Nina's Italian Ristorante

I am astonished at some of the reviews I'm seeing. I have eaten there 4 times and will continue to dine there because the food is authentic, cooked perfectly, and the service is unbeatable. Every detail has been looked after, from the ambiance, the personal attention you receive from the waiters, to the food itself. The wine list is extensive, and just in case you want something that's not on the menu, they can accommodate your request.

If anyone would ask me where to go for a "fancy" night out and wanted authentic Italian, I would wholeheartedly recommend Nina's!! It's definitely the best in Raleigh.

Pros: Fine Food, Personal Service, 5 Stars

Cons: Plan on Making a Reservation on Weekends and Holidays

Posted 10/18/09

We were just there for dinner last night and once again, I have to say everything was outstanding!! Nina ALWAYS impresses us with her culinary expertise. The wine pairing was amazing and we truly had an incredible evening out. Thank you Thank you and we'll be back soon!!

Pros: Best food & service in town!

Cons: A little hard to find, but SSSOO worth it

Posted 09/20/09

We had reservations for 7:45. We finally were seated at 8:10. The first thing that we noticed is that the tables are incredibly close together; I was uncomfortable having a private conversation with my wife since I could clearly hear the discussions on my left and right. We ordered an appetizer of breaded clams which took 20 minutes to be served. We never got any appetizer plates, so the clamshells remained on our bread plates until after we left the restaurant an hour and a half later. The breaded clams tasted like burnt bread crumbs and salt. Very unsatisfying.
About 15 minutes later, the salad and soup arrived. My wife had ordered the salad with grilled shrimp special and I ordered the egg drop soup special. My wife's shrimp was burned; the only flavor was charred meat. The soup was bland. It tasted like canned, low-sodium chicken broth; I didn't bother to finish it.
By now, we had been there for over an hour, and the only decent food we had was the bread. (The bread was adequate; good but nothing worth noting.) We waited another fifteen to twenty minutes before we asked the waiter to hurry with the entrees. He returned 5 minutes later to tell us it would be ready in another 4 minutes, which it was.
My wife's cannelloni was "okay", but the sauce was starting to caramelize. Perhaps this was intentional, but to us it just tasted either burned or overheated. I got the Linguine con Vongole, which was EXCELLENT! This was the best Linguine with white clam sauce that I have had since I worked in a 5-star Italian restaurant in DC almost 15 years ago. It was amazing - big chunks of garlic, a generous portion of clams, al dente linguine.
At this point, my wife gave up on her cannelloni and we shared the linguine con vongole. (Which got us some very snotty looks from other patrons, but at this point we didn't care.)
In short, with the exception of the Linguine con Vongole, the whole restaurant was awful. It cost us $90 and 2 hours to get a bad meal.

Pros: Linguine with white clam sauce

Cons: The rest of the food, service, ambiance, service, host staff, bar staff, food came out VERY slowly, over-rated.

Posted 02/13/09

For $17 a plate, I can get an absolutely *sublime* meal at Venticello's located on top of Nob Hill in San Francisco with a breathtaking view of the Bay Bridge and the City, food that makes you want to pass out it's so divine, fabulous wines, outstanding service and ambiance in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

NO ONE will EVER convince me that the restaurants in Raleigh can EVER justify the prices they charge for their ugly strip mall locations and average food. You're NOT in San Francisco so stop trying to charge SF prices and get back down to earth.

Pros: At least someone is trying to bring decent food to this city

Cons: SF prices for more "Raleigh food" in a strip mall

Posted 01/08/09

Nina's was a great find ... a friend had read in an airline magazine about the top 10 Italian restaurants and Nina's was one - we sought it out a couple of times (was closed on Mondays and once on vacation) but finally was able to dine there. It was superb! The atmosphere was quaint, the service was personalized and professional and the food and wine were excellent! Highly recommend!

