Translation from English

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Burger and Pizza Joint: Big Nicks on the UWS

Now, this place is obviously and definitely casual...

It seems almost all the places I see that have outdoor dining have people who are really enjoying themselves, but this may be self-selecting--- the ones who have tried it and didn't like just don't come back after all, or this is just not their kind of place to begin with.

Let us see what Yelp says this time...as I suspected, it is definitely more for some people than for others...


Big Nick's Burger & Pizza Joint

3.5 star rating
396 reviews Rating Details
Categories: Diners, Burgers, Pizza
2175 Broadway
(between 77th St & 76th St)
New York, NY 10024
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
(212) 362-9238
Nearest Transit Station:
79 St (1, 2)
72 St (1, 2, 3)
81 St - Museum Of Natural History (A, B, C)
Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 am - 12 am
Good for Groups:
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Price Range:
$$
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
Yes
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Wi-Fi:
No
Good For:
Lunch, Dinner, Late Night
Alcohol:
Beer & Wine Only
Drive-Thru:
No
Noise Level:
Average
Ambience:
Divey, Casual
Has TV:
No
Caters:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Review Highlights   What's this?

  • "Also - definitely get waffle fries, you'll be glad you did." In 44 reviews
  • "Never miss it, every time I go to NYC I go to Big Nick's." In 43 reviews
  • "It's a true Upper West Side institution." In 19 reviews
Show more review highlights
Rating Distribution | Trend
Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Useful | Funny | Cool | Total Votes | Friends' | Elites'

396 reviews in English

  • Review from

    • 9 friends
    • 53 reviews
    4.0 star rating
    6/24/2013 1 photo 1 check-in here
    Love the burgers - every time we are hanging in the city or having a day in central park...this is our go to place for burgers.

    I will say that..I haven't had anything else other than their burgers...so can't comment on anything else.  I do love their pickles....  I would have given them five stars..but I am very picky about the buns that people use for their burgers.  I a like my buns to be regular burger buns...not some fancy bread which takes away from the burger.

    I also have to say that the fries sometimes are a bit too oily...but I always prefer the waffle fries.  If you are adventurous...I would suggest the SUMO burger...VERY Good
    • This what a burger should look like
  • Review from

    4.0 star rating
    5/27/2013 1 check-in here
    A great place to get a bite to eat late night. From my experience, I find that the pizza is the best option although I have had their Greek salad, bruschetta, and a few other items and all were good. The regular pizza is great and the Sicilian Pesto (pizza slice) is fucking awesome (this is something I would go any time of day for). Also! They serve wine and beer until 4am, which is convenient considering most bars in the area stop serving food by 1am.

    The atmosphere is super casual and divey so you can show up wearing pretty much anything. Don't go if you're looking for a fine dining experience. Duh.
  • Review from

    • 52 friends
    • 72 reviews
    5.0 star rating
    5/19/2013 1 photo 2 check-ins here
    Overall: The best. If you haven't gone, go now before it's too late. Great regular slices but if you're only going once you need to order the Sicilian Pesto Slice.

    If the stories I'm reading about Big Nick's on Broadway closing are true, the Upper West Side will soon be losing something truly great. After opening its doors in 1952, Big Nick's seemingly hasn't changed a lot, and everybody I've talked to agrees that's a good thing.

    When I talk about Big Nick's, I might seem like I'm talking about a few different places; there is no true regular crowd, and the people you'll see at different times of day will vary widely. The decor is reminiscent of an old cafeteria or diner, with wooden benches and pictures and news clippings on the wall depicting times and events in the long history of the restaurant. The place has two sides, and the northern side has a very old school diner counter.

    Sit Down: You have the option to sit down and eat at Big Nick's on either side of the restaurant. The servers are not recent grads looking for a job - they've clearly all been working there for a while and definitely will get impatient with you; they're the best, and a great relief from the fake fawning you'll get at  other places. The Big Nick's menu is a huge, many page, vinyl covered behemoth that probably weighs a few pounds on its own.

    Big Nicks is justifiably known for its pizza, and you can choose from a plethora of different toppings (warning-too many gets expensive). The best thing on the menu, regardless, is The Sicilian Pesto Slice. Caps are a conscious choice here. The burgers are great but largely hit or miss...although seeing that the feta burger is just a square slab of feta on a burger makes up for the lack of effort.  During the day and into dinner time, you're most likely to see families out for a meal or people coming in just after work. The place probably won't be as full then as it is between 1 am and 2 am, though. If you live close by, Big Nick's is the best late night place to end a night with some friends. It's definitely something different to sit at a table and order a slice and a glass of chilled red wine at 3:45 am in a dive. There are also plastic chairs and wooden tables outside for when the weather is nice.

    Take Out: Big Nick's delivers, but I live fairly close by, so take out is great for a quick meal or a walk back late night. The cooks make the food fairly quickly, and you can hang out with Hussein, the night manager, while you wait.  Again, don't forget The Sicilian Pesto.

    I could continue writing but it's pointless. Go over and check the place out, it may not be there much longer.
    • Big Nick's Bruschetta
  • Review from

    1.0 star rating
    7/10/2013
    Three out of three of us got food poisoning here Sunday night. It's now Wednesday and we're all still sick. The only things we all three ate in common were French fries and the water. So whatever the contamination was must have been all over the place. Be warned.
  • Review from

    1.0 star rating
    6/11/2013
    Pass, pass, pass on this place. Your bowels will thank you later.
  • Review from

    5.0 star rating
    6/18/2013
    My hubby and I spent a week on the UWS; and we ate here or got take out almost every meal. I used to go to Nick's back in the 80's-90's and they still have the same signed headshots and photos with celebs. In a world that seems to be constantly changing it is so great to see something that is the same (interior) with things new (menu items). Love Nick's!

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