If you love that small town, hospitality and just downright friendly people, this is the place for you. Food was fast, fresh, and amazing.

i always make it a point to stop here when i'm in the area the fried chicken is to die for it's takes awhile cause they make it fresh but they tell you that upfront. i was particularly impressed how they let anyone that stopped by to use the restrooms weather or not they eating there read more

Looking for lunch while driving to Mammoth Ski Resort. Stumbled upon this diner that started back in 1965. It was a nice cozy diner and it was exactly what we were expecting. The staff were very friendly and attentive, always coming to check if my fiancé needed more coffee. I ordered the Mike's special and my fiancé got the Nicely's special. We also got the bread pudding Ala mode. It was sooo delicious. The crinkle fries were nice and crispy and the sandwich was nice and flavorful as well. It is definitely great diner food. This place reminded me of a diner we had back at home in Hawaii and it had history just like this diner but due to COVID that diner closed its door. It was one of the last standing diners that we had and they got closed. So I was very happy to experience this diner vibe again. If you're on your way to or from Mammoth, you should definitely stop to try if you haven't. read more

See all

Clean, simple, and delicious Iced tea. I had the house sandwich (turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomato with an extra piece of bread like a club) all fresh and simply yummy. My daughter had the chicken strips and fries. The chicken strips were probably made there - didn't seem frozen. Very fluffy and crispy. Loved them. Crinkle cut fries could use a bit more salt. But that's totally fixable at the table. THE RANCH WAS DELICIOUS!!!! We will absolutely be back on future trips up and down 395. read more

Nicely's - House club and fries - American Near Me - Lee Vining, California

See all

Passing through town, we needed a place to grab a bite before heading into the national park. Located on the Main Street, we saw the place and decided to give it a try. It's a family owned business and from the outside, looked a little nostalgic with the sign and picture. Inside, old music playing, the place was welcoming, numerous pictures on the wall depicting some scenes who we might see in Yosemite. The staff was friendly and patient and we looked across a menu that was new to us and offered many selections. Oh, and the various items off the menu showing pies, muffins and such was making our decision harder. Coffee was good and kept getting topped off by the host and server. And trust me, the place was busy. They just did their best to provide great service. We decided on some pancakes, eggs, bacon and hash browns. I took the biscuit and gravy to the test. I needed the protein for my upcoming hikes haha. Food was good, biscuits were a little on the smaller side but the amount of gravy made my wife's egg and bacon taste great. She was stuffed. Pancakes could be split up if you are a little eater or have kids. In the end, we walked out stuffed, They had some cool shirts and stuff for sale but the one shirt depicting their fried chicken was the best and Funniest one I've seen during some of my travels. I would say this is a great place to take a break on a trip. Definitely service with a smile in this place. read more

Nicely's - Biscuits and gravy - American Near Me - Lee Vining, California

See all

Stopped in to get dinner while on a road trip and got the trout. I thought it would be good since you're near all that fishing. It tasted like it was boiled and within a half an hour of eating it I have been throwing up like crazy obviously it is bad. The staff there didn't speak any English and it seemed dirty. We never eat there again. Sad because we used to stop in that place years ago and it was always amazing. Something has changed drastically. read more

Generous portions. Everything looks and tastes fresh. Meat and eggs came from happy animals. Great service as well.

Great place! Food is down home, excellent! Staff is super friendly and not rushed. My new stop along 395

I was on the lookout for some grub after a marvelous trot in Lundy canyon...and the homemade pie sign caught my eye! This is a super quaint diner with major vintage vibes, down to the 50s tunes and even and old school cash register! My grilled cheese was perfectly fine, but I really enjoyed the crips crinkle fries that came with. And of course I got some pie- ask for which ones are homemade. The raspberry was delicious!!! Very friendly staff and service. Prices are very reasonable too. Please consider grabbing a bite here when you're out enjoying the Mono basin. read more

See all

5-Star Review for Nicely's Restaurant Nicely's Restaurant absolutely exceeded our expectations! The service was excellent from start to finish -- the staff truly went above and beyond. Our waiter and the hostess checked on us multiple times throughout the meal, making sure we had everything we needed and never felt overlooked. We ordered breakfast and everything was delicious. The eggs were cooked perfectly, the pancakes were fluffy and flavorful, and the bacon was crisp and tasty. Even the bread on the side was incredibly fresh -- a small detail that made a big difference. Overall, we had a fantastic experience and will definitely be coming back. Highly recommend Nicely's for anyone looking for great food and outstanding service! read more