Posted 08/31/08

Well - Nina's was a good restaurant years ago when it first opened.. then we moved away and I recently saw an ad in a magazine suggesting it had won some number 1 awards etc.. so we figured on a drive to try it again for a good sure thing meal.
Wow! What a disapointment.
First of all.. they have a very large wine list - most of which is all Italian, which could be a good thing - but not without descriptions or tasting notes. They mark up all of their wines over 50% which I think is ludicrous... AND - here's my peeve on paying that premium for the wines - they serve them at above room temps! they wines sit on a very nice looking wall with spot lights on them.. which heats up the wines.. and then they serve them.. overpriced.. warm wine. NOT my idea of a number 1 rated wine restaurant??? I think that ad was paid for.
Ok.. so they'll make it up with the food.
I ordered a chicken dish off of the main menu that was supposed to come with shrimp and spinach inside.
Eventually.. the dish came and it was chicken with a scallop and asparagus ??? What the hell??
The waitress said the chef had to substitute because they were out of some ingredients. I HATE asapragus!
(oh and the scallop was undercooked in my opinion).
Call me a complainer.. (not usually) - but I did not find this place worthy of the ratings it has received.

We did not have dessert, or coffee.
We will not be going back.

Too bad - it's a nice looking place - and it had great potential - it's obvious their previous success went to their heads and the quality has just gone down hill.

Pros: Conveniently located in a populated area of North Raleigh

Cons: Wine prices, wine temperatures, and food quality

Posted 04/22/08

We ate at Nina's on a whim early on a Friday night. I phoned for reservations and the hostess was able to fit us in at 6. The restaurant was practically empty (surprising considering how full the hostess said the reservation list was) and we were seated right away.
The bread was incredible as was the concoction it comes with (olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sun-dried tomatoes, parsley, grated parmesan and some other things they wouldn't tell us about).
My wife ordered the eggplant rollantini appetizer with the house salad, and I ordered the ravioli con salmone. The salad was quite nice, with fresh tomatoes and gorgonzola cheese. I'm not a fan of eggplant but my wife loved it. It comes with a marinara sauce that I found a bit bland (I like a bold, spicy marinara and that's hard to find in a restaurant around here).
The ravioli sauce had a wonderfully complex flavor that made me order extra bread just to sop it up. The salmon was perfectly cooked, moist and flavorful and the fresh ravioli was delicious. My one (small) complaint was that the food wasn't as warm as I'd have liked, which I found inexplicable considering that the restaurant wasn't very busy. Hopefully that's a one-time thing as I intend to return to Ninas and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fresh, nicely prepared Italian food that goes beyond the traditional lasagne and spaghetti. As we were leaving, the restaurant was starting to fill up and the parking lot had turned into a jousting arena, so I'd recommend making reservations and arriving early to find parking!

Pros: Wonderful bread, well-prepared dishes

Cons: the parking lot

Posted 04/03/08

We read this place had won an award in a airplane magazine, so I thought we would try it. On a wednesday night it should not be too crowded, well after being seated with our reservation for 7:00. It was very packed and very loud. Good wine selection but the appetizer came cold. After a very good bread and oil we became impatient, we ordered another tray of bread cause the meals were taking to long.The waiter came out with our food, put it down on the tray and proceeded to fill another tables water glasses!, All of our meals were cold , or warm at best. Not a very "Best italian in Raleigh" .

