Big Nick's Burger and Pizza Joint
- Nearest Transit:
79th St (1)
72nd St (1, 2, 3)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner, Late Night
53 Reviews for Big Nick's Burger and Pizza Joint
The menu reads like a Russian novel; we're talking thick!
The incredibly tiny interior is a time capsule of old New York City. The counter even has the twisty bar stools.
Perfect place to wander in drunk and yearning for thick juicy steak fries at 4 am.
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Huge menu, super duper cheap prices, and hugeeee portions. Typical American fare. If you're hungry and you're not looking for a nice classy atmosphere, go here.
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Three stars for good burgers, decent prices and very fast service.
All other food there sucks.
I ate there two times.
First time Burgers and Salad were okay. They were served very quickly.
Next day I returned with three people for dinner. I ordered the traditional Greek dish moussaka. One of my friends is Greek and I have a lot of experience with Greek food. The dish sucked. (eggplant in moussaka should not be breaded and not be al dente. Also, alfredo sauce belongs on pasta, the sauce on top of Greek dishes is supposed to be very different)
My other friend ordered a wrap with falafel in it. She ate 1/4 of it - enough said.
The Greek friend only ate his meat patty and said his side of chili tasted like soap.
Don't remember what the fourth person had, but he didn't rave about his food.
been coming here for like ever, back when you could smoke inside we even tried to light up a joint. oh the good old days of underage drinking and $1 happy hour beers, but alas it's $1.5 now! Before I became vegetarian it was all about the burgers. My only suggestion is they get a bigger bun for the sumo burger. And if you want an eating competition, try 2 sumo burgers, that should kill anyone.
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Low key vegetarian option! They have a separate menu page devoted to vegetarian and vegan options, which are surprisingly more than you'd guess based on the low key pizza joint feel.
The pizza didn't look so swift, but the mac and cheese my friend had (which I picked at) was definitely good. It's the very traditional southern Italian version of mac and cheese and not your typical American baked dish, which is basically a light cream sauce mixed with cheddar and spinach. My burger was pretty good and huuuuuge.
24 hours, plenty of veggie friendly and grease friendly options and free delivery/takeout all over the UWS. Glad I know about it, but honestly, I doubt I'd go back intentionally.
The burgers here are like the Energizer Bunny.... no matter how much of it I ate, it kept going and going. I didn't think I'd reach the end (and I didn't)! These saucer-like burgers were fairly tasty, although I'd be hard-pressed to say they were fantastic. The meat was undercooked, which was not too bad since I like the rarer side of life. However, the fries did not live up to the burgers nearly as well.
We've gotten take-out a couple of times, but I've never really been compelled to sit and eat there. The ambiance is, shall we say, wanting..?
However, not a bad take-out option for when you're craving half a cow or two.
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Big Nicks is a stereotypical restaurant that we expect New York to have. It has employees that are impatient and busy. The food is great and greasy. This place has a menu of many choices and combinations. I found Big Nicks when I was staying around the corner at the Country Inn the City hotel (which I have witten about). The other great thing about Big Nicks is that it is open 24 hours and they deliver.
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The menu is over-freakin-whelming. I love that they have a page for vegetarian food and even list what's vegan and have vegan cheese! My boyfriend got the "meat"ball parm hero veganized and i had a bit of it and damn was it tasty.
I had the french toast....not impressed...it was deep fried. Wayyyy too greasy.
The place was jam packed and maybe it was just the super annoying trust fund babies that were sitting behind us that really ruined my big nicks experience.
3 stars for the amount of vegan options
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If you're getting anything other than a hamburger, you'll regret coming here. Pizza is atrocious, too thick, and is usually cold (I order in), and is highly expensive for what it is. You can do MUCH better in the area, (unless, of course you are looking for a cheap hamburger!)
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On our way to Lincoln Center to see the Circus- my Fiancee had to stop here and get a Burger he'd been missing since his internship at ABC had ended. I had already eaten, so I didn't get one- but I had a taste of his and my mouth was watering until a week later I got one of my own. This is a GOOD burger. It is crisp on the outside and soft and moist inside. Lots of oozey cheese and a bun you don't hate, but don't really pay attention to either.
I love the feel of Nicks- big old wooden tables and benches, waiters that are there to please and the typical grumpy older guy running the register. I also immensely appreciate that they have restrooms and you get to really take in the feel of a small business when going down to use it- storage, delivery bags, etc.
