Wow. Tonights visit to Nick's SC made me never want to come back. Right away the vibe was off. Server was good and friendly but water took 10 minutes to arrive at the table, and our drinks another 10. Server described the steak temperature with Medium as pink throughout when ordering and I made a point to ask for Medium Well so there was no pink showing. She said she understood. I was served a rare steak and immediately asked the manager for a new one as it was clearly not Medium Well. The "manager" brought a side plate over and used my utensils to remove the steak from my plate stating he would make it right. 10 minutes later he brought back the same side plate with the same steak! Not only was my entire plate cold by that time, but the "re-cooked" steak was a hockey puck. I'm not a big complainer but the lack of communication during the 10 minute breaks between initial seating, greeting, drink order/delivery, and food delivery and food re-delivery was really unusual. Management should reassess their staff for the lack of handling of this situation. It wasn't busy and there were at least 4 managers on the floor and a bar captain that could/should have at least spoken with us. They comped the steak but horrific overall. Unless Nick's impresses on the next visit, they've lost our business. read more

We thoroughly loved our lunch at Nick's. The service was top notch and the food was outstanding. I had the baby back ribs . The ribs were some of the best ribs I've ever eaten . The petite bistro salad that comes with it , is the best salad I've ever had . I could eat that salad every day . I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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I had chipino broth excellent fish not at all seasoned added at the last minute and no time to absorb any flavor. Starters of bacon devilled eggs ... Where was the bacon and again egg whites unseasoned. Salmon with spinach - spinach had dairy in it. Guest allergic to dairy. Filet of steak with baked potato. Filet was nice and nicely cooked but very small. 6 Manhattans - glass 75% full every time. Barman was obviously mixing two at once and skimping on the pours. Bill was $125 per person incl. tip. read more

Nick's San Clemente - Cioppino and French Dip in background. Both delicious. - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

first time there and the last time they sat us down at the worst table and we were facing everybody else but our own family- which is a horrible way to have dinner especially a birthday dinner. really need to remove that table from your entire restaurant. There's no point of it. It's facing other people like you're at some judges table. You can't really talk to the people at your table ... waitress was pushy and Didn't give us a chance to look at the menu then took her break and some other waiter came to replace her ... didn't even tell us... food was late missing chicken on salad. Food was very average. read more

Went to nicks and luckily got the last reservation for a 6pm slot on a Tuesday. Walking in I was met with the beautiful interior, warm ambience, and nice smells. We got sat at a table and enjoyed our starter of fried asparagus, the asparagus was good but I would not order again, the ranch was very good though! My wife got the chicken sandwich and is was good but not great and I got the ribs which was also good not great. We ended with the butter cake which was excellent! The service was good however we were rushed and given boxes before we even saw a dessert menu. It was surprisingly not as expensive as I was thinking so that was a plus and I had a great meal. I look forward to the Newport location to open. read more

Nick's San Clemente - Fried chicken sandwich - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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My daughter and I had lunch here while visiting the area. I previously ate at another Nick's restaurant and while it was very ascetically pleasing, my husband and I didn't enjoy the food. After writing a review on that restaurant, I was contacted by a manager in the Yelp messaging app asking if he could send me a gift card so I could give the place another chance. I thought this was great customer service and very much appreciated the gesture. I don't live in California so when later staying near San Diego, we drove up for the day (1, because San Clemente is so cute and 2, to use the gift card). I wanted to try this restaurant and it had more items my daughter wanted to eat, so therefore we chose to eat here instead of the other restaurant. My gift card was honored at this location, which I appreciated. Everything we ordered was AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS. And while, yes, free food somehow tastes better, if I had paid full price, I still would have been very pleased. While $115 is expensive for lunch, we didn't order the "blue plate special". I didn't take pictures of much but the food and drinks were so good. We ordered the prime beef sandwich (comes with au-jus and fries), salmon meal, spinach and artichoke dip, mocktail and a cocktail. I would definitely go back! read more

Nick's San Clemente - Mocktail - Delicious! - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Came to Nick's this afternoon and had a wonderful experience. The food was delicious - we started with asparagus fries and then I got the veggie burger and bistro salad. All the food was A+ zero complaints! All the servers were polite, helpful and professional! Shout out to Demi for fantastic service. The restaurant itself has a great vibe. I love the horseshoe bar in the middle, as well as the heated indoor/outdoor patio. The music is a little loud for my taste, but it does give it more of an upbeat atmosphere, which is nice. read more

Great afternoon with Brent at the bar. Good food and drinks. The creamy French onion soup was a game changer.

