Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Antonio
  4. San Antonio
  5. Downtown
Nicosi, San Antonio, TX
Icon

Nicosi

$50 and over
Dessert

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 4 times today
Experiences are available.
  • 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 18:00–20:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:30
  • Phone number
    (210) 759-0088
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual

Experiences

  • Nicosi Tasting Menu

    US$100.00 - US$120.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Multiple dates available
    Submerse yourself in a dessert bar that will challenge your expectations by embracing acid, sweet, bitter, and savory elements all while extracting the nuances that truly makes them unique. Located at The Pearl, Nicosi has 20 seats that hug the kitchen, fostering one on one dialogue with the chefs. With limited seating times nightly, Nicosi offers a prefix, multicourse, 90 minute experience by reservation only. Ages 15 and up, please. A key component to Nicosi is also the element of surprise; photos and the menu will not be revealed until your visit. Due to this, there is a no phone/photography policy. We encourage you to engage and be present for the total experience.
    Nicosi Tasting Menu photo

What 78 people are saying

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
  • 5Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.8Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Antonio

    Best Overall

  • San Antonio

    Best Food

  • San Antonio

    Best Service

  • San Antonio

    Best Ambience

  • San Antonio

    Best Value

  • San Antonio

    Innovative

  • San Antonio

    Best Overall

  • San Antonio

    Best Food

  • San Antonio

    Best Service

  • San Antonio

    Best Ambience

  • San Antonio

    Best Value

  • San Antonio

    Innovative

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Nicosi offers a "unique and special experience" with "outstanding" food and service. Guests rave about the "creative creations and presentation" and describe it as "the best dining experience you'll have in San Antonio." The restaurant's focus on "food as theater" and "innovative" dishes ensures an "amazing and unique experience" worth revisiting.

78 Reviews
  1. Dan

    VIP

    San Antonio

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Nicosi is a unique concept “dessert for dinner” Destination offering an 8-course dessert with 2 courses each on the themes of savory, acid, bitter and sweet. Kudos to the Emmer & Rye group for giving us this amazing experience. Maximum of 20-people. No phones, no photos - just amazingly creative dishes and the opportunity to interact with the chefs and those around you. Two seatings a night. Don’t miss it.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Gabriel

    San Antonio

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was a great valentine’s day experience. They accommodated for my vegan partner’s dietary restrictions very creatively and we are looking forward to coming again next quarter for their new menu with friends & family.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Stacy

    VIP

    New York City

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    From entry to exit, Nicosi is nothing short of an experience that will transport you and your taste buds to an entirely different world. The setup and layout of the space set the chefs up for center stage, where you can admire their precise placement and plating of each dish before serving you. The storytelling of each dish and how it plays on your palate is truly art. Chef Tavel and his team made an incredible space to indulge in the culinary curiosities you wouldn’t believe are available in San Antonio. The worst part is when it’s all over. The experience and ambiance are so amazing that you won’t want to leave! 12/10, highly recommend!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Arin

    San Antonio

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 9 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    10/10 experience. Completely understand why it is Michelin recommended Words cannot describe the experience Highly recommend.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Steven

    VIP

    Chicago

    67 reviews

    5.0

    67 reviews

    Dined on 9 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    really innovative experience. Come hungry and lean into the stories, flavors, smells, and desserts. fun. we'll be back

    Is this helpful?

  6. Izabella

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on 8 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Experienced Nicosi on 02/08/2025. Menu 002 Methodically curated, Michelin recommended dining experience. To respect the chefs desire for mystery, I must omit speaking of the flavors of the dishes themselves. Nicosi seats a max of 20 guests in a horseshoe shaped seating arrangement with the kitchen located in the center. This allows for each diner to observe the chefs as they plate the dishes. The dessert focused tasting menu has the option of an alcoholic or non alcoholic drink pairing. I enjoyed the experience. The chefs were personable and full of knowledge, clearly showcasing their passion. Service was great. Up to par with fine dining experiences. The techniques used to curate the courses exemplified the creativity the chefs have to offer. There was certainly no lack of distinct flavors. Albeit to say, I was not quite wowed by any dish in this particular menu set - taste wise. Which is just to say, another person may have felt completely opposite. I did have a couple favorites but … I’m always on the hunt for my next euphoric bite. @bellatastes :IG

    Is this helpful?

  7. Justin

    VIP

    Austin

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on 1 February 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall a good experience. Took my wife here for her birthday. I’d rate as a low 4, my wife would rate as a 5. Tried to write the review with minimal spoilers. I’ve been to a lot of tasting menus (and eaten at other restaurants owned by the same company, notably Hestia and 4 others all multiple times). I was excited to try this new place, and drove down from Austin for a special treat for my wife’s birthday. I might have built up my expectations too much, from eating at the other brands. Overall the food was good. Two main areas really took away from the experience, and I wish I knew in advance: The website says “We recommend guests arrive ready to enjoy a full meal. You will leave satisfied.” After leaving, I literally had a full additional dinner. It’s probably half the amount of food you get at a typical tasting menu. Having gone to many tasting menus that were too much food, I deliberately came hungry, which was a HUGE mistake and probably cast a shadow over the whole experience. One of the dishes was a honey themed item about the size of a cream puff. Another was probably about a quarter of an apple (with other stuff, of course). As far as volume of food with 8 things total, I think it literally is comparable to eating an apple and four cream puffs, again, trying to avoid any spoilers for guests wanting to experience surprises as intended. But come just expecting a big dessert, not a meal, or you’ll leave hangry. The non-alcoholic beverage pairing was also super lack luster and basically felt like an afterthought. One of the drinks is literally wine with alcohol removed. I sometimes drink and sometimes don’t, and picked the cocktail pairing expecting a lot of creativity. I recently went to Mixtli as well, which has phenomenal non alcoholic beverage pairing, by contrast. I expected Canje (another of their brands) caliber drinks. However, the last round for non-alcoholic was a kombucha which was phenomenal. I hope they sell that to go one day.

    1 person found this helpful

  8. Antonio

    Hawaii

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on 30 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was an amazing experience. Our second time here to try the new menu and it didn't disappoint. I really appreciate being taken to the edge of food concepts. Looking forward to returning for the third menu when it's available.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Traci

    VIP

    Austin

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on 19 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The best dining experience you'll have in San Antonio. Delicious, artful, scientific, intimate, exploratory and beautiful. I can't say enough. Everything was perfect. You would pay three to four times this price for this experience anywhere else in the world because I have. I would come every week if possible. Outstanding. I look forward to Nicosi getting Michelin starred.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Henry

    San Antonio

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 19 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Unique and wonderful experience! Very creative creations and presentation!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Nicosi is rated 4.9 stars by 78 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 4 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
  • Area
    Downtown
  • Hours of Operation
    Wed, Thu, Sun 18:00–20:00 Fri, Sat 17:00–22:30
  • 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
  • Impressum
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable International Ltd. Alphabeta Building, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo