join us for dinner
The dinner menu at Nic + Junior’s features seasonal plates crafted by Chefs Junior Borges and Nic Yanes. Each dish reflects their shared approach to cooking — ingredient-driven, soulful, and sophisticated. From small bites to entrées meant for the table, every plate tells a story of connection between Brazil, Italy, and Chicago’s River North dining scene.
Planning a private event? Explore our group dining options.
Explore our menus
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- Behind the velvet curtain: Chef Junior’s tasting menu brings refined Brazilian-Italian flavors to life—served in an intimate dining room with thoughtful wine pairings.
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- Chef Junior in his element—plating with precision during dinner service.
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- An elegant pour during one of many tasting menu courses at Nic + Junior’s.
TASTING Menu
$185 per person
Sample menu – offerings may change based on seasonality and inspiration.
Prosciutto dadinho, yuzu kosho
Caviar red kabocha squash
Black Truffle bolinho de requeijão
Foie Gras bolo de milho, concord grape
*Matsutake black tucupi dashi, tapioca pearl
Heart of Palm ikura, green tomato, toasted rice
Scallop moqueca, farofa de dende, coriander
Culugerione japanese sweet potato, linguiça calabresa, black truffle
*Wagyu Picanha vidalia onion, oxtail, aged cachaça
Chestnut rabanada, honeycrisp apple
Brigadeiro dark chocolate, candied orange zest, toasted coconut
Romeo y Julieta mini cone
Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness
DINNER Menu
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- A signature à la carte dish—bavette steak with herb sauce and crisp frites.
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- Chef Justin brings detail and care to every dish on the line.
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- Summer’s brightest—heirloom tomato salad with mozzarella and basil.
antipasti
Sourdough Focaccia olive oil, saba, herbs 14
Pão de Queijo cultured butter, goiabada 16
baked to order – please allow 20 minutes
Bread Pairings:
24-Month Aged Prosciutto 12 | Mortadella de Bologna 8
Buffalo Mozzarella 7 | *Fois Gras Butter 15 | Black Truffle Butter 15
*Oysters smoked mignonette, lemon oil 24/48
Italian Wedding Soup mortadella de bologna, fregola, rapini, chicken brodo 13
Brazilian Cheese Sticks arrabbiata sauce, pecorino, oregano 18
*Ora King Salmon Carpaccio biquinho giardiniera, fennel pollen 22
Caesar shaved kohlrabi, pecorino, mint, toasted garlic breadcrumbs 17
Steamed Snow Crab Claws drawn garlic butter, chili flakes 34
Roasted Beets buffalo mozzarella, toasted almonds, balsamic vinaigrettes 19
Creamy Polenta mushroom ragu, braised kale, parmigiano 21
Handmade Pastas
Agnolotti en Brodo roasted potato, confit peppercorn, pecorino brodo 29
+ burgundy black truffle 15
Ricotta Gnocchi kale pesto, ricotta salata, golden sesame seeds 28
*Spaghetti Scampi rock shrimp, white wine, calabrian chili, garlic breadcrumbs 33
Tagliatelle pork bolognese, parmigiano, oregano 27
Rigatoni Vodka stracciatella, crispy garlic, basil 26
Orecchiette braised beef ragu, sundried tomato, pecorino 33
BRAZILIAN FEAST 145
16oz Wagyu Picanha
served with heirloom beans, bacon + onion farofa,
pepper vinaigrette, malagueta chimichurri, and yuca fries
Main
*Whole Branzino Piccata deboned, caper berries, rapini, preserved lemon 52
Coppa Steak hen of the woods mushroom, marsala, rosemary, roasted garlic 46
Piri Piri Half Chicken malagueta relish, chicken jus 36
Grilled Short Rib confit butterball potatoes, guandilla pepper salsa verde 55
*Burger fontina, dijonnaise, caramelized onions, pickles, yuca fries 22 | limited availability
SWEETS
Brigadeiro Tiramisu coconut mascarpone, hazelnut, espresso, chocolate sprinkles 15
+ make it an affogato 15
Stracciatella Soft Serve dark chocolate 9
Zeppole candied orange, vanilla diplomat 12
Consuming raw or undercooked meats
poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase
your risk of foodborne illness
Happy Hour
Wednesday – Friday 4-6PM
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- Two takes on a favorite: our clarified espresso martini and the classic version, side by side at Nic + Junior’s in River North.
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- A comforting classic—handmade spaghetti with tomato, basil, and parmesan, paired with white wine at Nic + Junior’s.
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- Bar perfection—flame-grilled hot capicola spiedini paired with a classic and a passion fruit old fashioned at Nic + Junior’s.
Bites
Sourdough Focaccia olive oil, saba, herbs 10
Bread Pairings:
24-Month Aged Prosciutto 12 | Mortadella de Bologna 8 |
Buffalo Mozzarella 7 | *Fois Gras Butter 15 | Black Truffle Butter 15
*Oysters smoked mignonette, lemon oil 12/24
Yuca Fries smoked hot sauce 9
Steamed Snow Crab Claws drawn garlic butter, chili flakes 28
Brazilian Cheese Sticks arrabbiata sauce, pecorino, oregano 14
*Burger fontina, dijonnaise caramelized onions, pickles 17
Stracciatella Soft Serve dark chocolate 7
Cocktails
Espresso Martini vodka, coffee liqueur, cold brew 7
Old Fashioned bourbon, bitters, sugar 7
Boulevardier bourbon, campari, sweet vermouth 7
Manhattan bourbon, sweet vermouth, bitters 7
N+J’s Martini gin, N+J’s vermouth blend, garnish salad 9
Dry Vodka Martini ice cold vodka, straight up, twist or olive 9
Passionfruit Margarita 100% agave tequila, passionfruit, lime 9
Negroni gin, campari, sweet vermouth 9
Wines by the Glass
NV Bisol ‘Jeio’ Prosecco 9
2024 Pasqua Pinot Grigio 9
2024 Peyrassol ‘Le Croix’ Rose 12
2022 D de Dauzac Cab Blend 9
BeeR
Kolsch Draft 5
Anti-Hero IPA Draft 5
Zombie Dust Draft 5
Guinness Draft 5
Old Style Draft 3
Miller High Life Pony 4
Miller Lite 5
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- A classic martini with a cheeky salad twist—only at Nic + Junior’s.
