I would've given 5 stars, but hubby asked for me to add that they need a few more protein/less carb rich choices. PHONE AHEAD AND MAKE RESERVATIONS! It is ALWAYS BUSY. Food is delicious, flavorful, unique. Service - friendly, helpful, vigilant without hovering Atmosphere - when the windows are open: nothing short of AMAZING when the windows are closed: a bit loud, but still cozy Bar - endless varied choices - each more divine than the next Things for you to try - Salmon BLT Flatbread Pizza with Goat cheese, red onion, & chicken Seasonal Beers & Margaritas LOVE IT HERE - YOU"RE A WILMETTE GEM
(4)
Andrew L.
The food is well-prepared and delicious. The service is excellent. I had the brown rice veggie burger with aioli sauce and vegetable chips. What ruined the dining experience was the very loud music, with an incessant beat. Not a relaxed dining experience. Sorry Nick, I've star less for ruined ambiance.
(3)
Reeder J.
Place has pretty solid food, better thAn the lodge tAvern. Cool in the summer time as well with outdoor seating and openijg the doors. Only cons are that its super loud and small and doesnt have tvs in regular searing area. Great bar food though. Really. 3.5 overall.
(4)
Larry D.
I had been to Nick's before for drinks, but this time I was there for a meal and it didn't disappoint. For years, Downtown Wilmette had lacked a trendy bar and food spot. I shared the pretzel crusted cheese curds with my family, which were Wisconsin approved! For dinner I had the veggie sandwich which was interesting because it was a rice patty with vegetables on it which was an tasty take on a vegetarian option. It was a great atmosphere with the NCAA march madness games going, so it was loud, but in the previous times I had visited Nick's it was quieter. Had a good selection of wine, beer and spirits. Very well decorated as well. This place has revolutionized what Downtown Wilmette should be for people of all ages.
(4)
Mancow M.
Cheeseburger in paradise ... or @ least downtown Wilmette. "Calling all citizens from all over the world this is Captain America calling!" -The Kinks Any problems you had w/ Nicks (childish waiters) will soon be fixed I imagine because their Capt. America has arrived in the form of Steve LaPino. This guy ran Carmine's and White Star in cutthroat Chicago during their peaks. He is a Michael Jordan in the Resturant world. He's BIG TIME. Why is he working in Wilmette? Quality of life. The chef is young and hip but aims to please. Not a snob yet. The owner is one of the head mucky mucks @ Miller Beer. Translation: he has deep pockets and this is but a labor of love. The burger was great! These people left the city to escape the gouging , Obamazombies , tickets, fees, fines, and hassle. THEY wanted a place they'd dig themselves and they've done it with Nicks. Was everything perfect? No. But they aim to please and they'll toss whatever if you aren't crazy about it. So speak up if needed. Wanting to be loved permeates the place. They actually want to fit in and be loved by the community as opposed to other places that are "too cool for school". Living in the big city has messed me up. Forgive what you'll probably misread as snobbery. (Know that I was raised in poverty on dirt roads w/ my nearest neighbor a half mile away.) I found the prices near laughable. What? 10 bucks for mixed drinks? Those drinks are 20$ to 25$ Downtown. Food Prices? The Butcher and the Burger (which is awful) charges double. Parking? FREE! What's not to dig?
Wow what a great place! Started with the atmosphere. Very modern, good music playing, and really clean. Started with the Mussels, cooked in a little Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy. We also recommend the BBQ Pulled Pork and the Grilled Chicken Club. The Chicken in the club was some of the tastiest and tender ever. We also loved the variety of Beers that were available. Anytime we are back in Chicago, we will go out of our way to eat at Nicks.
(5)
Amanda J.
Convenient, casual, and trendy spot for suburban families and couples. Very loud inside but we've had good food and good service both times. Second time around we chose to sit in the bar area on the high tops rather than be squished between other couples in two seaters. Not for an intimate dining experience if you are a couple. Perfect for an easy night out.
(4)
Charlene B.
Nick's offers a menu that's a slight cut above the norm on the North Shore in an atmosphere that is the same. That's its formula - at least for us - and we appreciate it for a casual weeknight dinner, usually sitting at the bar. Recommend the mussels, salads, burgers, roasted chicken.
(3)
Kim C.
We are lucky to have Nicks down the street ! Great food, good service! The kale salad and all fish delicious, muscles too! Kids love that they offer a side of steak with noodles. Bar is always great service and appetizers nice variety !
(4)
Alex B.
Really enjoyed a recent dinner at Nick's - a nice comfortable neighborhood place, but a couple steps beyond your typical local place. Service was fine, and the room was comfortable. Definitely the kind of place I'd be happy to come to after a long day at the office for a nice dinner and a bottle of wine. Plenty of comfort food and kid oriented options. Nothing exciting, but all seem to be well executed. My dinner companion and I went for actual entrees instead of a sandwich and were pleasantly surprised by the freshness of the ingredients and excellent preparations. He had the fish of the day which was well cooked - very moist. I had the raviolo which came with a fresh tomato sauce and a great mound fresh crunchy fresh vegetables on top. Really yummy. Looking for a nice casual dinner with well made, fresh ingredients. This is your place.
We love the addition of Nick's to the neighborhood! It is full of friends, and the ambience is very upscale for a suburban restaurant. The food is very good and getting better as they continue to work on their menu. Once I got something that was not cooked properly and they fixed it immediately and were very apologetic. The certainly are eager to please.
(4)
Sean H.
My wife decided to try this while we were on the north shore. Very family friendly establishment. Angelique was our server, excellent service. My meal was the Nicoise salad which was amazing. We had crab cakes for an appetizer which were perfect. An absolutely flawless, delicious meal. We'll be back!
(5)
Elisabeth L.
Love the city vibe at this neighborhood bistro! The decor is modern and inviting The food is really fresh and delicious. The wait staff friendly. Love sitting at the bar and enjoying the sports during football season. It's always busy in a good way but can be a bit loud. Take out is also great from Nick's! Only part of menu that needs a bit if work is dessert. Great addition to the neighborhood!
(4)
Leslie S.
I swear this was the best hamburger I have ever had- the seasoning makes it special- the fries were also great. I was there in a Friday night around 8:30- the noise was unbelievable- its lucky I could read lips becuse there is no way you can hear what anyone says in a normal speaking voice. I wil go back but only on off hours when the place is semi-empty. The tables for 2 were also too crowded and we kept getting bumped by waiters and the silly vase with weeds and the salt and pepper fell on the floor without being touched. The waitress was great.
(4)
Nancy L.
Sooooo happy to have a new restaurant in Wilmette that feels fresh and modern without being too stuffy! Kudos to whoever designed the space since CK Arthur's that was there before had started to loose it's old charm and turned to dusty dive feeling. The makeover is amazing and reminds me of many nice downtown restaurants not the traditionally focused places typically in the Wilmette area. Sadly the great design didn't include thoughts about the acoustics and it is very very noisy!!! It was hard to hear the wait staff and have a conversation with my companions. Unfortunately that can be a big detractor from the overall experience since it put my brain on sensory overload and it was hard to focus on enjoying the food and friends I came there for. Also was sad to see there weren't tables outside for good weather. We were a party of two and ended up eating at the bar since the place was packed and they had two seats just open on the end of the bar! Often I dread eating at the bar because it's crowded and the stools are uncomfortable but that wasn't true at Nick's. We had a nice view of the kitchen, the bartenders were very attentive and checked in which us often to see how we liked things. Service was pretty good with a number of folks checking in on us to be sure we were satisfied. Looking at other reviews it seems they are working on shaking some cobwebs out and get the staff trained. The bar offered a nice selection of beers and wine. I ordered a signature Blood Orange Margarita. It was well done with fresh grapefruit juice. The only thing that threw me off was it wasn't orange in color because they were using blood orange liquor. The grapefruit juice was fresh squeezed and the final drink was nice twist on a Margarita. The rest of the signature cocktails looked pretty typical - nothing really pushing the into current mixology like some gastropubs do. Staying close in with Moscow Mules, etc. Was happy to see they have a chef designing the dishes so they were more thoughtfully done with fresh ingredients and well presented compared to many places in the neighborhood that are more cook driven. The food was well executed with nice flavors but the chef doesn't push too hard into current flavor trends and sticks with basic recognizable profiles. I had a BBQ Pull Pork sandwich that the bartender and passing waiter said was their favorites on the menu. The meat itself was flavorful even the bits that didn't have sauce on them which is a good sign since many places rely on the sauce for the flavor and leave the meat pretty plain. The meat was more on the dry side with some shredded that were a bit crispy - it wasn't too dry just not juicy and tender like some pulled sandwiches I've had. The sauce itself was nice and didn't overtake the sandwich They topped it with some cole slaw that gave in a nice bit of crunch and coolness on a great brioche bun. It didn't take long to devour it. A solid sandwich for sure that I would order again. My friend had the vegetable lasagna. She really liked that it had nice chunks of vegetables and a fresh flavor. We finished with the seasonal bread pudding with a scoop of Homers ice cream on top. My friend had tried to order the banana split but they were 'out of them.' The bread pudding was really good moist with raisins and spices. The portion was a great size that could be shared or if you are a bread pudding lover like me - eat yourself if you had saved room. OVERALL: Food was thoughtfully created, presented and tasty. So glad to have good fresh food in Wilmette. Love the well designed casual modern atmosphere but wish they would fix the sound issue it's not just loud but distractingly noisy which that along with the lack of outdoor seating made me knock a star off. Finally a restaurant in Wilmette that I would feel comfortable meeting my hip city friends in and even bring my kids to for food that feels more real. I'll be back for another try to see how the rest of the menu is.
(4)
Michael S.
