The downtown restaurant that's been serving light breakfasts, classic brunch bites, and creative lunches for eight years now is diving into something semi-new. It's something they've debuted before and loved offering: dinner.

Back in late 2019, just before the COVID pandemic stifled the local restaurant industry, the popular brunch spot Nook revealed its new dinner menu to hungry later-in-the-day eaters. Now, it's an honor to announce that, beginning on Friday, March 3, it's making a comeback and dinner will indeed be served once again on Friday and Saturday evenings.

"I think that the world is on the up and we're at a place where it's feeling like downtown is bustling more — we are ready to bring it back," said Nikki Thompson of Nook. "This is our first time back since the pandemic and we had a great time. People were loving it."

Nikki and her husband Matt Thompson, who met at the Scottsdale Culinary Institute and moved to Oahu, Hawaii for a while after graduation, are pumped about bringing dinner service back to the restaurant. They aren't alone in the "excitement department" either.

"We're all very excited. The staff is all very exciting. The cooks are excited to try new things," said Nikki. "Even though we do have a revolving menu for brunch, the staff is really excited to be creative with food again and bring in new products. We're all really excited."

What's on the menu?

With dinner back in action, the Thompsons have put their own culinary spin on certain traditional dishes.

For instance, the Soy Braised Short Rib, which is resting on top of a grit croquet with coconut cream and a carrot salad. It's a flavor combination of sweet and spicy — a spice that doesn't require downing a glass of water afterward.

"We've been getting so much kind of feedback from the plant-based community, saying that we needed to have more, so we've really tried to focus on being a place for everybody," Nikki added. "We've added Cauliflower Fritters — one of the dishes I am most excited to put on the menu."

"They're really delicious and come with lemon-dressed greens, avocado, radish, and then raita underneath, which is a kind of yogurt sauce. The cauliflower fritters themselves have carmelized onion and are then breaded and fried. It's my favorite dish on the new menu."

Nook's Dinner Menu

Small Plates

• Corn Bread ($8) - with whipped hot honey butter
• The Hummus Plate ($13) - hummus, harissa braised artichoke hearts, pita, veggies
• Burrata ($10) - golden beets, toasted almonds, balsamic drizzle, micro greens, grilled pumpernickel

Specialties

• Cauliflower Fritters ($17) - lemon dressed greens, avocado, blistered bell pepper, radish, golden raita
• Chicken Marbella ($20) - white wine braised chicken thighs, plums and olives, wilted spinach, couscous,
• Pork Belly Banh Mi Street Tacos ($18) - corn tortilla, pickled red onion, jalapeno and scallion, cucumber, carrot, nuoc mum, cotija
• Grilled Hanger with Green Corn Tamale ($23) - salsa verde, ranchero, tomato confit, cotija
• Gnocchi ($18) - poblano cream, house sausage, poblano, fried shallots
• Sambal Braised Short Rib ($23) - grit croquette, carrot salad, coconut cream

Handhelds

• The Showdown Burger ($16) - Tennesse red barbecue sauce, mayo, pickle, bacon, onion rings, cheddar
• French Onion Burger ($14) - roasted garlic dijonnaise, caramelized stewed onion, herbed cheese blend, arugula
• All-American Burger ($14) - American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, nook’s special sauce (add an egg for $2)
• The Tucson ($14) - house-ground chili chicken burger, green chilis and onions, tomato, lettuce, burnt cheese, chipotle mayo

Greenery

• Kale Miso Salad ($10) - kale, roasted broccoli, almonds, candied ginger, sesame seeds, miso dressing
• Caesar Salad ($10) - greens, kale, radish, fresh cornbread croutons, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, caesar vinaigrette
• Asian Chopped Salad ($10) - greens, cabbage, bell pepper, cucumber, broccoli, crispy rice, carrots, sesame dressing

Hours of Operation

As mentioned earlier, the dinner menu is back beginning on Friday, March 3, and will be served from 5 - 9 p.m. Also, unlike Nook's breakfast and lunch where seating is first come, first serve, you need to make reservations for dinner by calling (520) 622-6665.

"We will take our last reservation at 9 p.m. there's a chance our will be expanding if get a little bit more traction," said Nikki. "Everything will sort of be based around the way that Tucson accepts us, and if they want more, we'll be open more days."

With all of that being said, Nook is open 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday - Sunday, and for dinner from 5 - 9 p.m. on Friday - Saturday.

Nook is located at 1 E. Congress St. For more information, call (520) 622-6665 and visit nookdowntown.com.