We had such a great time at the Nicks. My favorite dish is the cioppino and butter cake. Service was excellent and our server Grace went above and beyond catering our needs. We really had a good time and look forward on coming back soon. read more

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Great restaurant, the location was good. Service was good and food was great. Looking forward to going again! read more

First and foremost, food was excellent. Cioppino was excellent with shrimp, salmon, white fish, mussels, clams and a portion generous enough to feed two. Husband got the prime rib dip and the meat on the brioche with au jus and horse radish was perfectly proportioned. Portion sizes here are generous, the kids options are large (chicken tenders, salmon, ribs, filet). Our server was also attentive, food came out fast, and they are very family friendly. Had an etch a sketch for my daughter which kept her entertained. Will be back read more

Nick's San Clemente - Cioppino - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

Great meal, attentive service, as usual. Date night (41 years) sitting in the sidewalk-facing tables on a perfect San Clemente evening. Only one request-and this may seem picky, except to Manhattan cocktail drinkers- but saving money on the cheaper maraschinos is not a good look. Please splurge on the Luxardos. Then everything will be on the high expectation plane you want to project. read more

Love Nicks! Came for my birthday dinner and this was my first time at the SC location. Food and drinks are great here. They have a solid menu, ranging from good salads to steaks to burgers, but the atmosphere is so nice- so it's great for a nice night out. The ribeye melt was fantastic, cooked perfectly, and on the most delicious Parmesan bread. My husband had the prime rib dip and that was so good too. Fries were perfect! Drinks were great! Service is fast and friendly! read more

Nick's San Clemente - Asparagus fries - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Always a fun time at Nick's. We did not have a reservation and were able to be added to the waitlist and probably waited about 15 to 20 minutes. This was about 6:30 PM on a Thursday in October. The restaurant was already full and hopping when we got there. One seated our server with dark brown hair approached and introduced herself. She was super helpful and nice. We opted to share a couple items this evening as we were celebrating a birthday. Towards the end of the meal I received a birthday treat which I totally appreciated along with a card signed by the staff. My only issue is that the location is always so cold and breezy Whether you're sitting in the back towards the bar or up towards the front with the open windows. I highly recommend that you bring a jacket or a sweater. There is street parking as well as municipal lots. Tonight we opted to share the wedge salad and the grilled sirloin. Both items were delicious. The loaded baked potato was the highlight of the show in my opinion. The birthday chocolate cake was also delicious and truly appreciated. We always come back and we have basically tried almost everything on the menu. read more

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Cool atmosphere. Food was meh. Abysmal beer list. Decent wine list. Service was excellent.

Great service, good food (fried chicken sandwich was good but not spectacular and the prime rib dip was really good). The prices are definitely fair and the ambience feels like the bill should have been a bit higher. Lovely restaurant! read more

amazing place!! If youre not a seafood person or even if you are, i HIGHLY recommend the prime rib dip sandwich. The meat is so buttery and unlike anything ive ever had before! Also recommend the spicy tuna crispy rice appetizer! Awesome service, super polite and courteous. Ambience is semi- chill and semi- high end ? definitely worth a try! read more

Nick's San Clemente - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

I recommend the cioppino and the French onion soup. Overall the taste of the foods was surprisingly good- didn't expect much as it was our first time here. The price point is around $30-40 for our dishes which is a bit pricey. Loved the cioppino as it came in a big portion with a lot of sea food inside! Shared with 3 people. The salmon comes with mash and spinach- very fresh but small portion. Service was good as we were seated right away and the waiter did come by a few times. read more

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Delicious food and courteous service. It's right off their downtown so you can people watch while you eat. There's a nice fireplace and heaters if it's chilly. You can smell the ocean from your seat. Really lovely atmosphere. read more

