Nick'S On State

We finally made it to Nick’s on State after hearing about it for years, and honestly, I’m glad we did. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted right away. The place is beautiful from top to bottom, everything from the decor to the overall vibe felt polished and welcoming. Even the host was great. We were told there was about a 45 minute wait for the dining room, but since it was just the two of us, we were happy to grab seats at the bar. Service at the bar started off a little uneven. The bartender helping us was friendly, but not very attentive throughout the meal. Not terrible, just not as consistent as you’d expect at this level. That said, later in the evening another bartender stepped in, started chatting with us, and completely turned the experience around. She was on point, kept my wine glass full, checked in regularly, and made us feel taken care of. Now the food… this is where they really shine. We started with the asparagus fries, and those were next level. My wife ordered the Bistro Plate with the petite filet mignon topped with steak butter, served on garlic toast with a petite salad and a cup of soup. The soup that day was a creamy French onion, and she loved every single bite. I went with the cioppino, and I don’t say this lightly, it was incredible. I’ve had cioppino in San Francisco, where it was created, and this one honestly held its own and then some. Flavor packed, perfectly balanced, and paired with their sourdough bread, it was hard to beat. We also heard from a local bartender earlier in the day that if we came here, we had to try the butter cake. So of course, we ordered it. It was delicious and definitely worth it, but for me, the cioppino was still the standout. After coming to Carlsbad for about 15 years and somehow never stopping in, this is officially a must visit for us moving forward. We’ll be back in June, and this spot is already locked into the plan.

What a wonderful diner! We had 3 apps and they were all suoer tasty, do not skip the deviled eggs (best I have ever had). The bistro special meal was perfect, just right for one. The onion soup that came with it, was also the best ever, not your normal french onion soup, more like onion bisque to me. I will go back for sure

A perfect location for a celebratory or special occasion. Service is excellent, food is delicious and the space feels luxury. I hadnt booked and considering it’s summer and the restaurant was full, the wait time for a free table wasnt long at all (40mins). We had the Chilean seabass and it was cooked beautifully - it melted in the mouth. They have a few naturally gluten free options and many items can be adapted. The server had an extremely good awareness of celiac and took care to inform the kitchen. I felt very comfortable eating here and it was a delicious meal.

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