven cooked pizza, but this place has changed my mind. Depending on the pizza you order, the flavours can range from mild (yet tasty!) to bold (and delicious!).
Oh! And don't forget to order the house salad. It's yummy.
I didn't have any room left when the pizza's were devoured, but I'll be sure to try one of their desserts next time. -
Review from Tyler K.
4/1/2012
Most favorite pizza ever. Every time I'm in Vancouver I make it a point to stop by for a pie. The favors are second to none, and the crust is to die for. Always go when it's not busy so you don't have to wait. Staff was super helpful when trying to find the beer in a store. Can't wait to go back!
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Review from Chuck T.
Vancouver, BC
2/23/2012
I go here all the time as I live right around the corner from it. I understand why it is always so busy... Great pizza, Great service, Decent price. The crust is so damn tasty as is the clumps of mozzarella...
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Review from Johnson C.
Vancouver, BC
Alright, I suppose. Bit of a wait to get seats but it's entertaining to watch the colourful characters of Gastown stroll by as you're waiting... the 'bad' part of Gastown. Strung-out streetwalkers and a shirtless man in an apartment nearby was shoulder pressing his cat near his window (... and so this is the feeling when doves cry...).
Went for a Napoletana (pomodoro, fior di latte, oregano, garlic, anchovy - ~$13) - crispy crust, chewy centre and I'm glad I went for the anchovy - it added a nice savoury flavour. But be warned - I'm a man that loves salty food... order a beer while you're at it as well.
The big downside... please hand out real knives. Butter knives, chewy centre pizzas and slippery plates are a brutal combination. I wanted to eat - not construct an craft project.
Pizza was good - wasn't really disappointed or blown away. Maybe I'm just a clod when it comes to 'authentic Neapolitan pizza'. Maybe I wasn't too pretentious to pose as an expert on it. It was... alright.
Although, I must say I was very tempted to send back my pizza and complain about the lack of chocolate ice cream and ask for more 'three-flavoured ice cream'. Mmm... chocolate. -
Review from Janice F.
6/13/2011
White, minimalist decor - not the largest restaurant and they don't take reservations (boo), so be prepared for weekend waits.
FYI, they only have salads or pizzas on their dinner menu - it IS a pizzeria, duh - but a limited menu isn't the norm in Vancouver...
They have a wood burning oven which gives the pizza a nice char, the dough is quite chewy and the crust is crispy. But overall, meh - the toppings don't pop flavour-wise and it's sort of pricey for a 12" pizza.
Also, what's up with the pizza coming "not cut"? Give us better knives if we need to slice it up ourselves!
The saving grace was the appetizer special - burrata!! Delicious, creamy fresh, lightly salted cheese. It was served with crostini and a light salad with sauteed mushrooms. If they had it on their regular menu, I would be back.
Our waitress was friendly and perky, no complaints about service. -
Review from Brent B.
Vancouver, BC
7/28/2011
Not to many restaurants in this city have line ups but this one does and for good reason.
This small uncomplicated menu is fantastic and good value!! Everything from the antipasto, salads to the rustic pizza's are super fresh and delicious!
The service was very attentive with out being invasive.......it's a fine line.
This is my third visit and its been consistent every time. -
Review from Jennifer L.
Vancouver, BC
10/16/2011
The atmosphere was pretty awesome. Very friendly service! I sat at the bar and noted that all the bartenders, waiters, staff were not pretentious at all!
I enjoyed the special pizza - some sort of mushroom and white base. It was definitely delish but not really worth $19. Next time I would have opted for the Margherita as that is normally my fave pizza.
The house wine is pretty decent too for $5.
I'll go back again. -
Review from Roni L.
Vancouver, BC
I was at Nicli this morning for lunch as I hear my friend rave about it all the time. When I got there, the waitress was pretty clueless what to do (um, I here for a lunch, why else would I be there?) and how to seat me, etc... so I choose my own seat.
I went with the Margherita (pomodoro, parmigiano, fior di latte, basilpizza) as that is a good standard I use to compare with the other pizzeria's and I watched the cook put it together, bake it, and plate it before it arrived on my table.
The pizza was really good. Excellent. The sauce and cheese were good, the crust was light and cooked well Neopolitan style.
I will certainly be back, regardless of the service. -
Review from Erin M.
Toronto, ON
11/3/2011
Since opening it's doors earlier this fall, I've frequented Nicli Antica quite a bit, and for good reason. Their pizza was, hands down, the most delicious, authentic slice in Vancouver by far. Having battled the long wait times (sometimes upwards of 1.5hrs) and joining them for both lunch and dinner I'm sorry to say that while their pizza is still delicious, something recently has changed.
Whenever I've gone, I've always order the same thing, the Prosciutto e Rucola, which means I've got a pretty good idea of their product and noticed right off the bat the difference the last two times I went. Their perviously light, thin, crispy dough has changed to a harder, tougher one (when you have difficulties cutting through your pizza, you know somethings changed). I asked both times why they've changed it and received different responses each time (they'd stopped letting the dough rest twice, the drop in temperature hasn't allowed the dough to rise as much as it had in the summer).
