Step in from the Lake Oswego drizzle and through the doors of Nicoletta’s Table & Marketplace and it feels like you’ve ducked off a busy piazza into a neighborhood trattoria somewhere in Italy—only this one happens to be tucked into a shopping area in Lake Oswego. By day, Nicoletta’s is part Italian café, part gourmet market, part gathering spot. By night—especially during the holidays—it’s warm lights, clinking glasses, and the kind of convivial buzz that makes you want to linger over one more course.

A seat for every mood
One of the charms of Nicoletta’s is that it has a space for every mood. There’s the lively marketplace side, with its wood-burning oven, bar seating, and a front-row view of pizzas sliding in and out of the flame. There are elegant private spaces—perfect for holiday dinners, book clubs, or team celebrations. Our favorite, though, is a cozy corner private room you pass where chairs are draped in soft sheepskins. It's a little Alpine moment that has all the Northern  Italy apres ski vibes. In milder weather, the back patio opens up, and well-behaved pups are welcome to join. Inside, you can belly up to the bar, tuck into a quiet corner, or sit at the chef's counter and watch the awesome kitchen team at work. However you like to “do” dinner, Nicoletta's has a spot that fits.

On many evenings, a musician settles in at the grand piano or plays guitar, adding a live-music soundtrack that’s become part of the Nicoletta’s lore and a draw for date nights.  

Pasta that tastes like a plane ticket
Nicoletta’s describes itself as a trattoria with an Italian soul and local roots, and the menu backs that up. Hand-pulled pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and generous antipasti are the stars here. On any given visit you might spot:

• A bread board loaded with house-made focaccia, crackers, roasted garlic confit, and whipped herb butter.
• Golden arancini—crisp risotto balls filled with mozzarella and served with red sauce.
• Classic salumi and formaggio boards with artisan meats, cheeses, and all the trimmings, ideal for sharing with a holiday cocktail.

The pastas are where the kitchen really shines. Fresh ravioli and long, silky strands of house-made pasta arrive with thoughtfully balanced sauces not heavy blankets of red "gravy" (shout out fellow east-coast transplants!). There’s also a standout gluten-free option that’s so good even non–GF diners order it by choice.

And yes, there’s pizza. Baked in that glowing wood-burning oven, Nicoletta’s pies are quietly in the running for some of the best in town—more on that in an upcoming Lake O Magazine pizza round-up (sign up here to get your free copy!)

Dessert might mean sorbetto or gelato from the market case, an olive oil cake, or a rich chocolate something that pairs nicely with a digestivo from the bar.

Take home holiday magic 
If your December calendar is heavy on school concerts and office parties but light on time to cook, Nicoletta’s Gourmet2Go section is a holiday lifesaver. The marketplace stocks fresh pastas, sauces, hand-made lasagnas, charcuterie, and other ready-to-bake dishes, along with focaccia, sweets, and Italian pantry treasures like olive oils, vinegars, and specialty salts.

It’s also a go-to source for hostess gifts—think a bag of fresh pasta and pesto, a bottle of good olive oil, a gorgeously wrapped panettone (Italy's version of fruitcake) or a little assortment of Italian sweets for your “hostess with the most-est”  list this year.

Carolers, cocktails, and a visit from the Grinch
For the holidays, Nicoletta’s leans all the way into festive. Expect twinkling décor, seasonal spritzes and cocktails on the drinks list, and a lineup of events that has included everything from roaming carolers to visits from Santa and the Grinch himself. This year’s schedule may vary, so check their website for dates and details.

Whether you’re popping in for a “conscientiously sized” lunch from their very reasonable midday menu, settling in for a long dinner with live piano, or swinging by to pick up fresh pasta and focaccia for a cozy night at home, Nicoletta’s has a way of making room for one more—one more person, one more story, one more course.
And really, that’s what the holidays are about in Lake Oswego: a place at the table, good food, and the feeling that, for an evening at least, we’re all family.

Order smart and you’re rewarded. The fish and chips are textbook-crisp and deeply satisfying; steak frites land exactly where you want them. And a basil- bright tomato–mozzarella plate reads like peak summer while a delicate grilled squash salad makes the transition to autumn while still staying bright.  Brunch here is the new "must do" - head straight  for the rich and delicious Dungeness crab benedict.  

Public Access Now Available:  Oswego Lake is now recognized as a public waterway. That means anyone can now legally access the lake, not just Lake Oswego residents.

New Public Launch Point: The City of Lake Oswego has designated Lower Millennium Plaza Park as the access point for the public. You can launch non-motorized watercraft only (think kayaks, canoes, and SUPs—no motors) up to 18 feet in length. There’s no ramp access, so you’ll need to carry your gear down a set of stepped platforms. (And if you parked in free parking on 1st street, you'll also need to lug it up and down several full flights of steps and across a train track!)

State Rules Now Apply: Once you're on the lake, it’s just like any other Oregon waterway. That means following Oregon Marine Board rules—bring life jackets, a whistle, and get a waterway access permit if your craft is over 10 feet long. (Find more here)

Oven & Shaker The Lake Oswego outpost of this mouth-watering pizza joint, has a legit AF drinks list with the likes of the Fallen Yellowjacket and scratch-made ginger ale. Pair it with their mind-blowing gluten-free pizza for double the  guilt-free goodness.

Lakeview Theater Not only does this lake-side  independent movie house serve up some of the tastiest eats in LO (we are BEGGING them to start serving brunch), their cocktails also slay. But for those times when you're not wanting a high-proof hit, just ask for their signature shrub -- hold the booze. This seltzer or tonic-driven drink features a rotating assortment of bitters and lime. Although not 100% AF (bitters have some alcohol content), it's a great, low-proof  sip.

When we purchased what we lovingly called the Grand Dame* - a tri-level Palisades house with 3 fireplaces  a swoon-worthy library and a metric ton (or more) of honeyed-oak trim - a few years ago, we knew the back yard was going to be a bit of a challenge.  Like many homes in LO, the house is built into the side of a very steep lot - great if you're a goat. Less great if you actually want a level place to park a trampoline. 

*Sometimes renamed the Grand DAMN, depending on the latest plumbing, electrical, HVAC, decking "surprise."

But what we didn't realize is the front yard would become a mud-pit that was not just an eye-sore, it was also helping recreate the film " A River Runs Through It" in the house's foundation. Yikes.

Here's a photo from the original house listing... lots of overgrown bushes and our very own mud pit. 

Your's truly is in DEEP denial that her little monkeys are old enough to be headed into 5th grade!  If you are managing the tween 10-going-on-20 mood shifts like I am -- or even if you aren't quite ready to let go of summer fun yourself, then these back-to-school hacks may put a little spring in their - and your! -  back-to-school step. 

Check out the article here: 5 Back to School Hacks  

​