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    Nick's On State

    4.5 (1k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Nick's On State Photos

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    NICK'S ON STATE ATMOSPHERE

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    Casual
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    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Nick's On State

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    Prime Rib
    Terry S.

    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!

    Yianni A.

    Staff is great! Best burgers , you can literally tell the quality of the meat! Spinach dip is always similar to Houston's original dip. Location is nice however takes time to find a parking spot!

    Inside
    Lisa W.

    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.

    Samantha S.

    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.

    Menu
    Justin S.

    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.

    Bistro plate
    Michelle S.

    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.

    Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass
    Ann V.

    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 :-)

    Market vegetable: Brussels
    Anna C.

    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!

    Jan K.

    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...

    The local market salad
    Elizabeth C.

    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.

    Wen Q.

    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.

    Old Fashioned
    Amy B.

    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.

    Best butter cake
    CheRich R.

    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.

    Tuna Tatare

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    Always a classy joint.... Staff is amazng. Grilled artichoke is to die for and I wish every location had the California Salad.

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    Page 2 of 26

    Ask the Community - Nick's On State

    Can they make a milk free meal?

    I would call the restaurant manager directly before visiting . That's an important question that should be addressed directly with the restaurant management.

    How far is it from the Star theatre?

    About 20 minutes depending on traffic - I would google map it with the day and time you want to get to the theater so you get accurate information.

    Do they have a happy hour?

    No, happy hour and it's fine dining so expect to pay a higher price for your cocktails , but they are very good.

    Is there happy hour? If so what days and time?

    Sorry, I'm not sure. Maybe only at the bar, but not from the dinning tables.

    What is the largest party size for reservation?

    I was seated there with a party of 8, no problem. Not sure if they do larger parties. Call them to find out for sure.

    Do they have the warm bread basket like other restaurants- it comes before we order?

    No, not that I know of; however, I've seen people order the sourdough that comes with the cioppino off the menu.

    Do they offer a lunch menu?

    Yes

    Is there happy hour?

    I asked last time i was there and they laughed at me. I guess that's a No.

    Are kids allowed here?

    Of course kids are welcome. There is a big patio out front and I've seen plenty of kids. There is also an inside eating area where I've seen kids. It's a restaurant. And casual clothes are welcome.

    Able to accommodate diners avoiding gluten?

    Yes, they have some gluten free dishes! Their food and service is beyond awesome. Not the least expensive place to eat in town, but we'll worth it.

    Do you take Apple Pay?

    Yes!

    View All 17 Questions

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    Campfire - Baked Alaska

    Campfire

    4.3(3.1k reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$$

    it's saturday night. we don't have a reservation. they tell us the wait is over an hour. what do we…read moredo? we wait. and thank jebus we did, because this ended up being one of the best meals i've had in a while. we started with the prawn. we each got one, and given that they're $10 a skewer, our bill started off STRONG. the prawns were perfectly roasted with hints of mezcal and prickly pear. the candied habanero or whatever garnish of death was on there totally kicked my ass in terms of spice. in true Asian fashion, we ripped the heads off and sucked all the goodness out of them too. no shame. you don't waste the good stuff. then the cornbread showed up. the group collectively agreed we'd pass on this one next time. for me, the goat cheese threw me off, but that's entirely on me because i hate goat cheese and still knowingly ordered something with goat cheese. i played myself. there was absolutely nothing wrong with the dish, but compared to everything else we ate, there wasn't anything particularly standout about it either. but then. the fucking broccoli showed up. it is literally charred broccoli with chermoula, lime, and peanut. that's it. BROCCOLI. and after taking one bite, i learned that broccoli could, in fact, be life changing. suddenly i was a new woman. a woman who wanted nothing more than to sit there and stuff her face with massive amounts of broccoli. unfortunately, i couldn't because we still had dishes to taste. and so i moved on to the pork belly. when people describe something as "melting in your mouth," they are specifically referring to Campfire's pork belly. because that's exactly what it did. just melted all up in my mouth and lit my taste buds on fire. normally, i find pork belly prepared this way a little heavy and can only stomach a few bites, but i could have eaten the entire dish. but of course i didn't, because i'm a lady. and the octopus was about to show up. and show up it DID. i don't like celery, and this dish had plenty of it, but because it was shaved super thin, it was actually super palatable. the octopus was incredibly tender, and there were little bits of chorizo throughout that gave it the perfect balance. also, love me a good chimichurri sauce. and finally, last but truly not least, the chicken. a whole ass half bird, charred to perfection with roasted red pepper, kumquat, and fennel. apparently i like fennel now??? i didn't even know i liked fennel like that, but here we are. if i hadn't already been stuffed to the absolute brim, i could have destroyed this entire dish. the chicken was juicy and tender, and paired with the fennel, you're almost like just having a healthy dish??? LOL. although we went in with every intention of ending the night with s'mores, our bodies simply said no. there was no more room at the inn. see what i did there :P so instead, we left and went on a very long walk to digest all the delicious goodness that was Campfire. i cannot wait to go back. mostly for the broccoli, which is a sentence i never thought i'd write in my life. and this time, i will absolutely be making a reservation.