I was really excited to eat here. I really enjoy fuel, which one of the owners of nicks owns. Similar idea with using local fresh ingredients. I called in an order for carry out. When I called I asked for the specials and the girl on the phone had know idea and had to ask someone else. Finally I ordered the mac n cheese of the day, bacon and chive, and buffalo wings. When I arrived the atmosphere was great and the place was decorated very well. However, realized why I had an issue on the phone. All the waitresses looked like they were kids of the owners. They all seemed inexperienced and even though they tried to be nice they were fake and some what pretentious. Finally I got home and opened up my food. I was shocked to find only six wings in my container. They advertised one pounds of wings, and it wasnt close. They were not that large of wings. I would expect at least 8 to ten wings. I also asked for buffalo style, and could not tell if the were buffalo or bbq. They tasted like they had some what of a buffalo flavor, but were sweet and not spicy at all. The actual flavor was ok and I enjoyed the few I had, though they didn't blow me away, especially for $9. I tried to call later in the night, 9:30 to ask about the wings and got the voicemail, they were open till midnight. I called again at 9:45 and nothing. That is a joke. As for the bacon and chive mac n cheese it was a decent size for $8 and was pretty delicious, really no complaints. I wish I could find out if this is what I should expect from the wings, but it would be hard to try this place again. I feel like I was cheated and to have no one answering phones while open is inexcusable. I am really disappointed.
Very good food, busy room, not quiet, but food compensates.
(4)
Jeffrey Z.
My wife and I went here for lunch a couple of weeks ago while running errands in the area. The place was decent. The atmosphere and decor is very nice and warm. My wife loved her salad. The service was alright, although, I ordered a burger, and they refused to sub the included tarot chips (which appeared to be from a bag) for veggies despite the veggie being listed as a cheaper side option in the sides list. Despite that, the burger itself was very good. They would have gotten the 5th star had they been more accommodating.
(4)
Tb S.
Food was good: salmon blt & pasta w/prosciutto sausage. Decent wine & beer selection. Downers: 1) the bread pudding w/summer berries was nicely described & so we ordered. It was presented as having the berries under the ice cream. Nary a berry once the dessert was tucked into. Server went to kitchen to enquire. Returned saying the berries were sprinkled on top the bread pudding& there weren't any left for our serving. Pretty cheesy. Not one berry or other fruit could be rustled up in the kitchen or offered? Telling us the berries were under the scoop of ice cream? Again, cheesy. 2) Also recommend that you check your receipt if you charge your meal. Our visa statement arrived reflecting a higher amount than we charged. Interestingly the higher amount was exactly 20% of the bill including sales tax. We had only left 15% tip (calculated on the total bill including tax). Had our $9 tip figure been misread or mistakenly keyed in as $12? Hmm... We called the restaurant (yeah, $3 won't break us but we're aren't keen on having our purchase amounts padded). The person who answered made a soft chortle when he heard me say $3 overcharge. He quickly changed his tone when I called him on it. After investigating (he thought there was a mix-up w/a mastercard bill from another table. Weird because the receipt signed by us accurately accounted for our meal.) Maybe it was an honest mistake. But berries, chortles & possible charge card input errors make us want to steer clear from this establishment.
(3)
John B.
C and I stopped here for lunch with our out=-of-town guest a couple of days ago. We dined outside, which was nice because the weather was perfect. Service: 4 - Peppy server with a smile. Food: 4 - C and I shared the tuna salad, which was excellent. Everything fresh. Our friend ordered a cheese burger with fries. He said that on a scale of 1 to 10, his burger was a 8. That's a mighty fine burger. Ambiance: 4 - We only stepped in for a moment, but the interior design is nice. Modern, but with light wood accents.
(4)
J. M.
Not terribly impressed with the new restaurant in place of CJ's. I came on a rainy Saturday to meet up with my two friends at the bar. The place was packed but luckily enough we were meeting after the dinner rush seemed to be calming down. The look of the place is a HUGE improvement from the dark and dingy CJ's atmosphere. However, the bartender didn't impress me as he was pretentious acting. He needs to practice making all people that sit at the bar feel welcome. He was VERY cold acting. I ordered their classic Daiquiri which consists of rum , sugar and lime juice. It came in a rocks glass and it was $10... I thought that was a little much for basically a "shot" of rum. I am not impressed. The only saving grace was the outdoor seating which consists of just a few tables.
(2)
Oh K.
Nick's is much, much better now! It has become a regular spot for my group of dining friends. The menu changes with the season, which is great. The food is really good, interesting and healthy options are always available. The wedge salad, on of the best ever, is a meal ... but what made it so special, the buttery soft bibb lettuce, has now been replaced with the standard watery iceberg. Still a good salad, but not special any longer. Bring back the bibb. Oh, yes, and another thing, get REAL martini glasses.
(4)
Judith M.
Food is great. Love the BBQ Chicken wings and the crab cakes. Service is great and ambience and decor top notch. I have eaten here many times and everything is fresh and delicious.
(5)
Mark A.
Been dying for a replacement to CJ's to open up. Glad to see that it did. Went there on Friday night. Space looks great, especially compared to the dingy hovel that was CJ's. Place was packed, yet kitchen performed brilliantly: apps (Risotto balls) arrived after a few minutes and main course in about 10 mins. The chicken club with well done fries was great. There's a reasonable selection of draft beers available.. My only criticism (and a big one that cost them 2 stars) is that you have to shout to be heard. It's noisy as heck. All the surfaces are flat and hard and the open kitchen doesn't help. I couldn't identify a single tune playing on music system because of the noise. All I could hear was the bass. They really need to invest in some acoustic treatments. I'll probably go there 20% of the times I normally would if it wasn't so noisy.
(3)
Chante E.
Food was great, and our server Lindsey was fantastic. She suggested the Pulled Pork for my boyfriend, which he loved. I decided on the turkey burger and we ordered the cheese flat bread for our little guy. The serving sizes were perfect and I didn't walk away feeling overly stuffed at the end of our meal. It was a little loud and overwhelming for our almost 2 year old, but to be expected at 7pm on Friday night. Great local bar to watch your fave football teams on Saturdays and Sundays. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Gerry G.
After reading the great-sounding menu and seeing the four star reviews, my wife and I figured we should give this new place a shot. We were never big fans of C.J. Arthurs and were glad to see someplace new take its spot. Entering, we were impressed with what they've done with the interior. It's very nice looking and I would never recognize that it used to be C.J. Arthurs if I didn't already know. So the menu has a bunch of great-sounding choices, and they say they make just about everything from scratch, which pleases me. They have a somewhat typical selection of about six craft beers and Guinness on tap, and also have a pretty nice selection of about 20 bottled beers. However, we were off to a pretty bad start when upon ordering we asked our waitress if we could try the kale salad for the side salad. She said no, but offered to give us the entree (at no discount!) without a side salad and we could pay full price for the kale salad. Wow, what a favor! You couldn't substitute and just charge us a few bucks? So we ordered the home-made veggie burger and the pulled pork sandwich. The veggie burger was room temperature at best; I seriously doubt it's supposed to be served that way. The pulled pork was advertised to be house smoked for eight hours smothered in BBQ sauce. Typically I think of BBQ sauce as a condiment for fixing pork that wasn't prepared with much care. I don't think that's the case here--it's just that you'd never taste any smoke flavor under the BBQ sauce if it were in fact there. To top it off, there was a bone in my sandwich. Another ding--I had to actually ask to have my water refilled. They did bring a water carafe at that point--which other tables had. I think they probably just forgot to drop it off at our table. Frankly, I think I'll stick with Gilson's. It's around the same price and they seem to know much more what they are doing in the kitchen compared to this place. I doubt I'll come back since they've been open long enough that they should have ironed out the kinks by now. There's really no excuse for serving a cold sandwich.
(1)
J B.
Turkey burger was amazing: juicy, great sauce, fresh avocado! The clam chowder was hearty and exceptionally flavorful. Great spinach salad. Waitress made you feel right at home. A real find!
(4)
Ef J.
Food is great. Decor is great. Beer is NOT cold enough, ever. I don't get it..... If they would fix this flaw, I would give it 5 stars.
(4)
Remi V.
We had a great time at Nick's! It has a really good energy, friendly wait staff....pair that with the fabulous crab cakes and you've got a new go-to spot in Wilmette. Completely agree other yelpers - super happy that a place like this has opened in Wilmette. it was desperately needed. Looking forward to many more visits!
(5)
Ariel K.
We frequent Nick's often... it's great a place to go for a quick lunch or fun dinner. Great beer and cocktail options, and wonderful food. Love the flatbreads, daily tacos, and salads. Staff is always friendly and accommodating.
(5)
Jennifer S.
I was excited to try Nicks, as I'm always looking for a good place to grab dinner with our family. There aren't too many restaurant options available where you can get great kid choices like kid tacos and creamy yummy mac-m-cheese, and super tasty appetizers like mussels and crabcakes - and that's what we had at Nicks on its first night open. And even though it was packed and there was a bit of delay on getting some food, it was well worth it. Food and atmosphere were great, cool looking decor and some of the nicest staff around. We munched on kale chips while we waited and enjoyed a nice IPA. There was a bit of a delay in getting an order to go, but thats because there was a little computer problem that backed up some orders. The staff were very apologetic and open in explaining the situation. Knowing a grand opening can be tough the first night, I will definitely be back with my family. Also, seems like a great place to grab a glass of wine with friends or watch the games on the flat screens. I'm happy there's another great dining option in the area!
(4)
Captain G.
