Charming good value old-style Italian with pastas and pizzas. Excellent gluten free options and plenty for vegetarians. Delightful friendly service (our waitress Soraya was excellent). Much better vibe than most other places downtown and very tasty food.

Staff was extremely friendly and welcoming! The atmosphere is quaint and relaxed to enjoy wine and food. I enjoyed the minestrone and caprese salad. I also had a side of the meatballs and they were very flavorful. I would absolutely recommend stopping in for an enjoyable experience and great food.

This hidden gem in Old Town Pasadena is one of my favorite Italian restaurants. I love the exposed brick walls in this beautiful old building. The ambience is relaxed and welcoming. The servers are very nice and attentive. We have tried their lasagna, pizzas, shrimp scampi, lemon pasta and cheesy garlic toast. We will definitely come back and try something different. Although my favorite dish is the shrimp scampi with spaghetti.. so delicious! I highly recommend.

Franklin

Nick’s Pasadena felt like one of those nights where you dress for dinner but stay for the conversation. Effortlessly charming, quietly confident, and wrapped in a warm glow that makes you wonder if romance is really about the setting or the company or maybe the perfect mix of both. My husband ordered the meatloaf, soulful and comforting, a classic that felt reassuring in all the right ways. I chose the filet center cut, elegant and tender, rich without trying too hard. Two very different choices, yet somehow perfectly aligned. And I couldn’t help but wonder isn’t that what love looks like after all. The service moved with an easy rhythm, attentive but never intrusive, like it understood that some moments deserve to be uninterrupted. Nick’s Pasadena is the kind of place where date night feels effortless, where conversation lingers and the evening unfolds naturally. And as I looked across the table, I couldn’t help but think maybe the best love stories don’t always need Paris. Sometimes, they happen right here in Pasadena.

Rocsii Woolley

Nick’s in Pasadena is definitely a hot spot for a reason. From the moment we arrived, the energy was great, busy but not overwhelming, and the vibe was lively without being too loud. Even with how popular it was, our wait time was minimal and we were seated fairly quickly, which was a great start to the experience. Customer service was truly top tier. The staff was attentive, friendly, and made sure we were taken care of throughout the entire meal. Our drinks, appetizers, and entrees came out surprisingly fast, especially for how packed the restaurant was. Everything was timed perfectly, no long gaps and no feeling rushed. The food was absolutely delicious and beautifully presented. From the fresh seafood and crispy fried chicken to the flavorful appetizers and perfectly crafted drinks, everything hit the mark. You can tell a lot of care goes into both the quality and consistency of the dishes. Every plate we tried was seasoned well, fresh, and full of flavor. Another thing that stood out was how clean and well maintained everything was, including the bathrooms, which always says a lot about a restaurant’s standards. We ordered the meatloaf, buttermilk fried chicken, and Chilean sea bass, and every entrée was cooked to perfection and full of flavor. The meatloaf was hearty and comforting, the buttermilk fried chicken was crispy, juicy, and topped with a rich, flavorful sauce, and the Chilean sea bass was perfectly pan seared, tender, and buttery. For appetizers, we had the deviled eggs and crispy rice with spicy tuna, and both were a hit. The deviled eggs were creamy and well seasoned, and the crispy rice with spicy tuna was fresh, flavorful, and the perfect balance of crispy and savory. Everything we tried was absolutely delicious and worth ordering again. Overall, Nick’s delivers on atmosphere, service, and food. It’s the kind of place you can go for a date night, celebration, or just a great meal with friends. We had an amazing experience and will definitely be back. Highly recommend if you’re in Pasadena and looking for a great dining spot.

+4

Moses

Took my parents here. Service was phenomenal with polite, professional, and considerate staff. Food was out of this world. The must have a world class chef because my parents don’t really like eating outside food but they loved this place. The drinks were made very well. A+ to the bartender. All in all I give this place 5 stars.

Dean Baker

An enjoyable lunch experience. I had the center cut filet, wedge salad and deviled eggs. Steak was tender, lettuce was crisp and fresh. Nice take on deviled eggs, as the whites were fried.

Mark Wood

We stopped by Nick’s in Pasadena for lunch and had an outstanding experience. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted and made to feel welcome. Our waitress was absolutely fantastic attentive, friendly, and on top of every detail. We ordered the ribeye melt and it was incredible: tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. Overall, a great lunch with excellent service and delicious food. We’ll definitely be back!

Ari D

It is always an experience when you dine at Nicks. This is our first time on Lake & another great experience. It is not just food, the entire experience is what they are great at. Let’s start with service: The first time I ever ate at Nicks in Laguna, I had thought we got a great waiter. Many years and dinners after, every location, their team does a great job. They are on top of their game, watching the table and making you feel special. Your food comes out as soon as it is ready & hot. They make sure you have a great dinner. Arpa did just that for us. Atmosphere: Very cozy and feels just right. Not over the top, not trying to be something. This is going to sound old, but I am always happy when there is enough light to be able to read the menu. Food: Best for last. I can say I have not had anything that I can say was just ok. Right after eating, you always think, "I should come back soon." We also usually order the same things and always add one or two things to try. So far so good. We had pizza for the first time in Pasadena & would love to have it again. If any of these experiences were just ok, it is like driving a car with a flat tire. You can have the most amazing car, but you are not going anywhere.