    Oh, Campfire, I'm glad you're still here and still have a special place in my heart. That said, my…read morelast two visits have been underwhelming. I always order the same dishes: the porridge bread, roasted broccoli, and ribeye for two. Since nothing else on the menu particularly interests me, those dishes are generally good--but when I'm spending $250-$300 on dinner for two, I expect the food to be exceptional, and it just hasn't been. I also haven't found the cocktails especially impressive in recent years. Campfire helped bring craft cocktails to Carlsbad, and my husband and I still reminisce about drinks like the roasted beet and charred corn. Unfortunately, the current cocktail menu hasn't made the same impression. Campfire is worth trying if you've never been, but as a local, it's no longer a restaurant I look forward to visiting regularly. These days, I'd probably go about once a year.

    Photos
    Campfire - I have no idea what this was, but it has plantain.

    I have no idea what this was, but it has plantain.

    Campfire - Broccoli (whole head) delicious!

    Broccoli (whole head) delicious!

    Campfire - S'mores , love it!

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    S'mores , love it!

    Ember & Rye

    Ember & Rye

    3.9(570 reviews)
    6.1 mi

    They sure know how to make a girl feel special here! A variety of unique appetizers kept arriving…read moreat our table. One after another, just an amazing array of tastes for the palate. My favorite main course is hands down the swordfish. The way they cook and season is just divine. More side dishes kept arriving to pair with the fish. Everything was absolutely wonderful. Desert was no different; a variety of sweets. My favorite of course was the decadent chocolate with a tiny happy birthday greeting in chocolate of course! The ambience is classy with a spectacular view including the golf course. Service was impeccable as always.

    3.5 stars Came on a weekday for lunch. I had originally…read moremade a reservation to be seated outside to take advantage of the view of the golf course but it was really hot so I opted to be seated inside which was more comfortable. My seat still looked out and had had a great view so same view just more comfortable. I got the beet and peach salad. It didn't really have a dressing but instead came on a bed of caramelized yogurt which acted as the flavor vehicle. It was also topped with frisse, sesame, za'atar, granola and mint. The peach was a nice surprise as it added a nice sweetness, freshness, and texture, I liked when I got a bite of mint, it brightened up the dish. Very unique and different. I also got the house made pastrami Ruben. It came with gruyere cheese, sauerkraut, kimchee, thousand island dressing on rye. The rye was nicely grilled which made it crispy. The pastrami was also grilled which brought out a more salty profile. The kimchee stood out and was a great pairing with the pastrami, it added some spiciness and that fermented funk that you get with sauerkraut. Over all a great sandwich I just wish there was more pastrami. I had the choice of salad or fries but since I got the beet and peach salad I opted for the fries. The fries were triple cooked and came with a truffle ketchup. The fries were cold and I didn't care for the truffle ketchup, I'd ask for aioli next time. Ember & Rye is located on the 18th hole of the Aviara golf course, There's free parking out front but seems like it could fill up during more busy times, like nights or weekends. You can see the touches of creativity from Richard Blais in the dishes. I did see a 3 course prefix menu for $40 which woulda been cheaper than my 2 choices but I wanted to try the pastrami. That's probably the way to go.

