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The Best of the Best: Nicholas
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Red Bank has always been a special haven for people who enjoy excellent food, and restaurants that serve it. It has the beautiful Navesink Park as well, which is an ideal spot to enjoy a balmy summer night with friends, or a brisk walk in the fall as you look out over the Navesink river. Overall, Red Bank could be called many things to many people - picturesque, hip, romantic, and cultured are some of the words that come to mind. To stand out in Red Bank as an exquisite restaurant is not in the least bit easy.
I am writing this article about the best restaurant that I ever had the pleasure of going to, a restaurant that deserves to be rated as the top of the top, and a restaurant that best fits very special occasions such as proposals and 50 year anniversaries. The restaurant that truly deserves this lavish praise is called Nicholas.
A visit to Nicholas is memorable, to say the very least. Having been there a year ago, I can still remember how amazing everything which was set before me happened to be. It's hard to really decide what really was the most outstanding aspect of this restaurant. However, one thing that anyone who has been to this restaurant can tell you is that Nicholas stands above and beyond the rest in its area of culinary expertise.
Usually, when going to a restaurant, even a four-star restaurant, waiters often do not know much about food. Even going to somewhere that is considered generally upscale for the general populace does not guarantee that your waiter would know the difference between white truffle oil and black truffle oil, or whether a 2002 Napa Valley wine would be better with your meal than one with a different vintage. At Nicholas, it was obvious that the waiters who were setting the food before us also knew a multitude of things about wine pairings, cheeses, and especially the food that they were serving us. This alone would make a restaurant exceptional in many connoisseurs' eyes.
The presentation of all food was done in a classy and regal manner. The meals initially come out of the kitchen on platters with silver, perfectly polished covers. Once all the plates are brought before all the patrons at the table, the covers are removed in near-synchrony. Sitting at the table as people serve you food in this manner makes anyone feel like a celebrity. Food is elegantly displayed, with the garnishes added perfectly to each meal, and sauces drizzled artfully one every plate. Each plate of food could make covers of restaurant recipe books for top tier culinary students. Put simply, if food display is an art, the chefs of Nicholas would be the Rembrandts, the Monets, and the Andy Warhols of our time.
It wasn't only the way which the food was displayed that was fantastic, nor was it even the culinary intelligence of the waiters that truly wowed me. The food was cooked to perfection, with some of the recipes putting together very unconventional ingredients to create what can only be called a masterpiece. Literally, there was not a single complaint that I could have thought of that anyone could have made about the food. The kitchen managed to make octopus, a normally very chewy (and sometimes rubbery) meat, as tender and delicious as chicken. Had the waiters not told me that I was eating octopus, I would've thought it was chicken. The dessert tasting was spectacular, and included ice cream made in-house, cake, and a dessert coffee. The ingredients are always fresh, and it is heavily suggested that any patrons would ask for advice when it comes to pairing wine with their meals.
The atmosphere was modern, elegant, and slightly subdued. The lighting was very well done, and Nicholas even used some advanced tricks of color therapy to aid in the enjoyment of the meal. (Red, orange, and certain tones of yellow have been scientifically proven to increase appetite. These were the exact colors that the restaurant used in their main room.) Valet parking is, of course, offered to all of the clientele. It comes as no suprise to me that Nicholas was Zagat rated, as well as a holder of a five-star reputation.
This upscale restaurant is a place for people who want a dinner that they can remember for years to come, and don't mind paying for the experience. Those who have children should probably leave the kids with a babysitter and have a night out alone if they are too young to really appreciate the food and atmosphere. There is a dress code that Nicholas adheres to, so a jacket is required for men, and jeans are probably not the best idea. Menus change seasonally, so make sure to come back again to experience new, fresh ideas from the best of New Jersey!
Nicholas is located at 160 Route 35 South in Red Bank, New Jersey. For important occasions, it's best to call ahead at (732) 345-9977.
