Review: The Nice Guy
If you’re Looking for a restaurant that offers an intimate atmosphere and a sense of privacy, The Nice Guy is where you need to be. With its mellow and dark ambiance, this Italian eatery creates an atmosphere of anonymity, allowing you to enjoy a truly private dining experience. What sets The Nice Guy apart is its exceptional policy of not allowing photography inside, except for capturing the mouthwatering dishes that will grace your table.
When it comes to dining, service holds utmost importance for me, as it sets the tone for the entire experience. The Nice Guy not only understands this but excels in providing top-notch hospitality. As we arrived, Shaka warmly welcomed us and guided us through the drink options. As the restaurant became livelier, our attentive server, Phylis, took over. Her sweet and patient demeanor made us feel right at home. She went above and beyond, answering our questions, offering recommendations, and ensuring we had everything we needed. Phylis even surprised us with the suggestion of chili oil for our pizza, which turned out to be a splendid addition. The exceptional service truly elevated our mood and heightened our enjoyment the entire time.
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| Blushing Kiss |
Our evening kicked off with an array of delightful mocktails. The Blushing Kiss, infused with hibiscus, grapefruit, and citrus, was a refreshing choice. Its cleansing effect on the palate left a subtle, bitter aftertaste, reminiscent of alcoholic beverages.
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| Dusk 'Till Dawn |
If you prefer a kick of acidity, the Dusk 'Till Dawn mocktail, featuring passion fruit, lychee, grenadine, and ginger beer, provided a refreshing and stress-relieving sensation, perfect for a warm day.
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| Coffee and Dates |
The Coffee and Dates mocktail, a blend of cold brew concentrate, dates, and shaken cream, stole the show with its perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness. Each sip left me longing for more.
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| Spicy Sienna |
While I did not indulge in the cocktails, my friend thoroughly enjoyed the Spicy Sienna Cocktail a tantalizing blend of 1800 Blanco Tequila, lime fresno agave, Cointreau, served on the rocks with a tajin rim. Its perfect balance of spice, heat, and acidity made it an instant favorite.
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| Good Fella |
On the other hand, The Good Fella is a great option if you want to start with a light, delicate drink. It’s a highball with J.W. Black Label and J.W. Double Black Scotch whiskies, mango, and tonic water.
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| Fried Calamari |
Moving on to the food, we started with the Fried Calamari, served with marinara sauce. The Middle Eastern-inspired spices in the batter took our taste buds on a delightful journey. The calamari remained crunchy even after an hour, a testament to the restaurant's commitment to quality.
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| Kale Salad |
The Kale Salad, with pomegranate, shaved Parmesan, pumpkin seeds, and lemon vinaigrette, provided a refreshing and tangy experience. The layers of flavors and textures in this well-composed dish were truly palatable.
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| Margherita Pizza |
Finally, it’s time to taste their pizza. They recently won a What’s On Award for having the best pizza in town and for good reason. We had their Margherita Pizza and while the simplicity of flavors were expertly executed, I now understand why they coveted the award. The secret is in their dough. It was incredibly soft even as it got cold. The airiness was maintained while still being chewy at the same time. Simply delightful!
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| Tiramisu |
For desserts, the signature Tiramisu instantly became a favorite, with its perfectly balanced bitterness of coffee and sweetness. Pair it with the Dates and Coffee mocktail for an unforgettable combination.
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| Lemon Tart |
The Lemon Tart was adorned with a silky-smooth meringue, raspberry, and a basil leaf. The interplay of textures and flavors in this dessert was like a firework display in our mouths. From the fruitiness of the raspberry to the tanginess of the lemon filling, every bite was a delightful surprise.
Overall, we had a really great time, not to mention, the servers were also all very nice and polite. Of course, as it was our first time at the restaurant, we had quite a few questions and they were all very happy to help us with our queries. Definitely a good place to hangout with close friends, family or even your better half if you'd like to have a good and private time together.
P.s - did you know that the pastry chef at The Nice Guy is a Filipina? She's in the photo with us and we're so proud to know that a fellow Filipina is serving the best desserts around town 😊