I had a chance to visit the new Nick's on Wilmette Ave in Wilmette. Nick's occupies the old CJ Arthur's location but you wouldn't recognize the interior. It is a complete rebuild with a bit of a sterile look. Not what I would expect in a neighborhood bar and grill. I had heard several comments from other customers ranging from its pricy to it are as friendly as a funeral home. I thought it best to give it a try and see for myself and see what was up at Nick's. My first impression is that there is some inside joke going on with the staff that they don't want to customers to be in on. The staff (and management) is very friendly to each other constantly joking around while ignoring the people paying the bills. To say it is as friendly as a funeral home is somewhat of an insult to funeral homes. I would say it is as friendly as a morgue. The place says Nick's Neighborhood Bar and Grill but I would beg to differ. I saw nothing "Neighborhood" about this place. Someone needs to explain to the bartenders that people come to a restaurant t to eat and drink. After getting my drink at the bar I could not get the attention to the three bartenders standing and talking to each other to get a menu. I finally got up and got one myself. The $8.00 rocks drinks are a bit pricy for a "Neighborhood" bar and grill but... The menu offered a daily "Flat Bread" special so I inquired and was told what it was so I decided that may be okay. When the pizza arrived a few minutes later I was a bit suspicious. After all doesn't pizza take a bit longer than 3-5 minutes to cook? When I had the first piece I realized that it wasn't really cooked (cold), had tasteless ricotta cheese (cold) and sauce, mozzarella cheese (cold) and some sausage (also cold). Now I am not sure how you get mozzarella cheese to melt when it is cold but my suspicion is that it may have been premade and nuked. After the second cold piece I sent it back to be rewarmed and when it was returned it was hot, dried out and yes still tasteless. Now I did forget to mention that when I sent it back there was a person with a fancy chef's coat with the title Executive Chef or something like that standing right there behind the bar. And he didn't say a word. He didn't look at the cold pizza being returned, didn't say anything to me, he just stood there flirting with one of the wait staff. There was also someone who looked like an owner or manager standing there too and nothing was said by all. Hint #1 to owners: If and when a customer in a new establishment returns a dish for ANY reason you should have someone go and visit that customer. You should instruct all of your staff that when this happens (and it will) they are to inform management and/or the so called Head Chef and have them pay a visit to the customer and make amends. The rest of the meal that followed was even more lack luster in everything but the price. I would say that this place has a long way to go before it is a "Neighborhood" Bar and Grill. From what I understand the owners have little or no experience in running a restaurant and it shows. Hint # 2 to owners: Be friendly to customers. DON'T IGNORE THEM. Get your staff to be friendly to customers. As all good managers know, your staff follows your lead. Hint #3: Get your "Executive Chef: back in the kitchen to do some serious reworking of the food preparation. The ideas on the menu may sound good but if the execution is not working as with the flat bread it all goes flat. I would not recommend this place at all for drinks or food. Although if you want to be ignored you are welcome to try it. They have a long way to go.
(1)
Candace T.
We have been there 3 times and ordered something different. Everything is great. The scallop special was very tasty and fresh. My husband had the salmon BLT, which he didn't take a breath for a few minutes. The service was quick and friendly. We will definitely be adding it to our normal rotation. Glad something like Nicks moved into town.
(5)
Scott M.
Went to Nick's this past week for dinner with my wife and two year old son. I liked the decor, it was modern but I didn't think it was sterile. Food was pretty good-I had the pulled pork and fries, which were much better than across the street at the Big Black Dog. My wife liked the turkey burger she had. Our cocktails (Dark n Stormy and the blood orange margarita) were good, too. So why only 3 stars? It just seems like Nick's is trying too hard to be all things to all people: It's called a neighborhood bar and grill, but is a little pricey for that. It's allegedly kid friendly, but just because you have a kids menu doesn't mean kids feel at home there. We'll go back, and hope that they hit their stride.
(3)
Michael B.
Great place- good beer menu, various menu options, good ambiance. Had the Salmon BLT which was excellent and my buddy had the burger- said it was the best burger he's had in a long long time. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Nancy E.
Just too too loud. Wood planks on the ceiling does not help with the noise level. Food was fine, not great - waiter was wonderful, but the delivery, poor.
(2)
Elaine M.
I was excited to give Nick's a try but I was disappointed. I had heard great things about the place and my expectations must have been too high. There was a wait when we arrived so we ordered drinks from the bar. I tried their signature drink a Blood Orange Margarita which turned out to be only fair. It tasted only like grapefruit juice without any further flavors, no alcohol at all. Where was the tequila? Usually pretty sensitive to any type of intoxicant and not having eaten all day I should have at least felt a tingle if there was any sort of tequila at all. Happily though the wait of 20-30 minutes turned out to be only about 10! For my entree I had the much touted salmon BLT. Average. Absolutely nothing special about this sandwich. The aioli just tasted like mayo but was supposed to be cilantro flavored. Had my choice of sides and chose the veggie chips. Thought they would be homemade, nope, just out of the Terra bag that I could buy at my local grocery.
(3)
Michelle M.
Food was just so so. Environment too. Bloody Mary was way too salty with almost no garnish. I asked if they had a beer back and the waiter didn't know what I was talking about. Better places to go in the area.
(2)
Emily B.
We were starving after riding our bikes all the way up here from the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. Checked Yelp and ended up choosing Nick's. It was a beautiful day so we (me, my husband and son) sat outside. Of course, I wanted a drink so I got the Mango Mojito. It was good but I would not consider it a Mojito. No mint leaves! My son got crayons and a kids menu. Huge plus. We got water shortly after sitting down without asking. Another huge plus. Our waitress was sweet and attentive. I ordered the Salmon BLT with Veggie Chips. So delicious! My husband got a chicken sandwich with fries and the fries were amazing. I probably ate more of them than he did. I had to use the restroom so I was able to get a feel for the inside. Very impressed and if we lived closer I would want to return soon for dinner. Definitely my type of vibe. Clean and modern, yet loud and fun. I love Wilmette and want to buy a house here. Too bad we are not rich ;) Thanks Nick's for your good food and drinks!
(5)
Jeff K.
Nick's is one of my favorite places to eat on the Northshore. The food is consistently great upscale bar fare. The turkey burger is particularly enjoyable. Nick's also offers some nice extras: good beer list, family friendly, TVs in the bar area, and great service. Highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a comfortable, casual option in Wilmette.
(5)
Kee V.
Stopped by Nick's for lunch thinking it was still CJ Arthurs. There was a good lunch crowd so I decided to stay and check it out. I chose the Chicken Club, which was good but I thought the pesto overwhelmed all the other flavors, especially the house made bacon. I couldn't taste it at all. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the bread was nicely toasted but the fries could use work though. They came out hot but they seemed stale. I don't know if they were leftover from the night before and re-fried but something was a little off. The iced tea had a hint of orange to it which was a nice surprise. Service was friendly and efficient. Next time I find myself in downtown Wilmette, I'll be stopping by again
(3)
Rob L.
I'm not very active on Yelp, but my first experience at Nick's motivated me to write a review. Things change and so has Nick's. I have been here several more times since that dreadful opening night and I am happy to give my positive endorsement. We have returned with our son for dinner as well as going for lunch. For the kids, they've gotten rid of those stupid wiki-stick things. The worst toy, and they were leaving marks all over the sidewalk up and down Wilmette Ave. The food is good. The service is friendly. The prices are reasonable. It gets crowded - but that's a good thing, right?
(4)
Richard B.
I don't get it. The bar is bloody excellent. The decor is comfortable and well thought out. The food -- not bad at all -- but the service is bloody awful. Either local kids hired as part-time (cheap) labor or amateur-hour staff. It's really a shame because I love everything else about the place. It's a terrific idea of a go-to-bar in an increasingly vibrant downtown Wilmette. Hope they fix the service then yes, 5*.
(3)
Kathy L.
OK came back here with the family and the service was good. The drinks were good and the food was good. I wish the chairs were more comfortable. Had the taco special and it was good. more filling than last time. Had the Salmon sandwich for the main entree and it was filling. They forgot the dressing for the side salad but that was an easy fix. Waiter was very attentive yet not pushy. Glad we got there early as by the time we left it was full! They also have a few table outside. They were full. Good place to get a good weekday meal or meet friends for drinks. I'll go back.
(4)
Marie D.
My husband and I had lunch here for the first time about two weeks ago. We were both very happy with the experience and will definitely go back. The space is bright, open, clean and nicely decorated. We had a salad and a sandwich, and both were fresh, flavorful, nicely portioned, and well-presented. Our service was excellent. Prices are spot-on for the experience.
(4)
Bryn R.
Went to dinner here last night with my friend. She ordered a burger cooked to Medium with blue cheese ontop and a side salad instead of fries. When our food came, she sliced into her burger and it was nearly completely rare. It took a good 7min for our server to check back (and the store wasn't busy) so it took even longer to get the burger redone. Once that was settled she and i continue our meal. The ambiance of the restaurant was lovely but our server was still a bit uncomfortable and it made us a bit uncomfortable. When it was time for the check, she had charged me twice for fries. I'm sure it was an accident and it's totally no big deal because she took it off but it just seems that they are a tad careless there. I liked my meal (mussels and fries) so I will probably go back but I would prefer a different server and a better cooked burger
(3)
Sean N.
It was my first time at nicks the other night and I was pleasantly surprised. My girlfriend and I went around 8pm and a table was ready right away. The waitress was kind and knowledgable about the menu and explained how nicks sources from local shops for their food. We started off with an appetizer of pretzel cheese curds which were pretty good. As our entrees, we got a pulled pork sandwich and a salmon blt. Both of which were very good. We also loved the decor of the restaurant.
(4)
Betsy V.
Food is delicious, and they are amazing with the kids. This place never disappoints. I love the turkey burger. The kids love the flatbread and chicken nuggets. My husband always switches it up. And we keep coming back for more.
(5)
Cam L.
I'm changing my review of Nick's to better reflect the mixed nature of my experience there three days ago--the good and the bad. My friends and I went off to Nick's with high expectations. We were eager to see the still new (to us) restaurant that had taken the place of the, for Wilmette, iconic CJ Arthur's. And we were eager to patronize a local restaurant, and have some fun in our own backyard. We made reservations--recommended for a Saturday night; Nick's is popular--showed up on time, were promptly seated, and received friendly, warm service. So far so good. Our food arrived promptly. I had a delicious mixed green salad and grilled salmon plate. Tasty, fresh salmon, cooked lightly and browned in an interesting sauce. Garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. Very nice, and satisfying. Husband had salad nicoise with large slices of tuna and plenty of greens, egg, the works. He enjoyed it. One of our companions also had the salmon and, like me, enjoyed it. Not sure what our fourth companion had, so don't want to comment on it. So why just the three stars? Well, when we left at the end of our meal, we went out into the night with ringing ears and hoarse voices. Each one of us. Not kidding or exaggerating. I strongly feel that something's wrong with a restaurant--with any business other than a punk rock concert hall, factory floor, or mining operation--that puts its customers into this condition! We had asked our waitress, at a point early in our meal, to please ask the manager to turn down the volume on the music--expecting to get a chuckle and condescending look in response--but she actually seemed to hear our complaint and to sympathize! I appreciated that. But, alas, the music was not turned down. We know restaurants have become noisier (restauranteurs, I've read, believe people have more fun and spend more when they are shouting), but our experience at Nick's was one of the loudest meals any of us has had--ever. As I've said, our food was very good, and we enjoyed our meals, as well as the service, the ambience (other than the music, of course), and the ease of getting to Nick's. But it was hard to enjoy the restaurant and our meals when struggling to lip read what my dinner companions were saying! I hope that Nick's will take this criticism to heart, and lower the volume of their music--it will enhance everyone's time in their restaurant, not just their diners, but that of the staff as well (our waitress implied that she too did not like having to shout). And it's healthier for all!
