We never have anything but the best food and service at Nick's, and this location was no exception. We sat at the bar, and Joshua was very kind and helpful. He and the kitchen staff paid special attention to a nut allergy, and it was so nice to feel their genuine care. Joshua also made us excellent drinks!! The black and blue mojito, Napa old fashioned, and whiskey sour were all top notch. For food, I tried the crispy chicken sandwich and OMG-- while messy, it was SO SO GOOD. Highly recommend!! Husband also enjoyed his salmon. Thanks for another great experience at Nick's! read more

See all

My boyfriend and I came on a Thursday night without a reservation, the wait was about 40 minutes. Nick's is located in downtown Carlsbad which meant for a lovely evening stroll around town before we were sat. The service was stellar. The ambiance of the restaurant was romantic. The high hanger ceiling was captivating. I ordered the Prime Rib Dip and it was worth the hype. My boyfriend ordered the Baby back ribs and they were mouth watering. Overall we both agreed we can't wait to come back and next time we'll make a reservation. read more

See all

WOW. just wow. everything i ate could be my last meal and i would die happy. The service was great, food amazzzing. Claudia is the best bartender i've ever met. It wasn't too crowded for a saturday night but i'll be going back a lot i'm sure! read more

See all

Food was excellent. Ribeye sandwich, bistro plate and prime rib dip were all awesome. Margarita was extremely good. Chocolate sundae was very tasty and not too sweet. Will be back. We have been to 5 different Nicks locations and they all are consistently delicious. Cant go wrong at Nicks! read more

It's a chain restaurant which means you're in good, grade A predictable hands whether you like that sorta thing or not. I usually don't... but I'm an awesome friend and I didn't scoff when my friend said she wanted a reservation here for her birthday. So, I queued my white heels and my business-casual dress and penned it in my calendar. Highlights: - squeaky clean interior, like you could lick spilt wine off the table - nuclear families / company get togethers / square date night kind of crowd - varied menu (e.g. Cheesecake Factory, Eddie V's, Season's 52, etc.) - impeccable service repertoire - hot washcloths and mints at the end of your meal! Truth be told, I don't remember what I ate or drank that night as this was a few months ago, but I remember it wasn't cheap. At least I was surprised and comforted by the hot washcloths because that was the one detail that stuck out the most! Nothing like a warm hug on the hands on a cold and going broke kind of evening. read more

Great food, ambiance and service! Nico was my server and he was great. I came with my son and was able to enjoy a nice meal while he slept. read more

See all

Went to Nick's last for my wife's birthday. We are registered with them as a VIP, due to family. I have to say it was a huge disappointment. The food was adequate, but nothing I would recommend. Basically it was Outback at 4xs the price. Service was slow, appetizers were undercooked and soggy. Drink order was wrong. Actually, Outback is a step up from this in almost all areas. I will not recommend this place to friends and others. Save your money and go to Harbor Fish!! read more

A cool date night spot! The vibes and lighting were nice. Service was really good and attentive. My fave is the seabass! It doesnt look like much but when you bite into it, its so buttery and juicy! My bf enjoyed the prime rib dip. Bread was soft and the meat was tender. Dessert: we got the infamous butter cake here. Pretty good! read more

See all

Nick's is our favorite place! Food and service are always top notch. Both locations are designed beautifully but Carlsbad is my favorite! Almost Feels like you're inside a boat. read more

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

Nick's is one of the best places to dine in Carlsbad, especially considering the mediocrity that defines many other restaurants in this city. The service is amazing, the ambiance is fun, and most of the meals are good quality. However, one thing that bothered me during my last visit was the chicken piccata. I gave feedback to our server, as the dish was not authentic chicken piccata--it was essentially overly breaded chicken cutlets with hardly any sauce. To make matters worse, the arugula salad had no dressing and was completely dry. When I shared this with our server, they told me the kitchen doesn't listen to feedback from the waitstaff and that I would need to email the kitchen directly to share my opinion. I found this really odd. It felt like the message was, "You need to do the extra work of contacting the kitchen yourself because we're not passing on your feedback." I've since lost the card they gave me with the email, which is why I'm leaving this review--not only to share my experience but also to inform future diners about the quality of the chicken piccata. Now you've been warned... read more

