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    Nick's San Clemente

    4.4 (2.4k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Nick's San Clemente Photos

    NICK'S SAN CLEMENTE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Nick's San Clemente

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    Halibut Special 7/10
    Vicki A.

    Wow! Met wo-workers for lunch and conversation at Nick's and enjoyed the entire experience. The great - The food was delicious. The drink menu looked legit (but didn't try any) The good - The glass diet coke bottle and the atmosphere was super chill The bad - na The ugly - na There were 4 of us and everyone enjoyed their food immensely. The service was good and the appropriate speed. We didn't feel rushed or forgotten about at any time.

    Burger with these delicious tomatoes, and blue cheese
    MaDonna W.

    It really pays to make a reservation at any of the Bucks locations. Extremely popular on the weekends. We were lucky to get one of the remaining tables at 4:45 on a Saturday. You can always take your chance at the bar, but that also is very crowded. The food is nice. I will say their burgers are one of my favorites. I usually get that every time I come here. And the tomatoes tonight were so fresh with a heaping mound of delicious blue cheese. Everything was so fresh and so delicious. It was very busy however the service was surprisingly quick. Parking is always a challenge. Be prepared to walk just a bit unless you get lucky and find a spot on the street. They do have lots here and there.

    Warm Butter Cake
    Melika J.

    Great service, and even better food! The staff is knowledge about the menu items and all have a pleasant and upbeat attitude. Never had to ask for a water refill or anything of the sorts cause they were already on it. We started with the tuna crunch and asparagus fries which were both fresh and delicious. Then we had the steak with salad along with the chicken sandwich and rigatoni. And my favorite part would have to be their butter cake and sundae, I remember every bite! The ambiance was great for a date night out or a family dinner, with dim lights and modern decor.

    Blackened Fish Sandwich
    Steven H.

    Had a really solid meal at Nick's San Clemente. I went with the Prime Rib Dip and that was easily the star of the night -- super tender, melt-in-your-mouth prime rib on a soft brioche bun, with a red wine au jus and a nice kick from the horseradish cream. The fries on the side were just okay, but honestly felt like an afterthought next to the sandwich. My partner ordered the Blackened Fish Sandwich and was a big fan -- clean flavors and cooked really well. Drinks were on point too. The Cucumber Collins was crisp and refreshing, and the Espresso Martini had just the right balance. Service was great for most of the meal and our waiter was attentive, but it tapered off at the end. We waited longer than expected to close out, which was a bit of a buzzkill after such a good experience. Overall, really good food and drinks -- just a small stumble at the finish line.

    Cioppino
    Jonathan R.

    We had dinner with some friends at Nick's in San Clemente and the food and service were both outstanding! I had the top sirloin with the baked potato and it was amazing. My wife had the Sea bass and our friends had the salmon and cioppino and they were all delicious.

    Fried Chicken and San Francisco Cioppino
    David R.

    Food and service were all amazing ! Irving, our waiter was very nice and helpful. We were amazed how the restaurant was still packed at 10 pm on a Sunday but it was Memorial Day weekend so I guess we can attribute the crowd to that. Drinks were good strong I'm diabetic so I ordered my old fashioned with light syrup so that's probably why it was strong. Butter cake is a must if you have room, you won't regret leaving a little room.

    Crispy Deviled Eggs. 8/10
    Matt And Brianne C.

    We went to Nick's for our Honeymoon dinner and Malia made sure that the night went perfect. The service was amazing, the ambiance was perfect, and the food was outstanding! Thanks again for having us!

    Fish sandwich.
    Ken G.

    Ho Ho Ho! The wife and I came here for Xmas Eve dinner this year since we are staying local. Had a reservation and we were seated right away. The place was hopping! Everyone was in the Christmas spirit! We eaten here before and were seated in the bar area which was nicer than the main dining room. Food came out fast, hot and yummy! Dessert was to die for! The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars might sound petty but when we asked for boxes for our leftovers, they were brought to our table quickly. My petty issue is that the couple next to us did the same thing, but our server packed and bagged it for them. We had to do it ourselves. Petty, maybe. But are we less of a customer than anyone else?

    Kale and Quinoa Salad
    Kerry S.

    Wonderful, classy, and impeccably clean restaurant. The entire staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. One thing about Nick's restaurants is their consistency, no matter which location you visit, you can always expect the same high quality. Over the past 10 years, we've tried about 95% of the menu, and everything has been absolutely delicious.

    At the bar Salted Pear
    Jus E.

    Our favorite go to for dessert in town!!! the service is always great! When we eat dinner here we do get a table but since it is only for dessert this time we usually go to the bar! always enjoying the ambiance!

