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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.