One of the owners Nicolette Unruh with Service Manager, Skyler Wikoff.
Nicolette Unruh was part owner of Martinelli’s Little Italy in Salina, Kansas, for over six years, when she and fellow owner, Tony Dong, decided to bring Italian cuisine to Manhattan. “We ventured into opening a brick and mortar store here in the Little Apple in October of 2020. We had developed many great catering relationships over the years here and decided there was a need for a local Italian restaurant in the Flint Hills!”
They saw an opportunity in the Manhattan market for Italian dining in Manhattan, and with the successful history behind Martinelli’s in Salina, as well as their established recipes, they believed there would be a good response for this culinary option in the Manhattan area. “We are part of a long-running, successful business in Salina. Tony and his family have developed the menu and recipes over 20 years, and we felt that there was a need for quality, affordable Italian food in Manhattan.”
Focusing on serving their time-tested Italian recipes in their Aggieville location, Nicolette shared that the secret behind their success lies in making fresh food and staying local. “We are locally owned and operated, but also have been doing what we are doing for over 20 years. We are a scratch kitchen, so we make our sauces, cook our pastas daily, and make about 80% of our menu in house!”
While they had several options when considering their second location, they knew Manhattan had special qualities that would make it the perfect candidate for an Italian restaurant. “Manhattan has a small town feel, but also a big city vibe. There’s a little bit of everything here: outdoor recreation from Tuttle Creek Reservoir to Konza Prairie, Kansas State University, Manhattan Christian College, a great downtown and historic Aggieville [districts], plus amazing wedding venues throughout the area. A few that come to mind are Blue Vista, Liquid Art Winery, Prairiewood Preserve and Retreat, KSU Alumni Center, Bluemont Hotel and Convention Space, Marriott, etc.” She adds, “It’s a diverse yet small space where we get to know all of our neighbors!”
Knowing your neighbors is important, especially when you having something unique and mouth-watering to serve them. While Nico’s features an extensive menu, Nicolette offers a few recommendations. “We think our Chop Salad and huge meatballs are the best. Plus, our meatballs are made with locally-raised beef from Hanner Ranch out of Onaga, Kansas.”
Despite starting in the middle of a pandemic, Nicolette is pleased with the success of the business and looks forward to their future growth. “We hope to continue to grow our catering operation, but maintain our quaint dine-in space. We would like to grow our lunch business, whether that is through dining in options, full service catering or just deliveries. It’s been a great almost two years here in Manhattan, and we can’t wait to see what the future brings!”
You can dine at Nico’s Little Italy in Aggieville at 1101 Moro St Suite 111, Monday through Saturday, 11 AM to 10 PM, and Sundays 11 AM to 9 PM. They’re closed Tuesdays.