    Blackened Fish Sandwich
    Kathryn G.

    I've been to the Nick's in Newport and Laguna several times, and I can say this Nick's has the best food quality. The asparagus fries had thicker asparagus, the avocado and spicy tuna on top of the crispy rice spicy tuna was more generous, and the blackened fish sandwich had the thickest (and best cooked) piece of mahi mahi I've had. It was hard to eat but delicious! The location is nosier than the other two, which my grandma didn't care for, but we all agreed this location had the best food.

    We stopped in during their happy hour and were seated immediately. The interior is lively and happening . I enjoyed a jalapeno watermelon margarita and enchiladas from the happy hour menu. Excellent!!! So good. Service was amazing too. So glad we stopped in.

    Evelynn K.

    Nick's San Clemente offers great American Fare in an upscale diner atmosphere. The Buttermilk Fried Chicken dinner is always a sure bet and a hearty choice. The Tuna with Crispy Rice is a great appetizer choice for sushi lovers and the butter cake is an all around crowd pleaser. Great for a nice family dinner, gals night or date night.

    Warm Butter Cake

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    21 days ago

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

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

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

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    5 months ago

    My husband and I love this restaurant. Highly recommend the deviled eggs and asparagus fries. The service, food and ambiance are excellent.

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    1 year ago

    Amazing staff and management. Food is consistently delicious with a nice ambiance. I definitely recommend stopping in.

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    Nick's San Clemente Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Nick's San Clemente

    Is there a breakfast menu?

    Nick's does not offer breakfast.

    Is there a kids menu?

    We happily offer a verbally featured kid's menu. Please contact us at 949-481-2200 or hello@nicksrestaurants.com for the current offerings.

    How long has Nick's been in San Clemente?

    Since January, 2010

    Can we order dinner at 3:30 or just lunch?

    Many of the same entrees and appetizers are on the lunch menu as the dinner menu. Recommend calling the restaurant to confirm.

    Are dogs allowed?

    They unfortunately do not allow dogs, unless a certified Service dog.

    Do they serve breakfast?

    No lunch and dinner only

    Do you still have chicken pot pies?

    Yes I was just there and they had it.

    Do you have a gluten-free breads? Maybe for your veggie burger or sandwiches? Thank you?

    i know you can get burgers lettuce wrapped but i don't think they have gluten free breads. you could always call

    What is the parking situation at Nicks?

    Currently it is touch and go. With outdoor seating on Del Mar, you will probably have to cruise the block a couple of times. Something usually opens up. But there is parking right out front. No seats in the street here.

    Can I bring my baby in the stroller or just bring the car seat in and set it in the booth?

    Yes. There is room for strollers in the outside area

    What's the corkage fee?

    $15

    Do the have Happy hour?

    No, they don't.

    Anyone know if they allow you to call first to put name on wait list before heading down there?

    Yes, it is better to call them first. Strongly recommend to call them first to go down there.

    How about watching any NFL games on Sundays ? I don't see any TVs in any of the postings with pictures?

    They have two TVs in bar area but they are super small. South of Nicks has two bigger TVs

    Obviously dining in is ideal.. such a gorgeous atmosphere, but do they do take out? Babysitting this weekend and hoping to bring home a delicious meal!

    Hi. From what I know, they do not do take out on weekends, however; you might be able to stop by nicks and order something to go but not sure if you can call it in beforehand.… Read more

    Are they dog friendly?

    We love our furry friends at Nick's. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate pets in our dining areas.

    Are dogs allowed on the patio?

    We love our furry friends at Nick’s! Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate pets in our dining areas or patios.

    View All 24 Questions

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    It's been years since I've been here. Ambience inside is very sort of sports bar around the bar…read morearea and masculine with a Mexican touch booths and seating. Our young waiter was very peppy and friendly in what I consider an overly familiar kind of way. Not my style but I can't fault them for it. Chips and salsa were brought to the table, good as before. Plates-beautiful presentation, some items better than others. Pork Mole Enchilada-meh, the mole was on the sweet side, not very punchy, not memorable. Shrimp Taquito-amazing, tasty shrimp with nice spices and garnish, pinto beans well pureed and good. Mexican street corn-pretty good, a little heavy on the mayo. Food was good and solid, but not a WOW! There is better Mexican out there around here for the same or lesser prices, so don't go here for the value, go for the ambience and if you like drinks and/or expensive tequilas, they've got plenty of those too. Desserts were very generous, flan with caramel and candied pecans was delicious, creamy, firm, not flabby like some flans can be. Churros-rolled into a circle and fried, served with vanilla ice cream, caramel, candied pecans too. Desserts were the best part of the meal. I enjoyed eating here, once. Twice, I won't.

