So, I’d been hearing whispers about this spot, Nix, down near Union Square. Folks saying it’s all vegetarian, but kinda fancy. Not my usual scene, but curiosity got the better of me. Decided I needed to see what the fuss was about, so I carved out some time last Tuesday evening.
Made my way down there. The neighborhood itself, University Place, felt pretty lively, lots of students milling about, that typical Village energy. Found the place easily enough, pretty unassuming front, just a name on the building. Didn’t scream “fancy,” which was actually kind of nice.
Stepping Inside
Walked in, and okay, inside felt different. Dim lighting, kinda sleek, modern design. Definitely a step up from my usual haunts. It wasn’t stuffy, though. Had a bit of a buzz, busy but not chaotic. The host greeted me pretty quickly, checked my reservation (yeah, I actually made one), and led me to a small table near the back. Good spot, could see most of the room.
Sat down, took it all in. The decor was clean, minimalist. Lots of wood, soft lighting. It felt comfortable, not intimidating. They dropped off the menu and a water glass pretty fast.
The Food Situation
Alright, the menu. It’s all plants, like they said. No meat in sight. Lots of interesting sounding things, though. Names I didn’t totally recognize, ingredients paired in ways I wouldn’t think of. Took me a minute to figure out what I wanted.
- Decided to start with some kinda dip thing, came with spiced crackers.
- For the main, went with this cauliflower dish. It was described as tempura, spicy. Sounded decent.
- Also got a side of something green, forget what exactly.
The waiter came back, took the order. He was helpful enough, answered a couple of questions I had without making me feel dumb. Didn’t rush me either.
Food came out reasonably quick. Presentation was definitely nice. Looked like they put effort into it. The dip was tasty, good flavor, crackers were crisp. The cauliflower tempura arrived hot. It was crispy, not greasy, and had a nice little kick to it. Honestly, better than I expected. Didn’t miss meat for that dish. The green side dish was fine, nothing amazing, but fresh.
Wrapping Up
Service was okay throughout. They refilled water, checked in once or twice, but mostly left me alone, which I prefer. Didn’t feel hovered over.
Finished up the meal. Didn’t go for dessert, was feeling pretty satisfied. Got the check, paid up. Pricey? Yeah, a bit more than I usually spend for dinner, especially for vegetables, let’s be honest. But it wasn’t outrageous for a sit-down place in this part of NYC.
Walked out back onto the street. Overall? It was an interesting experience. Glad I tried it. The food was genuinely good, creative even. It’s a solid option if you’re looking for vegetarian food that feels a bit special. Different from the usual burger joint, that’s for sure. Probably wouldn’t be a regular thing for me, but yeah, I see why people talk about it.