See all

Nicely's since 1965! They must be doing something right despite what some of the reviews seem to indicate. Before I get to our breakfast meal, I just want to say the 5-star review goes out to the staff who were all so friendly and welcoming. Matt and Beverly seated and served us. Sharing stories of how they came to Nicely's, how long they've worked there, and are committed to providing great service. Matt came quickly time and time again to refill our coffee. Asking if we needed more water. Then came the big decision as to what to have for breakfast. Hearing that the sausage and hashbrowns are made in-house, my decision was easy: One egg over medium, crisp hashbrowns, sausage and rye toast - thank you! My husband ordered eggs, pancakes, and sausage. Large quantities of food - just as we had ordered - arrived quickly. Delicious! Leftovers never happen but this time they did. Oh, I also had a glass of orange juice. Nicely's decor is bright and comfortable. No, it's not fine dining - it's a diner and that's what we love. This was not our first visit and, if years continue to fly, we'll be back again on our next visit to Lee Vining. read more

So so yummy. Was fortunate to be here when the 1/2 fried chicken was the daily special We shared and it was still too much but we ate it all anyways it was that good !!!! read more

Diner feel, nice variety of dishes. Ordered the cheeseburger with bacon, house salad & the deep dish apple pie. Thousandth island dressing was delish, and their apple pie, not sweet and topped with ice cream. 3.5 % charge for use of cards, cash is king. Parking lot or street parking. read more

See all

Standard Breakfast fare along hwy 395. Stopped in when almost nothing else in town was open. Place was booming 30 years ago I'd imagine. Unfortunately it's not 30 years ago. Server with a thick country accent was great . Although I could hear his same joke about snow coming to just about every table. It was funny the 1st time. Not the 5th. Would come again just for the pancakes. read more

We loved the food and people at Nicely's! We had breakfast and everything was cooked perfectly and was lightly seasoned. The prices were fair. The servings were abundant. The service staff were all so pleasant and offered excellent service. We drove from the Sphere in Las Vegas to Manzanar Historic Site and Bodie. We settled in for the night in Lee Vining. After Nicely's we shopped next door for jewelry and enjoyed the store manager. We were happy as we drove home to Northern California via Mono Lake and Yosemite. We will return to Nicely's for sure. The three of us are world travelers who experience many cultures and cuisines. We travel to many small towns in the U.S. The friendly locals are the foundation of these small towns and we just love the vibe at Nicely's! read more

We normally stop by here for dinner and I would always get their fried chicken but this time we went for breakfast and really enjoyed the food and their pricing. read more

Nicely's - New York Steak and Corned Beef hash - American Near Me - Lee Vining, California

This is the place for a home cooked meal when in town. The staff is super friendly and you get diner food at fair prices. We ate here twice while in town and enjoyed both meals. Prices are a bit high but typical for the area. The specials are fun as well so check the boards. read more

One of the things I love about the Eastern Sierra is the feeling that you've been transported back in time. Nicely's fits squarely into that vibe as an old-fashioned diner that feels like it could be in middle America in the 60s. There aren't a lot of options for dinner in town. If you want really good food, go to Mono Inn. If you want to eat in a gas station, go to the Mobile. If you're looking for a spot where you can spend an hour curled up in a booth, out of the weather, and have a better-than-average dinner for a reasonable price served by friendly staff, this is the place. read more

Servers were friendly and attentive. There was an odd disinfecting or cleaning smell that overpowered the restaurant. read more

When we didn't want to wait while the restaurant we planned to go to had a break between breakfast and lunch, we wound up at Nicely's. What a mistake. I've never had such a bad BLT. It was made with plain white bread, the bacon was overcooked and there was hardly any mayo. My husband's Asian salad was no better. The chicken was flavorless and dry, and the salad kept slipping out of the shell bowl it came in. When my water wasn't refilled quickly enough for me, I took a sip of my husband's. The cup had an overpowering smell of bleach. This retro venue has so much potential. Hopefully someday it will achieve it. read more

Nicely's - Salad and BLT, accompanied by bleachy water. - American Near Me - Lee Vining, California

Nicely's is our go-to whenever we find ourselves traveling 395. It's the perfect o.g. authentic diner. The fried chicken dinner is crispy, juicy, perfect. Don't forget to get a slice of pie, too. Nicely's doesn't disappoint those of us who appreciate authentic, homestyle diner cookin'. read more

Service was excellent when we stopped by here.. it's an old restaurant and food is good. You will not get disappointed.