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    Check In Here Reservations Highly Recommended

    South of Nick's - Filet salad

    Filet salad

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    GiGi's by The Pier

    GiGi's by The Pier

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    Service: The service was excellent. The waitress was very…read moreattentive and energetic. Everyone there had a very positive attitude. Which is a big plus. Food: We started off with the coconut shrimp. The coconut shrimp was good. The coconut was crispy and the shrimp was well done for the main dish. I got the Cali Benedict. It was Soooo good. The hollandaise sauce was so tasty. The shrimp was fully seasoned and the potato's were well seasoned and huge. I recommend people getting this dish. Ambiance: The ambiance was great. There wasn't really a lot of people so that was nice. Just kids screaming and cry from time to time.

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    GiGi's by The Pier
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    Brussels Bistro - Mussels Provencal!

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    We are so glad to have found this place when looking for brunch option this morning…read more We ordered little mixture of lunch and breakfast and who doesn't love oysters on a half-shell first thing in the morning! They were nice and fresh-served with a little butter mixture, and of course, lemon and Tabasco on the side for preference. The oysters were a little small, but they were a good try anyway. We also started with a basket of sourdough slices which came out toasted and hot. Next was the Boeuf Bourguignon was just delicious! They definitely slow cooked the beef as advertised. And also a Mediterraneenne omelette w/some added Gruyère-the egg alone was probably the best fluffy omelette I've ever had! Everything was cooked with delicacy and care in the quality of the ingredients. You definitely get the quality of food that the prices call for. We will definitely be back because it's good quality food, and pleasant vibe with good service!

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    The line can get long but you're only waiting to place an order. It doesn't take that long to get…read moreyour food. It's not hard to find street parking either. This place is a little pricey but it's worth it. You get a lot of avocado and ginger. I love the original flavor. It makes the rice taste so good. I wish they gave more salmon but I'm still satisfied.

    This place used to be good post covid. For the price and the amount i could get better some place…read moreelse. They charge an arm and a leg for every toppings with how little they give you. i got the regular $12.99 (half rice and salad) and i added a few things on there as well. The total price plus tip came out to be about $24 dollars. When i opened the container, i saw how little rice and salad they gave. Honestly, it looked like scraps or leftovers from someone else. Literally looked like a mini icecream scoop of rice and salad...that's how little it was. The same for the fish and toppings. Everything looked like it was sprinkled on top. I was utterly disappointment because this isn't the first time i noticed the portion size being small. This is the second time im giving it a chance after covid and i can confirm that it is the biggest waste of money for what they give you. They're ripping everyone off. tl;dr, mediocre flavor, portion size poor for the the price. Go somewhere else, there are better ones out there.

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    Regular salmon bowl with Furikake and spicy mayo

    Kawamata Seafood - Regular salmon bowl with Furikake and spicy mayo

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    Rare Society

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    Oh my god!!! Rare Society was hands down the foodie highlight of our entire trip and it wasn't even…read moreclose. We did the steak platter and it was genuinely one of the best things I've ever eaten!! Perfectly charred crust, gorgeous pink center, and served with three dipping sauces... plus roasted bone marrow on the side for those that like to indulge! I'm not a fan but everyone else loved it! Honestly the presentation alone on that round board was its own moment. Made it so much fun to share this way The cocktails were actually looked as good as they tasted as well! The whole vibe of the restaurant is warm and elevated. Perfect date night out! Service insanely good too! Our server was so sweet and made sure we were always happy! If you're anywhere near Solana Beach, this is a non-negotiable stop. Make a reservation, order the platter, and thank yourself later!

    Sure this place is a bit pricey but that's what it is these days…read more A very nice place. I like the vibe. The dim atmosphere. Very upscale feel. You can dress up or be casual. My husband likes his $30 whiskey sour. Our only complaint is it could've been served in a whiskey cup and not a cocktail cup. My drink was good, forgot what it was called. We were served by everyone. Our main waitress was wonderful. Our water was always refilled. Our order was taken by another gentlemen who had memorized our order. The waiter who brought out our executive board explained the whole board. SO MUCH MEAT!!! It all tasted excellent. Their bread roll on the appetizer portion was like nothing I've ever tasted. How on earth does it stay so fluffy!? I mean, that's every carb lovers dream. We had a wonderful dinner. We will be back again.

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    Private dining room

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    Nick's San Clemente - tradamerican - Updated May 2026

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