Nico Heirloom Kitchen in Gilbert Feels Like Coming Home For Dinner — A Really Nice Dinner

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By Evie Carpenter

Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 4:07 p.m.

Evie Carpenter Chef Gio Osso proudly opens his second restaurant, Nico Heirloom Kitchen, in Gilbert this weekend. 1/28

Evie Carpenter The interior of Nico is filled with natural light. 2/28

Evie Carpenter The porchetta is one of several dishes made in the wood-burning oven at Nico Heirloom Kitchen. 3/28

Evie Carpenter Nico Heirloom Kitchen opens to the public this weekend. 4/28

Evie Carpenter A little inspiration greets guests as they walk past the kitchen. 5/28

Evie Carpenter There are no better people to quote in a restaurant than James Beard and Julia Child. 6/28

Evie Carpenter Osso says he plans to use his wood-burning oven to make Virtu's famous octopus. 7/28

Evie Carpenter The filet mignon tartare sits on a bed of porcini crema. 8/28

Evie Carpenter Osso was happy to show off what Nico has to offer. 9/28

Evie Carpenter Photo of Osso and his family line the hallway of Nico. 10/28

Evie Carpenter Osso chose to carry the small touch of rosemary to the place settings from Virtu to Nico. 11/28

Evie Carpenter Nico has an entire section of crudo dishes in addition to pastas, meats, fish, and more. 12/28

Evie Carpenter Large mirrors hanging from the walls help to make the restaurant feel spacious. 13/28

Evie Carpenter The scallop crudo comes with charred tomato, sherry, and candied bacon. 14/28

Evie Carpenter Osso says he won't be limiting the creativity of Nico's menu just because the restaurant is in a suburb. 15/28

Evie Carpenter Large mirrors hanging from the walls help to make the restaurant feel spacious. 16/28

Evie Carpenter Nico Heirloom Kitchen opens to the public this weekend. 17/28

Evie Carpenter Fennel, orange, and black olive oil accompany the tuna crudo. 18/28

Evie Carpenter There are no better people to quote in a restaurant than James Beard and Julia Child. 19/28

Evie Carpenter The Nico staff prepares for opening weekend. 20/28

Evie Carpenter The porchetta is served with butter beans, salsa verde, rucola, and charred lemon. 21/28

Evie Carpenter As an homage to Virtu, Nico also features houndstooth print in the decor. 22/28

Evie Carpenter Osso said they cured the oven for four days. 23/28

Evie Carpenter Nico's menu showcases Southern Italian cuisine. 24/28

Evie Carpenter The menu at Nico will change seasonally. 25/28

Evie Carpenter The Nico staff prepares for opening weekend. 26/28

Evie Carpenter The menu is definitely not a duplicate of Virtu's. 27/28

Evie Carpenter Osso says Nico Heirloom Kitchen will be getting "more towards [his] roots." 28/28

Nico Heirloom Kitchen in Gilbert Feels Like Coming Home For Dinner — A Really Nice Dinner

When you walk into Nico Heirloom Kitchen in the heart of downtown Gilbert, chef Gio Osso greets you like family. So it's no wonder that the same sense of caring has infused everything from the food to the decor. Family photos hang from the walls, a wood-burning oven warms one corner of the restaurant, and if you're lucky, you'll even find Osso's son, for whom the restaurant is named, weaving between tables.

But this is still the nationally recognized chef who shook up the Scottsdale dining scene not too long ago with Virtu Honest Craft, so you better believe this food isn't going to be your mama's meatloaf.