Cafe Nino

I love going to this place. I’m going to be sad to see Mr. Nino close shop after so many years at the end of May 2015. Hopefully he’ll be back after his trip to Italy.
The great thing about Ninos — no matter what time you roll in, there’s always hot food ready and hot bread just coming out of the oven. Or order a pie and chat about the neighborhood while it’s cooking. Here’s to a one of a kind restaurant in NOLA where the owner is really happy to see you every time you walk in. If you’re lucky, he may even send you on your way with a glass of wine, for digestion of course.

Best pizza in town. The crust is to die for. A hidden gem. Super cozy. Super staff. A superior super superness.

A five-​star run down hole-​in-​the-​wall (the very best kind)!
We drove past Café Nino on the way to another restaurant… and turned around so I could introduce my S.O. to the best Italian in the city. The food is pre-​made and heated within moments of ordering. My guy was 100% sold on the chicken marsala and I think he even regretted ordering the lasagna because he wanted more of the marsala (though he also really enjoyed the lasagna). He thought the complimentary splash of wine post-​meal was unique, and got a kick out of Nino’s thick Italian accent. I even shared a small bite of my thick crust pepperoni pizza, which was also really damn good! Our meal with sodas was less than $ 20. We will definitely be back sooner rather than later…

I was in need of dinner for me and my boyfriend. We were starving and didn’t want to wait the length of time it would normally take for takeout or dine in. My roommate recommended This place and it was exactly what I was looking for. The food was pre made in a buffet style so I was served within minutes. I got the stuffed catfish. Not the highest quality, but it was delicious! It’s a lot of food because it came with a side of lasagna which could have been a meal itself. My boyfriend got the baked pasta with meatballs and also really enjoyed it. Would definitely recommend to friends.

I eat here often and have NEVER had a bad meal! the pizza is excellent! the service is fast & always very friendly. the red sauce could be the best I’ve ever had. other than the actual building I have nothing bad to say about this place. hearing that they’re closing makes me really sad!

The Philly cheese steak is authentic and phenomenal. Niño, the owner, runs this place and makes some dank food. Frequented by NOPD officers, you know its good if its filling the growing bellies of our beloved cops.

No nonsense italian dishes
Divey but homey atmosphere
Great guy serving the food
Cheap
Does the trick

Planning a trip to New Orleans, so I checked Unilocal to see if Nino was still around (we lived nearby in the 90s). So glad he is still there and I REALLY enjoyed reading these reviews. Loved this place, loved Nino, and can’t wait to go back when we are back in town.

I love red gravy. At Café Nino, you can practically drink it straight it is so good. I tell Nino he should serve it in a bread bowl and sell it as «Italian Tomato Soup.» A chiffon of basil and a sprinkle of cheese… guaranteed hit. Since this has yet to make it on the menu, I get my red gravy with a side of bread sticks. They are also delicious.
Café Nino is one of the few true New York style pizza places in the area and definitely one of the best. Only the classic options are available. No fancy combos, just the good stuff.
If you are not in the mood for pizza, try something from the cafeteria-​style hot food line. The lasagna is composed of mini meatballs! Yum! These items vary day to day and are usually ready to go in just a minute, if you are in a hurry.
The atmosphere is not fancy. Don’t expect much. The people are friendly. One of my favorite places.
Warning: CASH ONLY!

HUGE HIDDEN GEM. This place is a huge hole in the wall. The place is completely work down. My dad told me that it was in the same condition when he used to eat at the breakfast place that was there in the mid 80s.
All this being said, this place serves excellent food. The pizza is great and has very thin crust. The thing to get here is the veal Parmesan with lasagna. One of the best Italian dishes you will have. I think this place does the best tomato sauce in the city.
They may serve their food on paper plates and it may be really run down, but this place can cook. If they put any money into the place, it would make a lot more money.
The food is also cheap so you can get out there under $ 10-​$ 12. It’s also served cafeteria style so you will be out quick. I recommend this place to anyone looking for good Italian in New Orleans.