Nick's San Clemente - Spicy Thai salad - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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We went here for Valentine's Day and had a great time. Every time we've walked past it - it seems really busy and everyone talks about it! I ordered the chicken piccata and it was delicious. Perfect breaded chicken with soft inside. Mashed potatoes were a wiped texture which I loved. Ambiance was nice. Dim lighting and has a dress code. But idk if they enforce it. Service was good! read more

Beautiful restaurant, great service, good food. I came here a few weeks ago with my family for my birthday and had a great time. Food is good, not outstanding but I will give them another try as I believe every place unless downright horrible deserves a second chance. I ordered the sea bass and though I asked for it cooked well, meaning no undercooked pieces, it was REALLY cooked well...too well...kind of disappointing but I know not to ask for it next time so we'll see...everyone was pretty happy though, looks like we're going back! read more

Nick's San Clemente - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

Came in for lunch with friends as this was the halfway point for us (Anaheim and north county San Diego) and it did not disappoint! We came on a Sunday for lunch and didn't account for parking so make sure to come early to get a parking spot! Street parking and some public lots but everything was taken even after a few trips around the blocks. Ended up parking 2 blocks away but wasn't bad Food was yummy and service was great! It's a little loud and hard to hear but nothing too bad. My husband got the steak and it was perfectly cooked! I got fried chicken and mashed potatoes and it was delicious!!! We also got a salad to share and enjoyed every part! Sad I forgot my left overs :( read more

My mom has been raving about this place since her friend took her a few weeks ago. We went yesterday for late lunch around 3:00 p.m., it was an awkward time so the restaurant was fairly empty and we were able to sit right away. My mom ordered the Thai chicken salad and I ordered the crispy chicken sandwich. I tried some of my mom's Thai chicken salad and I will agree with the hype, the flavor combination is pretty amazing and tasted very traditional and authentic. It's a little spicy with the red pepper which gives it a perfect kick! My sandwich was good as well, it was cut into three big pieces. Overall the portion sizes are fairly big! I was really surprised and very happy with it. It's a very chic and nice restaurant on the Main Street in San clemente. Less than a mile from the ocean so great spot for post Beach activities. Just make sure you dress appropriately, they won't let you in if you're just wearing beach swimsuits. read more

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Great food, service, ambience, and restrooms! I ordered a veggie burger w/fries and it was super tasty and fresh. Good ratio of all the ingredients including condiments. The buns were also very tasty. My husband ordered a regular burger -- medium rare -- and it came put perfect. He also enjoyed his meal! And the ladies restroom -- smelled lovely and was euro style (you get full private stalls). read more

I have known about Nicks for many years but have not had the pleasure of experiencing this terrific restaurant until now. The experience was terrific from beginning to end. First, I was greeted by a friendly hostess who had our table ready at the time of our reservation. Since it was my first time, I asked the server for an appetizer recommendation. Without hesitation, he recommended the deviled eggs. They were 10 out 10. I paired it was a nice chardonnay. Since this was a late lunch, I went with the Prime Rib Sandwich - just wow. There was a heaping amount of perfectly rare prime rib in a soft roll with horseradish sauce and au jus to dip it into. Plus, it came with a side. I opted for the bistro salad - again wow. Even the salad was delicious and full of flavor. I will be back real soon. read more

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We came to celebrate my sister's birthday today. It was a very pleasant experience. The food is delicious. And the person attending our table, AJ, was very pleasant, polite and fun. He has a great sense of humor. We are recommending this place to all our friends. And we're coming back many times. GO DICK's! read more

Nick's San Clemente - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

Great location and delicious food! We were seated by the open window- which can get drafty when it's cold out. We had two house cocktails, Black and Blue Mojito and the Lions Tail, both were excellent cocktails! We ordered the Calamari starter- highly recommend if you like lightly battered whole calamari with a delightful spicy marinara and creamy tartar sauce. For our entrees, we ordered two House Specialty, the Bistro Plate and the Rae's Chicken Pot Pie. The Bistro plate came with a delicious petite salad and a smoky filet mignon paired with a creamy squash soup. The Rae's Chicken Pot Pie was a delightful, savory homemade chicken pot pie- definitely one of my favorite comfort foods. For dessert, we had the famous butter cake with vanilla ice cream and a berry compote on top. It tasted like a sugar cookie topped with berries and vanilla- a great dessert to split and very sweet! Overall, we had an amazing experience and will definitely be back! read more

