Niko’s Bistro in Calgary, AB

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Telephone:	+1 403-270-0082
Website:	www.nikosbistro.ca
Address:	1241 Kensington Rd NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 3P8
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:	960 ft14th Street & Kensington Road 0.4 miSunnyside 0.4 miDowntown West / Kerby
Categories:	Italian

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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations	Yes
Delivery	No
Take-out	Yes
Accepted Cards	Credit, Debit
Good For	Lunch, Dinner
Parking	Street
Bike Parking	Yes
Wheelchair Accessible	No
Good for Kids	No
Good for Groups	Yes

Attire	Casual
Ambience	Trendy
Noise Level	Average
Alcohol	Full Bar
Outdoor Seating	No
Wi-Fi	No
Has TV	No
Waiter Service	Yes
Caters	Yes

Today

Today	11:00 am – 2:30 pm 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm Open now
Local time (Calgary)	11:37 AM Thursday, May 22, 2025

Business hours

Monday	11:00 am – 2:30 pm 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Tuesday	11:00 am – 2:30 pm 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Wednesday	11:00 am – 2:30 pm 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Thursday	11:00 am – 2:30 pm 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Friday	11:00 am – 2:30 pm 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Saturday	10:00 am – 2:00 pm 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Sunday	10:00 am – 2:00 pm 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm

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20 reviews of Niko’s Bistro

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Karina W.

Place rating: 5
Houston, TX

We live in Kensington, and had been Niko’s many times. The food is always GREAT, the service is awesome. We love the food and this restaurant so much that we had our wedding in here, and all of our guests loved the experience. This restaurant was rated one of the top 10 restaurants in Calgary in 2015, trust me, there’s good reason for it!

Nikki H.

Place rating: 1
Calgary, Canada

I have never gone out of my way to write a negative review ( Unilocal or otherwise) about service I’ve received, but this experience was terrible enough that I felt compelled to do so.
There’s nothing like waiting an hour for your food (and not being checked up on), receiving rude service, AND being made felt it was your own fault to make you never want to return to a restaurant again. On top of that, we were told that they couldn’t split the bill. Only after we complained (fed up/in shock by the horrible service), that the bill was split, but incorrectly. It was just a series of compounded negative experiences that made me wish we dined at a different restaurant. There was no sincere apology and zero effort to rectify the situation.
Verbatim from Niko: «to me, an hour is not that long to wait». This is completely unacceptable — an hour is a very long time to wait for food.
Don’t waste your money here — there are many other great Calgary restaurants with equal/better food, and definitely better service.

Jeff F.

Place rating: 4
Calgary, Canada

I love this place. Niko’s is one of our go-to places in Kensington. The food is very good — great piccata and pasta. Friendly, unobtrusive service. Great low and mid priced wines. It’s exactly the kind of place Calgary needs, especially in these times. Reservations a must. Highly recommend.

Candace W.

Place rating: 4
Edmonton, Canada

I visited Niko’s Bistro with a couple of friends on a weekend trip to Calgary In late October. We were craving Italian food and this place was half way between our hotel and the Jubilee (where we were seeing Jim Jefferies).
The restaurant was small but we had a reservation. I wasn’t a fan of the décor inside the restaurant. They had a «padded wall» on one side of the restaurant and the colors on that wall threw me off a bit. Otherwise it wasn’t horrible.
The food was fantastic. We started with calamari and bruchetta. Both delicious. The calamari wasn’t fried, but cooked nicely and covered with a spicy tomato sauce. I had the gnocchi as my main course. It was a perfect size and had delicious creamy tomato sauce. Some of the best sauce I have ever had. My friends really enjoyed their meals as well (I can’t remember exactly what they had, as it has been awhile since we were there). We had tiramisu for desert and it was okay. I have had better.
The service was slightly poor in this place. We had 3 different waitresses serving us at various times and it was slow. When we wanted to get our bill, we weren’t sure who to ask. A man, whom I assume was Niko, came out and asked us how our food was. We told him how much we enjoyed it and he gave us free shots of limoncello. Yum!
Despite the padded wall and the not so great service (minus Niko), I would definitely visit Niko’s again.

Bernice L.

Place rating: 4
Calgary, Canada

My favourite place in the city for calamari (not deep fried and tossed in a spicy tomato sauce) and penne con vodka. Absolutely delicious!!!

Sheila T.

