My friend and I came here with our two daughters after a late-night soccer tournament game. We left talking about how great the entire experience was. Jacob was our server, and he was fantastic. He was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed without ever making us feel rushed. Later, Kaitlyn brought out our butter cake, and what started as a quick interaction turned into one of those unexpected conversations that give you a different perspective and refresh that we all need every once in a while. The food was just as impressive. We started with the Spinach & Artichoke Dip, which was the perfect appetizer. For dinner, we ordered the Center Cut Filet, Cha Cha's Spicy Rigatoni, and the Buttermilk Fried Chicken. Every dish was fresh, flavorful, and something we'd happily order again. If you're thinking about dessert, do yourself a favor and order the butter cake. It absolutely lives up to the hype. What stood out most, though, was the people. Working in a restaurant can be overstimulating and exhausting. Everyone we interacted with was kind and welcoming. It's easy to enjoy a great meal, but it's the people who make you want to come back. From the service to the food to the atmosphere, the entire team is doing an incredible job. Thank you to Jacob, Kaitlyn, the manager, kitchen staff, and everyone else who made our evening so enjoyable. We'll definitely be back. read more

We had such a great experience at Nick's on State! The atmosphere was stylish and welcoming, the service was attentive without being overbearing, and everything we tried was delicious. We started with the shrimp taquitos, which were crispy, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The ribs were tender, generously portioned, and coated in a rich, delicious sauce. The sandwiches were excellent too, and the roasted cauliflower and honey coleslaw made the perfect side. This is definitely a spot I'd recommend for dinner with friends, a date night, or a special occasion. We enjoyed every part of our meal and will absolutely be back! read more

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While recently staying a few days in beautiful Carlsbad, my husband found Nick's while browsing for dinner spots and we made a reservation. After our experience, we were so happy we found Nick's as we visit the area frequently and will be back many more times. The restaurant seemed to be the busiest and chicest in the area with a great crowd and environment. Our drinks were top notch as was all of our food. The tuna tartare was one of the best we've had - and I'm obsessed with tuna tartare. Their chopped salad was also super delicious as was my fish sandwich and my husband's entree as well. The service was polished and the whole are very walkable and safe. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Nick's and can't wait for our next visit. read more

Neat spot on State street to try. Food is elevated and good, and heard many good things about Nicks. Went here for a girls dinner night. They didn't have reservations but we came early enough and got seated right away. By the time we left there were people waiting. For appetizers we got asparagus fries, came with 6 asparagus, and the tuna tartare. The asparagus fries were delicious but for $15 and only 6, it's $2.50 a piece. Not a good value but delicious. The tuna tartare was good too. We enjoyed the apps. For entrees I got their bistro plate, it came with a 4oz filet, soup of the day and a salad. My friends got the chicken piccata and a Thai salad. The bistro plate is a great deal. The filet was cooked perfectly to a medium rare and nicely char, however it didn't have any flavor. They did not even salt it. Otherwise it was perfect, they had some table salt that I was able to add. If they seasoned just a little it would have been perfect. But better no salt then salty. My friend's piccata was amazing. Probably the best chicken piccata that we've ever had! Plenty of chicken too. We ended with the butter cake and it was a good ending! So delicious. Cocktails were spot on. For the most part everything was really good and I would come back to try other items. read more

Nick's On State - Inside - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Stopped in here on a Thursday night to grab food to do. Took a seat at the big bar while I waited and grabbed a mocktail, which was so delicious and fancy. They had a seriously impressive list of non-alcoholic options, which I loved. I went with the Yuzu berry spritz, served in a wine glass, I cannot tell you how many women poked in and asked what I was drinking because it was so pretty! Also it was $11, now that's the price to pay for a mocktail. I went to another bar and they charged me $22 for a non-alcoholic soda drink, get out of here with that. Their menu looked divine, so many delicious options and they had healthy choices which I so appreciated! I got the kale and quinoa salad with grilled chicken and it was ready in about 15. I will say the salad was delicious BUT when I got home to eat it, there was no dressing and no silverware, they had forgotten both. I ended up using hummus that I had in the fridge, luckily, however had I not had that the salad would have been tough to enjoy. read more

Nick's On State - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Truly exceptional! Nick's is somehow elegant, casual, and fresh all at once. The food never disappoints and the staff is always on the ball. The food is so good, that I always feel fomo about the items I didn't order! I make a point to eat at Nick's whenever I'm near one of their locations. So, having been to many locations up and down the coast, I can tell you that each one nails the execution perfectly. This was my first visit to the Carlsbad location and it's one of the more impressive builds. The indoor hangar is beautiful! Patio seating along the street was wonderful as well. read more

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Oh my goodness - the quality, the service, the ambience ALL top tier!! * First we were able to wait for a spot at the bar open up only took about 5 mins which was great and ordered drinks being pregnant a really good quality mocktail is such a treat. The Spiced Guava was truly divine. For appetizer we did the deviled eggs 10/10 lightly fried perfection and the big kicker was the Bistro Plate special *$29* for petite 4oz filet mignon, cup of soup if the day (was French onion and it was creamy delight), the petite side salad, and garlic toast. SUCH a good deal and wonderful quality. We finished with the butter cake it came out very warm and matched with the cold ice cream perfection. Also shout out Claudia for taking such good care of us!! * Truly was a wonderful experience already have a reservation to go back! Run don't walk. read more

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The word on the street in Carlsbad is that Nick's on State got it going on with their contemporary American food and upscale yet casual dining experience. I'm glad I can testify to that. I've been there if few times so this is a legit 5-star review. The ambience...AMAZING. The service...SUPERB. The staff...SPECTACULAR. The food...FANTASTIC. The cocktails...CREATIVE. Sums it up! I can't wait to go back again. I highly recommend this restaurant to the Yelp Community :-) read more

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I love to try new things, but when it comes to Nick's, I can't stray from my favorites. Hits the spot every time. Tiki Twist mocktail - delicious nonalcoholic version of their Mai Tai, topped with lilikoi foam that is reminiscent of the famous Monkeypod Mai Tais in Hawaii. Spicy Thai salad with light dressing - the combo of the fresh salad, savory chicken, bouncy noodles, and hot chilis is absolute perfection. Butter cake - the best butter cake ever. Hot cake with a soft center and caramelized crunchy outside, topped with ice cream, and berries. My favorite place for a decadent dessert! read more

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Birthday celebration .... Halibut with a pineapple sauce... mashed potatoes... We of course had the butter cake... So delicious.. staff is on it..... friendly, professional and efficient. We walked... no parking necessary.... 30 minute wait, but I'm sure that depends on the day... read more

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We had dinner here tonight. Zack and Ryan were great. We started with the artichokes then split the fried chicken and prime rib dip. We had to have the butter cake yum read more

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I absolutely love this place. I haven't tried a ton of their menu items but of the things I have tried, everything has been delicious!! The restaurant and patio are absolutely beautiful and very classy and the service is always top notch. I ordered iced tea, the tomato soup (omg so good!!) the local market salad and my 4 year old had the buttered noodles. She ate it all so I count that as a win! This salad is crave-able. It is so delicious and everything tastes so fresh. It always has the perfect amount of dressing also. I really want to try other things but I just can't get away from ordering this salad. read more

Nick's On State - The local market salad - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Mmmmm the cioppino was worth the wait! Love the indoor outdoor set up and open seating at the bar. The cioppino knocked my socks off and so did the Mai Thai! Will definitely be our staple when visiting Carlsbad. read more

Nick's On State - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Love the location and the quaint feeling inside. If you're coming on a Friday or Saturday be sure to get a reservation because it's packed. The food was phenomenal, I had the Chilean Sea Bass and my husband had the Cioppino. We started with breaded Asparagus spears and Old Fashioned's. Probably the best sea bass I have ever had, cooked to perfection. If you forgot to grab a reservation, it's worth the wait. We will be back. read more

Nick's On State - Old Fashioned - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

We love Nicks in Laguna so we were excited to find this one when we stayed in Oceanside/Carlsbad area for vacation. We love this location too so thanks for consistency between locations. Great customer service and beautiful ambiance. The food is definitely the main character here though. Wow, wow, and wow. We ordered the ribs which came with sweet bbq flavored sauce, fell off the bone, and were accompanied by kale salad and mash potatoes. All were perfectly made and made us want to eat there each day. They even give you a warm towel for your hands after the ribs. Oh my, save room for dessert, order the butter cake cause it's thee besssssttttt! The espresso martini was another great experience. My only complaint is why the meatloaf ( the best ever put in a restaurant) is not served year round! Thank you Nicks for top notch food delivery and service. read more