If I lived near Nick's I'd be in trouble, but it definitely deserves some special trips over there.
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I can't speak for all the food on their extensive menu, but I will say the burgers are two things: huge and awesome.
My server (Angelica) was one of the nicest I've had in my 7 years living in NYC. She is actually part of the reason I'm writing this review. I've written a couple of bad reviews on Yelp and I want to even out my karma and say something positive as well. Positivity isn't as juicy or funny as trashing a joint but if you want juicy, go for the bison burger on a toasted garlic hero. If you want funny- well, read anything else I write.
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Right around the corner from our hotel, we decided to give this place a chance after a long day of touring Manhattan.
I ordered the Carbonara Pizza and my sister had the Salad Trio. Not only was my pizza a creamy, greasy disaster, half of the essential ingredients were left off - like, no bacon or peas.
When I called Big Nick's to request another pizza with the correct toppings, they told me that the ingredients were on there and I just couldn't see them. Well, whether you can see it or not, bacon is one of those things that isn't easy to miss if it's included in a dish - and it wasn't there.
Anyways, they eventually delivered a to-go box of bacon - but no peas, as they ran out of those and didn't think it was important enough to say anything.
Not that it matters, but my sister thought her Salad Trio was gross, too. This is a great example that not all stereotypes are true - like not being able to get a bad meal in New York City.
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the slowest delivery ever! however, i love the fact that i can come home drunk and stop off here for pizza at 4am. you really can not put a price on that.
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Its a bad sign when a stranger walking down the street makes a point to stop and ask you "oh god, how can you eat here? the food is terrible!" That's what happened to me when I was sitting at an outside table right after I ordered. I had some anxiety waiting for the food after this. My giant mug of cheap beer kind of tasted like bathwater. It didn't help that the glass was covered with lip prints and was probably never washed, ever. Probably best to eat here stoned, when you wouldn't notice the grossness as much and would appreciate stuff like random waffle fries in with your meal.
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There's never a shortage of places to eat in NY, yet somehow we still end up walking around on occasion saying.. "oh.. I dont know what I want to eat tonight. I dont know what Im in the mood for.."
Well, you're in luck. With a 31 page menu (with an INDEX in the back!) you are going to find SOMETHING you want to eat at Big Nicks, and chances are good that it will be HUGE and DELICIOUS.
I think I'm nearing the triple digits when it comes to trips to Nicks. Really. I just can't get enough and love to take friends and visitors there. Everybody loves the place. The decor puts TGI FRIDAYS to shame with its complete randomness and christmas light-y goodness. The walls covered with unknowns' headshots is worth the price of admission alone (which is free).
One thing you might notice if you walk in the 'Burger' door (not to be confused with the 'Pizza' door to the left of it) is the tiny size of the grill. This may sound gross, but I think that the small grill being used on ALL the orders is what gives the burgers their unique taste. Blindfolded, I can pick a Nicks burger out of 100 with no problem. And whats worse, when Im in the mood for that wierd flavor, nothing else will do. Do I want to know whats on that grill? ug. Maybe not. But I like it!
I started eating burgers at Big Nicks back in 99 and have had more than I can count.. but one night.. one night.. I decided to branch out. I ordered a sausage calzone and the bar was forever raised. Holy Crap. Do I even need to mention the size? Probably not. The mixture of mozzarella, parmesan and the AMAZING ricotta was the best Ive ever had. The fresh pizza dough all painted up with butter and stuffed with italian sausage was out of this world. However... I TRIED to eat the whole thing. Bad idea. Not only did I not come close.. but I ended up walking a good 20 blocks up to 96th and then BACK down to 59th before I felt safe sitting down in the subway. I have NEVER been more full in my entire life. Did I mention this meal with drink was $6? Crazy!
The Three Stooges dvd on loop, the menu that extends on to the walls and doors, the neon slogan hanging inside "our food is different, daring, and delicious" the staff that seems to be there 24/7, the selection, prices, portions.. I mean. This is the best place in the universe. There, Ive said it. Best.
ps. In the back corner of the south room there is an 8x10 headshot of an old bald guy named Robert Barry. This was my old landlord in Los Angeles who I wished many evils upon while living under his shaky and evil thumb. The fact that years later I would discover his face amongst the wall of has-beens at Big Nicks only deeper cements this place in my heart. Best!
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I want to give this place a 3.5 stars, but alas... I'll round up. The food is good, although it can be a little greasy. The variety in the menu is a great plus though. The prices are very reasonable, and if you're expecting a diner with descent food, big nicks wont disappoint.
