Nico’s Restaurant in New Albany

Nico’s @ 104 N Railroad Ave, New Albany, MS. Open 4pm – 9pm, Monday – Friday, 11am – 10pm Saturday.

Nico’s is still fairly new to New Albany, but its presence on the local food scene has been long anticipated by local residents.

👇 Menu is at the bottom of photos below 👇

Owner Moses Lemus, is a well know local restaurant entrepreneur specializing in Mexican cuisine with multiple locations. He and I have been aquatinted for years, and recently I had the opportunity to sit down with him and discuss his latest opening.

Moses has close ties with New Albany residents and business owners. He often lends an ear to their ideas of what the town needs to grow and attract more visitors. Taking note along with his own vision, Nico’s was created.

After securing a prime location with beautiful architecture in Downtown New Albany, the work began, making the next “must visit” restaurant destination a reality.

In its early stages, most assumed the new restaurant’s menu would offer similar items as his other locations, but when asked, Moses would reply “not Mexican.” That need has been filled at his other restaurants.

Nico’s, named after Moses’ son, offers a variety of traditional American and Italian fare. Just a few items you will discover on the eclectic menu are steak, seafood, burgers, pizza, salads, soups, and the bar packed with familiar favorites, along with several exotic flavors picked up by Moses and his family while traveling abroad.

The atmosphere was carefully constructed so that it would be welcoming to all that enter. It has two contrasting vibes.

There is a large dining room with blue walls, hardwood furniture, and exquisite lighting. Booths are available for a family dinner or larger seating options for group gatherings.

The smaller dining room reminds me of New Orleans, with a sprawling beautiful bar, the decor projecting musical notes and a drink menu that offers selections like my frozen version of the iconic Blue Hawaiian cocktail.

In the bar room, you also get a view of the Italian pizza oven. Working one of these ovens is an art form. They carefully maneuver each group of pizza pies like a well orchestrated dance to assure each come out evenly heated and beautiful to behold.

For those of you who consider authenticity and attention to details part of the overall dining experience, there are many “ Easter eggs” on the menu. Hidden gems where every ingredient is genuine, and as historically accurate as possible.

Just to mention a few hidden gems:
💎 Affogato – An Italian desert drink made with a scoop of caramel vanilla gelato, then drowned with a shot of expresso! The mix of hot & cold, sweet & creamy, plus bold coffee aroma is intoxicating! The expresso was made fresh in their dedicated Expresso machine.
💎 Grilled Peach & Prosciutto Pizza baked in an Italian brick oven using both gas and hardwood to provide both consistency and traditional wood smoked flavors.
💎 Zacapa Old Fashion – smoked, and garnished with Luxardo Maraschino Cherries. One detail that may escape some, is the use of filtered pure, square ice cubes that are each hand embossed with an engraved brass press.

Other notable drinks I sampled were the Pink Dragon that has a notable sweetness to match its color, and the delicious Expresso Martini.

💎 The Caprese Salad is a perfect place to begin your culinary adventure into Neco’s Italian cuisine. It’s tomato, fresh sliced mozzarella cheese, a bed of greens, and I believe drizzled with olive oil and a balsamic glaze. This is a very fresh salad with colors of the Italian flag.

The peach and prosciutto pizza had many of the same characteristics as the Caprese Salad, including fresh mozzarella and sauces. If the toppings perk your interest in the least, then you must try it!

The couple next to me were regulars, and filled me in on some of their favorites. Along with the steak they had just finished, they also ordered the above pizza to take home for later. They also highly recommend the house cut Mozzarella sticks.

The Mozzarella Sticks were rolled huge with a crispy crust. They were very delicious and definitely passed my “pull” test!

As a stand alone pasta dish, the Shrimp Scampi is a good choice. Tender shrimp, buttery pasta, with a few marinated veggies mixed in. This will definitely satisfy most cravings of this nature!

New menu items are being considered every week like the Creamy Chicken Tuscan Soup. For soup fans, this should be a keeper. Its creamy texture included a good balance of chicken, potato pieces, and kale. I even carried the leftover soup home for later!

For an appetizer, If you are a fan of thick cut bacon, then Nico’s sweet and spicy version is worth tasting. Nico’s thick cut bacon has a cascade of texture and flavors. It has a slight kick of spice, followed by the sweet glaze and mellow texture of the crumbled goat cheese. It is typically cut from the same pork belly as regular bacon but sliced at least twice as thick. It’s ideal for those who enjoy their bacon with a chewier texture.

For my main corse I requested the Pecan Crusted Salmon, Loaded Baked Potato Casserole, and Brussel Sprouts.

The Loaded Baked Potato Casserole was definitely loaded with chopped up potatoes, cheese, and crumbled bacon. This makes a nice side to most meals.

The one combination that really got my taste buds dancing was the Caprese salad,
Pecan Crusted Salman, Brussel Sprouts with bacon pieces, and the Zacapa Old Fashion. Each bite of salman with a sip of Old Fashion was an Mmmm moment!!!

Nico’s is sure to host many special moments, wether it’s a relaxing evening at the bar after a long day’s work, family meal night with pizza and burgers, or your next foodie adventure from New Orleans to Italy without leaving the comforts of New Albany. Happy Trails!!

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Weezie’s Deli and Gifts @ 2230 Rabbit Drive, Tupelo, MS. In the shopping center next to Walmart west. Open for lunch, 11 – 2, Monday through Friday. Weezie’s vibe and decor will take you back to the 1940’s with elegant decorations and piano music. Their menu only enhances the atmosphere, with sandwiches, soups, salads, and deserts prepared from scratch!

Cantina Del Sol @ 3120 N. Gloster, Tupelo, MS. Open 11am-10pm, Monday through Saturday. Closed Sunday for prayer. They offer many traditional and original Mexican delicacies, steaks, cold beer, exotic drinks, and a daily lunch buffet. They offer a wide range of exciting flavors that are sure to tantalize anyone’s taste buds. From the spicy kick of chili peppers to the refreshing tang of lime juice. A fantastic blend of traditional authenticity and innovative twists on classic recipes.

Just Love Coffee Cafe – Tupelo MS located at 1600 North Gloster Street. A hand roasted specialty coffee café with a fully “waffled” menu served all-day! PLUS a Traditionally DELICIOUS lunch menu and MORE! Catering Available!!

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