This place was pretty good, it was kind of greasy, but there's not much to eat and do in this town, so it was good for what it was. It was very old everything was vinyl we had the cinnamon roll as well and it was pretty good. It would be better if it had cream cheese frosting though read more

Nicely's - Benedict - American Near Me - Lee Vining, California

I feel like I scored on this stop on the way back home from camping. I looked around and I saw a few other dusty people that were also at the same campground as me and they were relaxing and getting soup and a nice home-cooked meal. When I walked in, and I asked if I could place an order to go, the swiftly took my order and help me out the door. It might seem like the matter of five minutes thank you nicely for the cup of ice, because I am loaded up with a whole case of Pepsi, I look forward to coming back and trying or spaghetti or roast beef sandwich. read more

See all

If you pass this place up without stopping to eat, you should question life and why you breathing. This place is amazing! I got a Pastrami French Dip with French Fries, extra crispy and oh my, so perfect on the fries and the sandwich is the best I have ever had! My wife got the BLT and extra crispy Fries also. She really enjoyed her dish also. Great customer service and super cute little stop while taking the long way from Central Valley California to Las Vegas. read more

The food was good. It's not a fancy place, casual and good food. The service was fine, there were a couple service but they worked hard to come by and check on us. Good location on 395 in the middle of town. read more

See all

Nicely isn't really nicely. It's the only spot around and was a needed stop while headed to points north. A local greasy spoon on Hwy 395. Coffee was hot, otherwise the food was less than expected and the experience wasn't good. Bread tasted stale, hash browns were very under cooked and the processed cheese on my omelette didn't melt. The biscuit and gravy tasted like uncooked flour. The other meal ordered was also not great. The ice water was cold and didn't taste horrible but the cup tasted and smelled like cleaner or bleach. To top it off it seemed fairly expensive for what it was. The server seemed like she didn't want to be there anymore than we did. It is the only place around that was open and the bathroom was clean. Parking. It's a beautiful drive so it's hard to be too critical, but I do not recommend and will not be back. read more

Nicely's - American Near Me - Lee Vining, California

A classic road side diner. This place has all your diner classics like burgers, melts, fried chicken, and an assortment of desserts. The food was ok at best but the service was awesome and the vibe was chill. I had the 2 fish tacos with a chicken noodle soup. I thought that was neat and different for a diner but they fell pretty short. Stacked with cheddar cheese and a loose coke slaw. I wouldn't get this again. However I had a root beer float and that was classic and awesome. Although the food was boring and not recommended. I'd say stop by for some dessert as they've got everything including deep dish pies which my father in law loved! read more

See all

Trying to find an open restaurant on the day after Thanksgiving can be a bit of a challenge when driving a through rural California. Luckily, we came across Nicely's on our trek down 395 on our way to Death Valley. This is the epitome of a family owned restaurant. Nothing fancy - basic diner food, friendly service, and no frills decor. This time of year with the back entrance to Yosemite closed for the winter, I assume most of the patrons are locals. I ordered a cup of the chili. It was just OK. I liked it, but it tasted more like chili dog topping than a stand alone bowl of chili. It did not have the complexity of flavors that I like in a good chili. I also like chili with beans this was pure meat. The restaurant was clean and people were for the most part practicing social distancing. Staff were masked, not all patrons were. Good stopping spot for a basic meal when traveling through. read more

Nicely's - American Near Me - Lee Vining, California

Great breakfast and amazing service! The prices are reasonable and portions are big. We ate breakfast there today and are going back again tomorrow on our way out of town! read more

3 1/2 stars Food was normal fare, enjoyed a Nicely roast beef sandwich. Especially liked the fact the meat was not low quality fat and gristle laced. I got the chicken soup that came as a choice. Good too! Service was good and attentive even though it was pretty packed at the time, 11:30 on a Sunday. Ambiance was whimsical almost. Appears like a bar is attached, so one can get "nicely" oiled up with adult beverages. Restrooms about average in my view. read more

