Nicola's: A Mainstay in Arlington Heights

Dining options have never been a problem in Arlington with the plethora of restaurants on Mass Ave alone. However, choosing the right place? That can be a tall order. Each week, Arlington Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out. Here’s this week’s choice:

– Arlington may have a number of pizza houses, but few, if any, have been around as long as Nicola’s, which Nicola, “Nicky,” opened with his wife Mary at its current location nearly 40 years ago, in 1972. The couple, who still run the shop today, have made Nicola’s a take-out and sit-in staple in town with their delicious pizzas, either thin or thick crust, pastas, subs and dinner plates, as well as their friendly service. Specialty pizzas include the Lugano (pastrami, provolone, onion, light garlic and spices), Nicola’s Special (sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, peppers and mozzarella) and the White Roman (fresh garlic and basil, seasoning, extra mozzarella, olive oil and romano cheese), while Mary’s cannolis and tiramisu are also crowd pleasers. 1215 Massachusetts Ave. 781-646-6090. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Prices: $.