Place rating: 5
Calgary, Canada

Nice décor, good wine, comfortable seating, friendly staff, and a nice selection on the menu. What more could you ask from an authentic Italian restaurant?
We made a reservation for a party of six, they were able to accommodate us on a busy Friday night. The restaurant filled up quickly after we arrived. Our server was friendly and helpful. Even though it got very busy she was attentive and our dishes came in a timely manner. We loved the calamari and caprese salad for appetizers. The braised chicken with pasta was so tasty and the chicken was moist. The cannelloni was hand made and crêpe-like thin with a delicious meat stuffing. Everyone was extremely happy with their meals. We were so full that we didn’t have room for dessert. We’ll save room for dessert on our next visit.

N P.

Place rating: 1
Calgary, Canada

Terrible service. The waitress with a shaved head didn’t even greet us. She said the kitchen was closed even if we were there before closing. When we began to leave, she requested if we wanted drinks… We left without saying a word to her.

B C.

Place rating: 5
Calgary, Canada

And then there was Niko’s!
I’ve been going to Niko’s since before it was Niko’s — back then it was Merle’s. Though the food was great, when poor old Merle couldn’t be counted on to be open during posted hours. .. well, the writing was on the wall.
Then, suddenly, in steps Niko! Well, he had some shoes to fill. He needed to be more than just open if he wanted my return business. Long story short, I’ve been a regular ever since. I’ve enjoyed most the main dishes, all the appetizers, and the deserts, and repeatedly so. Niko, the owner, is a kind, gracious, generous man. The staff have always been good, helpful, responsive with good service.
I have to admit, last time I tried to go, I popped in without a reservation on a super busy night, and was greeted by a snooty maitre’d type of fellow who was un-necessarily ungracious in his attitude. Never seen him before. I nearly asked to talk to Niko, but being a long time customer, I thought it might get him in more trouble than perhaps he deserved. If it’s a pattern — I’m sure he won’t last long. A few reviews report bad service experiences. I know that bad service attitude doesn’t come from the top down.
Niko’s is a family and a sentimental favourite, and I plan to keep going.

Kourosh A.

Place rating: 4
Calgary, Canada

On our second visit, still we were impressed by everything. Great food, excellent service!
Not cheap though :)

Ankur S.

Place rating: 5
Calgary, Canada

I don’t know about other Unilocalers but I’ve been to Niko’s multiple times and it has always been a pleasure dining here.
Everyone’s courteous and explain exactly what you need to know about your food.
My fav is Calamari here and I don’t like it anywhere else except Cactus Club and Rush.
Wine pairings are amazing as always.
If you haven’t tried yet, Please do try the Cheesecake here.
No one’s perfect and Niko’s always improvise if there’s a special request of taste and type.
Lastly, prices. In my opinion, prices here are just fine, if not perfect.
Great service and always a fine Italian pleasure.
Thanks Niko’s.
Yours Truly Unilocaler,
Ankur S.

Steven N.

Place rating: 4
Calgary, Canada

Madly searching for a restaurant for a last minute dinner date.
«Where oh where should I go?»
«Niko’s» says my Unilocal app.
And so we went!
Bruschetta was great. Calamari was all right. Not as mind-blowing as other reviewers may suggest.
Pastas were wonderful though. I had the Spaghettini with homemade Italian sausage. And yes, it was divine.
Portions are great. Prices are great. Service stellar.
Can’t wait to be back!

Thomas J.

Place rating: 1
Calgary, Canada

I’ve been to Niko’s with my fiancé several times being that I live in close proximity to the restaurant. Upon our visit today, my dish was fine however, my fiancé’s dish was not. When I approached the waitress about the issue, she consulted with the chef and then approached our table in a very indignant way and informed us there was nothing wrong with the dish. I’m extremely disappointed and will only be returning to inform Niko what terrible service we received.

Mariana R.

Place rating: 1
Calgary, Canada

Terrible service… We had a reservation made through opentable for 4 people, and when we arrived there. They gave us the worst table available, they had 4 empty tables and gave us the one in the middle of the restaurant, considering we were with a child it was not the most convenient one. I asked for a table close to the wall, and they said they were all booked. And it was not true!. The tables were just empty… When I asked why they didn’t change us, they said we should have made the reservation directly with the restaurant… Really? … I knew about that place only because of Unilocal,and It was easier for me to make the reservation through open table, instead of calling… I would say this has been probably the worst service I have received in a Calgary restaurant…
In addition, the place is very small and you feel very packed… You almost cannot breath… I definitely do not recommend this restaurant to anyone…

Klaas D.