Great place with sort of a «dive bar» feel. Tried the lasagna and chicken parm, both were scrumptious. Garlic bread was good too. Portions are huge so make sure you bring your appetite!
The guy behind the counter was very friendly. Great little laid back spot for some good italian food. Haven’t tried their pizza yet but it looks promising. Will definitely be returning.

We stumbled on this gem while waiting for another restaurant to open. We were going to just have a beer, but we decided to eat as well because the guy at the counter was so nice and the food smelled great.
I did have to walk to Chevron for $$$$ as they don’t take ATM/​Visa/​MC but it was well worth the 5 minute walk round trip.
I had a penne pasta and the sausage and peppers, my wife had spinach lasagna and chicken parm. Came with breadsticks, which were just ok.
For a quick meal that was delish I would recommend this place!!!

Last night I was having a mean craving for some saucy Italian food. I had been to Café Nino once before, several years ago, and really enjoyed it. I hadn’t been back because I usually make pasta at home. However, last night I returned to this adorable, cafeteria-​style Italian restaurant.
When I walked in the man who worked behind the counter greeted me with a huge smile, he was so excited to see me and was beyond helpful. He described all the dishes and even let me taste test the very juicy Chicken Marsala before I made my final decision. I decided on the Veal Parmesan because I wanted something covered in marinara sauce, I absolutely love marinara sauce. As a side I choose the beef lasagna, imagine my excitement when he told me that my options for sides were pizza or lasagna! The meal was topped of with a giant piece of bread that was toasted on the spot and another layer of marinara sauce, of course!
Everything was so yummy! My craving was totally satisfied! The Veal was tender and perfectly breaded; the sauce was a bit sweet and very savory. The lasagna practically melted in my mouth and the bread! I had to tell my roommate that she was only allowed one more bite of the bread because she was trying to steal it from me. Another fabulous part about Café Nino is the portions are huge! I had lunch for the next day and it was just as tasty. Not to mention how affordable it was! I will definitely be making Café Nino a regular go-​to spot from now on!

I’ve been a fan of Nino’s for a very long time. I don’t make it there very often since I moved away from p-​town.
Story time:
Back in the day when they first opened (’96-​ish) my high school friends and I would go here. Often we didn’t have the cash so we’d split plates. Nino (the owner) would see us doing this and would give us extra food because «growing kids have got to eat!».
During this time my mom had cancer so when she’d actually feel like eating I’d call in a pickup order for her. He’d tell me to stay home and take care of my mom and he’d have his kitchen help run down the street to my house to hand deliver it. «Fresh food help you feel better fast ‘eh?»
Several years later when one of the high school gang died suddenly my hubs and I stopped by Nino’s after the funeral. After he heard what happened he refused to let us pay for lunch and then poured us two very large glasses of red wine.
«Some times wine and a full stomach makes bad things a bit easier»
Yes Nino, yes it does.
I love Nino… he’s a character and a very very nice guy.
The restaurant used to be a toddle house when I moved to the ‘hood. Nino redid it into a cafeteria style Italian restaurant. It’s smallish with 4 or 5 tables on the inside and 4 tables on the outside. Daily he picks 2 – 3 dishes and makes them from scratch. Everything is very very fresh. Watching him make the bread and dough is pretty awesome.
Of the cafeteria style dishes I love the lasagna and the veal parmesan.
As for the other stuff they have. OMG the philly cheese steak. It’s probably not a real proper philly cheese steak since we’re not in philly but so so tasty. Nino makes it fresh on the grill and pairs it with bread he bakes.
The pizza! Nino’s pizza will ruin you for all other pizza. He makes his own dough and sauce. I’ve watched my hubs put away a whole pizza all by himself and they are NOT small just very very good. Nino actually knows the difference between stromboli and a calzone. Dat stromboli yo.
Extra parking on the side and rear. Does not take cards.
Mommy notes: Nino loves talking to kids. Always gives plenty of napkins. Small inside so leave the stroller in the car. Bring cash. Clean bathrooms.