(3)
JR C.
We were visiting family in the nearby Chicago area and decided to check out Nick's last week. I guess it's new neighborhood spot in Wilmette and we liked the decor inside. After a long day of sightseeing in the Chicago area, it was a great spot to satisfy my family's hunger pains, while still keeping tabs on the basketball game in the bar. I had the burger, with bacon and avocado. It was quite tasty and cooked the way I like it, medium well. My wife went with healthier fare, the salmon, which she really enjoyed. The kids devoured the chicken tenders and mac n' cheese. They loved the fries most of all. We topped it off by sharing the brownie dessert., Since the restaurant is new, there are still some kinks to work out in the delivery and service department, but the staff was very accommodating and nice about it. If we are back in the area, I would definitely head back to Nick's.
(4)
Y C.
we passed by nick's several times, saw that it was nearly always full at dinner time and there were lots of children there, so wanted to try it. (we = a family of four including two young kids) i like the atmosphere - nicely done yet family-friendly. i like the food - four of the five things we had tasted excellent: the giant burger, the fancy chicken special, the kids flatbread (aka cheese pizza), and the dessert. kids' mac and cheese was sub-par, i thought, but it was for my daughter and she liked it. i like the service... and here is why: we found a candle stuck to the bottom of my son's last piece of flatbread. we were furious. we told the waitress and asked to talk to the manager. the waitress apologized, the manager apologized and took both kids meals off of the tab, and then the exec chef came out to apologize and offer a dessert to go. i did not appreciate the fact that they made the mistake, but i've had similar things happen at other restaurants only to be met with 'hey, shit happens' kind of attitude. i was impressed by their attention. we'll be going back to nick's.
(4)
John H.
After hearing so much about Nicks we decided to check it out and I highly recommend the place: the service was awesome, servers and bartenders very friendly, the food was awesome! We had mussels, chicken buffalo wings (GREAT)
(2)
Prk F.
So glad this place has replaced CJs. It has tasty food of a fairly decent variety that seems quite fresh. The arugula salad is quite tasty. Definitely a bit too loud and hopefully they're working on that, it was hard to talk with my family at a small table. But the tables are comfortable, the interior is nice, and I'm happy with what this restaurant contributes to downtown wilmette.
(4)
Jenni B.
My family and I had a wonderful meal. The waitstaff was very attentive and the food was prepared well. The kids meals were also well worth the money. The restaurant decor is very nice. You would never know it used to be CJ Arthur's with the light wood and decor. My only complaint would be that it is loud in there.
(4)
J R.
My neighbor and I went for the first time last night at 6:30. Greeted at the door with fake smiles and zero warmth. We ordered the blood orange margaritas but it was the most bland drink I have ever had and tasted/looked the same as a normal margarita but was mostly ice. We showed it to the server who said...."well, how do you feel"....it was odd, we didn't want to complain so we drank our icey margarita tasting water. Thankfully, the food was very good. Fresh ingredients in the homemade veggie burger, delicious. salmon was perfect! Little kids everywhere and I adore kids but it was so very loud we couldn't hear the server or each other speak! I think if we go later in the evening it won't be over run with naughty children? I was surprised parents would allow their children to be so rude. several people commented on it being like chuckie cheese. If I were management I would have asked the parents to control their kids. I saw how bothered other people were by the children running around screaming, is this a normal thing at Nicks? It was a great meal with way too many distractions. We walked down the street to the wine bar for some good conversation and drinks to end the night. I don't know that I would go back unless it was late and I stuck with wine or beer instead of a mixed drink.
(3)
Liz W.
So tonight I arrived at Nicks as a walk in with my family of 6 in tow. We were greated by the host (who I swear worked at Fuel, and was nasty) and when I asked him how long the wait would be for a party of six, he very rudly said "people"??!!?? No, dogs. He then snarkly laughed, and said, "you do know we take reservations". I said that I was aware, but how long would the wait be. He was so rude, rolling his eyes, etc, that I did not wait for his response. We were excited to give this new restaurant a try, but with service like that, I will never be back, or send any of my friends their way. We went around the corner and had a great dinner at The Noodle, which has been around for 20 years. Nick's you better re-think your staff, or you will not be around for long. Shame on you, and the nasty, tall, thin guy behind the host stand.
(1)
Brien M.
This place is great. I am not in Wilmette often, but I am glad my wife and I stumbled across this place. I am a drink and appetizer guy and this place fit the bill, mussels, wings, and crab cakes were awesome, and the beer selection was great - Not every place serves anti-hero. The service was prompt and attentive, and we even got a table visit from their GM Steve who is a very happy and charismatic guy, fun to talk to. I will definitely visit again next time I'm in WIlmette.
(5)
J. C.
I'm somewhere between a 3 and a 4 for Nick's. When they are "on" the food is good and the service great. We've had a few times when neither the food was "on", nor the service great. That said, even when they are off, they are still OK, just not great. The place has good energy, but can be a little loud, and definitely a long wait, on a weekend night. Happily, they are open later than most.
(4)
Sofia P.
I would not get the Kale Salad again. It was very plain and sad looking.I could make the same at home for way cheaper. My expectations for it were high i guess . Def not worth $9 and with chicken it was an additional $5. I got the same salad at Parana down the street with the chicken and a side for $9 instead of $14.
(2)
Susan C.
First visit here since it was our son's 30th birthday....I ordered the cheeseburger ~ the biggest burger I've EVER seen! It came with choice of fries or salad & I had the fries. Both my son & husband had the chicken dinner. They raved and raved how delicious it was...Service was more than great....server very attentive with quick drink refills and the management came over a couple times asking if everything was okay...will return. A gem, no doubt!
(4)
Tamir G.
Walk in for lunch. Server was very friendly. Food was OK. Nothing out of the ordinary but not bad. I would come in again for a quick meal. They have a good selection of beer.
(3)
C c.
My husband and I took our 3 kids to lunch here today. Right when we sat down we were greeted by dozens of flies swarming. I should have listened to my husband at that point and left, but we decided to stay. We ordered right away and the kids food and appetizer came out about 15 or 20 minutes later. The pretzel cheese curds were in no shape or form resembling or tasting like a pretzel, which was strange. The kids cheese flatbread was not even cooked and was doughy and the fries that came with the kids meal were soggy and barely cooked. As if that wasn't bad enough, after waiting another 45 minutes for the adults food it still wasn't there. Everyone who sat after us had been served. Finally I stood up and took my 3 now very anxious kids out if the restaurant. When my husband got a manager, they weren't even very apologetic about it and had not even put the order in! They charged us for everything but our meals and quickly made them and put them in a to go box. When we got home the food was soggy and terrible! There goes 2 hours of my life I can't get back. So disappointed in this place. The service, food and cleanliness gets an F from me!
(1)
Angel W.
I loved this restaurant/pub. Our server was amazingly cute and just great. He had good suggestions and made sure we were happy. Definite try the cheese curds, they are kind of a must have at this place! Food was great! I ordered the veggie burger and it was great!
(4)
Angela S.
It was a no fuss lunch, and exactly what I expected it to be...a tasty sandwich, good fast service, a welcoming atmosphere and a quick clean up. I held a lunch meeting here the other day, and the second I walked in they were smoking their brisket in the back and it smelled soooo delicious! I came in expecting myself to order up a burger, but after I smelled that brisket, I ordered up a pulled pork shoulder sandwich. The meat was so tender and piled high on my bun. I'm glad it came with sauce, because the sauce is what really gave the sandwich a great kick in flavor...in retrospect, I wish I'd asked for even more sauce. The hand cut fries were nicely seasoned and more on the soft side. I still hear they have a killer burger here. Next time. Nice clean bathrooms, and a satisfied appetite. Works for me!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Very Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Kari F.
I would've given 5 stars, but hubby asked for me to add that they need a few more protein/less carb rich choices. PHONE AHEAD AND MAKE RESERVATIONS! It is ALWAYS BUSY. Food is delicious, flavorful, unique. Service - friendly, helpful, vigilant without hovering Atmosphere - when the windows are open: nothing short of AMAZING when the windows are closed: a bit loud, but still cozy Bar - endless varied choices - each more divine than the next Things for you to try - Salmon BLT Flatbread Pizza with Goat cheese, red onion, & chicken Seasonal Beers & Margaritas LOVE IT HERE - YOU"RE A WILMETTE GEM
(4)Andrew L.
The food is well-prepared and delicious. The service is excellent. I had the brown rice veggie burger with aioli sauce and vegetable chips. What ruined the dining experience was the very loud music, with an incessant beat. Not a relaxed dining experience. Sorry Nick, I've star less for ruined ambiance.
(3)Reeder J.
Place has pretty solid food, better thAn the lodge tAvern. Cool in the summer time as well with outdoor seating and openijg the doors. Only cons are that its super loud and small and doesnt have tvs in regular searing area. Great bar food though. Really. 3.5 overall.
(4)Larry D.
I had been to Nick's before for drinks, but this time I was there for a meal and it didn't disappoint. For years, Downtown Wilmette had lacked a trendy bar and food spot. I shared the pretzel crusted cheese curds with my family, which were Wisconsin approved! For dinner I had the veggie sandwich which was interesting because it was a rice patty with vegetables on it which was an tasty take on a vegetarian option. It was a great atmosphere with the NCAA march madness games going, so it was loud, but in the previous times I had visited Nick's it was quieter. Had a good selection of wine, beer and spirits. Very well decorated as well. This place has revolutionized what Downtown Wilmette should be for people of all ages.
(4)Mancow M.