Pros: tasty, authentic

Cons: need more waiters, serve hotter food, speed it up

Posted 01/10/08

My husband and I had reservations Monday night for our 24th anniversary. Chris, the owner, had taken the reservation and put us in a romantic corner table in the back of the restaurant. Steve, is one of the most professional servers we have ever had. I started with the mussel appetizer, which was superb, sweet succulent baby clams in wine sauce. I had to stop dipping the delicious crusty Italian bread into the juices to save room for my entree. My husband had Eggplant Rollantini, eggplant rolled with fresh Ricotta, other cheeses and baked to perfection in delicious homemade Marinara sauce. The Ceasare salad needed extra dressing, but otherwise good. My husband had Veal Saltinbocca as an entree. Tender thin veal cutlets baked with spinach, prosciutto, cheeses in an el egant Marsala sauce. The chef made my dinner from my specifications, Veal Napoletano, tender sliced veal with fresh mushrooms, peppers, onions and garlic in Marinara sauce baked to perfection with a side order of gnocchi, potato, ricotta pasta in Bolognese sauce with grated Romano cheese. The Tiramisu for desert was the best that my husband and I have ever had. We are both Italian decent and know how the food is supossed to taste. Nina's is without a doubt our favorite restaurant. We live 1 1/2 hrs. away and will be making the trip often.
We also give all of the staff, chefs and especially our server Steve 5 stars. It was busy for a Monday night with very large tables. All of the servers helped one another and were consistent, professional and personable to each other and all of the patrons in the restaurant.

Nick & Barbara Fallucca
Greenville, NC

Posted 10/09/07

We have enjoyed Nina's on several occasions. The waitstaff is exemplary. Steve has waited on us many times. His serivce marks the most professional representation of any restaurant in Raleigh. The food is exceptional and there was no rush to our dining experience. Nina, the owner, is extremely in tune with her patrons. The wine and champagne were fantastic. We highly recommend this restaurant...what a local diamond in the rough! Thanks for making our ninth and tenth anniversary memorable.

Pros: no rush to finish your dining experience

Cons: none at this time

Posted 07/31/07

I'm Italian, I love Italian food, and Nina's was extremely dissapointing. They have an excellent wine list and superb bread...but what is about it! We were seated immediately when we arrived but it took our waitor about 20 minutes to acknolwdge us (we were about to leave when he came over). We ordered an appetizer or mussels and had about one and did not enjoy them. Take it we LOVE mussels and couldn't even attempt to eat them. The sauce was wine/beer/peppers, it really did not work, it made the fish smell not so good. Our dinners were not tasty, and honestly I would have rather go to Oliver Garden than go back to Nina's. Too expensive for low quality Italian Food.

Pros: Extensive Wine List

Cons: Everything else.

Posted 06/28/07

I just love Nina's. Everything is consistently good. The food, the service, the atmosphere. We have been here many times and have never been disappointed. We often just stay in the bar. The regulars are friendly and will usually start talking to you! We have dined here with a large group and and loved the round table. It helped everyone stay in the same cdonversation.

Pros: It's all good at NIna's!

Cons: None

Posted 11/11/06

I travel to the Raleigh area frequently and Nina's is the one restaurant I visit each time I'm in the area. The staff has always been friendly and accomodating. I've never had a bad experience here and the food has always exceeded my expectations. The owners often check in with their guests and have remembered me from past visits making it feel like a family atmosphere. If you're looking for a quick bite to eat, this is not the place for you. Nina's is the kind of restaurant where you take your time to enjoy everything you are being served.

Posted 11/05/06

Me and my wife rarely get out so on the rare occasion I always have my fingers crossed when trying out a new place. We decided on Ninas based off of a coworkers recommendation. It was a little crowded but very welcoming. The food was impressively good and our waiter was very friendly. I would definitely recommend the calamari and the ravioli with salmon. We actually got to meet Nina at the bar area after dinner and ended up feeling like I was a regular by the way she welcomed us. My wife is very picky and she was pleased as well. I would definitely recommend Ninas to others.

Pros: Comfortable, welcoming, delicious

Cons: make a reservation, can get busy

Posted 11/05/06

The last trip to Nina's was just average. The Bruschetta is still super, the ambience is good, but the wine list needed updating and the menu has not changed significantly in a long time. We used to consider this as our favorite Italian restaurant in the Triangle, but have others now.

Pros: Above average food, but not on par with what it once was.

Cons: Wine list is seriously outdated.