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I used to really love Nick's and I'd say it's generally still a decent place to go. It's quite popular in San Clemente for a reason. The food is good when you get a good roll of the dice, and that's probably my biggest complaint over the last couple years. Things have become extremely inconsistent when it comes to food quality, though the service is still quite good. You essentially have to get a reservation otherwise you're gonna be waiting a while. read more

Had 80th Birthday Dinner for Mom and everything was Fantastic!!!! Appetizers and Dinner, Desert were delicious. The wait staff was very professional and courteous. Sandra was the BEST!!!!! read more

Nick's San Clemente - San Francisco Cioppino - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

Always the best ... my favorite Nicks by far. Always consistently great with service to great waiters esp Travis who is outstanding and a key waiter at this location. My favorite dishes #1 chicken pot (seasonal) #blackened salmon on salad #3 fried chicken with mash and corn. The mgrs are fantastic always pro active. U will not go wrong with dining here .... Summer months can be tough getting reservations a must. read more

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Absolutely amazing experience. The service, atmosphere, and food were all a 10. The chicken soup was one of the best I've ever had so flavorful and comforting. The fried chicken was also incredibly delicious and the portion size was very generous. Everything about the meal was excellent and I will definitely be coming back. Highly recommend! read more

Bbq beef ribs ste not listed on the posted menu. Im not sure why they say they have it on yelp when they don't

Amazing food and service! Loved the chicken piccata and bistro plate! Sandra was super helpful and sweet. She even got a pass for leaving a little wine mark on the bottle (usually my red zone ). Definitely recommend! read more

Nick's San Clemente - the chicken piccata and bistro plate - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

Had lunch here today. First of all the service was top notch. Our server was friendly and attentive and did not rush us. We started with the deviled eggs, a definite 10. Then we had the chicken pot pie and blackened fish sandwich in a lettuce wrap with the tomato blue cheese side. ALL of it was delicious. I highly recommend giving this place a try. You will not be disappointed! read more

Nick's San Clemente - Tomato blue cheese side and blackened fish sandwich - American Near Me - San Clemente, California

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This is my go to place when I want a nice hot French dip and a warm hot butter cake to finish the night.

One of my family members had highly recommended this place and wanted to get take out and said it usually takes about 30 minutes. We called at 5pm and they said the food would not be ready until 7pm because they did not want the kitchen to get overwhelmed. We ended up not ordering right then to figure out if we wanted to wait two hours. Ended up calling back a few minutes later and it was 645 pick up time now. We got there around 635 and they said the food was not ready and it would be another ten minutes or so. While we were waiting we asked what the wait time to be seated was and they said an hour and a half. I understand it's a nice restaurant and oftentimes busy but for take out orders to be a two hour wait while eating inside is an hour and a half, how would the kitchen be overwhelmed at all. The point of take out is that you don't have to wait as long if you were to eat at the restaurant. The food was pretty good. My sister and I got the center cut steak and it was good meat but very salty. My aunt got the petit filet that she enjoyed. The baked potato was good but a little dry. Overall, underwhelmed and would not do take out from them again. read more

Kale salad was delicious! I had the chicken added to it. Friend had the avocado added to hers.

Been a regular since they opened but never took the time to share review. Service and food is consistently excellent. Make this a stop if your in San Clemente. read more

I absolutely love Nick's! This is my 3rd time already here. We started off with the calamari and caesar salad. Some of the dishes my family ordered were the buttermilk fried chicken, seafood chioppino, blackened fish burger, bistro plate and prime rib dip. We were so happy with the sizes as they were huge and the food was delicious. We made reservations for 7 but last minute became a party of 8. We had to wait a while so that they could give us a table. It was really sweet that they remembered my dad's birthday and gave him a cake. It was a perfect time with family. read more

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Tried the original ribeye melt and the prime rib dip sandwiches, both were 10/10. The flavor was insane in the best way. Ate the food so fast that we didn't get pictures. Ambiance was def a vibe, great place for a date night dinner. Service was great! overall would come back to this spot and try something else read more