Six by Nico, Cardiff – American Murder Mystery Dining Experience

A tasting menu and a murder mystery? That's my kind of evening!

I visited Six by Nico in Cardiff to celebrate a friend's birthday, and with a delicious six-course tasting menu to enjoy whilst trying to solve an interactive cold case, it turned out to be a brilliant experience. As a thriller reader, board gamer and general crime junkie, I was particularly excited about this experience theme— and it certainly didn't disappoint!

Six by Nico

Six by Nico is a restaurant concept built around themed six-course tasting menus. Each menu takes inspiration from a different place, story, feeling or experience, with the theme changing every six weeks. Other themes have included Alice in Wonderland, Childhood, New York and Guilty Pleasures.

For our visit, we were stepping into an American murder mystery, with the restaurant transforming diners into cold case investigators.

On arrival, we were presented with our very own cold case dossier, setting the scene for the evening. Inside was the timeline of the crime, with new details and evidence revealed as each course arrived. It was a really clever way of bringing the theme to life, giving you something to investigate between courses and plenty to discuss around the table.

The experience was particularly well thought out, with additional pieces of evidence delivered alongside the food. It wasn't just a themed menu with a few decorative touches; the whole evening felt like you were taking part in the story.

The Food

Of course, the food still needs to deliver, and thankfully it was much more than just a good-looking concept.

Before we even got started on the tasting menu, we couldn't resist ordering a couple of additional snacks to enjoy while reading through our case files.

The Loaded Tater Tots came topped with buffalo sauce, blue cheese royale and pickled celery. A delicious combination of spicy, creamy and tangy flavours, with the crispy potato bites making a great sharing snack.

We also ordered the Burnt End Hash Browns, served with BBQ sauce, smoked bacon belly and jalapeño ranch. Rich, smoky and indulgent, these were a brilliant start to the American-inspired menu.

For drinks, I opted for one of the themed cocktails, a rum and cherry cola. The presentation was a particularly fun touch, with the cherry syrup added by syringe at the table. A little theatrical, completely on theme and a great addition to the experience.

Then it was time for the six courses!

Course 1 – Crispy Fried Chicken & Waffle. A brilliant opening to the menu, bringing together the classic American combination of chicken and waffles, that perfectly paired with the starting location of our crime, an American diner. Plus our first physical piece of evidence, but not all was as it seemed!

Course 2 – Ox Cheek Croquette served on a pumpkin velouté. A rich and comforting course, with the ox cheek croquette bringing plenty of flavour and texture. Paired with the smooth pumpkin velouté, creamy ricotta and depth from the black garlic, this was a lovely combination of autumnal flavours and indulgence.

Course 3 – Cuban Sandwich. A playful take on the classic Cuban sandwich, bringing together smoky, savoury meats with punchy accompaniments. The mojo rojo added a lovely hit of flavour, while the battered cornichon and mustard caviar brought acidity and sharpness to balance the richness.

Course 4 – New England Clam Chowder. A seafood-inspired course with plenty going on. The roasted ling and crab bisque brought the flavours of a traditional New England chowder, while the barbecue corn added a smoky sweetness. The potato terrine and rouille rounded everything off. A dish that could have been heavy but remained light and vibrant.

We couldn't resist one more additional snack before moving on, whilst we pondered the case. A truffle mac & cheese croquette was a bite of comfort food with a sophisticated twist.

Course 5 – Chicken & Wild Mushroom Casserole. A more earthy and savoury course, with the wild mushrooms bringing plenty of depth. The red wine and shallot jam added a lovely richness, while the duxelle complemented the mushroom flavours. A comforting dish that felt fitting as we approached the final stages of our investigation.

Course 6 – Maple Apple Cobbler. A lovely way to finish the menu, bringing together familiar American dessert flavours with a few interesting additions. The baked apple and maple provided that comforting sweetness you'd expect from a cobbler, while the oat and rye whiskey ice cream added something a little different. The candied pecans provided a welcome crunch to finish.

Summary

Six by Nico is a brilliant option if you're looking for something a little different from the usual restaurant experience. The rotating six-week themes give you a reason to return, while the combination of creative tasting menus and immersive storytelling makes the evening feel like an occasion in itself.

The American murder mystery was particularly well executed, and I loved how the interactive elements were woven throughout the meal rather than simply being an added gimmick. Having a cold case dossier to work through, new evidence arriving with each course and the opportunity to discuss theories between dishes made it a genuinely entertaining evening.

It's a great choice for birthdays, date nights or a group of friends looking for something more interactive. And, of course, there was one final question before we left... Did we identify the real murderer, solve the cold case and serve justice?

I'd certainly be tempted to return to see what Six by Nico comes up with next!

The Details

Visited on: October 2026

Location: Cardiff
Website: Six by Nico
Travel: Cardiff Central Train Station or Parking in Cardiff City Centre
Price Range: ££ (prices vary per location)
Booking Recommended? Yes