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- The front bar at Nic + Junior’s—where cocktails, conversation, and bold plates come together.
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- A Southside, finished with fresh mint—cool, classic, and cocktail-hour ready.
Drinks
Classics
Southside gin, lemon juice, sugar, mint
Espresso Martini vodka, coffee liqueur, cold brew
Old Fashioned bourbon, bitters, sugar
50/50 Martini gin, vermouth, bitters, lemon twist
Tommy’s Margarita 100% agave tequila, agave, lime
Caipirinha cachaça, lime, sugar
Negroni gin, campari, sweet vermouth
Modern Classics
Sake Southside sake, yuzu, shiso, ume
N+J’s Espresso Martini coffee vodka, crème de cacao, caramel foam
Passionfruit Old Fashioned jamaican rum, passionfruit, bitters
N+J’s Martini gin, N+J’s vermouth blend, garnish salad
Mixed Blessings tequila, singani, honey, grapefruit, lemon
Guilty Pleasure cachaça, aperol, lime, sugar
Strawberry Negroni gin, strawberry campari, barolo chinato, amontillado sherry
Low-ABV
Summer Solstice 4% fino viejo sherry, fresh pressed watermelon 15
Liberdade junmai daiginjo sake, Japanese green tea, Michigan peach, lemon 15
Spirit-Free
Housemade Italian Soda passionfruit, lime, salt, Topo Chico 12
Satsuma Samba Seedlip Garden, NA bitters, satsuma mandarin, lemon 12
Wine by the Glass
NV Bisol ‘Jeio’ Prosecco 12
NV Ca’ del Bosco ‘Cuvee Prestige’ 24
2024 Pasqua ‘Black Label’ 14
2024 Blanchet Pouilly-Fume ‘Calcite’ 18
2023 I Clivi ‘San Pietro’ 17
2023 Trefethen ‘Oak Knoll District’ 18
2024 Peyrassol ‘Le Croix’ Rose 16
2022 J. Christoper ‘JJ’ Pinot Noir 19
2021 Bava Nebbiolo 18
2024 Scarpetta ‘Frico’ 14
2022 Prazo de Roriz 16
2022 Vasse Felix ‘Filius’ 18
Beer
Draft
Kolsch, Dovetail Brewery 7
Anti-Hero IPA, Revolution Brewery 7
Zombie Dust, 3 Floyds Brewing Co. 7
Old Style 5
Guinness 5
Bottles/Cans
Miller High Life Pony 5
Miller Lite 5
Modelo Especial 5
NA Beer
Heineken 0.0 6
Upside Dawn, Athletic Brewing Company 6
Guinness Zero 8
Consuming raw or undercooked meats
poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase
your risk of foodborne illness
NEW YEAR’S EVE
5-COURSE PRIX FIXE $185
Enjoy our five-course menu with optional wine pairings curated by our team.
Book your reservation now, and celebrate the new year in our beautiful dining room,
where exceptional hospitality meets world-class food and beverage.
Truffle Cannoli
Bluefin Tuna hearts of palm, biquinho pepper
Wagyu + Prosciutto Skewers roasted scallion, chimichurri aioli
Chioggia Beets stracciatella, toasted hazelnut, black truffle
Choice Of:
Ricotta Gnocchi bone marrow, ricotta salata, garlic chive
Spaghetti alla Chitarra saffron, preserved lemon, sturgeon caviar
Seafood Risotto rock shrimp, smoked scallop, ikura, coconut + shellfish brodo
Choice Of:
Shogun Maitake pickled ramps, marsala | + add black truffle
Wagyu Picanha potato pavé, aged cachaça au poivre | + add black truffle
Black Cod hakurei turnip, caviar beurre blanc, shiso kombu
Chestnut caramelized brioche, honeycrisp apple, dark chocolate
Condensed Milk Flan bourbon caramel, vanilla
BAR MENU
*Oysters smoked mignonette, lemon oil 24/48
Stracciatella chioggia beets, toasted hazelnut, black truffle 24
Pão de Queijo cultured butter, goiabada 16
Kohlrabi Caesar local greens, toasted breadcrumbs, pecorino 19
Wagyu + Prosciutto Skewers roasted scallion, chimichurri aioli 32
Brazilian Cheese Sticks arrabbiata, oregano, pecorino 18
Seafood Risotto rock shrimp, smoked scallop, ikura, coconut + shellfish brodo 42
Ricotta Gnocchi bone marrow, ricotta salata, garlic chive 36
Black Cod hakurei turnip, caviar beurre blanc 55
Burger au Poivre caramelized shallot jam, raclette, maitake mushroom aioli 30
Consuming raw or undercooked meats
poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase
your risk of foodborne illness
Dine with Us