My husband had been coming here for a few months and has been gushing about the great food and the outstanding Mr. Femi.
The food did not disappoint and Femi is the sweetest man ever. So funny with a great laugh. We ended up having a great time reading the Unilocal reviews believe it not! He will from now on be known as «the guy» based on the positive reviews.
Now this is a dive bar, nothing fancy. Don’t expect table service and white table cloths. It’s Cafeteria style on paper plates and grab your own beer fridge. But I don’t remember loving the food in school as much as I did here. Just good and simple italian food with a rotating menu and a little New Orleans twist — catfish of course!
If you go in, make sure to ask Femi: are you «the guy»?

I like Café Nino because it is fast and cheap and really tasty. I like the rotating menu items and I LOVE their lasagne. My husband swears by any veal dish they have on the menu that day he loves it.
I do not like dining in, it is too divey. Also I’m not a huge fan of their pizza. It’s ok by the slice, but a whole pie leaves something to be desired and heats up HORRIBLY the next day, even in the oven.

We love Café Nino. The biggest reason we love it is the staff. The guy who always appears to be working the counter is amazing. He is extremely nice and helpful and somehow can just brighten your day. This is very much a small local place and so while you are there you will likely see people who know each other come in and returning customers who the the guy working has a relationship with. Very special to see. Very nice.
The food is also awesome. We usually just get the pizza which is easily top 5 in the city. Great stuff. They have a cafeteria style display of other italian dishes like chicken parm, lasagna etc. It is all really good.
Small little place with a hometown cafeteria style feel but some of the best italian in the city. I would never hestitate to go there anytime.

Need to show someone what «hole in the wall» means?
Take an old Steak and Egg Kitchen, add some years of age and deterioration, outfit the kitchen with real Italian food, and voila: Café Nino.
But look past the décor and treat yourself to a generous heap of lasagna, pasta, eggplant, veal, chicken, or beef in a genuine red sauce or another authentic Italian base. The dishes are rich, flavorful, and much like what you might find at Vincent’s or Tony Angelos, just not served on china. Usually, there’s a special available and those are worth considering. A recent example was a delicious spinach ricotta stuffed catfish.
Pizza, available by the slice or made to order, is thin and crispy.
The environment can be a little off-​putting: the sign is broken, the tables are old chipped Formica with hard benches, the floor is irregular. A five year old on a recent visit declined to use the potty, explaining (in different words) that the impression she garnered from the décor did not bode well for what she might find in the restroom. (We did not use the facilities). Her assessment might have been a little severe, though, as the place smelled clean and the stainless steel stoves and ovens are in clear view.
Just don’t expect any strolling musicians or gondola to pull up in back. You can, however, get Miss Irene next door to do your taxes.

Well folks, here goes my heaping praise on Café Nino.
My wife and I had read the reviews, and were eager to try Nino.
It did not disappoint.
My wife had the Calzone, with Spinach and ample Ricotta, and I had the Stromboli,
Which was also, ample in stuffing and size.
This is the place to go to for tasty, quick Italian favorites.
Far and away, better than anyone else I have had in the NOLA area, and believe me,
I have had them all.
If you are a northern transplant, looking to recreate the «Little Italy» flavor found in cities like Boston, Chicago, NYC, and others, then Ninos, is your place to go.
The prices are amazing, the gravy was Ta Die Fuh!
Try it, love it, let me know.
Always yer Big Easy Daddy…

After a few restaurant mishaps, I ended up here on Valentines night all dressed up, much to my initial disdain. However, don’t let the grimy hole-​in-​the-​wall appearance throw you off. Café Nino offers an old-​country charm that can be difficult to find.
The owner and his son (Italian in every sense) are usually behind the counter and will do everything they can to make you feel welcome as they dish up delcious (and authentic) Italian food on Styrofoam plates. For $ 10, you get a giant plate of meat and side dish (pasta) that is definitely good for two meals.
My Valentine and I had a true-​to-​life «Lady and the Tramp» dining experience and I would be happy to go back again… maybe in jeans.