Nico's Kailua

The food was good and our server was great. My family enjoyed the experience. But…Lots of open tables by the windows with water views.. but they were not seating those tables. They just left the tables dirty and expected nobody to ask to sit at them. I could hear the frustrations of the staff when guests kept asking to sit by the windows.. I could hear the staff complaining when they were getting sat and should have been getting off. A little tip from my experience in Hospitality.. If you have a desirable section next to windows with a water view.. and don’t want to seat those tables for what ever your reasoning was.. (cut staff early, short staffed, or just what your business model is) Push the tables together like it is set for a large party.. Then you won’t have the 5 different 2&3

**A Gem in Kailua—Nico’s Delivers Great Food & Atmosphere** Nico’s Kailua is exactly the kind of restaurant that makes dining out a pleasure. Spacious, open, and bright, it offers a welcoming atmosphere where you can truly relax. While fine dining has its place, there’s something special about a restaurant like Nico’s—where great service, a lively ambiance, and delicious food come together effortlessly. We dropped in for lunch without reservations and were pleasantly surprised that we didn’t have to wait. The menu offered plenty of tempting choices, and we opted for the Chicken Katsu, the Grilled Kalbi short ribs special, and the Macadamia panko-crusted mahi-mahi (the special of the day). Every dish was fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned. The Kalbi ribs, in particular, were outst

They marked GF on entrées that could be made gluten-free. The server was very knowledgeable about what I could and couldn't have and even checked labels on the Gelato to make sure it was OK. I got the Ahi Tuna and it was everything I had hoped for. The drinks were divine. My family is not GF but they ordered the crab patty burger, crab patty salad, shrimp scampi, the short ribs and the fish burger. The kiddos got the loaded brownie and it was a hit.

Kelly was wonderful! Suggested and made the best lychee martini! Steven our server for dinner was absolute terrific! Now the food: the Friday catch of the day swordfish with asparagus and mango salsa awesome! The fish and chips, my sister loved it! The crab cake the best outside Maryland! Everything was just wonderful! Love it! 🥰

Nico's is a great restaurant, but their locations are like the Temu version of a great seafood restaurant; always falling just short. The food was good, not great. Highly recommend their Ahi dip. The Hose salad was just a pile of greens, the chicken Katsu lacked flavor, but the Poké was really good. Everything was served in to-go containers, which cheapens the dining experience and makes me question the pricing. Overall, still a good option for local seafood, but if you're looking for a view, I'd look elsewhere.