It was named after the proprietor, Nicky Blair, a bit-part film actor who starred in over 75 movies.
[3][4] The restaurant, with a piano bar, served Italian and continental cuisine, including freshly made pasta, scampi, scallopini, and grilled fish and meat dishes.
[5] A 1991 edition of LA Access described it as a "Noisy, crowded, and glitzy singles bar", which was "good for star-gazing".
[6] The restaurant was a favorite evening haunt of numerous actors and celebrities,[7] such as Frank Sinatra, a close friend of Blair's,[3] and the Rat Pack.
Frank then handed the roll to Blair and gave the now terrified restaurateur some chilling advice: "Nikki, this guy can now break as many glasses as he wants for the rest of his life.