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

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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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

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

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

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 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

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

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

Here again! Always a great place to go for quality food that you know will be amazing every time. We love to eat inside at the booth tables. Parking can be full at times, but we always like to go to the top floor, where there's plenty of parking, then take the elevator down a few floors and we're at Nick's. I wish I remembered our waitress's name but we've had her before. She's amazing and very kind with a soft voice. She knows we always want ranch with our fries. read more

Nick's Del Mar - The Prime Rib Dip Sandwich and original ribeye melt and strawberry lemonades. Yum! - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

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

We sat at the bar for this visit. The kitchen has an open concept so we got to watch all the different dishes come out. We had the Tuna Tartar, which was fresh and delicious! An espresso martini and an IPA. Food and drinks came out quick. Lots of people around us ordered the Buttermilk Fried Chicken or the Belmont Club so those may be good choices to try. Can't wait to come back for dinner and try more of the menu. The restaurant itself is pretty small, but they do have a patio, indoor seating, and indoor/outdoor bar seating. read more

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If you ask me what my favorite meal of my life was, I'd say my meal at Nicks. I mean it, this was the best meal of my life. I will start by saying that they do take reservations but I came here on a Wednesday night at 6 and only waited about 10 mins. Service was wonderful here, from the hostess to the server. I ordered the buttermilk fried chicken and it was soooooooooo good. The chicken was just the right amount of crispy, seasoned and presentation was on point. It was served with mashed potatoes and roasted corn on the cob. Also came with some gravy and a biscuit. Everything was fantastic! I didn't want that meal to end! It's an intimate setting in my opinion, I came here with a coworker though and it was fine. They even give you a hot towel at the end to wipe your hands. Overall, I can't wait to come back. It's worth another plane ride to San Diego for sure! read more

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

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

Excellent service. Host and servers were all polite. One of our servers kind of topped off our drinks a little too high. So our bubbly got a little warm, instead of letting it chill more in the bottle. Not a big deal though. She was pouring and telling us the menu at the same time, even sold us on getting the shrimp tocquitos which were fantastic. They're like shrimp lumpia but wrapped in corn tortillas. Really good. The ribs were very easy to eat, falls off the bone, tasted really good. I do think it's weird they gave the warm towelette before eating the ribs instead of after, but we still used it either way. Maybe I just don't know warm towelette etiquette. My friend said the ciopinno was delicious. It came with fisherman's bread on the side. Nice buttery garlic bread. The blackened fish sandwich was very good. Fish was not dry. Good portion size as well. They did not skimp out on the fish. This place was very packed around 1215 on a Friday. We came in around 1130. By the time we left, there were no open seats, it was filled inside and out. This is how you know this restaurant is good! Who needs to go to work when you can be at Nick's?! There's a parking structure right next door. The place was very clean, it wasn't loud either for how many people were there. Decor was nice, it was a great experience. I would definitely come back again. read more

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We basically drove all the way up here to North County to try their famous butter cake. Verdict: Butter cake *slightly* over hyped. The service, ambiance, and the rest of the food pretty good. The flavor of the butter cake was very rich and flavorful, and complimented by the ice cream really well. The only downside is that the cake is a little bit on the dry side. We also got the tuna tartare (great), the fried chicken with mashed potatoes (amazing), and prime rib dip sandwich (average). read more

Everything was great. We had reservations and sat us down pretty much when we got there on a Saturday night. We celebrated a birthday. Everyone's entree looked great. We sat near the bar which is in the middle of the restaurant. I had the special which was the crusted Mahi. The wife said the Chilean Sea Bass was great. I had the old fashioned and it was strong. Can't wait to go again read more

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It's my first time here. We tried three different sandwiches, and all of them were delicious. I'll definitely come back soon.

Nick's has a great ambiance -- relaxed but still lively. The service is friendly and quick without feeling rushed. The fried asparagus is perfectly crispy and delicious . The chicken sandwich is simple but done really, really well. Definitely a spot worth coming back to! read more

We went to Nick's with another couple that had been before and had a great experience. We went on a Monday night with a reservation, eyt could not get a table outside as promised. Our waiter was somewhat new, and seemed to be struggling - turns out that he was new, and was given a larger section than he had ever handled; unfortunately, it showed. They were out of one of their signature cocktails; kind of disappointing that a high-end place is pre-mixing drinks, and that they could run out. By the time we were asked again, the moment had passed. Overall, the food was pretty good, and the portions were, frankly, too big. Among the 4 of us we had 2 of the San Franciso Cioppinos, and it was excellent. Comes with a large sourdough boule, which was very good. We also had the Sea Bass, which was good, and Blackened Fish Sandwich, which was enormous (so large that it had to be deconstructed - no way to eat it as a sandwich). read more

Nick's Del Mar - Blackened fish sandwich - tasty, but not as a sandwich! - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

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

Love going to Nick's for dinner with family or friends! The service is always extremely professional and courteous, and the food/drinks are delicious. I tried a couple new things on the menu this time and enjoyed both! Really appreciate the options for vegans as well. I ordered the tequini cocktail and the spicy Thai salad with avocado instead of chicken with fries on the side! read more

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Awesome all the way around! Have read good things about Nick's so my friends and I finally tried it. It did not disappoint. The restaurant itself is very cozy with indoor and outdoor seating. Our server was Ryan and he was fantastic! He was friendly and very attentive to us. Staff came by regularly to check on us. We ordered the prime rib dip sandwich, chicken piccata, cioppino, salad with salmon and the deviled eggs for an appetizer. ALL of the dishes were delicious! It's a great place to go with a group or on a date. We'll definitely go back again. read more

