Nick's Del Mar is in the One Paseo shopping mall in Carmel Valley (not Del Mar). Basic decor with an indoor-outdoor bar with a lot of outdoor seating. Picked two good seats at the bar for my friend and I. Very interesting and good cocktails. Small wine list with a decent number of wines by the glass. A number if beers on tap though I didn't try any. Food was very good. Tuna tartare and Spicy Thai salad, Both were excellent. My friend was very happy with his steak and baked potato. In the past I've had the asparagus fries which are very good. Even the kids loved them. Service was quite good with multiple bartenders taking care of us through the evening. Solid restaurant. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants. I have never been disappointed. The service is excellent, and the soups are my absolute favorite. This establishment is clean, friendly, and professional. I also love watching the food being prepared. One of my favorite spots for date night. read more

We love Nick's! This was our first time visiting this location and they were out of so many things the night we came. A white wine we wanted and at least 2 appetizers we asked about. No big deal we found something else on the menu and everything was delicious! Service was great and attentive. You have to get the chicken piccata and the prime rib dip! They are amazing!! read more

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Amazing food and amazing service. Really chic place for a date night. The tuna tartare is wonderful, and I would strongly recommend it as a starter. Also, loved the steak and potatoes as well as their mocktails. The spicy thai salad, however, left something to be desired. It was good but it kinda looked like a mess just plopped on a plate. To be quite honest, between the ambiance, the quality of the food, and the service, this place is reasonably priced! read more

Nick's - Del Mar, San Diego Nick's in Del Mar delivers a polished, dependable lunch experience that fits perfectly with its surroundings. We visited on a warm, sunny day and sat on the patio, which offered a distinctly Del Mar vibe--medium-upscale, professional, and clearly popular with the surrounding corporate crowd. To start, we ordered a couple of dishes to share. The asparagus fries were fun to try and nicely executed, but not something I'd feel the need to reorder. The spinach artichoke dip, on the other hand, was a table favorite--rich, flavorful, and perfect for sharing. For mains, the classic cheeseburger was excellent and easily one of the highlights of the meal--juicy, well-balanced, and cooked just right. The accompanying fries were fine but nothing memorable. The fried chicken with mashed potatoes was another standout, with a huge portion size and well-seasoned, satisfying chicken that felt like true comfort food done right. For dessert, we split the butter cake, recommended by our server, and it was incredible. Pricing is on the higher side, but the quality, portion sizes, and setting justify it--especially for a business lunch or special occasion. I'd definitely return, particularly when looking for a reliable, upscale spot in Del Mar. read more

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Absolutely fantastic restaurant. Not only is it a clean and beautiful restaurant with classy ambiance, but the service is also top-notch. Our hostess and waitress were both warm, friendly and very helpful. Add to that how excellent the food is (at a fair price) and it's just one of my favorite places in the area. I highly recommend the Bistro Plate, because wow! That filet mignon is delicious. Also some really killer iced tea. Well done, guys! read more

This place? Straight-up seductive. I came for a sandwich, and I left emotionally attached. The ribeye steak sandwich wasn't just good -- it was filthy in the best way. Juicy, tender, seasoned like it knew what it was doing. I felt like I needed a cigarette afterward and I don't even smoke. The kids? Silenced. Fed. Happy. I don't know what kind of sorcery they put in the burger but my kids sat still for a full five minutes -- so I'll be back weekly. The cake? Oh, the cake. Moist, sweet, and just disrespectful in how good it was. I made noises I usually reserve for special occasions. And then there's Caroline -- our waitress. She was amazing. Fast, funny, and handled my chaotic family like a pro. If service were a language, she's fluent. 10/10, no notes. I'd Uber Eats the ribeye just to whisper sweet nothings to it in my car. read more

Nick's Del Mar - Butter Cake - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

It was a trifecta experience as this was the last of the 3 restaurants that I went to while in town for work of which the day before I ate at the sister restaurant South of Nick's.. Arriving around 4:30 pm , I snagged a seat at the bar and initially wanted the meatloaf entree but asked if they could sub the carrots and asparagus with another vegetable or just have all carrots. I was told no substitutions which I thought that was quite strange for a simple request that I'm certain other patrons have asked many a time. I ended up ordering the Chilean sea bass as the veggies were sautéed garlic spinach with slivered almonds. Fish was prepared perfectly moist and along with the veggies and mashed potato. Overall 4 stars and it would have been 5 if it was not for the no substitution rule. read more

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Very good steaks here, great atmosphere. Im leaving a review specifically because the service is outstanding. Everyone on staff here is on point. I had 4 different people asking myself and friend if we needed anything. But they didn't get annoying; they just patiently watch and know when to ask, refill water, quietly slip in the check, know exactly when youre ready to pay, etc. These people have Jedi senses for service. read more

Nick's Del Mar - Sirloin. Very very good, perfectly cooked and great crust (wish it was a little bigger though). - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

Any time I need a good meal, I head over to Nick's Del Mar. Now I will tell you that I've been to many different Nick's. There's one in Pasadena for example that is absolutely amazing. This Nick's in One Paseo is better than the one in Carlsbad for more upscale dining. They both have meatloaf. But it's just different. At this location they even polish their glasses. Very cool. So Chef Patsy and I thought we would take a little trip over for an early dinner. She order's the Bistro Plate. This is a petit filet mignon, topped with steak butter. She orders it medium rare and it comes out, just as she likes it. Garlic toast and a petit bistro salad. It also comes with soup, but she says: "Just give me more salad instead." And they do just that. She's a happy eater. I get the hamburger. I rarely eat a hamburger, but this is my 'cheat' day so I'm going for the gold .... with fries. So good. Patsy says: "I love their warm butter cake." She gets that and I go for the hot fudge sundae. You can't beat the food here, especially on an over indulgent eating day! So glad this is in the neighborhood. And during the week, you can always go first to South of Nick's next door for their happy hour that starts at 3pm. This is a restaurant you can come to over and over again. I know I will, Chef Marian read more

We have been to Nicks dozens of times and we order the Prime Rib Dip 50+% of the time which comes Med rare on a brioche bun. yesterday that is what I ordered. They used left over shaved prime rib that was well done, rather than a nice piece of center cut beef, along with a half filled order of fries, Didn't know Nicks was cutting back on their food prep? They were also out of a red wine i usually order , waiter suggested a chianti and came back that they were out of that also. Service was good , but food less than average. read more

Finally got to try Nick's Del Mar. My friend had just retired as chief marketing officer of a very large restaurant chain. So I wanted to take her somewhere fun with good service and good food. This checked all the blocks and we were blown away with the amazing service. I absolutely loved the bistro salad and the fact that they accommodated a request to double up the salad and skip the soup on their bistro special. Everybody enjoyed their meals, and they even provided a complementary dessert for my friend's retirement. Love the overhead heat lamps and also wine is reasonably priced. I can see why it's crowded even on weeknights for a 5 PM dining reservation. If I lived in the neighborhood, this would be my regular place to go. read more

Yes been going there for over 20 yrs! Great ambiance, ocean views, lovely staff. Impeccable menu. Try the specials! read more

Great food always. Ive tried almost everything on menu and it's all good. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable

Disappointed in the burger and fries, heavy on grease, which is unusual. They didn't seem too busy, so maybe it was just a temp cook but I won't be back. read more

We had a really nice intimate dinner here. The food was delicious, the ambiance was elegant, and the service was excellent! We ordered the cioppino, halibut, Thai chicken salad, loaded potato skins with caviar, and spinach dip. Everything was delish! read more

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We had came here to celebrate a bday on a weekday. Surprisingly the restaurant was packed. The staff was quite courteous and helpful in choosing items in the menu. The food itself is more on the simple side but they make everything with quality ingredients. I really enjoyed the chicken Picatta and the fig old fashion. The ambiance feels a bit more high end so it's perfect for a date spot. read more

Nick's Del Mar - Tuna Tartare - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

Nick's is one of my favorite spots in Carmel Valley. I really like the ambience and the service is always amazing. I really enjoy the fried chicken, it is amazing! I also really like the butter cake and deviled eggs. read more

Food and service great! I wish they allowed pets outdoors, I would choose this restaurant more often.

I'd been suspicious of this place (very pricey, loud One Paseo) and liked it more than I expected to. The portions are huge, the food is tasty. With $42-ish entrees, though, it's not really fine dining - it's like a very noisy bistro. I decided the right way to describe it is: upscale LA/Orange County chain restaurant with steak, seafood and cocktails. It's people-pleasing in an upscale comfort food way but still very tasty. And it's noisier and with a more casual vibe than Seasons 52 though it's pricier. PATIO: This was not my favorite patio. It's not a true patio; part of one wall is open to the walkway in One Paseo, but the other parts are covered with plastic window treatments. So if you're trying to be COVID-safe this is more like indoor dining with some air. It's also super noisy, but we still had a nice time. SERVICE: Extremely nice and professional, from the hostesses to the bussers. Natalya took our water orders and was really nice. Our server seemed sweet but had the quietest voice - which was hard on this very noisy patio. If I had heard her name, I could encourage the manager to tell her to not whisper! COCKTAIL: Got the BLACK AND BLUE MOJITO. Tasty drink, fruit muddled well, super weak, I think. (I enjoyed it very much but felt no buzz!). They topped me off with some complimentary club soda since I had lots of the muddled fruit left once the lime juice/"rum" in the drink was gone. APPETIZERS: We were both very happy with our apps. SO got the soup of the day, which was a puréed French onion soup (so a different texture, with no onion pieces, but apparently very delicious. He was very happy. I got the PETITE BISTRO SALAD, with champagne vinaigrette (usually it comes with a mustard bacon dressing). HUGE and delicious. Since I'd been wary of this place, that told me why people like it here. Only $9 too. You could meet a friend here for lunch with that & maybe add on some fish or chicken and be very happy. ENTREES: SO got chicken piccata ($27). I got the sea bass ($42). (SO had been given a gift card - why not use it up?). Both portions were *huge* and came with mashed potatoes. I really liked the sauteed spinach and the seabass itself (which had a nice carmelized crust). And they were both *hot* which I appreciate (lukewarm food is annoying). The mashed potatoes, though, were hella salty. #StillIAteThem, but now I feel bloated. My SO said "those mashed potatoes were so salty" was one of my most repeated sentences after the meal LOL. SO loved his chicken piccata. DESSERT: I was already full (did I mention there were a lot of mashed potatoes and they were salty?). But SO decided to get the famous butter cake. The butter cake is HUGE and warm - but also SO sweet. Way too sweet even for my SO who likes less-subtle desserts than I do... #StillIAteTooMuchOfIt (are you noticing a theme?). Like the mashed potatoes, it was nice warm comfort food and with a good texture, even if we both kept saying "this is way too sweet." I noticed that other people got sourdough bread, which looked very beautiful. It wasn't listed on the menu to order & no one brought us any. It's just as well (did I mention the mashed potatoes were SALTY & I'm bloated). But just a note that maybe someone forgot ours. Overall, my SO was crazier about this place than I was. Not a big fan of the patio, and the giant portions made it too easy to eat past being full. But I liked my cocktail; loved my salad; and the seabass itself was excellent. Staff is nice too. I wish the patio was more open-air! I am not positive if I'll come back but SO will definitely do business or friend lunches here - and I'm glad to see if it was better than I was expecting! read more

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Cozy ambiance with a modern vibe. Dined here for a work dinner and ordered a Nick's Mai Tai which was topped with a lilikoi (passionfruit) foam. I visited Hawaii earlier this year and stopped at Monkeypod which is famous for inventing the lilikoi foam and this was my first time seeing in the mainland since visiting Hawaii. Nick's mai tai was tasty and the foam was pretty good too. I kept it on theme and ordered a macadamia nut crusted halibut which was pretty good as well. The macadamia nuts were super finely crushed so I didn't get any large crunchy nut pieces as I usually have with others. It was very cold outside but they enclose their patio and have the heaters on so outside seating was comfortable. read more

Had an amazing dinner at Nicks Del Mar. Started off with a Jalapeño watermelon margarita that was super fresh and tasty. Had the spinach artichoke dip as an appetizer. I've never had it sever before with sour cream and salsa- but mixed the three and it was pretty tasty! We happened to sit near the kitchen and had the opportunity of checking out what many of the dishes looked like before we ordered. Right off the bat I saw the chicken piccata and was sold! I contemplated the fried chicken and the bistro plate but decided to stick with my initial thought and order the chicken piccata. I'm glad I did. Not only was the dish flavorful and delicious it was a lot of food! The chicken was super tender and the mashed potatoes perfectly whipped! My husband got the seafood cioppino and we shared! Oh my goodness! That was an awesome bowl of seafood. It had quite a few mussels, a couple clams, white fish, shrimp, and salmon. The sauce was really good! Relaxed and enjoyed a Spicy Passion Fruit Martini while digesting my plentiful dinner! The service was great, the restaurant clean and good at atmosphere! I'll definitely be back and most likely try the fried chicken or bistro plate! We came around 4:30 read more