Cheeseburger in paradise ... or @ least downtown Wilmette. "Calling all citizens from all over the world this is Captain America calling!" -The Kinks Any problems you had w/ Nicks (childish waiters) will soon be fixed I imagine because their Capt. America has arrived in the form of Steve LaPino. This guy ran Carmine's and White Star in cutthroat Chicago during their peaks. He is a Michael Jordan in the Resturant world. He's BIG TIME. Why is he working in Wilmette? Quality of life. The chef is young and hip but aims to please. Not a snob yet. The owner is one of the head mucky mucks @ Miller Beer. Translation: he has deep pockets and this is but a labor of love. The burger was great! These people left the city to escape the gouging , Obamazombies , tickets, fees, fines, and hassle. THEY wanted a place they'd dig themselves and they've done it with Nicks. Was everything perfect? No. But they aim to please and they'll toss whatever if you aren't crazy about it. So speak up if needed. Wanting to be loved permeates the place. They actually want to fit in and be loved by the community as opposed to other places that are "too cool for school". Living in the big city has messed me up. Forgive what you'll probably misread as snobbery. (Know that I was raised in poverty on dirt roads w/ my nearest neighbor a half mile away.) I found the prices near laughable. What? 10 bucks for mixed drinks? Those drinks are 20$ to 25$ Downtown. Food Prices? The Butcher and the Burger (which is awful) charges double. Parking? FREE! What's not to dig?
(4)Noah B.
Nick's is making it. They are managing to stay afloat in times where restaurants in downtown Wilmette have been closing left and right. They are surviving, but will as the restaurant business stabilises, lose its steam and simply become "that other tavern". They have no gimmick. When I walked into Nick's with my family, my brother and I were given kiddie water cups to drink out of. I'm 13. I have the dexterity drink out of a normal glass. That kind of put me off, but I got over it. The atmosphere is pleasant with retro lightbulbs illuminating the bare brick walls and wooden facades on the booths with a soft warm glow. Large steel decorations adorn the walls of the dining area (no review of the bar for obvious reasons). It is however rather loud and busy feeling. Also their taste in music is awful. The playlist consisted of sellout pop songs that would be considered old 2 months ago. The staff was very courteous about my numerous dietary restrictions. The waiter easily understood my allergies as he had some of the same ones I did and helped me make a selection. The restaurant is very transparent about where their food comes from. All of it is locally grown. The meat is from Lake Geneva. The spices are from Wilmette's very own spice market. They even buy their ice cream from Homer's. Finally, the food. I couldn't have the glaze that came with the pork chop I ordered. It tasted good nonetheless, if dry and a little bland. The Brussels sprouts, overcooked bacon and sautéed onion side was kind of weird. The bacon seemed like it didn't really contribute anything to the taste besides being crunchy and salty. The Brussels sprouts had already added crunch and the meal could easily have been sprinkled with a finishing salt. The Brussels were tough to chew because they were undercooked. They should have sautéed them in a creamy olive oil or boiled them. In conclusion, Nick's is mediocre in every way. The food is typical, the music is awful and the staff are really nice. It is just like any other gastropub you'll go to.
(3)Mike R.
Wow what a great place! Started with the atmosphere. Very modern, good music playing, and really clean. Started with the Mussels, cooked in a little Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy. We also recommend the BBQ Pulled Pork and the Grilled Chicken Club. The Chicken in the club was some of the tastiest and tender ever. We also loved the variety of Beers that were available. Anytime we are back in Chicago, we will go out of our way to eat at Nicks.
(5)Amanda J.
Convenient, casual, and trendy spot for suburban families and couples. Very loud inside but we've had good food and good service both times. Second time around we chose to sit in the bar area on the high tops rather than be squished between other couples in two seaters. Not for an intimate dining experience if you are a couple. Perfect for an easy night out.
(4)Charlene B.
Nick's offers a menu that's a slight cut above the norm on the North Shore in an atmosphere that is the same. That's its formula - at least for us - and we appreciate it for a casual weeknight dinner, usually sitting at the bar. Recommend the mussels, salads, burgers, roasted chicken.
(3)Kim C.
We are lucky to have Nicks down the street ! Great food, good service! The kale salad and all fish delicious, muscles too! Kids love that they offer a side of steak with noodles. Bar is always great service and appetizers nice variety !
(4)Alex B.
Really enjoyed a recent dinner at Nick's - a nice comfortable neighborhood place, but a couple steps beyond your typical local place. Service was fine, and the room was comfortable. Definitely the kind of place I'd be happy to come to after a long day at the office for a nice dinner and a bottle of wine. Plenty of comfort food and kid oriented options. Nothing exciting, but all seem to be well executed. My dinner companion and I went for actual entrees instead of a sandwich and were pleasantly surprised by the freshness of the ingredients and excellent preparations. He had the fish of the day which was well cooked - very moist. I had the raviolo which came with a fresh tomato sauce and a great mound fresh crunchy fresh vegetables on top. Really yummy. Looking for a nice casual dinner with well made, fresh ingredients. This is your place.
(3)Katie M.
We live in the area and have been to Nick's several times. I love the décor and the vibe that they're goin' for. Pretty yummy food and drink selection. Hey Nick's, thank you for having the protein options separate on your salads! Being a pescetarian, I hate when there are no salad options that don't have chicken in them! My only "beef", (pun intended) is that some of the staff is a little snarky. There have been a few encounters with some staff that have asked us to close out a tab before their posted closing time (stating that they're instructed to close early if not busy), or just given attitude unnecessarily. I've definitely had friendly service there, too, but just feel like Wilmette is too small of a town to be throwing out any bad vibes!
(3)Lisa M.
We love the addition of Nick's to the neighborhood! It is full of friends, and the ambience is very upscale for a suburban restaurant. The food is very good and getting better as they continue to work on their menu. Once I got something that was not cooked properly and they fixed it immediately and were very apologetic. The certainly are eager to please.
(4)Sean H.
My wife decided to try this while we were on the north shore. Very family friendly establishment. Angelique was our server, excellent service. My meal was the Nicoise salad which was amazing. We had crab cakes for an appetizer which were perfect. An absolutely flawless, delicious meal. We'll be back!
(5)Elisabeth L.
Love the city vibe at this neighborhood bistro! The decor is modern and inviting The food is really fresh and delicious. The wait staff friendly. Love sitting at the bar and enjoying the sports during football season. It's always busy in a good way but can be a bit loud. Take out is also great from Nick's! Only part of menu that needs a bit if work is dessert. Great addition to the neighborhood!
(4)Leslie S.
I swear this was the best hamburger I have ever had- the seasoning makes it special- the fries were also great. I was there in a Friday night around 8:30- the noise was unbelievable- its lucky I could read lips becuse there is no way you can hear what anyone says in a normal speaking voice. I wil go back but only on off hours when the place is semi-empty. The tables for 2 were also too crowded and we kept getting bumped by waiters and the silly vase with weeds and the salt and pepper fell on the floor without being touched. The waitress was great.
(4)Nancy L.
Sooooo happy to have a new restaurant in Wilmette that feels fresh and modern without being too stuffy! Kudos to whoever designed the space since CK Arthur's that was there before had started to loose it's old charm and turned to dusty dive feeling. The makeover is amazing and reminds me of many nice downtown restaurants not the traditionally focused places typically in the Wilmette area. Sadly the great design didn't include thoughts about the acoustics and it is very very noisy!!! It was hard to hear the wait staff and have a conversation with my companions. Unfortunately that can be a big detractor from the overall experience since it put my brain on sensory overload and it was hard to focus on enjoying the food and friends I came there for. Also was sad to see there weren't tables outside for good weather. We were a party of two and ended up eating at the bar since the place was packed and they had two seats just open on the end of the bar! Often I dread eating at the bar because it's crowded and the stools are uncomfortable but that wasn't true at Nick's. We had a nice view of the kitchen, the bartenders were very attentive and checked in which us often to see how we liked things. Service was pretty good with a number of folks checking in on us to be sure we were satisfied. Looking at other reviews it seems they are working on shaking some cobwebs out and get the staff trained. The bar offered a nice selection of beers and wine. I ordered a signature Blood Orange Margarita. It was well done with fresh grapefruit juice. The only thing that threw me off was it wasn't orange in color because they were using blood orange liquor. The grapefruit juice was fresh squeezed and the final drink was nice twist on a Margarita. The rest of the signature cocktails looked pretty typical - nothing really pushing the into current mixology like some gastropubs do. Staying close in with Moscow Mules, etc. Was happy to see they have a chef designing the dishes so they were more thoughtfully done with fresh ingredients and well presented compared to many places in the neighborhood that are more cook driven. The food was well executed with nice flavors but the chef doesn't push too hard into current flavor trends and sticks with basic recognizable profiles. I had a BBQ Pull Pork sandwich that the bartender and passing waiter said was their favorites on the menu. The meat itself was flavorful even the bits that didn't have sauce on them which is a good sign since many places rely on the sauce for the flavor and leave the meat pretty plain. The meat was more on the dry side with some shredded that were a bit crispy - it wasn't too dry just not juicy and tender like some pulled sandwiches I've had. The sauce itself was nice and didn't overtake the sandwich They topped it with some cole slaw that gave in a nice bit of crunch and coolness on a great brioche bun. It didn't take long to devour it. A solid sandwich for sure that I would order again. My friend had the vegetable lasagna. She really liked that it had nice chunks of vegetables and a fresh flavor. We finished with the seasonal bread pudding with a scoop of Homers ice cream on top. My friend had tried to order the banana split but they were 'out of them.' The bread pudding was really good moist with raisins and spices. The portion was a great size that could be shared or if you are a bread pudding lover like me - eat yourself if you had saved room. OVERALL: Food was thoughtfully created, presented and tasty. So glad to have good fresh food in Wilmette. Love the well designed casual modern atmosphere but wish they would fix the sound issue it's not just loud but distractingly noisy which that along with the lack of outdoor seating made me knock a star off. Finally a restaurant in Wilmette that I would feel comfortable meeting my hip city friends in and even bring my kids to for food that feels more real. I'll be back for another try to see how the rest of the menu is.
(4)Michael S.