Regardless, while the pizza is very tasty, it isn't that same heavenly slice with the perfect balance between crispy/chewy dough, light pomodoro, creamy buttery prosciutto and slightly bitter arugula.
I'll still return, in the hopes that they'll work through their dough issues and return once again to that perfect pie. Let's hope they do! -
Review from Karen C.
Vancouver, BC
6/30/2011
The best pizza I've ever had in Vancouver. I'm slowly becoming a regular here.
Pizzas have a super light and fluffy crust, and the tomato sauce tastes very fresh and homemade - does it make sense if I say the tomato sauce tastes like tomatoes? These two basic components are so good that the pizzas don't need much salt nor toppings. Normally a proscuitto, anchovy and olive pizza addict, I prefer the simpler pizzas like the margarita and fungi here because they allow me to taste the amazing bread and tomato sauce fully. Also, the cheese is not overly salty.
The pesto and 4 cheese pizzas are actually rather oily, and the dough tends to soaks up the oil so the bread doesn't taste as light.
Service is attentive, and waiters are visibly passionate about the food and drink they serve. Apparently they don't do takeout because they think packaging their pizza takes away from the taste. Enough said? -
Review from Jonathan L.
Vancouver, BC
4/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Morning coffee - check
Cute waitress - check
Damn tasty pizza funghi - check
In house made tiramisu - check
Option to go to Army & Navy or buy crack cocaine in DTES - check
Solid 4 stars. -
Review from Hipstamatic Foodie B.
Vancouver, BC
8/9/2011
Best pizza in Vancouver hands down. If you have been to Italy, you will appreciate even more how good their pizza is. The tomato sauce is unbelievably good.
Priced a little more than your average pizza, but after eating there you will wonder why you bothered having pizza anywhere else in this city! -
Review from Dave C.
Vancouver, BC
8/12/2011
Came in excited and sceptical of a place that touts itself as being a napolitan pizza joint. Vancouver has many great food joints but great pizzerias it does not.
Sat down ordered a funghi, and a dessert fig, honey, and gorgonzola pizza.
Not enough caramelization or crisp to the crust, gluten content was good in the dough, but due to undercooking was tough, needs SALT!
Funghi only used plain button mushrooms!? Expecting something with a bit more character/flavour, at least some sort of wild mushrooms?!
Dessert pizza was the semi saving grace of the bunch, but dough still needed more colour/airy bubbles.
Vancouver desperately need a pizzeria in the caliber of serious pie in WA or pizzeria del fina in CA
Overall an A-OK experience but could definitely use some improvement. Great in concept and intent, fail in execution. -
Review from Tess M.
Vancouver, BC
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
So I have been on a Neapolitan Pizza tour as of late and this place is right up there. Nicli is funky and fun looking and the service was really quite good. I especially like the clean minimalist look they have going on, but maybe that's just me...I LIKE CLEAN. The touch I loved the most was that they had fresh growing basil in the open style kitchen .... smells so good!
Since I was with a group I managed to try several pizzas. The standard margherita was very flavourful and I was super pleased with it.The funghi (my go to pizza) was a bit disappointing as there wasn't a great variety of mushrooms on the pizza. The agnello was too greasy and surprisingly bland. OK, so that doesn't sound like a rave review but I the margherita really was great and the the others were far above what I have had at other places, because this type of pizza can actually be a disaster. The sauce at Nicli is also quite nice and fresh. I also love that have both and olive oil and a chili oil that are on the table, a great way to spice up your crust.
Desserts were mediocre. Tiramisu was ok but not great, chocolate cake was dry BUT THE PANNA COTTA WAS AMAZING. One of the my favourites.
I would absolutely go back. -
Review from Gagan D.
Vancouver, BC
First up, I am glad I didn't just go by some of the reviews on here and gave this place a chance.
Between the four of us, we ordered two pizzas to share; the Bianca and Diavola. Both were fantastic. The pizzas come unsliced and you can use your own fork and knife to cut the pieces.
I can't imagine why anyone would want to eat a slice of this pizza with a fork and knife--it looks silly and cumbersome. The pizza bread is much like Naan bread, bubbly, soft and light, and soft in the middle which would make it knife/fork unfriendly. My tip: take your socks off when you get amorous in bed, and eat your pizza with your hands, and you will have a much better time, in and out of bed.
The toppings are not "dominos" style which is why this place is probably getting some negative reviews. This is not a US fast food chain, it's handmade italian pizza, people, and this means the toppings are high quality and just enough to make your palette tingle and enjoy every bite. Fresh herbs on both pizzas add a nice finishing touch.
We went for a Saturday lunch, and were told to expect lineups for evenings. Our waitress was friendly, and informative about the menu and just like me, perplexed by some of the reviews on here. If you like pizza, and have had pizza in Italy or parts of Spain that you still dream of, you owe this place a visit.
