Celebrated the hubs birthday at Nick's. We had an excellent experience from the moment we walked in. The service was impeccable and the restaurant had a very nice atmosphere...not too loud and not too dark. We ordered the bacon deviled eggs with the jalapeno watermelon margarita and the old fashioned. The eggs were tasty and the drinks were strong! For dinner, he had the center cut filet and I had the bistro plate...the best "girls" dinner in town! Everything was cooked perfectly and the plating was beautiful. For dessert, the hubs received a complimentary slice of the butter cake...we really enjoyed it. We will definitely be returning to Nick's read more

Service and food was great here. I had the Caesar salad that last time I was here and I was craving it ever since. The asparagus fries are delicious and a great starter. Deviled eggs, you can't go wrong. Meatloaf is loaded with flavor. I've tired several items and nothing has been bad. Did I mention the espresso martini?? Yummm. You can't go wrong here read more

Friendly staff, drink was great, baked potatoe good, food was too salty and over priced.

Awesome restaurant. We made reservations in advance, and were seated as soon as we arrived. The service, ambience, and food were all excellent, wife and I both had the filet steaks. It was one of the best steaks I've had at a restaurant in a long time. It gets busy, reservations highly recommended. read more

We have a new favorite restaurant in Carlsbad. Outstanding all around. Our server was attentive and made good recommendations. We had the ribs and seafood bowl. Wonderful! Butter cake for dessert topped off the meal. We will definitely be back read more

Came for a business lunch. Had a great experience - food was delicious, service was excellent, nice atmosphere for a meeting. No complaints here. read more

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

This is my third time at this location, twice at the bar. Both times I find the bartenders to be unfriendly. It's almost like you have to beg to get a drink. I could sit there for 10 minutes with my glass empty and I have to wave the bartender down. read more

Went to Nick's in Carlsbad for dinner to celebrate our 56th anniversary. The food was excellent, the service excellent. We mentioned it was our anniversary and after a wonderful dinner, they brought us a yummy chocolate cake and presented us with a card saying ' 'thank you for sharing your special day with us' which was signed by the entire staff! So thoughtful. Highly recommend Nick's. read more

Nick's has to be one of the most consistent restaurants of the last decade--and that alone deserves more than five . Service is always attentive, the kitchen deserves tons of high fives, and the flavors are spot-on. Favorites include the spicy Thai salad, chicken sandwich, cheeseburger, prime rib dip, and any of the fish dishes including the blackened fish sandwich. Cocktails are always excellent too. You truly can't go wrong here. Solid American menu options. It's a great go-to! read more

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

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Food selection and service is the best in Carlsbad Village. Menu has a good selection of choices and have never had a bad meal here.Highly suggest making a reservation! read more

What a truly wonderful dining experience. Every encounter with a staff member was pleasant. You can tell the workers are extremely well trained. The service was attentive and so professional. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful- we sat outside on the patio both time, yes we dine 2x in the same week. We were wowed! The food was well prepared- sandwiches, salads, and the meatloaf. They do have a kids menu- the chicken fingers were homemade , you can tell. Overall, I cant think of a more recent dinner experience in a restaurant that impressed me like this one. Bravo to all! read more

Everything happens for a reason. We came into town last week from LA to celebrate my daughter's spring break and decided that we were going to take her to Legoland. We came into town about 8pm and our main destination was to go find a restaurant before checking in our hotel. We originally ended up at Karl's Strauss at 8:10pm, only for the host to tell us that they close at 9 and they might be able to serve us if we're seated (which obviously makes no sense). I was a little frustrated but wasn't going to let that ruin our vacation. I remember doing my research ahead of time and heard about Nick's On State, so we made our way to the restaurant. We were immediately greeted and seated right away. The menu had a lot of great options and my hubby and I had a hard time deciding on what to eat. Our server ( I didn't get a chance to get her name but she was really sweet) was very professional and friendly, and walked us through our options, along with letting us know what's on the kid's menu. We started off with the bacon deviled eggs and California salad. I never liked deviled eggs, but these eggs were on another level and so good! The crispiness and bacon bits on top made you craving for more lol and even my 5 year old enjoyed them. The California salad was also large enough to share and had all these different flavors in it between the dates, goat cheese, pistachios, etc. For our main meal, my daughter ordered the buttered noodles with chicken. My hubby ordered the ribs and I ordered the rib eye melt. The ribs were falling off the bone and so tender, plus whatever salad came with it was delicious from what my hubby told me. My rib eye melt was cooked perfectly (medium rare) and the sweet onions in there gave it a nice balance. We ended off the night by splitting their famous butter cake which was divine (my hubby loves butter cake if it's made just right). Overall, service and food were excellent. When we're back in SD again for a mini getaway, we'll definitely be returning. Thanks again for starting off our tip on the right path! read more

Incredible food and service! Megan was friendly, polite and attentive for our late lunch yesterday. I ordered the Bistro Plate: petite filet, New England clam chowder and chopped house salad. The combination of flavors and freshness were outstanding. My mom ordered the Thai noodle chicken salad. It had the right amount of spice, crunchy and freshness. Also, try one of the margaritas- they're very fresh and delicious! Will definitely be back. read more

Nick's On State - Coconut margarita and skinny margarita - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Good food, long wait, very kind staff. Handles ice cream is across the street for afterwards. read more

Amazing afternoon dinning experience which exceeded my expectations. 5- Stars. I wouldn't be surprised if Nick's is looking for a special M-Star. Service from beginning to end was attentive without being distracting. Big plus. Food was very delicious from appetizers to dessert. Amazing flavors, freshness and quality. The non-alcoholic drink I had was incredible. Went well with my meal; delicious and complex flavors. Reservations is recommended. We were a 'party of six' seated on their covered patio. Street parking or nearby parking lots; allow time for parking. Pics of two entrees. Chicken pot pie and Meatloaf. read more

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

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Disappointed in the food, we had the beef dip sandwiches and good grief almost no meat and what was there was fatty. Came for a birthday lunch, we won't come again. read more

Birthday celebration party of 5 Food always good Sarah the manager made sure we had a nice table Cody, our server was wonderful! Great dining experience! read more

Had dinner at Nick's on State with a group of friends and it was a great night. The ribs were ridiculously juicy and flavorful, falling off the bone, I made a huge mess and enjoyed every moment. The whiskey selection was exactly what we needed. Megan took care of us and was incredibly patient with the group. She stayed on top of everything the whole time and had some great recommendations. Shoutout to Steel, Geo, Ryan, and Colby for making it a fun night. Great food, great service, and lovely night. 5/5 read more

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

Always on point. We've been to this location many times and they never disappoint. We came this time to celebrate a birthday and everyone enjoyed their meal. We got the Caesar salad with chicken, the fried chicken, cioppino, the bistro plate, the shrimp taquitos, spicy rigatoni and a few drinks. Service was attentive and responsive - never wanting or needing to call on wait staff. Downtown Carlsbad is a nice place to walk around and browse the shops. read more

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The lemon cake has returned!!! If you couldn't tell, I love Nick's lemon cake. For dinner I had the meatloaf and my 'go to' glass of Austin Hope Cabernet, both absolutely delicious. I am always happy to see Jessica and Chase, they are always a delight behind the bar. Enjoy! read more

Nick's On State - Nick's absolutely delicious lemon cake. It's huge and the gift that keeps on giving. - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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If you've been here, then you know. if you haven't been here, then put it at the top of your list. Great food, great service, fun atmosphere. what else do you need?? read more

It's one of those places where you can enjoy great food, good drinks, and a comfortable vibe all at once. Definitely a spot I'd come back to and recommend if you're looking for a cozy place to grab a bite." read more

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@nicksonstate in Carlsbad, CA is a highly rated, upscale-casual restaurant celebrated for its elevated American comfort food, exceptional hospitality, and vibrant, stylish atmosphere. My top picks on the menu: asparagus fries, shrimp taquitos & spicy thai salad. Try to secure a reservation, the restaurant fills up quickly. read more

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Great open space, quick service. Would highly recommend the ribs and the fish all were so good! I recommend the cucumber cocktail as a refresher I actually filmed a bit while I was there, might post a little feature soon! Would love to come by again and try some of your new menu items. read more

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

Fabulous place! Excellent Service! Great food! My husband has been here before, but this was my first time. The ambiance was beautiful inside or outside. We sat outside and the heaters were the perfect temperature. We got the spinach dip, which was so good, for entrées we got the baby back ribs,which were huge, and sea bass, perfect pint of food. Our server Gracie, was so attentive! Water always filled, specials were mentioned. HIGHLY recommend read more

Nick's On State - Sea bass and baby back ribs which - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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came to Nick's on State for dessert and a night cap on my birthday and decided to try the much-talked-about "butter cake." Unfortunately, it was a huge disappointment. After one bite, we couldn't take another--it honestly tasted like a spoonful of straight sugar. There was no balance at all, just overwhelming sweetness. It ended up being the worst butter cake I've ever had. Really disappointing, especially for a birthday treat and given how much this dessert is hyped, but the espresso martini was delicious! read more