Came here with a friend to grab food before we hit up a nearby wine bar. When we arrived it was pretty busy. We opted to not wait and just sit at the bar since we saw two available seats. The staff was pretty attentive once we sat. Ordered a couple rounds of cocktails and a couple of apps to share. Both were delicious. Would come back with hubby to check out dinner. read more

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

See all

We dined for a birthday dinner and it was beyond spectacular! Drink amazing, appetizers delicious and the tri-tip sandwich was top notch! But what knocked it out of the park was the warm butter cake! This cake was one of the best desserts I have ever had! We will absolutely be back to dine again at Nick's! read more

What a nice lunch! My friend wanted to go someplace new. Our server Judy was awesome!! The drinks were yummy. My Mai Tai was different. A spicy rum and pineapple lemon foam on top took it to a new level. -Appetizer- Let Judy know we wanted either the Deviled Eggs or the Spinach Artichoke dip and for her to surprise us. (she brought us the Deviled Eggs) So yummy! The egg white was fried. The filling was tasty. (I was nervous as I've had some appetizer eggs that were kinda Meh and I could make better) These were Next level! Loved them! -Prime Rib Dip- My friend enjoyed her prime rib dip and I may need to try that next time!!! (or the Cajun fish sandwich) -Ribeye sandwich with red potatoes. ( I LOVED my sandwich) The bread was sourdough crusted with cheese. The red potatoes had some amazing sauce on them. - For Desert we got the Buttercake and Lemon Cake. The Buttercake was good- it needed more fruit sauce. The Lemon Cake was very light and moist. If you go here ask to sit in JUDY'S section!!!! She was such a pleasure!!! We sat on the patio and they had black shades that were really nice because they are on a busy street. read more

See all

Brittney (sp?) was a terrific server. She answered all our questions and was very attentive during our meal. We had the asparagus fries, Halibut special, chicken piccata, cioppino and the butter cake. All of the ingredients were fresh and high quality. Portion sizes were as expected. We sat outside in an overcast day but the heaters above kept us extremely comfortable. It wasn't too loud and the restaurant looked very well kept. read more

See all

This place has great ambience! I mean I felt like I was in a whisky barrel. However, it was so stinking cold in the front room. Even with the heaters. They had the tarp siding up a bit and it was windy right on my neck while sitting in the front room. My husband got the fried chicken, it was good but could have used more gravy and the mashed potatoes were under seasoned. I got the bistro plate. My filet was overcooked (I asked for medium and it was closer to well), the kale salad was just not the salad they should have had with the meal. Too "kaley". The soup was delightful. The big win for the restaurant was the butter cake. Omg. I would go back just for the cake... Would I go back? No. Not for the prices. The food was just a bit meh to me. read more

The deviled eggs were good and you get 4 of them so it's a size to share. My martini was well made and the glass very chilled. It was about 4pm on a Monday and I was shocked how busy they were. It's nice inside and the patio is great aw well. Prices were within reason for entrees. Will be back to try more food read more

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

See all

Excellent food and service! Every time I go I'm happy with my food and experience. Ambience is awesome too!

This was delicious! O complaints on the steak, and deviled eggs. Husband loved his salmon, and I love love love that they have carajillos. The best part of the meal was the butter cake, holy shit was that good. read more

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

So great! The butter cake is a must. excellent service..cant wait to go back to try some more fabulous dishes.