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    Ember & Rye
    Ember & Rye
    Ember & Rye

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    Steak 48 Del Mar

    Steak 48 Del Mar

    4.5(790 reviews)
    15.9 miCarmel Valley
    $$$$

    We came here for a birthday celebration. The wait staff made us feel so comfortable and special…read more Brian, our waiter was very knowledgeable of the menu and made great recommendations. The restaurant is very elegant and well decorated. The steaks here are best in San Diego. We tried the bone in filet, ribeye, and Ny strip. All three steaks were seasoned perfectly and expertly grilled. We loved the seafood, appetizers and sides. This restaurant is one of the very best in all of San Diego. We loved it here! The staff made us feel so special for our birthday celebration with a handwritten birthday card and fine dessert at the end.

    How could I not love this place? I enjoyed another birthday celebration here and it was amazing…read morethroughout. From the moment I walked up to the door, the valet team ran (not kidding) to open the door for me , where I was greeted by the friendly young ladies at the counter. Our table was ready but I wanted to wait for my cousin. She reserved a quiet chef's table (my favorite spot). Our waiter brought me a birthday card and we had the very best server assistant in the restaurant. I wish I could remember her name so I could acknowledge her specifically. She was one of the best I've seen there. She was very attentive and I appreciated her effort. We both had bone in rib eye steaks, corn brûlée, hasselback potatoes, and chopped salad. The steaks arrive on a sizzling platter so it continues to cook while on your table. I usually order medium rare and it's perfectly prepared. The sides were delicious but the salad wasn't one of my favorites. A lovely vanilla cake with ice cream was a great birthday presentation. This is a popular spot and gets very busy with people having a great time so it can be loud. If I could change one thing, it would be the music selection and volume. For such an elegant, fine-dining atmosphere, I felt the style and volume of the music didn't quite complement the overall experience.

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    Steak 48 Del Mar - Cleaver wall in the entrance is dramatic.

    Cleaver wall in the entrance is dramatic.

    Steak 48 Del Mar - Bread Service

    Bread Service

    Steak 48 Del Mar - Torched Scallops  Caviar*

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    Torched Scallops Caviar*

    Texas Roadhouse - 12 oz. Ribeye Steak and shrimp

    Texas Roadhouse

    4.0(1.9k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Great service! Bernie was the best server ever. Everything was delicious, especially the ribs. The…read morewait was worth it and loved the ambiance.

    Camille was amazing! She was very patient, super friendly, and genuinely sweet throughout our…read morevisit. Our appetizer was so good -- we had a TON of fried pickles, and everything came out fresh, hot, and delicious. I completely forgot to take a "before" picture because we started eating right away I had the New York strip with corn and veggies, and everything was cooked perfectly. We also ordered a ribeye to go with a baked potato and house salad, and that was delicious as well. And of course, the bread and cinnamon butter were a 10/10 We could have eaten that alone! Great food, generous portions, and even better service. Thank you, Camille, for making our experience such a good one! Camille was amazing! She was very patient, super friendly, and genuinely sweet throughout our visit. Our appetizer was so good we had a TON of fried pickles, and everything came out fresh, hot, and delicious. I completely forgot to take a "before" picture because we started eating right away I had the New York strip with corn and veggies, and everything was cooked perfectly. We also ordered a ribeye to go with a baked potato and house salad, and that was delicious as well. And of course, the bread and cinnamon butter were a 10/10 We could have eaten that alone! Great food, generous portions, and even better service. Thank you, Camille, for making our experience such a good one!

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    Texas Roadhouse - Roadhouse entrance

    Roadhouse entrance

    Texas Roadhouse - Cactus blossom

    Cactus blossom

    Texas Roadhouse - House salad

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    Same Same - NEW YORK STRIP STEAK with fried shallots and Thai-style chimichurri

    Same Same

    4.5(271 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Celebrated a dear friend's birthday with a big group on a Friday night, and the evening was…read moreseamless! Excellent drinks, quick nice service, and an incredible menu. The drink menu is great. Lots of tequila and mezcal cocktails, which are personal favorites. Really liked Tangerine You're My Sex Machine. For food, we basically ordered a massive spread of it all. Standouts were the yelllowtail ceviche--creamy & coconuty!--and all the steak dishes. Looking forward to more visits in the future. Vibes & ambiance are fun too.