TL; DR I love the butter cake here. Ribs and fries are good, but nothing to write home about. The burger, fish sandwich, chicken sandwich, and prime rib sandwich weren't hits for me. Pricey. Parking isn't free or readily available. Ambiance, staff and service are top notch. My favorite item and frankly the only item I come back for here is the Butter Cake. It is delicious. My previous review has other items I've tried that were okay at best. The ribs are the better choice here for me, but I wouldn't come back for them. It's the dessert that lures me back. On our last visit I had the chicken sandwich. It was average at best and so was the prime rib sandwich that came with bacon mustard. It did NOT taste like bacon at all. It tasted like Dijon somehow, which I hate. Food was served barely lukewarm. Disappointed in this last experience, however the staff was very accommodating to the experience so can't be too upset at the mishap. I'll always return to satisfy my sweet tooth! read more

I've been to a few Nick's locations, and the Carlsbad spot didn't disappoint. The restaurant has a modern yet cozy vibe and the service was on point. We didn't have a reservation but only waited about 10 minutes, which was a nice surprise for a weekend. For food, the chicken piccata and Scottish salmon were both solid choices, but the prime rib dip is a must try. Also highly recommend the asparagus fries which coms w/ a side of ranch. And don't skip dessert, butter cake is the perfect way to end the meal. Overall, another great experience at Nick's. Would I go again? Absolutely! read more

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Such a disappointing sandwich. I actually can't believe how bad it was. And I only ordered it because my server said it was incredible. It was the Prime Rib Dip. Fatty, cold, overall mid. Very nice place though. read more

This place is totally one of my to spots in the village as I love the ambiance and the service is very good. The food is pretty typical Californian and they have a pretty good selection of salads, entrees and sandwiches. The deviled eggs are freaking awesome! read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Carlsbad! I just went here for my birthday with my family and once again it did not disappoint. Everything I have had on the menu is amazing. I love the Chilean Sea Bass, but decided to try the chicken piccata this time and it was delicious. Everyone ordered different items on the menu and cleaned their plates! We had to top off our meal with the butter cake which just melts in your mouth. Always great service and fun atmosphere! As a resident, I love having this restaurant right downtown! read more

Excellent service, delicious dishes and wonderful ambiance. Everybody's dishes and cocktails were perfect! Cody was an amazing waiter making sure our one nut allergy guest was well taken care of for the night. I highly recommend this restaurant when in Carlsbad! read more

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We haven't been to Nicks in a while as it's tough to get a rez, but got in early last Friday. Nicks is still exceptional in every way, and our waiter Josh was the man. Made some great recs and improved our dining experience from start to finish!! Grilled artichokes, Far Niente by the glass!! The food was just great and hot and served timely. Even this pilsner Josh recommended was perfect! Still my favorite restaurant in San Diego.. read more

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

Gives us NICKS on STATE! What's to love? The ambiance The fun drinks The asparagus fries The steaks The salads The staff/service The BUTTTERRRR CAKE !!! Every time even if you are full from all of the above! read more

2nd night in Carlsbad and went right back.....and did not disappoint once again! Everything is phenomenal! read more

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Well varied menu, good service and ambiance and their food for the prices charged is competitive and well presented.

Great new addition to downtown Carlsbad! This has the same menu as the Laguna Beach location but a better vibe overall. The building is really cool- I remember it used to be an antique mall actually. Anyway, came here for my husband's bday the other night. Tuna tartare and shrimp taquitos were spot on. Steak was grilled to perfection. The waiter was very kind and attentive. They brought out a free butter cake for his bday. I know people rave about that thing but honestly it's way too rich. Could barely finish one with the whole table sharing it. Hot towel service was a nice touch at the end. Not sure if they have live music here but they should with the way it's set up. Weeknight was not busy at all and easy parking. Patio looked really nice too if it was warmer out. No Dr Pepper tho? Why. read more

This review long overdue... Been to the San Clemente location and loved it so when we heard they were opening a location in my town, we were all about it! We have actually been there several times at this point and it's been an enjoyable experience each time. Open air seating to enjoy the fresh beach summer air while draining whatever beverage you prefer and chillin at the bar is just how we like to unwind on some days. Only ordered food one time and it was excellent. It has been over a year since that day so I cannot recall the details of the food but suffice to say, my bride is always down to head to Nick's on State in Carlsbad. Not even question! read more

I fought with myself to rave about this restaurant because I don't want it to get too crowded once it's been found out. But my "Do unto others" motto won out and I have to share it. It is by far, hands down, the BEST place to eat in north county. The food is fantastic, really fantastic and creative. We had the blackened mahai-mahai sandwich. It was prepared beyond delicious with 3 small onion rings and other delicacies in there and with a side of delicious mashed potatoes All at a fair price. The ambience is relaxing and comfortable and the staff couldn't be more professional and very nice. I promise you will not be disappointed. read more

Nick's On State - Blackened Mahi-Mahi sandwich with mashed potatoes (the works) Mmmmm so GOOD! - New American Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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Been there many times. It's my favorite place. The chopino is incredible. So is the prime Rib dip. read more

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

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