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server: may i recommend the spicy thai salad? me: sounds lovely. let's make it pop with some ribeye ...say less read more

Nick's Del Mar - Spicy Thai Salad - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

Came here to celebrate a family member's birthday. I had the mahi mahi sandwich and was blown away by the portion size! It tasted fresh and flavorful. Th fish was cooked perfectly. We had the asparagus fries which were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. For dessert we tried the butter cake, it was decadent, but not overpowering because the ice cream balanced it out. I'd recommend trying the butter cake if you like the blend of warm and cool textures! The restaurant has a pretty atmosphere, perfect for a nice dinner out or date night! The server was attentive and the food came out quickly. read more

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A very disappointing evening and I and my friends will not return. I shared my food allergies with the server. The spinach featured with both of the fish dishes is an allergy and I asked if there was another veg I could have. She informed me that there are no substitutions per the chef. I asked her to please speak to the chef and mgr as it was not a preference but a true allergy. She returned and said the chef said no, that if they did it for me they would have to do it for everyone. The mgr never came to the table to inquire or explain or anything. I paid $45 for a piece of salmon and a side of mashed potatoes. I guess the chef has the final say in these matters and allergies be damned. So sad and I will definitely let all my friends and family know how I was treated. read more

HELLO NICK. WE MEET AGAIN. (4 stars) Nick is a SoCal kind of dude. Haven't ran into Nick since the encounter in Long Beach in 8yrs. But glad to have cross paths with Nick this far south in SoCal. - FOOD: good - PRICE: fair - SERVICE: excellent - AMBIANCE: small but bright and open. very Delmar. everybody looked retired with Botox and came from either the spa or the golf course :: SIPPIES AND BITES :: BLACK AND BLUE MOJITO ($16) - rumhaven rum, muddled blackberries & blueberries, mint, lime. Beautiful pop of color. It was very berry good and easy to drink. I didn't get any sense of rum and the fruits were nicely and heavily muddled in, I guess it helped requesting "extra berry flavor". HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE PRIME RIB DIP ($24) - "until we're out" seasoned and slow roasted daily, thinly sliced, mayonnaise, red wine au jus, served on a brioche bun. Choice of French fries, market vegetables, petite bistro salad, or warm potato salad - I went for the French fries. Portion was generous and I could only eat half the sandwich. The sandwich is good but not amazing. The brioche bun is a little dry and very crumbly and when dunked into the au jus it easily falls apart and pieces of the bun start swimming in the au jus. The prime rib were nicely sliced thin, perfect for that kind of dunk-and-eat sandwich but felt the flavor was bland as if there was something missing. But the overall bite of bun, prime rib, and au jus was enjoyable and I felt satisfied. The fries were nice and crispy and I loved the white sauce it came with. RECOMMEND Can't wait to come back and try other sandwiches. Until the next review... read more

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Elegant modern American restaurant in One Paseo. The ambiance is lively and can get busy, but it's suitable for any occasion. I've been here multiple times, and have enjoyed my experience each visit. This time we started with the artichoke and spinach dip appetizer. The chips are the same as what they serve at South of Nick's, their sister restaurant - very crispy with just the right amount of salt. The flavor leans more on the spinach side than artichoke, and the texture has a nice creamy texture. The aged cheddar added a robust richness to the dip which I really enjoyed. It comes with a small amount of sour cream and salsa as well, which were fine but nothing special. I'd say the dip and the bacon deviled eggs are my top 2 favorite appetizers here. For my main entree, I had the San Francisco cioppino. In general, I find places that serve cioppino struggle with overcooking the seafood - this was probably my 3rd time ordering it here, and it has never been the case. The salmon and sea bass have always been tender and flaky, and the shrimp, mussels, and clams are also tender and not rubbery. The tomato broth is rich, but light and very enjoyable. It comes with a loaf of garlic sourdough which is perfect for soaking up the broth as you eat. The portion is pretty generous as well; I've never finished all of the broth even though it's easy to eat. Service has always been great with my visits. The wait staff are attentive, and they offer hot towel service upon request. Overall I was very happy with my experience, and will definitely keep coming back. read more

Nick's Del Mar - Spinach & Artichoke Dip - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

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It's rare for me to like a restaurant made by restaurant group, but this one's different. You can tell they really care about quality and taste, not just the decor or marketing. The service is super friendly too. The $29 bistro plate is a great deal if you want to try it out. read more

