3 minute read
NICK’S ITALIAN RISTORANTE is a Love Letter to Food, Family
By Heather Hamilton-Post
With a rich Italian menu brimming with new pasta dishes, meat entrees, and a sophisticated selection of appetizers—including tuna tartare, octopus, and clams—Nick’s Italian Ristorante offers a thrilling mix of inspired Italian flavors. The restaurant, located at Linder Road and Chinden Boulevard, is led by Chef Enrique Martinez, whose decades of experience showcase a menu that blends traditional favorites and more modern flavors.
“My favorite right now is the Short Rib Fettuccine,” said Torro Restaurant Group operating partner Nicholas Terrafranca. “But also, the veal—the Scallopini Carcio and Scallopini Marsala—is so tender. It’s really, really good,” he said. The restaurant, which opened in early November, was once a Flatbread Neapolitan Pizzeria, but the rebrand offers a revamped aesthetic as inspired as all of Torro Group’s endeavors, which include Barbacoa Grill, Ti Amo, Coa De Jima, and Coa Del Mar. is association, explained Terrafranca, helps provide access to high quality ingredients. “And the kitchen at Nick’s is bigger than the kitchen at Ti Amo, so we’re able to have more on the menu,” he said. “All of the restaurants are different.”
But like the others, Nick’s boasts Martine Castoro’s signature style—Terrafranca describes it as “modern retro”—and the same heart that beats in all of the restaurants.
While Ti Amo was named to pay homage to Barbacoa creators and restaurateurs Robert and Martine Castoro, who also happen to be Torro Group operating partner Nikolai Castoro’s parents, Nick’s is named for Nikolai Castoro and Nicholas Terrafranca—whose father and daughter both share a version of his name—and who are also close friends. In many ways, Nick’s has been a long time coming.
“When we were younger, we’d help seat guests or clean the plexiglass roof at the Castoros’ restaurant,” explained Terrafranca. “And when we were even younger than that, we’d pretend we had our own restaurant and serve our parents breakfast. We called it Nick Nack Paddy Whack. When we decided to do this Italian restaurant, I knew we probably wouldn’t go with that—but that’s where it started,” he laughed.
Now, Nick’s is a hub for modern culinary creativity, balancing full flavors with rich, tender meats, hearty sauces, and handcrafted pizzas. Guests will still find some of their Flatbread favorites, but the menu and the space—with its high ceilings and open kitchen—has been reimagined for the whole family, and the team is excited to present a menu that is largely their own. “It was a really collaborative project between friends and family,” said Terrafranca. “A lot of heart went into this restaurant.”
Among classic Italian recipes and new favorites, look for Italian wines, European beers, sake cocktails, and unique desserts such as coffee-soaked tiramisu, cannoli, and affogato for a complete dining experience. Perfect for family dinner and special enough for date night, Nick’s Italian Ristorante’s dedication to quality, tradition, fun, and flavor is a welcome addition to the Treasure Valley dining scene.
“Chef Enrique just knows how to accommodate everyone’s taste buds. There are so many options. Every dish he’s created can utilize a different style of sauce or noodle,” said Terrafranca. “He’s made a menu that can really be customized to take care of the customer.” For more details on the restaurant and menu, visit eatnicksitalian.com.