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Great service! Average food for the price. I understand the place has out door seatings but I really didn't like a fly kept trying to land on our food throughout our entire dining experience while we sat all the way in the back near the kitchen. The restaurant should look into how to keep fly out. The Sea Bass and Halibut were good, and the Tuna Tartare was not freshly prepared. The fried wonton triangles were a bit stale and the tartare was a bit dry... perhaps was made in advance and got put on a service plate for our order. I thought for $24 on that small portion a bit more effort should be put into it. read more

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Stopped here for pre dinner drinks and appetizers! Loved it. Great location, enjoyed the outdoor patio! Service was fantastic and loved the drinks. I am not usually a martini person but they had a unique version made with gin and Sauvignon blanc that was phenomenal! We enjoyed the spinach and artichoke dip to go with the cocktails and had a blast! Great place read more

Nick's On State - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I had a great time and fabulous meal at Nick's on State. The food, beverages and service were all top notch. I was thrilled they offered mocktails and had the Noughty rose, a great alcohol free wine. We started with the signatures Asparagus fries which were hot, cooked to perfection and delicious. I opted for the Spicy Thai Salad which was probably one of the top 10 salads I've had anywhere! It was really spicy and delicious. I'd go back just for that dish. My dining companion had the Prime Rib Dip and a couple of beers and enjoyed everything he ordered. The design and atmosphere were great. We ate at the bar which was fun for people watching. It's a great spot for a date or to grab a meal at the bar. Highly recommend! read more

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Waited for some time for bar seats because the regular table wait was very long but it was pretty good! Crisp martini and espresso martinis were both very good. Got the deviled eggs which are lightly fried somehow and I thought they were great even though I dont love deviled eggs but my partner who rewlly liked deviled eggs didnt love them. The bistro meal was SO good the steak was cooked literally perfectly. The kale salad was frshnand whatever the soup was was pretty good too. Would definitely come back and try a full steak it was incredible read more

Nick's On State - deviled eggs and crisp martini - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Updated Review: I went back today after the manager personally invited me to give the restaurant another try, and I'm glad I did. I'm happy to say it was definitely worth coming back, and I would recommend giving this restaurant a chance. I ordered the rigatoni with the spicy sauce, and it was delicious. My fiancé had the prime rib dip, and he really enjoyed it as well. We also started with the spinach artichoke dip, which was absolutely excellent and one of our favorite parts of the meal. Overall, I'm really glad we gave it another shot. The food was great, and this visit completely changed my opinion. read more

Nick's On State - Spicy rigatoni - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Wish I could review the food or the ambience. Didn't even get to a table. I appreciate they are busy spot. We were willing to wait the 40 minutes. Gave my name and number. NOTHING Myself and my family just left. I have been gone for a month at wildfires and just wanted to enjoy a meal out at a local Restaurant. No joy. 9pm now. Still nothing. Luckily I got my family dinner somewhere else. read more

This is our date night place for me and my husband we live in Vista not too far from here and we love coming here. They do great service- it feels very formal and attentive the way that the staff is trained here. We love to sit inside my husband is a redhead and I just don't wanna do the sun lol so there's been a couple of times where we made a reservation and I've put in the notes inside, but I have to specify when I get there so if I'm being nitpicky, I would say they might want to update their OpenTable to be able to list one or the other so you can choose but that's just me being nitpicky. When we get here, we usually order some cocktails, and then we love to listen to what the market vegetable and the soup of the day is to help us decide what we wanna order. We've tried almost everything on the menu. I would say your favorite appetizer is probably the deviled eggs or the spinach artichoke dip and my husband's favorite entrée is the prime rib dip sandwich. He really loves that. We had the butter cake once and I think the sundae once for my birthday and both were phenomenal. We're just not big desert people. I always joke and say that my dessert is a dirty martini and these guys make a killer a dirty martini. read more