Pleasantly surprised. Normally I don't expect much other than overpriced and underportioned food from places like these, but this one was good. We had the blackened fish sandwich, pork chop, and asparagus fries. All were good. Pork chop especially was excellent. read more

Nick's Del Mar - Pork Chop - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

Del Mar: Perfect ambience, excellent service, great kitchen. The free high rise parking next door was great. Prices seem to have been moderated down slightly? Great value. Thoroughly pleasant. Recommend. Hopefully helpful note to management about other locations. Carlsbad: Otherwise, this is a very good restaurant. Not your fault, but the State Street area has been impossible to park in since 2024, with new condo developments eating up parking, including the train area. This includes out of hours and mid-week. We tried every time this location was open and missed 3 out of 4 reservations, driving around trying to find spaces. Stopped going. Needs park+ride or designated spots. San Clemente: Very surly and unhelpful concierge, despite our reservation. Seating unacceptable; cramped, angled serving table. Table area we were shown to was dirty. We left within 5 minutes. I can see this is a challenging small location and is full. Not for us. Not a patch on the other two. read more

While the staff knew what my child could not eat based on her food allergies (good, avoided a hospital trip), the staff was unwilling to make any accommodations at all. My one year old got a small piece of salmon and raw carrot sticks that she couldn't eat because she's a one year old. read more

Food and service was excellent. My husband and I shared a caesar salad and the fried chicken with mashed potatoes, a biscuit, and corn on the cob. Food was phenomenal! Would definitely recommend this restaurant for the food, environment, and variety of options! read more

Nick's Del Mar - Caesar salad - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

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I have been getting food takeout orders probably 2-3 times a month since they opened and it has been good up until the last few months where the quality has gone downhill drastically. I always get the exact same thing, a fish sandwich with fries without salt. This last time I had to wait another hour in after my order was supposed to ready which was already 45 min after I put the order in! The fish was so overcooked and dry that it was inedible. The "onion strings" were actually bits of charcoal! The "unsalted" fries were cold, hard and completely salted. This meal is overpriced to begin with but I was willing to pay good money for good food but THIS WAS A COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY!! Not sure they care that they lost was very loyal customer. Sadly, I would not recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants good food. read more

Nick's Del Mar - "Onion strings" that were burnt like charcoal - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

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We love Nick's and live nearby so we used to come here often. But the prices have increased quite a bit recently so it's now out of our ballpark. We had dinner here today. Barbecued ribs, our favorite! Everything is always so delicious here. The food never disappoints. Wish we could come more often! One slight suggestion. We love sitting outside, but the chairs and tables are too high (bar height) and uncomfortable. Is there any way to have more lower seating/tables available outside? We're seniors and have trouble sitting in those high chairs. read more

This is my go to for lunch meetings, however today I asked for a different table and I as told they couldn't accommodate. Weird, they've done it every other time. Not sure what happened I asked for a different table numerous times and still didn't get a different table. So disappointing, I won't be coming back here. read more

Date night success. We normally do not go out for Valentines but decided to make a reservation a month in advance for Nicks. It was recommended to us from coworkers. Great service as we arrived early and they took us in. Delicious drinks and food. I had the Pan Seared Scottish Salmon with capers. So yummy cooked amazingly with the garlic spinach side. My fiancés new favorite dish was the Prim Rib and Dip. 100% will be back for future date nights. We couldn't leave without desert. Whiskey cake for the win. read more

Nick's Del Mar - Black and Blue Mojito - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

We celebrate my daughter's Birthday at Nick's Del Mar. The food was amazing, the service is impeccable. Thank you for a great experience. read more

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Probably the best spot in the area. The swordfish sandwich is a standout, but everything I've tried on the menu delivers on both flavor and presentation. Service is always on point, the facilities are well-kept, and parking at One Paseo is never an issue. Prices are fair given the quality and location. read more

Went to south of nicks had a horrible experience. Left there immediately Went over to nicks of Delmar. Trevor turned that horrible experience around immediately. Ambience was perfect Service was perfect. Drinks was perfect & food was perfect. I 12/10 recommend Trevor for a bartender! You will not be disappointed! Try some of his amazing cocktails! His espresso martini is to die for ! read more

We had an excellent salad and steak sandwich for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. It was hot so sitting inside was great with AC. Service was great too. read more