If only all diners could have their variety, we'd be heaven as gluttons. However, the space being as tight as it is, doesn't make it an ideal spot for the late night eats or one for the long waits. Worst time to come here is directly after a show from the Beacon theater and the people are not super friendly at this diner either. BUT they do make a mean burger and their Greek specialties are worth trying.
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Whether it is three am at night or three am in the morning you will always find a decent burger or slice of above average pizza in this neighborhood landmark. Albeit the service is real hit or miss but the staff will never deny you of breakfast no matter how wobbly you may be. I was upset to see so many people had a bad experience at Big Nick's but I make sure to go back everytime I'm in the city. We actualy order in most everynight we fly in. It never failed me in my first 28 formative years and has yet to let me down.
this is definitely my kind of place. i like fancy places from time to time, but i'm blue collar to the core. other than the size ( i happen to be a big motherfucker) i was pretty impressed at how these guys get their hustle on. with a 24 page menu it's hard to believe how they do it.
i usually like to visit a place a couple of times before i review it but being from Boston it probably ain't happening anytime soon so this is basically about the burger i got. and what a great burger it was. actually it was probably one of the best i've had. nice consistency, great flavor ( even without ketchup and mustard), perfect size ( they had one called the sumo burger but that would've been completely unnecessary), not to greasy but just enough for me not use any blistex for the night. it was so good it had me sniffing my fingers all the way back to Boston.
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The first thing any non-suspecting patron will notice is the thin menu that is loaded (in small print) with a vast array of diner items ranging from burger combinations to pizza toppings to Greek/Mexican specialties.
Its a bit cramped inside, not recommended for anyone who is large in size or is claustrophobic. The tables look like they could use a little cleaning, but then again the same could be said about some of the waitstaff. Our waiter was rushing us badly, probably didn't realize we were first timers.
The food was very good and my burger was delightfully large and mouth wateringly juicy. The pizza, looked stale but was edible. Prices were on par with most popular diners in the area and like other diners they are open 24 hours a day. I can only imagine how fantastic their delivery might be.
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A good dive of a place when you're craving for pizza or burgers. They deliver too. Also, just convenient in my neighborhood. They have alot of variety on the menu to make it always interesting.
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The Bistro Burger is perhaps the best burger I have ever had.
Five Stars. Done.
If you live on the UWS, Nicks is a fantastic card to keep in your back pocket, pulling it out whenever you don't want to cook (which in practice happens about 4 times a week). Not expensive at all (Bistro Burger, which comes with waffle fries, is 8 or 9 bucks, and you will be absolutely stuffed).
My wife gets the burger that comes with a pineapple on it, and she gets teriyaki sauce on it, as well (I think it's the Hawain Burger). She swears by it.
Neither of us have deviated in our orders the dozens of times we've gone there. Why bother? I'm drooling as I write this review, and the menu after the first page is simply daunting, anyway (You just sit there and wonder, "how do they remember how to make all this stuff?")
The decor is precious. Wood panneling baby. As one yelper described it, "You go inside and it's like 1974 in there." The wall is just covered with posters and photos. Although I wouldn't call it dingy or filthy, it sorta has an overall feel of being a few steps shy of pristine. But that's what I love about it...it's unpretensous. They don't care about what the place looks like. I'd be pissed if they tried to clean it. It's beautiful as it is.
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Even though I saw a big roach on the wall in 1999, I still go there! Plus, what's 1 roach in NYC? The burgers are better than the pizza, but the pizza is good for those who like doughy traditional pizza. The burgers are gigantic, go there ready to eat. They'll put anything in the world on top. They deliver 24 hours per day even to obnoxious drunk college kids, as I was an obnoxious drunk college customer from 98-99. Nick, or the old guy who should be Nick, who man's the front area can be a little off putting but that sort of gives this dark panneled place its charm.
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Ah, good ol' Nick's - my UWS 24 hr restaurant of choice (sorry French Roast).
This is first and foremost a diner - the takeout menu is so big that it has an index. I tend to only eat there late night - otherwise I get take out which is oddly quick (w/ 30-45 min) and slow (they have the oldest median age of delivery guys. all 40+ and look greek. takes them forever to get up the stairs and catch their breath). They are on SeamlessWeb which is a plus.