    We had been aimlessly looking around for a spot that was open since our flight got in late at night…read more& we were starving. Places like the restaurant below were closing when their times were supposed to be open still. Kitty and Nate were awesome with their customer service! Super nice and accommodating, even when the food was a little too spicy for my mom. There were things like the drinks they made differently to accommodate for what we were looking for. Love the ambiance and the food was great. Whoever commented on having a midlife crisis, karmas going to kick your ass when you are that age. At least the owner has something going for themselves & has been really creative in the whole experience.

    Photos
    Same Same - Indoor decor

    Indoor decor

    Same Same - From a special event menu: PHILLY CHEESE (brioche roll, bell peppers, jalapeños, onions, cheese, secret sauce, and meat)

    From a special event menu: PHILLY CHEESE (brioche roll, bell peppers, jalapeños, onions, cheese, secret sauce, and meat)

    Same Same - The guests of honor: it is, after all, National Margarita Day

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    Rare Society - Wedge Salad Perfection. Refreshing and flavorful. Their glaze balsamic vinaigrette really completes this!

    Rare Society

    4.0(481 reviews)
    12.9 mi

    Staff Incredible Great Vibe…read moreFood was brilliant as was our Tom Holland look alike server x Been to the other location numerous times happened upon this place after walking out of Honor Bar where the experience was awful.

    Despite so many glowing reviews, I feel obligated to share the positive and negative here…read more Positive: We made a reservation for happy hour for three people. It was honored on time. Negative: On arrival we were told we could only be seated at the bar itself (full) or at high tops outside in 90 degree weather. This is the first time we've ever been relegated as happy hour guests. We did nicely request a table inside which we got, but were told the happy hour menu was not available to us. Restaurant at 5pm was nearly empty. Positive: Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and was patient as we took a bit to decide what to have. Negative: There was a lot of "have you decided yet?" returns. Clearly he'd wanted to turn the table. Positive: The food was very well prepared. Filet mignon was tender and flavorful (though I doubt it was a full portion and two of us had to share it). Negative: Everything is à la carte, and mains - like our steak - were served on completely bare plates. Not even a garnish for presentation. Lamb chop "lollipops" served in a bowl. Just tacky. The side of creamed spinach was more cream than spinach, and for a side billed as a sharing portion it was small. Positive: Once our meal started we were not rushed. Atmosphere is a bit dark but fine for this kind of steakhouse. The crème brûlée was lovely... Sorry, no desire to return to this pricey spot.

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    Rare Society - Inside bar

    Inside bar

    Rare Society - Bananas Foster Cheesecake a.k.a dream.

    Bananas Foster Cheesecake a.k.a dream.

    Rare Society - Butter cake

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    Vigilucci's Seafood & Steakhouse - Risotto Del Giorno

    Vigilucci's Seafood & Steakhouse

    3.9(1.5k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$$

    We came here for dinner to celebrate my hubby's birthday. We had a reservation at 6:45pm. Valet was…read morepacked so we parked around the corner. There is a host as you enter in the door. She greeted us with a big smile and checked us in our reservation. We were seated in the outside patio overlooking the beach. It was a beautiful view. The server came to greet us right away. He ask what we wanted to drink and afterwards told us the special menu for the night. First we started with the appetizers. We had the Fritto di Calamari e gamberretti and the Carpaccio di manzo. The calamari and rock shrimp were soft and crunchy. The batter was flavorful but subtle and the marinara sauce tied it altogether. We loved the filet mignon carpaccio. It was tender and rich. The cheese, capers and arugula provided a great balance to this dish. For our entree, we had the spaghetti portofino, Pappardelle con funghi e Capesente and Cappellaci di Manzo. When our food came we could not believe how huge their portions are. One entree is equal to 2 entrees and it makes sense because the price is up there. The Portofino, had huge amount variety of seafood and the scallop and jumbo prawn stood out which was placed on top of the dish. Wish they did have more spaghetti, but we were happy with it. All the seafood was cooked perfectly. Soft and tender and the pesto sauce was more like a little bit of marinara and pesto. The Parpadelle was cooked with just the right texture and the different types mushroom had full of Umami flavors. You can tell they make their own pasta. The 2 huge scallops in the sides were cooked just right, tender and just delicious! This was to die for. The Carpellaci was amazing!!! The hat-pasta was full of braised prime short rib and the porcini cream sauce with aged asiago and black truffles really excelled this dish. The sauce was creamy and just bursting with great flavors. All of these dishes were outstanding!!! Ofcourse none of us finished our entree. We were stuffed half way. We were not disappointed!!! We had plenty of leftovers. Also the bus boy and the servers really took care of us. Our water was always filled up. At the end they served my hubby with a birthday cannoli with a candle. We all got a taste of his birthday dessert and wow this cannoli is fantastic. It's a great way to end the evening! If you're heading to Carlsbad, this place is a wonderful restaurant to spend a special occasion or a celebration to the end of your vacation.