Went there for our anniversary on a Monday. food was still very good. Ginger carrot soup was fabulous- thick and creamy and just a hint of ginger. The petite steak was a little disappointing this time. I get the bistro plate a lot but the steak was a little chewy and lacked the flavor from past visits. Most disappointing was our server. While efficient enough he lacked any personality or friendliness. We have always had top notch servers so our expectations were high. In any other restaurant he would be a fine server but not what we expect at Nicks. It was our anniversary and there was no acknowledgment by him or the restaurant. There always had been in the past. But we love the food and will go back in awhile. read more

Food was absolutely delish! A must have appetizer are the deviled eggs. Our waiter, Bryce was absolutely fantastic and great with drink suggestions. He was very engaging and knowledgeable about the menu. Friendly atmosphere. read more

The asparagus fries are so good and unique. It's impressive that they can get the breading to stick so well and not crack with each bite. I'm a tough sell with meatloaf because my Dad made the best but theirs is one of the better ones I've had at a restaurant. The food and service is always solid and I love the building/ decor. We sat next to the kitchen recently and I appreciated their process and watching them do service.. I'm from a restaurant family and I always love when I can watch a kitchen. I have never ordered ribs any place outside of a restaurant where you can smell the smoke from atleast half mile away but they always looks so good when they come out I may have to try them soon. So glad to have this restaurant in Carlsbad! read more

A restaurant experience that you can count on! The food and service were wonderful. My wife and I were looking for a nice place to celebrate our anniversary. I didn't know that Nicks had a Carlsbad location. It was a great choice. Colby, our server, did a wonderful job attending to our needs and making us feel welcomed. Our meals were excellent. My wife, who is hard to please, found her steak to be perfectly cooked. The great thing about Nick's, is their consistency--one can always count on a quality meal and experience. Reservations are strongly recommended. read more

Great simple menu, great service, and great ambience! Only issue is the wait time during the summer! read more

We went to Nicks for the first time today and were very happy with almost everything. The Chilean sea bass was good, the fried chicken was tasty and the petite filet was just the right amount of food for a smaller appetite. We wished they had bread (we LOVE bread!)as the piece that came with the filet was about 2" square and while tasty, was way too small, which is the reason for four stars instead of 5. Also, baked potatoes were not available at lunch, which seems to be the norm at so many places. Otherwise, we were happy and will return. Oh, and good service, too! read more

Typical awesome Nicks fare. See my reviews of Nicks in MB (my local ) and Newport. By far, the coolest vibe of the 3 that I have been to. Kind of an urban farmhouse shindig. It was slam-packed and not a very large space. Would probably not attempt on a weekend. Food was awesome, as expected. Service was great. read more

Great place it fits right in downtown Oceanside and the food is really good. Service was friendly happy. A great menu, we eat there quite often. read more

I don't know why I haven't reviewed Nick's already... we LOVE this place! We've gone here half a dozen times, and it's always amazing! Service, food, ambiance, and value! They even give you a birthday card signed by all the employees when it's your birthday... and the butter cake! Don't get me started! Love this place! read more

See all

I like this location and I've been to all the Nick's restaurants. They have a big bar area for quick dining and a large patio. Super disappointed that they discontinued their Salty Pear martini. IYKYK. came for NYE. the service was great and Cesar the manager went out of his way to make it up to us about the Salty Pear fiasco . We enjoyed our regular meals here - fried chicken for her and Thai crunchy salad for me. I had the new Dirty Momoa martini instead and of course we got butter cake. Overall not a bad NYE dinner. read more

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

See all

Love this spot. It is pricey but worth it for enjoying anything on the menu that is well done. Big fan of the asparagus fries and the fish options. The steaks are also great quality and tasty too. read more

Have tried almost all their food one time or another. Every time and everything is perfect. Perfect service, great cooks, menu is perfect size, touching all food types. If you haven't been. Treat yourself to a great experience! read more

Nick's is a staple, perfect for date night, celebrations or bringing visitors. My go to is the prime rib dip but recently tried the fried chicken sandwich. It was huge! They even brought a small sweet treat for the birthday in the party. read more