I was really excited to eat here. I really enjoy fuel, which one of the owners of nicks owns. Similar idea with using local fresh ingredients. I called in an order for carry out. When I called I asked for the specials and the girl on the phone had know idea and had to ask someone else. Finally I ordered the mac n cheese of the day, bacon and chive, and buffalo wings. When I arrived the atmosphere was great and the place was decorated very well. However, realized why I had an issue on the phone. All the waitresses looked like they were kids of the owners. They all seemed inexperienced and even though they tried to be nice they were fake and some what pretentious. Finally I got home and opened up my food. I was shocked to find only six wings in my container. They advertised one pounds of wings, and it wasnt close. They were not that large of wings. I would expect at least 8 to ten wings. I also asked for buffalo style, and could not tell if the were buffalo or bbq. They tasted like they had some what of a buffalo flavor, but were sweet and not spicy at all. The actual flavor was ok and I enjoyed the few I had, though they didn't blow me away, especially for $9. I tried to call later in the night, 9:30 to ask about the wings and got the voicemail, they were open till midnight. I called again at 9:45 and nothing. That is a joke. As for the bacon and chive mac n cheese it was a decent size for $8 and was pretty delicious, really no complaints. I wish I could find out if this is what I should expect from the wings, but it would be hard to try this place again. I feel like I was cheated and to have no one answering phones while open is inexcusable. I am really disappointed.
(1)Ben S.
I have been looking forward to trying out Nick's for a while and compare it with the other restaurants popping up around downtown Wilmette. Here are my thoughts: Positives 1. Décor. Anyone who remembers CJ Arthur's (the prior restaurant in the same space) will not believe the dramatic improvement. It is clean, simple and trendy 2. Food. I now know what a "gastropub" means- it must be Latin for "great food". We had two appetizers and four entrees and all of us ended up sampling each others' meals. The halibut was the consensus winner. 3. Service. Friendly servers. I think most of the wait staff are local college kids who actually seem very happy to be there. We had a drink while waiting for our table and the bartenders were fun. 4. Bar. They have a ton of interesting beers - both in bottles and on tap. The specialty drinks are fantastic (Dark & Stormy was delicious). Wine list is adequate but clearly not the focus. Negatives 1. Wait time. We had to wait about 20 minutes for a table. It is not a huge place (was CJ Arthur's bigger?) and it was jammed when we walked in. It feels like they are getting their arms around turning tables over - but it was well worth the wait 2. A little loud. The restaurant was packed and full of families and kids. This falls into the "what do you expect?" category but they might be able to dull the noise a bit. All in all it was a great experience and we look forward to going back. I must admit that I miss the price-point that CJ Arthur's had but the food at Nick's was more than worth the cost. It is such an upgrade for downtown Wilmette - finally. I think we may have a place (finally) to watch some football on Sundays.
(5)Tom B.
Very good food, busy room, not quiet, but food compensates.
(4)Jeffrey Z.
My wife and I went here for lunch a couple of weeks ago while running errands in the area. The place was decent. The atmosphere and decor is very nice and warm. My wife loved her salad. The service was alright, although, I ordered a burger, and they refused to sub the included tarot chips (which appeared to be from a bag) for veggies despite the veggie being listed as a cheaper side option in the sides list. Despite that, the burger itself was very good. They would have gotten the 5th star had they been more accommodating.
(4)Tb S.
Food was good: salmon blt & pasta w/prosciutto sausage. Decent wine & beer selection. Downers: 1) the bread pudding w/summer berries was nicely described & so we ordered. It was presented as having the berries under the ice cream. Nary a berry once the dessert was tucked into. Server went to kitchen to enquire. Returned saying the berries were sprinkled on top the bread pudding& there weren't any left for our serving. Pretty cheesy. Not one berry or other fruit could be rustled up in the kitchen or offered? Telling us the berries were under the scoop of ice cream? Again, cheesy. 2) Also recommend that you check your receipt if you charge your meal. Our visa statement arrived reflecting a higher amount than we charged. Interestingly the higher amount was exactly 20% of the bill including sales tax. We had only left 15% tip (calculated on the total bill including tax). Had our $9 tip figure been misread or mistakenly keyed in as $12? Hmm... We called the restaurant (yeah, $3 won't break us but we're aren't keen on having our purchase amounts padded). The person who answered made a soft chortle when he heard me say $3 overcharge. He quickly changed his tone when I called him on it. After investigating (he thought there was a mix-up w/a mastercard bill from another table. Weird because the receipt signed by us accurately accounted for our meal.) Maybe it was an honest mistake. But berries, chortles & possible charge card input errors make us want to steer clear from this establishment.
(3)John B.
C and I stopped here for lunch with our out=-of-town guest a couple of days ago. We dined outside, which was nice because the weather was perfect. Service: 4 - Peppy server with a smile. Food: 4 - C and I shared the tuna salad, which was excellent. Everything fresh. Our friend ordered a cheese burger with fries. He said that on a scale of 1 to 10, his burger was a 8. That's a mighty fine burger. Ambiance: 4 - We only stepped in for a moment, but the interior design is nice. Modern, but with light wood accents.
(4)J. M.
Not terribly impressed with the new restaurant in place of CJ's. I came on a rainy Saturday to meet up with my two friends at the bar. The place was packed but luckily enough we were meeting after the dinner rush seemed to be calming down. The look of the place is a HUGE improvement from the dark and dingy CJ's atmosphere. However, the bartender didn't impress me as he was pretentious acting. He needs to practice making all people that sit at the bar feel welcome. He was VERY cold acting. I ordered their classic Daiquiri which consists of rum , sugar and lime juice. It came in a rocks glass and it was $10... I thought that was a little much for basically a "shot" of rum. I am not impressed. The only saving grace was the outdoor seating which consists of just a few tables.
(2)Oh K.
Nick's is much, much better now! It has become a regular spot for my group of dining friends. The menu changes with the season, which is great. The food is really good, interesting and healthy options are always available. The wedge salad, on of the best ever, is a meal ... but what made it so special, the buttery soft bibb lettuce, has now been replaced with the standard watery iceberg. Still a good salad, but not special any longer. Bring back the bibb. Oh, yes, and another thing, get REAL martini glasses.
(4)Judith M.
Food is great. Love the BBQ Chicken wings and the crab cakes. Service is great and ambience and decor top notch. I have eaten here many times and everything is fresh and delicious.
(5)Mark A.
Been dying for a replacement to CJ's to open up. Glad to see that it did. Went there on Friday night. Space looks great, especially compared to the dingy hovel that was CJ's. Place was packed, yet kitchen performed brilliantly: apps (Risotto balls) arrived after a few minutes and main course in about 10 mins. The chicken club with well done fries was great. There's a reasonable selection of draft beers available.. My only criticism (and a big one that cost them 2 stars) is that you have to shout to be heard. It's noisy as heck. All the surfaces are flat and hard and the open kitchen doesn't help. I couldn't identify a single tune playing on music system because of the noise. All I could hear was the bass. They really need to invest in some acoustic treatments. I'll probably go there 20% of the times I normally would if it wasn't so noisy.
(3)Chante E.
Food was great, and our server Lindsey was fantastic. She suggested the Pulled Pork for my boyfriend, which he loved. I decided on the turkey burger and we ordered the cheese flat bread for our little guy. The serving sizes were perfect and I didn't walk away feeling overly stuffed at the end of our meal. It was a little loud and overwhelming for our almost 2 year old, but to be expected at 7pm on Friday night. Great local bar to watch your fave football teams on Saturdays and Sundays. We will definitely be back.
(4)Gerry G.
After reading the great-sounding menu and seeing the four star reviews, my wife and I figured we should give this new place a shot. We were never big fans of C.J. Arthurs and were glad to see someplace new take its spot. Entering, we were impressed with what they've done with the interior. It's very nice looking and I would never recognize that it used to be C.J. Arthurs if I didn't already know. So the menu has a bunch of great-sounding choices, and they say they make just about everything from scratch, which pleases me. They have a somewhat typical selection of about six craft beers and Guinness on tap, and also have a pretty nice selection of about 20 bottled beers. However, we were off to a pretty bad start when upon ordering we asked our waitress if we could try the kale salad for the side salad. She said no, but offered to give us the entree (at no discount!) without a side salad and we could pay full price for the kale salad. Wow, what a favor! You couldn't substitute and just charge us a few bucks? So we ordered the home-made veggie burger and the pulled pork sandwich. The veggie burger was room temperature at best; I seriously doubt it's supposed to be served that way. The pulled pork was advertised to be house smoked for eight hours smothered in BBQ sauce. Typically I think of BBQ sauce as a condiment for fixing pork that wasn't prepared with much care. I don't think that's the case here--it's just that you'd never taste any smoke flavor under the BBQ sauce if it were in fact there. To top it off, there was a bone in my sandwich. Another ding--I had to actually ask to have my water refilled. They did bring a water carafe at that point--which other tables had. I think they probably just forgot to drop it off at our table. Frankly, I think I'll stick with Gilson's. It's around the same price and they seem to know much more what they are doing in the kitchen compared to this place. I doubt I'll come back since they've been open long enough that they should have ironed out the kinks by now. There's really no excuse for serving a cold sandwich.
(1)J B.
Turkey burger was amazing: juicy, great sauce, fresh avocado! The clam chowder was hearty and exceptionally flavorful. Great spinach salad. Waitress made you feel right at home. A real find!
(4)Ef J.
Food is great. Decor is great. Beer is NOT cold enough, ever. I don't get it..... If they would fix this flaw, I would give it 5 stars.
(4)Remi V.
We had a great time at Nick's! It has a really good energy, friendly wait staff....pair that with the fabulous crab cakes and you've got a new go-to spot in Wilmette. Completely agree other yelpers - super happy that a place like this has opened in Wilmette. it was desperately needed. Looking forward to many more visits!
(5)Ariel K.
We frequent Nick's often... it's great a place to go for a quick lunch or fun dinner. Great beer and cocktail options, and wonderful food. Love the flatbreads, daily tacos, and salads. Staff is always friendly and accommodating.
(5)Jennifer S.
