Raise a toast at Beverly Hills' ode to vodka and retro fun.

by Mar Yvette

Never mind those celebrity roast infomercials that promise to bring back the good ol' days of the Rat Pack when smoking was cool and wearing a suit all day was considered casual. The spirit of Dean Martin lives on right here at this Beverly Hills joint where the martinis flow just as freely as the conversations. A small couch-lined area plays host to the nightly happy hour and the occasional jazz band, while an ascending walkway leads to a more formal dining room with semi-circular booths and tabletop seating. A play on classic steakhouse cuisine, restaurateur (and host with the most) Larry Nicola offers everything from meaty standards like miso-crusted prime ribeye with wasabi butter to lighter fare like grilled Scottish salmon dressed in figs and apples. Of course, no visit would be complete without a visit to the VodBox, an exhibition walk-in freezer where guests can put on a faux fur and raise a glass from one of the more than 80 varieties of vodka. Oh, and don't miss the Dean Martin shrine. Seriously. Told you his spirit lives on.

11/14/08

Fantastic Food

by jay2002

Went there with a bunch of friends one day after work. Really fun atmosphere, and after a few drinks Nic took us back to the fridge. That of course got lots of laughs and actually quite a memorable experience. We put on furs, which to be honest i don't normally do so that by itself was an experience, and then had some tastings back there. Its sets the right mood, and the appetizers we've had tasted even better afterwords. all in all, a great place to go with friends and/or co-workers.

• Pros: Fun in the freezer
• Cons: I don't look good in furs

08/12/08

Fun atmosphere, great service

by serviceprincess

This is especially a great place for happy hour and dinner with friends. I have been here several times and have always had a fantastic experience. Nic (the owner...I forget his actual name) is totally sweet and each server I've had is well-trained in superior service. The food is so, so good. Everything is tastefully done. Great wine list and love the drinks. Also, I LOVE the ladies room!! Highly recommended.

• Pros: Food, drinks, atmosphere, SERVICE!
• Cons: Really, no cons. Great job, Nic's!...-Maybe the music can be a little loud for some (mostly in the bar)

07/23/08

Good food and warm service in an unlikely setting

by lachal

I went to Nic's this week for the first time and was very pleasantly surprised. I was warmly greeted at the door by Nic's son and shown to my table. We had great cocktails, a good bottle of wine and a decent price. Great appetizers and the Monday fixe price dinner. Nic also came by to check on how we were doing. It is a nice place with a vibrant chic but unpretentious crowd. It is a new favorite.

• Pros: Happy Hour Bar Specials, Clam Pizza to Rival Mozza
• Cons: Only if you don't like a "buzz" of noise

03/31/08

Great Friday Night Dinner & Drinks Spot!

by kailanni

I visited Nic?s Beverly Hills this past Friday night with a group of 9 friends. When I arrived I gave the host the name of my party and he promptly escorted me over to our table. The restaurant was upscale, romantic, & trendy but not at all pretentious like I thought it might be because of the location. We ordered drinks and appetizers. The drinks were really good - you want to try a Triple X Martini ? I promise you won?t be disappointed The service was friendly and prompt. After about 45 minutes or so, our waitress let us know that the Vodbox was ready for us (a must-try!) After being provided with faux fur coats & hats, we were ushered into the 28 degree freezer room where all of their top-shelf Vodka?s are stored. Our hostess gave us a thorough overview of their Vodka?s and then we got to sample a few shots. .We were in there for about 20 minutes or so before returning to the main dining room and bar area. Around 9:30 or so, they brought in an awesome live band which added even more great energy to the place. The owner Nic could be seen greeting and mingling with the customers all evening and he even came over to take a couple pictures with our group ? really cool guy.

All in all, we had a great time, I will definitely be returning with another group of friends soon!

Note: It got pretty crowded between 9 & 10 so reservations are suggested.

*Also, gratuity is automatically added to the bill for parties of 8 or more so to avoid double-tipping, review your itemized receipt carefully.

• Pros: The Vodbox & live band
• Cons: Automaitc gratuity & parking

03/08/08

Great Lounge!

by therealdiningdiva

You wanna try the Salmon....Superb! The bartenders are not amateurs...drinks are made with STRENGTH!

03/05/08

Drink up!

by dgc1987

I went here on a weekday during happy hour for a business meeting. I'm in my twenties. My boss is in his forties. Our business partners are in their fifties. We ALL had a great time. The drinks tasted great and the atmosphere was cool and relaxing. We didn't get a chance to go into the vod box, but i'm making it my priority next time around.

• Pros: Great Drinks

02/15/08

you cant find another lounge like this!

by MariaBia

Nic's has been a personal favorite of mine for years...im finally writting a review. its the kind of place you go when you want the warm fuzzies of a neighborhood bar with the quality and atmosphere of a BH hot spot. Ive tried a lot of the menu items (salmon on waldorf - amazing, filet w/blueberries - better than you can imagine) but ive been going for the specials the last few times and those are really stealing the show. for the first timers try going for happy hour where the price is right and you can try a bunch of appetizers. and dont forget to get loosey goosey in their vodka freezer - the best way to freeze off a crazy day at work!

• Pros: Tasty tasty dinner!

01/14/08

Not recommended for parties/groups!

by anid5656

Went to Nic's for my birthday recently...had a reservation for 16 and had 12 for dinner - they tried to charge us for 16 saying it was in some sort of contract I never saw/signed. Then they were rather mysterious about whether or not a tip was included in the total price. Needless to say it was supposed to be a fun and classy evening, but turned mortifying when my guests were nearly forced to overpay for their portions on a pre-fixe menu. To make it worse the service was awful (VERY slow with a VERY snotty waitress) and they refused bar service (no bar waitresses either ) at midnight, so we had to get up and get our own drinks from ONE veyr overwhelmed bartender (who had no clean glasses btw). The one redeeming quality was that the food was pretty good. I would NOT recommend this place for larger groups at all!

• Pros: Great music, ambience
• Cons: BAD for groups, horrible wait-staff

12/16/07

Classic RIP OFF scheme

by higgins1

This place rips people off by adding a service charge to your bill, and then presenting you with a credit card bill that has the total and a blank line for a tip- but it doesn't say that 20% has already been added. Sneaky. I have no respect for a place that is so high priced and then tries to rip you off at the same time. weak.