5/1/2016

One of my fav place to go for happy hour! Happy hour from 4-7pm - $7 martini of the week, wine, and appetizers - my favorite is nic's oysters (bakes with garlic, spinach, and walnuts). Also hoisin marinated skirt steak (on skewers and with kimchi is also delish (meat is so tender) and love the chimichurri sauce.  

I've also came here for DineLA in the past. Had Nic's Burger - very good.
Also Vodka Box is fun experience too.

Overall, great food and fun place to go.

6/29/2016

• 1 check-in

4.5

  The odds were in my favor both times I came here :D
points,

First time I came here I only had two appetizers and it didn't warrant a review so I wanted to make sure, I had a full meal and experience in order to write my feelings on this place. First visit we had a seat right inside not to far by the door and a good view of the scene and music. Music was great and the appetizers and martini's we had were stellar . The Petrossian caviar deviled eggs were rich and divine and the Mediterranean  mix with buttery pita points were addicting and the spreads were so damn good. I'd get this again easily.  The martini's were so strong, I couldn't finish the second one LOL. The first one was the Pornstar martini and the second one was a blur :p That visit was great and I look forward to another visit.

 Months later, I came in with the LA friend. Luck was on our side because we didn't have RSVPs on a Saturday night and our evening was flawless. We just had awesome cigars at Buena vista and now it was time to eat. We circled around for parking which is pointless so park in the underground garage. It's soooooooo much easier. You take an elevator up and walk a few feet to the door. After 9 or 10 they charge a door fee of 10 bucks. I forgot about that but my friend didn't mind. We said we wanted dinner and they asked if we were ok with outside seating and we said sure. It was a nice evening and it was nice out . I don't think you should charge people if they're sitting outside though LOL. Didn't matter this time around because as we sat and sat and someone checked on us, I asked the lovely door guy if we could just wait for an inside seat and he said sure and I'll see what I can do.  Two minutes later a gentleman in a suit came out and said we have a seat for you so off we followed. We had to walk through the ruckus of the bar area/dance area but when we over  came that, we had a corner rounded booth. Can't  get any better than that!!!  Between stellar parking and this awesome seat upgrade, good karma was on my side!!!!  My friend couldn't believe how I got away with that :)

  So once we got comfy in the booth, this place makes for great people watching. This place is like United Nations every few hours but this evening it was mainly chocolate and usually I get hardcore stares when I'm out with my older vanilla folk but this evening no one was giving a shit and neither do I, I just hate being stared at while eating and drinking by anyone of any flavor LOL.  All is well.  Our service was great and he was overworked by multiple tables and one big ass party, so kudos to you! We started with the peach and purity martini and of course the pornstar martini :D I told the server how hungry I was and they brought out bread stat and I put in an order of pomme frites while we looked over the menu. While looking over the menu our drinks and pomme frites came out at the same time, BRAVO!  So we snacked on them while ppicking a few more items. These frites were soooooo good, like Golden arches good! Super crispy, not too thin and not to thick. Seasoned perfectly and the dipping sauce was addicting!

 
   We were off to a good start so we ordered a few share plates and this is what we ordered: Grilled octopus, Lamb meatballs, Hoisin sauced skirt steak skewers, Lamb pizzette and piroshki. No way we were having dessert after all of that LOL. Everything we had was WONDERFUL!!!!! Ok well not the piroshki's .Nothing was under or overcooked and they  definitely know how to season their food. The Lamb pizzette made great leftovers in the toaster oven.  I would order everything but the piroshki's were lacking something. They weren't bad and I'm not a piroshky expert but they can do without them. No matter 5 out 6 things doesn't make a bad meal for me.

 
   I know their reviews are all over the place but both visits were stellar and I look forward to coming back and I have to try that Vodbox soon :D

5/12/2016

Drinks: yes!

Food: hit and miss

Service: not good

Our table tried a few of the cocktails, and they were delicious. We ordered a number of plates to share amongst three of us, so that we could try a lot of things. It's frustrating that they give you a menu that shows which items are included in happy hour pricing. It makes you feel like you are overpaying for everything you order that you could get for much less if it's during happy hour. I would recommend that they change this, as we did not feel like we were getting good value for our money.

We really liked the Nic's oysters, the gnocchi and the grilled octopus. Sexy bites were fine and deviled eggs had zero flavor.

Our huge struggle was trying to get our server to pay attention to us, despite there only being two other occupied tables. It was a challenge to get more drinks, food, and he even forgot to put in one of our dishes and it finally arrived about 30 minutes after the previous dishes (after we asked). So frustrating. We actually asked a bus person if there was a manager on duty, but no one available, as we like to try to remedy the situation while we are there.

It's a gorgeous restaurant, kind of divided between a lounge area with loud music and a more formal dining room. If you go, I would suggest happy hour and sitting at the bar to get better service and value for your money.

4/24/2016

• 1 check-in

Came last night for my Bff's 50th birthday celebration. I drove right by this place which is easy to do! Its hard to see from the street, unless you are really looking for it. Its a nice little spot, but pricey drinks. 15.00 for a pear martini. I am glad I have one drink before i came, LOL. They were pretty strong rinks though. They had a band playing salsa music, which i did not care for.
The vodka room looked fun, but was very busy to get in. We had a nice time.  Potato skins, and chicken skewers were decent. Its a great place for a date, and nice little seating outside. I met some new friends too! If in the area I might come again.

6/5/2016

It's not all about the cocktails after all.  Often Nic's bar is noisy and wall to wall people.  Unless that's your thing, head to the dining room.  The drink menu is the same, but you get food!  And it's great.  Overpriced, but great.  The pear salad is as delicious as it is beautiful, and the $33 hamburger is............well, a hamburger.  Quite good, but not worth $33.  SO, cocktails:  5, food 3 due to overpricing, overall rating:  4.