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First time ever trying this restaurant and upon first arrival, I can see how popular this place is. The restaurant was busy but was able to accommodate last minute reservations, which was a plus. I started off with a mocktail - Yuzu Berry Spritz. This was a refreshing, fruity drink to start off the meal. I had to try the highly recommended Classic Caesar salad, which was absolutely fantastic! I loved that it's plated differently from other Caesar salads that I've had, with the salad on halved baby romaine heads. You can add some bacon on this as well, but I thought it tasted pretty good as it is. For my main, I had Pan Seared Chilean Seabass. The filet was a nice hefty portion and it was perfectly seared and flaky. It had the perfect amount of beurre blanc, which paired well with this fish. It would be nice to have the option to substitute the potatoes for a low carb option. I got to snag a taste of the Baby Back pork ribs which were full of flavor and tender. This is a lot of food, which can easily be shared. I definitely will come back again to try some other dishes. Service was pretty good but can be delayed during peak hours. Parking is best on the street. read more

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I live around the area and Nicks is our go to, it's perfect mix of casual yet classy, and seriously you can't go wrong with any food in the menu, the last 3 times i've been in the restu i've been ordering the meatloaf it's perfection! Besides great food and ambience the service is outstanding as well! read more

Nick's On State - Buttermilk Cake - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Butter cake is the best, one of my favorite things to get here! Very friendly service. read more

Nick's On State - Butter Cake - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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First time for me at this restaurant, but my husband has been here before. We visited to celebrate a birthday, and it was a great pick! We came in right at opening and was seated right away. We had tried shrimp taquitos and fried asparagus and deviled eggs for our starters, all was delicious! Staff was very friendly and quick to pick up dirty plates. We had rigatoni, buttermilk fried chicken, the sea bass, the bistro plate and meatloaf. Again, all was amazing! Birthday celebrant also loved it which was the most important part. Highly recommend to try them out! read more

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Nicks is a classy steak house with nice ambiance from the dining room to the beautiful outdoor patio. I have been to this location 3 times and I will be back again. One of the most delicious meals I've had was the center cut filet with asparagus and a loaded baked potato. The service was great. Highly recommend. read more

Nick's On State - Center cut steak and loaded potatoe - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

As you can see from my reviews I have been to this location and Manhattan Beach location multiple times! During my experiences I have highs and lows! A high is always the butter cake: this cake has been consistently solid from each location. The drinks are always solid. Although the drinks are a bit pricey: 19 dollars for a straight up martini is steep. They charged extra for the shake. As for food...we have mix feelings. We tried a dish that we haven't had in awhile, the meatloaf. We noticed they have prepared the meatloaf differently. Also the meatloaf comes out differently: it use to be in a le creuset dish. The entree use to be bigger too. The price like everything has gone up: now 27 dollars. We thought the dish was just ok: we would not ordered this again. We perplexed with the cocktail onions in dish: maybe this is an old school addition. We also ordered the California salad: the nuts were good in. The goat cheese was good too: maybe a bit more would be nice. Perhaps too much dressing on the salad. Service was a bit off: we saw them serve our dessert to the next table. The family at the next table said they don't order it, but the restaurant charges them. For the price they charge at this restaurant, everything should be spot on! read more

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Definitely Nick's has delicious sandwiches! And came with a choice of yummy side of market veggies, bistro salad or fries. Portions were substantial and felt very satisfied. I had the buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich, a good choice and now it's my favorite fried chicken sandwich ever. Chicken was not dry and stayed crispy throughout. It had havarti cheese, sweet slaw, almonds, tomato, arugula, honey mustard, herb mayonnaise... all these yum in a brioche bun. The market vegetable was string beans sautéed in garlic and onion...very tasty! My daughter and husband had the Blackened Fish Sandwich that looked amazing as well and a petite bistro salad. It was scrumptious! The kale was not hard or chewy, it was perfect. The restaurant is very nice with a breezy airy outdoor patio. Our server made sure we were happy by being attentive to us. Will definitely come back! read more

Nick's On State - Blackened Fish Sandwich with a petite Bistro Salad - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Food is always good at Nicks and bartender are fast. Great weather for weekday lunch I order the chicken sandwich it was good not great more veggies and meat fries were cold read more

