Foods & Boozes – Nick and Jimmy’s

By Anna | April 24, 2010 | No Comments

Since the last F&B post, I’ve been eating at all my old standby’s or getting free lunch at school, so there’s not really been much to write about. When I go out with my mom, though, it’s always an experience, for good or ill. Combined, we have close to 40 years foodservice experience, and we’re harsh critics to say the least. We seem to have i’m-in-foodservice-please-fuck-with-me-and-seat-me-next-to-the-wait station tattooed on our foreheads. This, however, was a dinner of a different color to be sure.

Nick and Jimmy’s is the owned by the same restauranteurs that own Yanni’s in Nob Hill. For my part, I much prefer this new restaurant to Yanni’s. Yanni’s is more Greek in a literal sense of the word. Nick and Jimmy’s is much less…confrontationally thematic, has a relaxed family-dinner atmosphere and is quieter and more comfortable. The menu has a great many vegetarian options (that are clearly labeled ‘vegetarian’- no fear of stigma here!) that are appealing and not separated from the rest of the menu as though only vegetarians would enjoy them.

My first impression was of a kindly looking old man standing beside the hostess station, who greeted us warmly, with a smile, and sat us in the restaurant section (adjacent to the lounge). The table was dressed nicely with linen, and we were offered water before we were pressed to make a drink selection by an attentive older waitress. I ordered a Blue Moon, my old standby, and my mother hers of a margarita, though the waitress misheard our playful “tequila-flavored-tequila” conversation and ordered her a Silver Coin margarita because she thought my mom wanted something with a bit of flavor (haha). We both decided on pasta, and a wedge salad to start. The salad plates were chilled, the iceberg lettuce equally cold and the dressing creamy and very flavorful. Our plates were brought out before we finished our salads, which out waitress noted and apologized for, but I had waited to start my salad for my mom to return, so the timing issue was our own. The owner asked if he could keep our plates warm for us, which I thought was perceptive and thoughtful of him. Being near to finishing our salads, we declined. The food was still plenty hot when we dug in. My mom had beef tenderloin rigatoni in cayenne cream sauce. She was very impressed; tender beef, al dente pasta, balanced sauce, perfectly seasoned. I had the vegetarian moussakka, and I’ve never had eggplant that was so well cooked. The cheese on top was light and flavorful and perfectly browned. For dessert, we split a huge piece of tiramisu which the waitress informed us was made to order by the pastry chef. All I have to say about that was that it was the best tiramisu i’ve ever had in Albuquerque. I had a coffee alongside it, which was…coffee flavored, but not bad at all.

In all, I found the service to be superior, and was massively impressed by the attention to detail by the wait staff and kitchen staff. The personal attention we received from the waitress and the owner both was appropriate and professional. I never felt rushed or “bugged”. The food was excellent and, I felt, worth the price. The menu is to the point and not overwhelming, and everything seems to be made with care. I highly recommend it for a casual dinner with friends, a date, or an after work bite with your mom.

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