Nica's 320

My bestie and I had a blast here the other day for Lunch.  Yes, I was using another of my expired Groupons.  It is convenient to where I work and we waited until after the lunch rush, around 1pm to stroll in for a quick dine!  Greeted by a nice fellow and a server directed us to a table.  I like the ambience of the place, kind of hip, casual, interesting...I ordered the Bourgeois Pig pulled pork tamale (should be tamal...tamal is singular..) with chorizo with two eggs, refried beans.  Absolutely delectable.  had a little salad with it too which was kind of nice.  I would like to go back again and try some of the other things, maybe go for happy hour to see who's cocktailing as I rather like the location and the ambience.  Anyhoo, my dish was delish.  I'll be back.

Nyet. I've been here several times for lunch, dinner, and parties. Let's start with the positive:

It is separated into two halves: One has the main dining room and bar, while the other one is their event space, dining area, and bar. They can rock the music rather loud in the event space area. It's pretty useful when having an event, so the rest of the dining room isn't bothered too much. They have interesting looking menu items and the price is reasonable.

What I don't like:
Their bartenders tend to be awful rude, don't care to make suggestions of drinks for you, and are dismissive. When events are held in the other room, the music is way too loud for conversation even if someone is right next to you and within "kissing" distance. Turn it down, dude!

The place is rather empty, yet twice I've been asked if I had reservations, said no, and greeted with a dismissive huff and then seated at the bar instead of a table. I've tried their entrees as well as the mix n match and have been disappointed each time. The flavors don't mesh well and end up being too sweet or tangy and hardly edible. When sat at the bar (where no one else is), we expected good service. The bar tender was nice enough serving us food, but disappeared for very long stretches and didn't check in on us. Aren't bartenders supposed to tend to bars? Where did he go???!!!????

So, why should I come back for meh food, dismissive staff, and parties so loud we can't communicate with anyone? I shouldn't! Cyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Nica.

First time reviewer, but felt obliged to write given my poor experience. Went to Nica's for a happy hour to catch up with friends, sat down next to the bar and tables and ordered drinks. We looked at the menu and were going to order a bunch of the happy hour specials (which appeared to be tasty) and were informed that #1 we couldn't order happy hour in the chairs NEXT to the bar (so close to the bar you could breathe on the neck of someone saddled up to the bar), #2 that the seats at the bar were RESERVED for some other group (I can't remember the last time seats at a bar were reserved), #3 that we could sit out in the patio to receive the special (it was raining and about 40 degrees) and #4, the kicker, that the "VIBE" from our "TABLE WASN"T SENDING OFF POSITIVE ENERGY." I'm not so sure how the restaurant business works, but evaluating someone's aura doesn't seem like a normal thing to happen. I kind of laughed because I was so dumbfounded by the experience. I would have given the place the benefit of the doubt and attributed the strange experience to a waiter/waitress under some sort of chemically-induced vision quest, but our aura analysis was performed by the actual owner of the restaurant.

If you look at other reviews, sounds like food is ok enough but service leaves much to be desired. Hope this is helpful.