Nick's On State - Chicken sandwich - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Jodi is one of the best bartenders. So kind. We had the cioppino. Very fresh. Amazing margaritas read more

Nick's On State - Jodi our favorite bartender - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

As expected, good but not great food. Typical new American food that this town loves. I say worth coming to once or if it's not hard to get in but def not worth the wait. read more

My husband and I were really excited to find a Nick's on state in San Diego. We went to Nick's in Long Beach and we were in love. To my surprise the Nick's in SD is just as delicious! This place is nice for a wonderful date with your love one. The food is tasty and delicious. Our server was very friendly. I ordered their Maple Glazed Meatloaf. The meat was very soft and well flavored. It melt in my mouth. read more

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Absolutely loved this place! Only waited about 15 minutes on a Saturday evening (early dinner at 5ish) even though they said the wait would be closer to 40. The asparagus fries were delicious! I loved the California salad with avocado and the chicken piccata was great. The real show stopper was certainly the butter cake! Absolutely delicious 10/10!!! Would definitely return for a lovely cozy but upscale evening read more

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Great place for dinner and/or a drink if you can get in. Known for their great espresso martinis and food. Since it's hard to get a table there I sometimes eat at the bar. Upscale environment, pricey, great ambiance. No music or dancing here. read more

Just Wow! Fantastic dining in Carlsbad! Nick's was recommended by a friend and they did not disappoint! I knew we were in the right place when we walked up and there was a line outside waiting to check in! The building is unique, a half dome feel (Kwanzaa hut) that has been beautifully renovated. The centerpiece is a bar that is rectangular, bordered by booths on one end and horseshoe shaped seating for high top bar chairs. There is seating out front on a covered open air patio, hell why not it's San Diego County, arguably the best weather in the USA. If it gets a little to chill they have pro series radiant out door heaters that are mounted on the ceiling above the tables. Let's talk food! The Shrimp Taquito Appetizer was so good! The combination of flavors just pops! We both ordered Seafood Dishes. The wife had the Sea Bass that was perfectly cooked, topped with a Lemon Beurre Blanc, Sautéed Spinach with slivered almonds and a mashed potato puree. I ordered the Macadamia Nut Crusted Halibut that was topped with a Pineapple Beurre Blanc, it was phenomenal! The right combination of firm, moist fish with a seared panko/Mac nut crust that was just perfect. Top it with the Pineapple Beurre Blanc, this dish is a 10! Our server Colby was super friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and spot on with his service and recommendations! The wine list is both impressive in selection and pricing. They feature fantastic wines from Napa and beyond including Rombauer Chardonnay, Duckhorn Merlot, Silver Oak Cab to name a few! I think this might be my new favorite spot when visiting San Diego County for a nice dinner out! Cheers read more

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We had a great meal here! I usually love the Nick's restaurants and I honestly think this one is my favorite. We loved the building and ambience inside. We came for a late lunch, had reservations, and were seated right away. The service was outstanding. Extremely friendly without being annoying. Helped with making food choices and was always there when we needed her. They were quick with drinks and refilling water. The food was good! Everything tasted fresh and delicious. The only minor thing was the hot fudge sundae lacked hot fudge. There was barely any compared to the ice cream amount. Could be nice to have a small side of it so people could pour on themselves. This is minor and not a big deal. The butter cake stole the show. It was super good! We will be back here. It was a great meal with lots of great food options. read more

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Great food! We got the bistro plate and fried chicken. Really tasty meal. Everything was to the appropriate temperature. My wife added the loaded baked potato to the bistro plate and it was to die for. But the star of the evening was our waiter Eldrinn. Super attentive to ALL of his tables and not just ours. Great recommendations for dinner and excellent service!. Pro tip, parking is hard to find and make a reservation. read more

Great as always!!!! The drinks are amazing and worth the splurge. Service was fantastic and it's always a great atmosphere. We had the deviled eggs to start...Amazing!!! I enjoyed the French dip sandwich and my wife had the bistro plate. Both excellent. Can't go wrong eating at Nicks, enjoy!!!! read more

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Love this place! It is classy and elegant! Music playing Fire place Outdoor indoor Street parking More than one server. They are helpful and fun. The food is melting in your mouth! The center cut was perfect. The potato was a meal In itself! read more

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