It would take a solid year to try all their menu items. Here's all the ones I've had over the years:
Burgers - Good burgers. Not my favorite in UWS but very solid. And what it might lack (slightly) in flavor, it easily makes up for in selection. 40 beef variations (personal favs include the Proscuitto burger and the Aloha burger) and a whole bunch of meat variations like turkey, buffalo, veal, ostrich, lamb, and vegetable. I've tried the buffalo and lamb - liked the former, didn't like the latter. There's also a sumo burger that's over a 1 lb of meat which I've yet to muster the appetite for.
Salads - Great value here. Have had plenty of medium Big Nick's salads over the years. A $6 salad with turkey and bacon slices. And with Big Nick's excellent vinegrette dressing. Have had other salads but this one's my fave. No need to get the large unless you're really hungry - recommend the medium and get a soup or side.
Soups - They make a very good French Onion soup - actually like it better than French Roast's. Chicken soup is okay (prefer Artie's)
Sandwiches - Haven't tried many of these. The chicken 'steak' sandwiches - which come on garlic bread - have a lot of chicken on them but I don't recommend. A little touch to chew and not that flavorful. The grilled cheese is awesome - they use what appears to be Texas Toast (very thick and buttered white bread) and it totally makes the sandwich.
Fried foods/appetizers - I recommend the fried clams platter - not an obvious choice but I have a soft spot in my heart for this dish b/c it's one my dad and I both like. Mozzarella sticks are good. I like the steak fries over the waffle fries.
Pizza - Barely edible unless drunk. About what you'd expect from a diner.
Greek Stuff - Good but not great. Souvlaki on par w/ typical diner quality.
Italian Stuff - C'mon now. Who orders Italian from a diner?
Breakfast - The french toast was kind of bland - would definitely recommend fruit on it. Eggs are solid. Omelettes ok. What I do like a lot are the pancakes. Nothing fancy - just three fluffy pancakes and a wider array of fruit than most - I particularly like the cherry topping which makes for a nice cherry pie - pancake combo. They offer up some nice deals where they include juice and coffee/tea.
Beverages - Good lemonade. Good shakes.
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We came here after the screening of our film (www.doubleohthree.com/bps) and we were so happy cuz we got top ten in the 72 hour shoot out competition, and I got to see all my Wellesley friends (yeah!).
We were starving and wanted to drink but we wanted to be close to the UWS so we came here (I think it was pretty late and this place seemed to be the only restaurant still open). We thought it was going to suck and we were walking into a last resort type of deal but boy was I only half wrong.
I mean, we were like the only ones there but they said the kitchen was still open so we strolled in and ordered like half of everything on the menu and I shared a tahitian pizza or something like that with my bf. that pizza was amazing. Maybe it was cuz I don't really know my new york pizzas or maybe it was the mood that i was in or maybe it was just good pizza but it was GOOD. the crust was crunchy. the toppings were just cheesy enough and the tomato sauce wasn't obnoxious and anyway the pizza was gone - devoured. the pitcher of sangria was devoured also (see pic).
We also got an order of fries/onion rings combo which was meh. and my friends all ordered some sort of pasta dish which they didn't finish so i think the pizza was the best. the pizza and the sangria. and my friends and that night. awesome. 4 stars!
One waffle fry? ONE waffle fry? My burger came with a side of those thick cut fries (what are they called again) and one waffle fry. I looove waffle fries, so it was like, wait, i'm missing out. But it's ok, I savored that fry like no other waffle fry I've ever had. I had 10 tiny bites to keep it going.
OK, so I like this place because it's so freakin old. You go inside and it's like 1974 in there. It's fun.
The burger. I mean, it wasn't bad...but I wouldn't mention it in the whole best burger convo.
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Being a fan of options, Big Nick's menu definitely made my day. Having options from Pizza, burgers, salads, deli sandwiches, all the way to middle eastern cuisine, it's hard not to find something here you like.
I usually get this food delivered and I'm impressed by the speedy deliveries and prompt service at the restaurant. Plus it's open 24 hrs!
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I consistently pass up Big Nicks for better choices on the UWS. I've ordered food from here twice, once in the restaurant and once for delivery. The food was cold when it arrived (I live on 96th & Bway) but they shouldn't delivery that far if they can't keep it warm. It wasn't an abnormally cold night either, it just took them awhile to get up here I guess.
So on to eating at the restaurant... I really enjoyed my chilli burger, not the best I've had, but definitely good. The waffle fries were tasty too. I can't say much else for the other food but it looks like Scott R summed the menu up pretty well. Kudos!