    The service was exceptionally bad. Once my party arrived, the waiter did not come back and check on…read moreus. To make matters worse, when I asked for cracked peppers, he set the pepper dispenser on the table and walked away. The food was decent. I had eggplant. It was ok. I do not recommend this restaurant. For a place that charges $50/plate the food should be outstanding and the service should be excellent. I have been to Tuscany and this place doesn't come close.

    Photos
    Vigilucci's Seafood & Steakhouse - Sunset view from table

    Sunset view from table

    Vigilucci's Seafood & Steakhouse - Fritto Di Calamari E Gamberetti

    Fritto Di Calamari E Gamberetti

    Vigilucci's Seafood & Steakhouse - Chilled Seafood Platter

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    Chilled Seafood Platter

    20|Twenty

    20|Twenty

    3.9(892 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$
    Full bar
    Locally sourced ingredients

    Great Spot for Drinks, But Pricey…read more We didn't actually have a meal at 20|Twenty, so I can't really comment on the food, but we did stop in for drinks and enjoyed the atmosphere. It's a beautiful, comfortable place to sit, relax, and have a drink, and the service was good. The one disappointment was the coffee. For a restaurant at this level--and at these prices--I expected the coffee to be much better. Overall, everything is definitely on the expensive side, which is somewhat expected at a resort, but you definitely notice it. One funny thing we noticed: the sign above the door appears to be backwards and reads "Twenty|20" instead of "20|Twenty." It's a small detail, but once you notice it, you can't really unsee it! Overall, we enjoyed our time here and would give it four stars based on the atmosphere, drinks, and service. I'd come back for cocktails, but probably look elsewhere for my morning coffee.

    "Ooh, well, I've got a girl with a record machine When it…read morecomes to rockin' she's the queen But she lives on the 20th floor uptown The elevator's broken down" (Eddie Cochrane) 20|Twenty is the house restaurant at the Westin Carlsbad. You can enter it direct from the hotel lobby or via an exterior entrance close to the main hotel entrance. It features a large and beautiful dining room, stylish bar and ample seating outside to enjoy the outstanding Southern California weather. We had two breakfasts here. We ordered off the menu on day one and ate outside, and we ordered their Weekend buffet ($25) on day two and ate inside. Both breakfasts were made extra special by our wonderful server Digna. We were so lucky to enjoy her fun personality, engagement, and overall charm on both mornings. On Day One, I ordered something I had seen on menus for years, but never tried before. My Chilaquiles ($22) were" a savory bowl of Boraccho beans, queso fresco, avocado, eggs, red onion, bathed in a guajillo chile sauce". I thanked Digna who taught me how to pronounce it. I loved the taste- the sauce and the tortilla wedges, sliced avocado, and egg. What a feast. On Day Two I went with the buffet and went straight to the big pile of smoked salmon, red onion slices, chive cream cheese and mini bagels. The salmon was high quality thinly sliced, just the way we like it. The buffet also had everything you want in a buffet- hot dishes, pastries, yogurt, and fruit. The fruit was great-plenty of watermelon, assorted melons, and berries. I did find it odd that when I went to toast my bagel, I saw they only had one toaster with four slots. Unfortunately, the two left slots did not work, so restaurant patrons were lining up to toast their breads one at a time. I mentioned this to one of the staff, and his response was "Yeah, we know." Anyway, that indifferent reaction was more than counterbalanced by the fantastic food and Digna's 1,000-watt personality. And what's the origin of Digna's unique name? I asked her and she said her mother named her after a street in her home town.

    Photos
    20|Twenty
    20|Twenty - TWENTY/20 Grill terrace with coastal views, fire and water features

    TWENTY/20 Grill terrace with coastal views, fire and water features

    20|Twenty

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    Nick's On State - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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