I was excited to try Nicks, as I'm always looking for a good place to grab dinner with our family. There aren't too many restaurant options available where you can get great kid choices like kid tacos and creamy yummy mac-m-cheese, and super tasty appetizers like mussels and crabcakes - and that's what we had at Nicks on its first night open. And even though it was packed and there was a bit of delay on getting some food, it was well worth it. Food and atmosphere were great, cool looking decor and some of the nicest staff around. We munched on kale chips while we waited and enjoyed a nice IPA. There was a bit of a delay in getting an order to go, but thats because there was a little computer problem that backed up some orders. The staff were very apologetic and open in explaining the situation. Knowing a grand opening can be tough the first night, I will definitely be back with my family. Also, seems like a great place to grab a glass of wine with friends or watch the games on the flat screens. I'm happy there's another great dining option in the area!
(4)Captain G.
I had a chance to visit the new Nick's on Wilmette Ave in Wilmette. Nick's occupies the old CJ Arthur's location but you wouldn't recognize the interior. It is a complete rebuild with a bit of a sterile look. Not what I would expect in a neighborhood bar and grill. I had heard several comments from other customers ranging from its pricy to it are as friendly as a funeral home. I thought it best to give it a try and see for myself and see what was up at Nick's. My first impression is that there is some inside joke going on with the staff that they don't want to customers to be in on. The staff (and management) is very friendly to each other constantly joking around while ignoring the people paying the bills. To say it is as friendly as a funeral home is somewhat of an insult to funeral homes. I would say it is as friendly as a morgue. The place says Nick's Neighborhood Bar and Grill but I would beg to differ. I saw nothing "Neighborhood" about this place. Someone needs to explain to the bartenders that people come to a restaurant t to eat and drink. After getting my drink at the bar I could not get the attention to the three bartenders standing and talking to each other to get a menu. I finally got up and got one myself. The $8.00 rocks drinks are a bit pricy for a "Neighborhood" bar and grill but... The menu offered a daily "Flat Bread" special so I inquired and was told what it was so I decided that may be okay. When the pizza arrived a few minutes later I was a bit suspicious. After all doesn't pizza take a bit longer than 3-5 minutes to cook? When I had the first piece I realized that it wasn't really cooked (cold), had tasteless ricotta cheese (cold) and sauce, mozzarella cheese (cold) and some sausage (also cold). Now I am not sure how you get mozzarella cheese to melt when it is cold but my suspicion is that it may have been premade and nuked. After the second cold piece I sent it back to be rewarmed and when it was returned it was hot, dried out and yes still tasteless. Now I did forget to mention that when I sent it back there was a person with a fancy chef's coat with the title Executive Chef or something like that standing right there behind the bar. And he didn't say a word. He didn't look at the cold pizza being returned, didn't say anything to me, he just stood there flirting with one of the wait staff. There was also someone who looked like an owner or manager standing there too and nothing was said by all. Hint #1 to owners: If and when a customer in a new establishment returns a dish for ANY reason you should have someone go and visit that customer. You should instruct all of your staff that when this happens (and it will) they are to inform management and/or the so called Head Chef and have them pay a visit to the customer and make amends. The rest of the meal that followed was even more lack luster in everything but the price. I would say that this place has a long way to go before it is a "Neighborhood" Bar and Grill. From what I understand the owners have little or no experience in running a restaurant and it shows. Hint # 2 to owners: Be friendly to customers. DON'T IGNORE THEM. Get your staff to be friendly to customers. As all good managers know, your staff follows your lead. Hint #3: Get your "Executive Chef: back in the kitchen to do some serious reworking of the food preparation. The ideas on the menu may sound good but if the execution is not working as with the flat bread it all goes flat. I would not recommend this place at all for drinks or food. Although if you want to be ignored you are welcome to try it. They have a long way to go.
(1)Candace T.
We have been there 3 times and ordered something different. Everything is great. The scallop special was very tasty and fresh. My husband had the salmon BLT, which he didn't take a breath for a few minutes. The service was quick and friendly. We will definitely be adding it to our normal rotation. Glad something like Nicks moved into town.
(5)Scott M.
Went to Nick's this past week for dinner with my wife and two year old son. I liked the decor, it was modern but I didn't think it was sterile. Food was pretty good-I had the pulled pork and fries, which were much better than across the street at the Big Black Dog. My wife liked the turkey burger she had. Our cocktails (Dark n Stormy and the blood orange margarita) were good, too. So why only 3 stars? It just seems like Nick's is trying too hard to be all things to all people: It's called a neighborhood bar and grill, but is a little pricey for that. It's allegedly kid friendly, but just because you have a kids menu doesn't mean kids feel at home there. We'll go back, and hope that they hit their stride.
(3)Michael B.
Great place- good beer menu, various menu options, good ambiance. Had the Salmon BLT which was excellent and my buddy had the burger- said it was the best burger he's had in a long long time. Will definitely be back!
(5)Nancy E.
Just too too loud. Wood planks on the ceiling does not help with the noise level. Food was fine, not great - waiter was wonderful, but the delivery, poor.
(2)Elaine M.
I was excited to give Nick's a try but I was disappointed. I had heard great things about the place and my expectations must have been too high. There was a wait when we arrived so we ordered drinks from the bar. I tried their signature drink a Blood Orange Margarita which turned out to be only fair. It tasted only like grapefruit juice without any further flavors, no alcohol at all. Where was the tequila? Usually pretty sensitive to any type of intoxicant and not having eaten all day I should have at least felt a tingle if there was any sort of tequila at all. Happily though the wait of 20-30 minutes turned out to be only about 10! For my entree I had the much touted salmon BLT. Average. Absolutely nothing special about this sandwich. The aioli just tasted like mayo but was supposed to be cilantro flavored. Had my choice of sides and chose the veggie chips. Thought they would be homemade, nope, just out of the Terra bag that I could buy at my local grocery.
(3)Michelle M.
Food was just so so. Environment too. Bloody Mary was way too salty with almost no garnish. I asked if they had a beer back and the waiter didn't know what I was talking about. Better places to go in the area.
(2)Emily B.
We were starving after riding our bikes all the way up here from the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. Checked Yelp and ended up choosing Nick's. It was a beautiful day so we (me, my husband and son) sat outside. Of course, I wanted a drink so I got the Mango Mojito. It was good but I would not consider it a Mojito. No mint leaves! My son got crayons and a kids menu. Huge plus. We got water shortly after sitting down without asking. Another huge plus. Our waitress was sweet and attentive. I ordered the Salmon BLT with Veggie Chips. So delicious! My husband got a chicken sandwich with fries and the fries were amazing. I probably ate more of them than he did. I had to use the restroom so I was able to get a feel for the inside. Very impressed and if we lived closer I would want to return soon for dinner. Definitely my type of vibe. Clean and modern, yet loud and fun. I love Wilmette and want to buy a house here. Too bad we are not rich ;) Thanks Nick's for your good food and drinks!
(5)Jeff K.
Nick's is one of my favorite places to eat on the Northshore. The food is consistently great upscale bar fare. The turkey burger is particularly enjoyable. Nick's also offers some nice extras: good beer list, family friendly, TVs in the bar area, and great service. Highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a comfortable, casual option in Wilmette.
(5)Kee V.
Stopped by Nick's for lunch thinking it was still CJ Arthurs. There was a good lunch crowd so I decided to stay and check it out. I chose the Chicken Club, which was good but I thought the pesto overwhelmed all the other flavors, especially the house made bacon. I couldn't taste it at all. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the bread was nicely toasted but the fries could use work though. They came out hot but they seemed stale. I don't know if they were leftover from the night before and re-fried but something was a little off. The iced tea had a hint of orange to it which was a nice surprise. Service was friendly and efficient. Next time I find myself in downtown Wilmette, I'll be stopping by again
(3)Rob L.
I'm not very active on Yelp, but my first experience at Nick's motivated me to write a review. Things change and so has Nick's. I have been here several more times since that dreadful opening night and I am happy to give my positive endorsement. We have returned with our son for dinner as well as going for lunch. For the kids, they've gotten rid of those stupid wiki-stick things. The worst toy, and they were leaving marks all over the sidewalk up and down Wilmette Ave. The food is good. The service is friendly. The prices are reasonable. It gets crowded - but that's a good thing, right?
(4)Richard B.
I don't get it. The bar is bloody excellent. The decor is comfortable and well thought out. The food -- not bad at all -- but the service is bloody awful. Either local kids hired as part-time (cheap) labor or amateur-hour staff. It's really a shame because I love everything else about the place. It's a terrific idea of a go-to-bar in an increasingly vibrant downtown Wilmette. Hope they fix the service then yes, 5*.
(3)Kathy L.
OK came back here with the family and the service was good. The drinks were good and the food was good. I wish the chairs were more comfortable. Had the taco special and it was good. more filling than last time. Had the Salmon sandwich for the main entree and it was filling. They forgot the dressing for the side salad but that was an easy fix. Waiter was very attentive yet not pushy. Glad we got there early as by the time we left it was full! They also have a few table outside. They were full. Good place to get a good weekday meal or meet friends for drinks. I'll go back.
(4)Marie D.
My husband and I had lunch here for the first time about two weeks ago. We were both very happy with the experience and will definitely go back. The space is bright, open, clean and nicely decorated. We had a salad and a sandwich, and both were fresh, flavorful, nicely portioned, and well-presented. Our service was excellent. Prices are spot-on for the experience.
(4)Bryn R.
Went to dinner here last night with my friend. She ordered a burger cooked to Medium with blue cheese ontop and a side salad instead of fries. When our food came, she sliced into her burger and it was nearly completely rare. It took a good 7min for our server to check back (and the store wasn't busy) so it took even longer to get the burger redone. Once that was settled she and i continue our meal. The ambiance of the restaurant was lovely but our server was still a bit uncomfortable and it made us a bit uncomfortable. When it was time for the check, she had charged me twice for fries. I'm sure it was an accident and it's totally no big deal because she took it off but it just seems that they are a tad careless there. I liked my meal (mussels and fries) so I will probably go back but I would prefer a different server and a better cooked burger
(3)Sean N.
