The Nice Guy

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Room That Means Business

The Nice Guy on North La Cienega Boulevard wears its influences openly. The aesthetic pays homage to a decadent era of Mafia bars and restaurants — the kind of place where owners and their friends could settle in for a long evening together. A vintage marble and brass bar greets you at the door, its size and shape designed to pull strangers into conversation. Intimate booths line the exterior wall, while larger booths anchor the room and keep the energy moving well past midnight.

Italian Cooking, Done Straight

The menu is Italian in the classic American sense — familiar and satisfying, executed with enough care to earn a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2024 for the wine program. Starters range from Molinari's Meatballs with spicy tomato sauce and stracciatella to Bluefin Tuna Crudo with rose balsamic vinaigrette and crispy shallots. The pasta section is the heart of the Italian cooking here: Cacio e Pepe, a rich Rigatoni Bolognese with pork, veal, and beef, Fusilli alla Norcina with sausage and black truffle cream, and Lobster Fra Diavolo over bucatini with Calabrian chili. Pizzas run from a straightforward Margherita to a Black Truffle Bianca with sottocenere, fontina, and fresh black truffle. For larger plates, the 16oz Dry-Aged Ribeye with balsamic brown butter and the Pan Roasted Branzino with fennel, green olive, and Meyer lemon represent the range well.

The Bar Side

Cocktails are a serious part of the offer. The signature list includes the Godfather Sour — bulleit rye, blood orange, amaretto, and egg white — and the Red Eye Negroni built on Rémy VSOP cognac and coffee-infused Campari. Non-alcoholic options are thoughtfully constructed rather than an afterthought. The wine list, which earned the restaurant its Wine Spectator recognition, covers Italian varietals by the glass alongside a broader international selection.

The Feel of the Place

The Nice Guy operates nightly and takes the late crowd seriously, staying open until 2am. Delivery and pickup are available daily, and the room accommodates private parties. It is the kind of Italian restaurant that does not need to explain itself — the room does the talking.