Place rating: 4
Calgary, Canada

Had a great meal here. The storefront looks a little cold and unassuming, but as soon as you enter and pull the curtain back it reveals a cosy, intimate little restaurant.
Service was good, albeit a touch slow, but not a surprise for a busy Saturday night. We didn’t have reservations, but were squeezed in anyway. Nik was a very active presence, talking to each table at least once.
Food was very good. Pastas were generously plated, and didn’t skimp on the seafood. The only disappointment was the coconut shrimp appy, which consisted of 4 tiny shrimp for $ 12.

Cobalt Z.

Place rating: 4
Calgary, Canada

Had an employee event here, and the food knocked my socks off. The best part was that we were served family style, which saved endless ordering around a large table (18 people) and then having to match everyone up with their food correctly. It really cut through the usual conventions and allowed us to focus on what was important — socializing and eating.
Calamari and bruschetta were excellent, as were the variety of salads that came out. Chicken in cream sauce and the seafood pastas were also very well received. Well, actually, I ate every piece of chicken I could find it was so good. A very tasty mushroom sauce. Perhaps I wasn’t being a very good family member in our family-style sharing!
The dessert crêpe was also excellent, and although I didn’t get a chance to check out the bottle, the red wine that was recommended and served paired very well all around.
Simple interior, simple tables, simple chairs, attentive service — with outstanding food. Highly recommended.

Tara S.

Place rating: 4
Calgary, Canada

This is a great place. The owner is friendly, gracious, and more than accommodating. Although I wouldn’t consider the food truly Italian, everything is fresh and well prepared. There is usually a nightly special.
On my last visit I took my elderly mother, who is a fussy meat and potato person. After asking about her general dislikes, Niko gladly made her a simple pasta dish that was not on the menu.
My favourite dishes are the bruschetta, calamari, veal Marsala, and chocolate mousse.
My only complaint is that they don’t serve complimentary bread or breadsticks.

Maria C.

Place rating: 5
Calgary, Canada

I love Niko’s! My go to place for delicious Italian food. The food is always amazing.
To start with, the calamari is my favourite. I’ve tried a few of the other appetizers, but the calamari is hands down the best — has a spicy tomato sauce that makes it different from calamaris elsewhere!
For the mains, I can never decide between the cannelloni and the manicotti — meat vs cheese?! The two are pretty similar dishes though, so I wouldn’t recommend getting both. The chicken entrée is also really good, but huge in portion because it comes with chicken, side of veggies, and pasta as well.
The chocolate mousse here is to die for! I could eat it every day all day and never get sick of it. It’s the best chocolate mousse I’ve ever had — I order it every time I’m here.
It’s a small but cozy, neat little place. I would recommend making reservations if you are going on a weekend or evening. There’s free parking down the block behind the field so try to park there if you don’t want to pay for street parking!

Mike L.

Place rating: 4
Calgary, Canada

Caprese tomatoes a little crunchy but nice soft cheese and sweet balsamico made up for it
Shaghettini cooked perfectly, nice sausage bits, mushrooms, garlic, olive oil mmmm
Tino was great,

Caroline P.

Place rating: 4
Calgary, Canada

Gotta love gift certificates! I received one of these for Niko’s Bistro and decided to bring the family and check it out. We phoned first to see if we needed to make reservations (it was a Tuesday), but there was no need. The restaurant did fill up completely around 7:45pm, though.
First, we had the calamari in spicy tomato sauce (see photo) as a starter. The calamari was meltingly tender with a bit of zing. My son loved it (he normally doesn’t eat spicy food). Speaking of appetizers, I did find it a bit odd that they didn’t give you any bread/foccacia/breadsticks…
For the entrees, my son ordered the manicotti (which he pretty much wolfed down), I had the house special – beef tenderloin with vegetables and penne with a choice of minestrone soup or bruschetta. The beef was done to my liking (medium rare) but I had to remind one of the two servers (who were run off their feet) to bring my minestrone. Both of them apologized profusely for the oversight. My husband ordered the jumbo prawns with pasta. Boy, those prawns were huge!
Hmmm, we didn’t have any room for dessert, but we will be coming back!

Christine L.

Place rating: 4
Calgary, Canada

Wish it didn’t take us so long to visit. What can I say other than the food was very fresh, very delicious and clean tasting — nothing was covered in oil or butter. The bruschetta had a nice spicy kick. The salad with homemade dressing and prosciutto was damn tasty but our absolute favourite was beef short rib. A large portion of super tender beef in a light tomato sauce. Dessert was a crêpe with chocolate mousse — I’m not a dessert person but this was incredible.
Great service, high quality food and great prices. My new fave restaurant