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| - I heard so much about this place, but postponed my drive to Verona until my last supper in Pittsburgh. Verona is not far from the urban East End, but it is unusual for me to travel that far for a meal. I think Verona is perhaps the sweetest little town, with a bangin' antique mall, and this might make a great day coupled with some Nicky's food, but I don't think you can review entire towns on yelp.
Anyway, Nicky's Thai Kitchen. Suitable for a hungry vegan, vegetarian or omnivore, the menu is full of tantalizing options. We started with the fresh spring rolls, which were tasty and beautifully presented. Unfortunately, there was nothing too special about them. They were acceptably good, but not exceptionally great.
Generally, I order a pineapple curry at any new thai place - this is a "gold standard" by which I can draw even analysis of all thai places. However, I had heard SO MUCH about Nicky's pumpkin curry, well, my apologies to the neglected pineapple curry. My dining companion & I shared this pumpkin curry and a panang curry. They were both delicious, but the pumpkin was better. The pumpkin stood in for a "meat" with its texture and density. The subtle sweetness of the gourd balanced the delicious spiciness of the curry. The vegetables accompanying it were crisp and tasted ultra-fresh.
The interior is well-lit, but small. The staff is attentive & quick. The decor is interesting, but low-key. The bathrooms were clean and private. The sidewalk presence of Nicky's Thai Kitchen - with bright tiny strings of lights, precious tables, and a potted jungle - is more adorable than Sarah Palin when she's been trapped in her own backpedaling and tries to "cute" her way out of it.
I'm pretty sure I ate at every delicious Thai restaurant in Pittsburgh, and I'm willing to go on record and say that Nicky's is worth leaving city limits for. It will charm your pants off without any heavy-handed cheezy crapola and leave your stomach and mouth begging for more. I seriously think about that pumpkin curry at least once a day, and it's been almost a month since I ate there.
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