If you are in the area and you're looking for a good dining experience, read more. This location offers indoor and outdoor dining. And it's not all stuffy like some other restaurants in this price range. Definitely not our first time and for sure not our last. We had an amazing lunch as you see from the pictures. We started with an appetizer, the asparagus fries were delicious! The filet was tender with a great char. Momma ordered the Cioppino, which I dipped the bread in. Our server was well rehearsed with the program. Gave us room, but also supplied and met all our needs. Food quality matches prices with great service. Looking forward to our next visit. read more

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Two of us went here for a late lunch on a weekday. The place was packed at 2 PM. We waited about 10 minutes for an outdoor table. The space is clean and inviting. Our server was friendly and attentive. I attempted to order the burger but he talked me into the French dip. Great choice. The roll was soft, the prime rib shaved thin. We split the cioppino, which is a massive portion of fresh-tasting seafood in a light delicious broth. The bread accompanying this dish is enormous and good, but very buttery. Just when I thought we had had enough butter, we got talked into the butter cake, which was way too sweet. They could really do away with the layer of brown sugar at the bottom the cake. Free parking in the garage. read more

Nick's Del Mar - San Francisco Cioppino. Plentiful. - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

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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

Quick and efficient service. food was absolutely excellent. Best ribs ive ever had, fall of the bone literally. I could tell it was good quality food too as I didnt feel groggy after. Price point isnt outrageous either! Would definitely recommend and go again! read more

Nick's Del Mar - Ribs double fries my husband had chicken and biscuit entree - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

Biiiiig fan! We had only gone to the location in Laguna but tried this and were super pleased. The butter cake is a MUST - so save room! My husband loves the burrito, and i love the chicken flautas. The chips and salsas are delicious. Service is always top notch here. They even bring you warm towels after eating. The restaurant location is lovely and they have heaters on the patio which is a nice touch for this time of year. We will be back soon. read more

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

SERVICE - A+ Every server we've ever encountered has been friendly and efficient! Ambiance - Nice casual atmosphere. Burger- yummy ; Sea bass - very good. My disappointment was with the Tai salad! Why did you change it? I've been getting it for years and now it's mostly noodles! It might seem wrong to drop stars for my complaint. ...but the old salad was one of the reasons I come here. I loved that crunchy yumminess. :'-/ I need to find another restaurant 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

Good food and excellent service (thank you Caroline!). Asparagus fries with yummy dip, prime rib and ribeye sandwiches, and butter cake for dessert. Only thing I would do differently is more berry compote for the butter cake. We'll be back! read more

We had the best time at Nick's Del Mar. We arrived and were able to be immediately seated on the patio. I hadn't been to a Nicks since pre-COVID and that was up at their San Clemente location so it was our first time at the Del Mar spot. We started off with a Cucumber Collins and a beer. For dinner we ordered the a Prime Rib Dip and the Blackened Fish Sandwich. The Prime Rib Dip is a specialty of the house and melts in your mouth. They only serve it until they run out daily. My partner loved the fish sandwich as well. For dessert we had the Warm Butter Cake and, oh my goodness, it is SO delicious. I highly recommend leaving room for that. Service was punctual and friendly and everyone we encountered and were served by were smiling and pleasant. read more

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Our evening began with the paid parking and no one at your restaurant could or would assist us. Upon entering the restaurant we asked for help with the parking and the two gentleman at the reception shrugged their shoulders and responded' yeah we hear people complain about it , oh well.' Here's a suggestion since the parking kiosk is no more than 20 yards from your entrance, educate your staff so they can be helpful to patrons. We made reservations through Open Table requesting a quiet table away from kitchen. Guess where we were seated... in a two person booth right in front of the kitchen door with employees yelling into the kitchen ' do we still have onion soup!' We were hoping for a nice evening but experienced the opposite. It's noisy, chaotic the rhythm of service was disjointed. My other complaint has to do with some patrons with children. Right behind my husband a father and his young son were seated. I understand parents are responsible for their children but when the child was using the booth as a 'jumpy house' and playing in the aisle while employee s are trying to work I expect the manager or employee to intervene with a polite comment to the parent. People are there to have a nice evening out. Have the manager walk the room ! We ordered drinks and my wine glass arrived 10 minutes before the actual carafe arrived. The house specialty- asparagus fries are woody, stringy & flavorless - they are a hard pass! The food ... rigatoni was lukewarm and average. The Thai chicken salad was flavorless, just a hot mess on the plate and no Thai basil it was Genovese basil. Needless to say we will not be returning. read more

The food here is amazing! It was so flavorful and delicious. I got the blackened fish sandwich and fries it was so flavorful. The service was nice, the food and drink came out fast. The ambiance was pleasant. It's a nice boujee classy atmosphere. The bathrooms were extremely clean. And the servers were very attentive. read more

Nick's Del Mar - Blackened Fish Sandwich - New American Near Me - Del Mar, California

I have to say I recommend this restaurant what's my first time and enjoyed what I had ordered and I give it five stars and also the server Cassidy was a great serve server very attentive read more

This restaurant is amazing! Love the food quality, and the ambience in the restaurant. Portions are great, and the prices are fair, considering the great quality of the food. read more