There is nothing wrong with Big Nick's.
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Big Nick's Pizza and Burger Joint...a New York City Institution!
It's been open since 1962 -- That's FOREVER in a city where restaurants turn over weekly it seems.
The food is tasty and affordable (not saying it's the healthiest mind you...we're talking Pizza, burgers and fries here although they do have salads etc.!)
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I can't think of a better hole-in-the-wall, greasy, grungy place to stop in to for a greasy, grungy burger. They're huge, delicious, and are available in quite a variety. I like to chase my burger with a thick milk shake. I've heard there are other things on the menu (my mother once praised their bouillabaisse), but I haven't really tried anything else except the pizza.
The pizza is okay, but not really anything special.
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A 24/7 hole in the wall to satisfy your late night cravings. But still, I wonder if i just kept ordering the wrong things. The burgers were alright. Good. Nothing spectacular. The fries were average. Still I went back. Don't touch the chicken wings, though. It tasted like it had been coated last minute with artificial sauce just before it was cooked. They need to remember the code of MARINATING = the longer the better.
The people working there are friendly. The place has a high level of hustle bustle and tends to be crowded a lot. The menu is not just a menu but a darn novel!
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SUPERsize me. Big Nick's was a happy accident/surprise after many a dusk til' dawn type of nights many many years ago, and it had served me well by re-fueling me so that i could put on my snakeskin dancing heels over and over again. Now, even though the only dancing which takes place is in my own comfy kitchen to the tune of "A Hard Day's Night" after a looong day at work, I know I can still count on Big Nick's for an equally if not more than ever satisfying meal!
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New York at its best for late night. This place is open 24/7. My recommendation is a slice of cheese pizza. Best I have ever had. Tastes even better at 3:00am.
Their menu is like a novel--it will take you 10 minutes to get through. They have everything and anything there.
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So there are two Big Nick's restaurants located pretty close to each other on the Upper West side. I have personally only been to one of them, the one on Broadway between 76th and 77th, and I really love this place. It's open 24/7 so it's a perfect place to go after drinking all night with your friends (which is how I first discovered it a few years ago) or stopping by for a quick burger or a slice of pizza. They have literally a million things on the menu so if you manage to read all the way through it you'll probably have to stay there for hours. But personally I usually just end up ordering the mozarella burger with fries and a drink. There's a decent beer selection as well as some more traditional drinks like Vanilla Egg Cream.
Recently I decided to try their pizza and was very pleasantly surprised, it's much better than any of the other neighboring pizza places I know so I will definitely be back for more. The place is always really crowded and doesn't have a very appealing atmosphere inside but the outdoor seating makes up for it so make sure to score a table outside when you go (unless it's 4am or cold out, of course).
The staff are very responsive and friendly but the atmosphere is pretty hectic so you have to bear with them sometimes as they're usually running around like crazy. The prices are exactly what you would expect them to be from a casual glance at the way the place looks, i.e. they're very very affordable. I've had dinner here by myself for about $14 including tax and tip, so it's also not a bad place to go for a cheap date. Assuming your date won't freak out that you took her to such a cheap looking establishment, but she'll probably come around once she tries the food!
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My favorite place for when I'm in the throes of the munchies. A slice, some cheese fries, & a Big Nick brownie heated a la mode ... DIVINE.
They serve veggie dogs ... among a slew of other items for your dining pleasure. Voted one of Zagat's Best Bangs for Your Buck.
I really do believe that Big Nick's has -hands down- the best brownie in the world. Here's a hint: it's the icing.
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Yum yum yum. But let's be honest. The place is filthy.
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This place is not good for neither pizza or burgers, you figure one or the other had to be good. Well the burgers are okay but I had way better, from my experience any joint that specialize in mutiple things does not do a good job in either one. The roaches seem to be hanging out in this place without a care in the world, not a good date place.
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LATE NIGHT BLISS!!!
If you're hungry they'll deliver or you can stop by.
A LEGEND IN NYC -- but certainly not anything fancy. Tables and chairs here may look like something that a NY'er left out on the curb but they do the trick. Grab a Burger and some fries. CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP. Pretty good hot dogs.
Date Rating: 5 (after you're half drunk because she's sure to love the plastic lawn furniture)
Pick up Scale: 3
Strong Suggestions: Anything you can think of when you're drunk. Will help save you from a BAD hangover the next day.
"Big Nick's curing hangovers for decades..."
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