Posted 09/17/06

My husband and I decided to visit Nina's for the first time to celebrate our 18th anniversary. After dropping the kids at their grandparents, we were ready for a night of great food served in a romantic setting. Nina's Restaurant is located in a strip mall in North Raleigh, but we were unphased by that. We have eaten the most delicious Italian in South Philly rowhouses. So here is the problem: Upon entering, we were directed into the wide open dining room where we were seated without our input at the very first table. This is the one right off the entrance and the one nearest to the bar. It was essentially the intersection into the dining room making any hope at romance impossible. When our waiter arrived at the table, I immediately requested that we be moved to one of the MANY open tables (It was just 6:30 PM on a Saturday night) in the restaurant. I hoped to be tucked in a back corner. The waiter contorted his face and said something about a plan. He left for a moment and when he returned started going over the dinner specials. I stopped him and kindly asked again if we could be moved. He refused and continued his description of the specials. All my husband and I could do was look around us at all of the open tables in amazement. When the waiter left the table so did we. You know that adage "The customer is always right?" Well, at Nina's I've been left with the opinion that the customer is not heard, certainly not appreciated, and unwelcome. Given this, does it really matter what the food tastes like?

Posted 09/09/06

I am from NYC and have been to Italy many times. Nina's is the real deal! We eat there often and have never had a bad meal or experience. It's a wonderful place to take the time to dine or just have a nice plate of pasta at the bar. Nina's is our # 1 choice. (The Linguini Fruitti di Mare is my favorite.)

Ciao!

Cons: Very popular restaurant so I would recommend calling ahead and making a reservation or at least let them know you are on your way in.

Posted 07/06/06

This Saturday evening was the first and definitely LAST time I will attempt to eat at Nina's Restaurant. I had heard good things about the food from a couple of friends, but my husband and I never got a chance to eat anything. I ordered the Free Range Chicken with Rosemary and the waiter told us that the dish took the longest of any to cook. He said it would be thirty minutes. I decided that was a little long, but I was willing to wait. Forty minutes later, the waiter came by our table and filled our water glasses (the first time he had been by since he took our order). My husband asked him if our meal was about ready and he answered yes, it was close to being done. We waited another ten minutes while our waiter waited on other people, even taking the dessert order for a couple who had come in a good fifteen minutes after us. After waiting fifty minutes (actually we waited an hour and ten minutes from the time we first entered the restaurant), we got up and left. The waiter never once apologized for the delay or offered any explanation why thirty minutes had turned into fifty minutes plus. My husband and I decided that we didn't get any attention because we didn't order any alcohol and there were only two of us. Who knows, I just know I plan to tell everyone I know to avoid Nina's.

Posted 06/16/06

A short time ago, with friends, my wife and I had dinner at Ninas. It was outstanding .. as far as sampling the menu got us our 1st time there. I coaxed others to sample: EGGPLANT ROLITINI, CLAMS OREGANATI, COZZE al VINO BIANCO, and GAMBERONI RAPPOLA . Everything was fresh, but was also proper temperature for eating when it arrived at our table. Presentation was also outstanding.

I am particular about the Italian food I eat and enjoy. Having experienced what I felt was genuinely fine Italian cuisine, it is worth the time for others to sample. This was our 1st visit and in spite of not having tried many of the entrees, I will stick my neck out and HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOUR 1st VISIT. I hope it will be one of many for us.

Pros: Food, Ambiance

Posted 05/07/06

if i told you how bad this restaurant was you would not believe me . So here it is . This place was BAD . I know your probably thinking i caught it on a bad night . NO . We arrived at 7:15. The waiter told us the specials and then basically vanished for 25 min. at least . We finally ordered and than had to wait 15 min. for drinks . When we finally received our appetizer's and salad's , yes both at the same time it was 8:30 . It was 9 something before we got our main dish , which was below par , at the BEST. Yeah i know what your thinking just leave an ok tip . I wish the gratuity was added into the bill and there was only 6 of us . . Other than that it's a great place ..ENJOY

Pros: lights, cold water

Cons: below average food, horrid service, NO DIAPER CHANGER

Posted 04/26/06