It was my first time at nicks the other night and I was pleasantly surprised. My girlfriend and I went around 8pm and a table was ready right away. The waitress was kind and knowledgable about the menu and explained how nicks sources from local shops for their food. We started off with an appetizer of pretzel cheese curds which were pretty good. As our entrees, we got a pulled pork sandwich and a salmon blt. Both of which were very good. We also loved the decor of the restaurant.
(4)Betsy V.
Food is delicious, and they are amazing with the kids. This place never disappoints. I love the turkey burger. The kids love the flatbread and chicken nuggets. My husband always switches it up. And we keep coming back for more.
(5)Cam L.
I'm changing my review of Nick's to better reflect the mixed nature of my experience there three days ago--the good and the bad. My friends and I went off to Nick's with high expectations. We were eager to see the still new (to us) restaurant that had taken the place of the, for Wilmette, iconic CJ Arthur's. And we were eager to patronize a local restaurant, and have some fun in our own backyard. We made reservations--recommended for a Saturday night; Nick's is popular--showed up on time, were promptly seated, and received friendly, warm service. So far so good. Our food arrived promptly. I had a delicious mixed green salad and grilled salmon plate. Tasty, fresh salmon, cooked lightly and browned in an interesting sauce. Garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. Very nice, and satisfying. Husband had salad nicoise with large slices of tuna and plenty of greens, egg, the works. He enjoyed it. One of our companions also had the salmon and, like me, enjoyed it. Not sure what our fourth companion had, so don't want to comment on it. So why just the three stars? Well, when we left at the end of our meal, we went out into the night with ringing ears and hoarse voices. Each one of us. Not kidding or exaggerating. I strongly feel that something's wrong with a restaurant--with any business other than a punk rock concert hall, factory floor, or mining operation--that puts its customers into this condition! We had asked our waitress, at a point early in our meal, to please ask the manager to turn down the volume on the music--expecting to get a chuckle and condescending look in response--but she actually seemed to hear our complaint and to sympathize! I appreciated that. But, alas, the music was not turned down. We know restaurants have become noisier (restauranteurs, I've read, believe people have more fun and spend more when they are shouting), but our experience at Nick's was one of the loudest meals any of us has had--ever. As I've said, our food was very good, and we enjoyed our meals, as well as the service, the ambience (other than the music, of course), and the ease of getting to Nick's. But it was hard to enjoy the restaurant and our meals when struggling to lip read what my dinner companions were saying! I hope that Nick's will take this criticism to heart, and lower the volume of their music--it will enhance everyone's time in their restaurant, not just their diners, but that of the staff as well (our waitress implied that she too did not like having to shout). And it's healthier for all!
(3)JR C.
We were visiting family in the nearby Chicago area and decided to check out Nick's last week. I guess it's new neighborhood spot in Wilmette and we liked the decor inside. After a long day of sightseeing in the Chicago area, it was a great spot to satisfy my family's hunger pains, while still keeping tabs on the basketball game in the bar. I had the burger, with bacon and avocado. It was quite tasty and cooked the way I like it, medium well. My wife went with healthier fare, the salmon, which she really enjoyed. The kids devoured the chicken tenders and mac n' cheese. They loved the fries most of all. We topped it off by sharing the brownie dessert., Since the restaurant is new, there are still some kinks to work out in the delivery and service department, but the staff was very accommodating and nice about it. If we are back in the area, I would definitely head back to Nick's.
(4)Y C.
we passed by nick's several times, saw that it was nearly always full at dinner time and there were lots of children there, so wanted to try it. (we = a family of four including two young kids) i like the atmosphere - nicely done yet family-friendly. i like the food - four of the five things we had tasted excellent: the giant burger, the fancy chicken special, the kids flatbread (aka cheese pizza), and the dessert. kids' mac and cheese was sub-par, i thought, but it was for my daughter and she liked it. i like the service... and here is why: we found a candle stuck to the bottom of my son's last piece of flatbread. we were furious. we told the waitress and asked to talk to the manager. the waitress apologized, the manager apologized and took both kids meals off of the tab, and then the exec chef came out to apologize and offer a dessert to go. i did not appreciate the fact that they made the mistake, but i've had similar things happen at other restaurants only to be met with 'hey, shit happens' kind of attitude. i was impressed by their attention. we'll be going back to nick's.
(4)John H.
After hearing so much about Nicks we decided to check it out and I highly recommend the place: the service was awesome, servers and bartenders very friendly, the food was awesome! We had mussels, chicken buffalo wings (GREAT)
(2)Prk F.
So glad this place has replaced CJs. It has tasty food of a fairly decent variety that seems quite fresh. The arugula salad is quite tasty. Definitely a bit too loud and hopefully they're working on that, it was hard to talk with my family at a small table. But the tables are comfortable, the interior is nice, and I'm happy with what this restaurant contributes to downtown wilmette.
(4)Jenni B.
My family and I had a wonderful meal. The waitstaff was very attentive and the food was prepared well. The kids meals were also well worth the money. The restaurant decor is very nice. You would never know it used to be CJ Arthur's with the light wood and decor. My only complaint would be that it is loud in there.
(4)J R.
My neighbor and I went for the first time last night at 6:30. Greeted at the door with fake smiles and zero warmth. We ordered the blood orange margaritas but it was the most bland drink I have ever had and tasted/looked the same as a normal margarita but was mostly ice. We showed it to the server who said...."well, how do you feel"....it was odd, we didn't want to complain so we drank our icey margarita tasting water. Thankfully, the food was very good. Fresh ingredients in the homemade veggie burger, delicious. salmon was perfect! Little kids everywhere and I adore kids but it was so very loud we couldn't hear the server or each other speak! I think if we go later in the evening it won't be over run with naughty children? I was surprised parents would allow their children to be so rude. several people commented on it being like chuckie cheese. If I were management I would have asked the parents to control their kids. I saw how bothered other people were by the children running around screaming, is this a normal thing at Nicks? It was a great meal with way too many distractions. We walked down the street to the wine bar for some good conversation and drinks to end the night. I don't know that I would go back unless it was late and I stuck with wine or beer instead of a mixed drink.
(3)Liz W.
So tonight I arrived at Nicks as a walk in with my family of 6 in tow. We were greated by the host (who I swear worked at Fuel, and was nasty) and when I asked him how long the wait would be for a party of six, he very rudly said "people"??!!?? No, dogs. He then snarkly laughed, and said, "you do know we take reservations". I said that I was aware, but how long would the wait be. He was so rude, rolling his eyes, etc, that I did not wait for his response. We were excited to give this new restaurant a try, but with service like that, I will never be back, or send any of my friends their way. We went around the corner and had a great dinner at The Noodle, which has been around for 20 years. Nick's you better re-think your staff, or you will not be around for long. Shame on you, and the nasty, tall, thin guy behind the host stand.
(1)Brien M.
This place is great. I am not in Wilmette often, but I am glad my wife and I stumbled across this place. I am a drink and appetizer guy and this place fit the bill, mussels, wings, and crab cakes were awesome, and the beer selection was great - Not every place serves anti-hero. The service was prompt and attentive, and we even got a table visit from their GM Steve who is a very happy and charismatic guy, fun to talk to. I will definitely visit again next time I'm in WIlmette.
(5)J. C.
I'm somewhere between a 3 and a 4 for Nick's. When they are "on" the food is good and the service great. We've had a few times when neither the food was "on", nor the service great. That said, even when they are off, they are still OK, just not great. The place has good energy, but can be a little loud, and definitely a long wait, on a weekend night. Happily, they are open later than most.
(4)Sofia P.
I would not get the Kale Salad again. It was very plain and sad looking.I could make the same at home for way cheaper. My expectations for it were high i guess . Def not worth $9 and with chicken it was an additional $5. I got the same salad at Parana down the street with the chicken and a side for $9 instead of $14.
(2)Susan C.
First visit here since it was our son's 30th birthday....I ordered the cheeseburger ~ the biggest burger I've EVER seen! It came with choice of fries or salad & I had the fries. Both my son & husband had the chicken dinner. They raved and raved how delicious it was...Service was more than great....server very attentive with quick drink refills and the management came over a couple times asking if everything was okay...will return. A gem, no doubt!
(4)Tamir G.
Walk in for lunch. Server was very friendly. Food was OK. Nothing out of the ordinary but not bad. I would come in again for a quick meal. They have a good selection of beer.
(3)C c.
My husband and I took our 3 kids to lunch here today. Right when we sat down we were greeted by dozens of flies swarming. I should have listened to my husband at that point and left, but we decided to stay. We ordered right away and the kids food and appetizer came out about 15 or 20 minutes later. The pretzel cheese curds were in no shape or form resembling or tasting like a pretzel, which was strange. The kids cheese flatbread was not even cooked and was doughy and the fries that came with the kids meal were soggy and barely cooked. As if that wasn't bad enough, after waiting another 45 minutes for the adults food it still wasn't there. Everyone who sat after us had been served. Finally I stood up and took my 3 now very anxious kids out if the restaurant. When my husband got a manager, they weren't even very apologetic about it and had not even put the order in! They charged us for everything but our meals and quickly made them and put them in a to go box. When we got home the food was soggy and terrible! There goes 2 hours of my life I can't get back. So disappointed in this place. The service, food and cleanliness gets an F from me!
(1)Angel W.
I loved this restaurant/pub. Our server was amazingly cute and just great. He had good suggestions and made sure we were happy. Definite try the cheese curds, they are kind of a must have at this place! Food was great! I ordered the veggie burger and it was great!
(4)Angela S.
It was a no fuss lunch, and exactly what I expected it to be...a tasty sandwich, good fast service, a welcoming atmosphere and a quick clean up. I held a lunch meeting here the other day, and the second I walked in they were smoking their brisket in the back and it smelled soooo delicious! I came in expecting myself to order up a burger, but after I smelled that brisket, I ordered up a pulled pork shoulder sandwich. The meat was so tender and piled high on my bun. I'm glad it came with sauce, because the sauce is what really gave the sandwich a great kick in flavor...in retrospect, I wish I'd asked for even more sauce. The hand cut fries were nicely seasoned and more on the soft side. I still hear they have a killer burger here. Next time. Nice clean bathrooms, and a satisfied appetite. Works for me!
(4)