Nicely's - Menu - American Near Me - Lee Vining, California

See all

We were there weekend Of Nov 8 th. Had breakfast Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Everyday was delicious..especially chicken fried steak and eggs. Staff very friendly and helpful. Wished we lived closer, would be there every weekend! read more

this place has been here forever. i always try and drop in when im i. the area. used to camp and fish nearby and a restaurant meal was a real treat. it was either this place or Kelloggs across the street. i stopped in recently and was promptly greeted and seated at a booth. they have a full bar and i ordered a bourbon old fashioned. was pretty basic but for the area it hit the spot. I ordered the fried chicken with mashed potatoes, vegetables and dinner salad. the vegetables were steamed perfectly. the chicken is a half portion, huge! i would have given five stars except the server got busy after the food arrived and didn't take my order for the apple pie alamode. i was looking forward to that but by the time the check arrived it was getting late and the meal was settling in. maybe i didn't need the pie after all. read more

We drove down from bishop and it was worth the wait. You can't go wrong with the chicken fried steak and eggs. Husband got the steak and eggs and it was just as good! Super friendly staff and really clean bathrooms. If you're this way you've gotta stop in - you won't regret it. read more

Nicely's - American Near Me - Lee Vining, California

My husband and I are staying in Lee Vining while visiting Yosemite. We ate here twice as it's super close to our lodging and the only real sit down place open. It definitely has a total small town diner feel. They were busy tonight, on a wait, and we had excellent service. You can tell the entire staff is hardworking. We ordered Mike's Special and the fish tacos both with onion rings and we recommend both! So good and reasonably priced! read more

Nicely's - Fish tacos with onion rings - American Near Me - Lee Vining, California

We stopped at Nicely's after leaving Yosemite National Park. We were a little concerned because the old school diner was empty at 7 PM. We ended up being glad we stopped. The restaurant was very clean in the seating area and throughout our meal, we watched staff busily cleaning. More patrons also came in after we were seated. The menu is extensive. Two in our party had soup and salad. They both enjoyed the vegetable beef soup and ample side salad. Another group member had the hot beef sandwich with mashed potatoes. They enjoyed the filling meal. I had the meatloaf special. It wasn't the best I've had but it was good. A large serving of mashed potatoes, a cup of the vegetable beef soup, a bun and mixed vegetables came with the meal. The frozen vegetable mix was the only disappointment. The service was good. Had we had room, the pies looked pretty tasty. Overall, a pretty good experience. read more

Nicely's - Nicely's in Lee Vining. - American Near Me - Lee Vining, California

See all

"In a world of doing, doing, doing, it's important to take a moment to just breathe, to just be." Damn, that's freakin' hard to do these days! When was the last time I actually breathed and "just be"?!? Then I thought about the time my man invited me to tag along with him and his daughter to June Lake. I had to work so it wasn't a true vacation for me, but I had some moments when I breathed in the beauty of the lake and mountains. Ahhhhh... that felt soooo good! Before settling in our hotel, we had a pleasant dinner at this old fashioned diner called Nicely's. The Chinese Chicken Salad was delicious with the fried wonton, Chinese noodles, and sesame dressing, but I wasn't a fan of the water chestnuts. It was also in a weird-shaped bowl, and I had a hard time digging into the bowl without everything spilling out. Plus, it rocked back and forth that it was frustrating to eat the damn thing. But I was super hungry and enjoyed the salad, so I just sucked it up and ate with annoyance. I also had the Cheeseburger with Bacon that was satisfying. But the most delightful dish that night was the Hot Fudge Sundae! I haven't had a hot fudge sundae in years... I think it was from McDonalds!!!! The one at Nicely's was definitely wayyyyyy better! What a great pit stop for refueling our bodies! We came during closing time, but they still let us dine. The service was excellent!!! It's been such a long time since we dined inside a restaurant, and what a treat! For a small moment, I was able to just breathe. What a nice way to just be. read more

See all

Had a bacon cheeseburger with fries and cherry pie A la mode-everything delicious and service was excellent. I love a good diner.

I always look forward to Nicely's when I am in Lee Vining. It's got Americana diner decor, and it's not fake, it's authentic. Everything on the menu is good. Pay attention to the specials, they are almost always a great choice. Servings are pretty large and the prices are reasonable. The pies and deserts are awesome. Service is always great and friendly. When you eat here it just feels good. read more

Been coming to the Mono Basin for 30 years. Generally Nicely's was always good for a basic family type meal. This last time I was there I was very disappointed. The lunch and dinner menu is mostly sandwiches served with fries. Dinner food was either cold or over cooked and generally very bland. I would recommend just going for breakfast. Sorry but they really need to find a better chef. read more