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

See all

Using a Yelp recommendation we went for dinner and I had a seafood stew and the wife had ribs. The ribs came to the table not even warm, my stew was totally bland and short of seafood. The waitress was gone for most of the meal and it took too long for the reheat of the ribs and were constantly left with empty drink glasses. I gave up with stew and was offered a replacement which was I thought a safe bet, this was the smallest French dip I had ever seen. The place filled up quite nicely so they must be doing something right but, sadly they missed the boat with us. The restaurant was very nice, open and spacious and the manager didn't have to ask to take the stew off the bill she just did it. I don't think we will go back. read more

My wife and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary with Nick's and the experience was second to none. Once our waiter Sean, knew it was our anniversary, he truly went out of his way to make the evening special for us. Not only he, but the entire staff's attention to service and detail was truly top notch. Then there was the food. For starters, we ordered the Asparagus Fries accompanied with the Napa Old Fashion and the Espresso Martini. For the main dishes, we had the Pan Seared Sea Bass and the Center Cut Filet. Both were cooked perfectly! We wrapped up dinner with coffee and the Butter Cake which was outstanding! If you are looking for a special night out, I'd place Nick's at the top of you list. read more

See all

While in San Diego, I had to stop by Nick's, and let me tell you..it did not disappoint! Naturally, I kicked things off with an espresso martini because, well, I have priorities. And let me just say... chef's kiss...smooth, rich, and just the right amount of "this might be dangerous." For the main event, I went with the chicken piccata, and wow--absolute fire. Perfectly cooked, lemony, buttery goodness with just the right tang to keep me coming back for more. Honestly, I had a brief moment of silence just to appreciate it. Pro tip: Make a reservation. This place is always packed, and for good reason. If you're in SD and don't eat at Nick's on State, did you even really visit? read more

Nick's On State - Chicken piccata (insanely amazing) - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

See all

always more at home in local mom-and-pop places where English is a second language, I'm not much of a frilly-food eater. but it was date night, and I got outvoted 1-0. been married long enough to know compromise is a euphemism for we're going where she wants to go. thank goodness. left to me, I'd eat the same handful of dishes at the same handful of places. got off to a slightly disappointing start. GREY GOOSE dusty with blue cheese olives arrived in a half full glass. not sure if that's how things shook out with the bartender or if Colby (our server) helped himself to a sip or two on the way to our table. the good news is, the martini was sublime. DEVILED EGGS are my wife's Kryptonite. her dad's one of eighteen and her mom twelve, and they take her back to pot-luck picnics growing up. NICK's ON STATE's version are hardboiled, fried, piped, and finished with chives and crumbled applewood bacon. interesting taste and texture. the KALE and QUINOA salad (red grapes, cashews, almonds, sunflower seeds, red cabbage, red peppers, parmesan cheese, and champagne vinaigrette) was tasty. the greens (kale and red cabbage) were chopped small enough not to be intrusive. I thoroughly enjoyed the bite she shared. I had the GRILLED STEAKHOUSE salad (ribeye, warm potato salad, mixed greens, and bacon-mustard vinaigrette, a blue cheese wedge and a Campari tomato). it was good and I'm a natural-born fool for anything with blue cheese. finished the evening with the BUTTER CAKE and waddled out fat and sassy. read more

See all

Delicious food. Service is very attentive. The location has plenty of available parking and is blocks from the beach.

I've been here a few times. The food is excellent. The service is excellent Conveniently located. Love this place. The meatloaf is five star. read more

Fabulous restaurant in Carlsbad! Food - started with deviled eggs and the asparagus appetizer- both fried..divine! Main courses - we tried the seafood and was not disappointed- pan seared Chilean sea bass, cioppino, salmon. Very large side portions of mashed potatoes and sautéed spinach. The petit filet mignon was a little overcooked, the portion was really petit! Service -5 stars - server was attentive to our very large party. Ambiance- beautiful atmosphere. I love the vibe of this place...5 stars read more

See all

Apparently, this is one of the most popular restaurants in Carlsbad Village, as it was full on an evening when most other places had plenty of tables available. We still chose to wait, and they didn't disappoint. Impeccable service and food. Highly recommended (afterwards, have the ice cream across the street from them - best dessert!) read more