Kelli Monkawa

Updating my review, as this is one of my favorite go-tos in pasadena. I'm here with my Husband's, friend's, etc. fairly often. I love the drinks, service, and food here. Wonderful..recently the team even had a special treat prepared for our anniversary. Thank you so much for the wonderful experiences! Will be back soon! 💓😋

+3

Kiley Eberhardt

We had a Dad in town we wanted to treat. Excellent all around. David our server was very attentive and we sat at the bar prior to our table. My steak was perfectly medium.

Nathia Thomas

Our server was the best! The food was delicious. The lemon cake.... 10/10!

Nicki Roode

Incredible experience Friday at Nicks! Where do I begin. We walked in w/o a reservation and both hostesses were lovely and seated us quickly. The restaurant was gorgeous, clean, and bright. The kitchen is exposed behind glass so it was a joy to watch just how hard the chefs work. Our waitress, her name escapes me sadly, because she was incredible, was super attentive, and very kind. Everything from the chilled Jules Taylor Sauv Blanc, the incredible Caesar salad, Fried Chicken dish, Chilean Sea Bass, and the tables Sourdough boule was to die for. Lastly, I can’t forget to mention their Lemon Cake!! I am still dreaming of that HUGE slice of light and citrusy lemon cake. Enough to feed 4 and absolutely mouthwatering after a heavy meal of fried chicken. Well done Nick’s! I only wish we had one here In Az! 10 Stars!!!!

Sandy Hui

We met with a couple of friends for an early dinner. The pizza was good. The filet mignon was a bit over cooked. Overall a good atmosphere to hang out with friends.

Genesis

Please get a reservation if you are able. The wait was 1 hour - 1.5 hours unless we sat at the bar—we sat at the bar with no wait. The staff was kind and accommodating. I have a peanut allergy and they made note of it for the chefs and serving staff. I had the ribeye melt and the nonalcoholic mule. Exceptional!

Denise Cotinola

I am so impressed with this restaurant! Walking in the ambiance is lavish but welcoming. We were seated near the kitchen so I was able to see all the beautiful dishes come out. My table ordered the fried asparagus and ahi fried rice for apps. Loved them both. For entrees we enjoyed the veggie burger, the prime rib dip and the katsu salad. Everything was amazing! The katsu salad had a very large portion of chicken and the sauces were delectable! We had no room for dessert but the 8 layer cake would have been my choice. I can hardly wait to go back to try more menu items.

Yovany Jerez

Ambrosia! We ordered the shrimp taquitos and had to get a second order! A very creative & delicious appetizer! The kids ribs were a well balanced combo of veggies & delicious meat. The guys had the sirloin + center cut = BOTH were perfectly seasoned & cooked. The lady had the blacked fish sandwich and she fully satisfied at every bite. The service was super attentive: my water was always full and empty plates were promptly removed.

Oded Kassirer

We got a recommendation from friends so we made a reservation and had dinner at Nick’s in Pasadena. It was awesome! The place is not too big, with a bar and tables next to it and a second floor, the looks down at the bar, which where we were seated. I’d recommend sitting upstairs, it’s relaxed and comfortable. The service was excellent. Between the host, the waiter, the bus boys and the manager, all were friendly and very accommodating. The food was absolutely amazing. Nice portions, very beautifully served with very nice flavors. All in all very highly recommended

+2

This quaint Italian restaurant in Old Town Pasadena truly impressed with its well-presented dishes and generous serving sizes. The food here is simply great! What really stood out was the rich, flavorful marinara sauce, which tasted homemade and wasn't watered down like at so many other places. Their ravioli is fantastic, and appetizers like the bruschetta with tomato topping were also excellent. The dining area, though on the smaller side, actually adds to the restaurant's allure, creating a cozy and intimate atmosphere. I can imagine it being perfect for a quiet, romantic dinner or a lively gathering, depending on the crowd. The staff members were incredibly welcoming and friendly, rounding out a wonderful experience.

We were pleasantly surprised w our lunch. We ordered from the Dine LA menu. The minestrone soup was delicious. Loved the salad. My wife was very pleased w her pizza. Parking is a challenge. But pretty good Italian food. We will definitely visit again.

Went yesterday with my three kids and their friend in the, yay table of 4 kids lol but Dan took such good care of us! He deserves 5 stars. Our drinks were never empty, he was so kind and patient with my kids (and me). Service was prompt and our food came out in a very reasonable time frame. I'm giving 4 stars because honestly the pizza and calzone was not the best I've ever had, something about the flavor was off (and I've had tons of both). However the mozzarella sticks were to die for and we will probably come back just for those! And my kids said the spaghetti was amazing (and let me tell you, they're spaghetti experts). So between that and the great service we will be back for sure! And my kids agree. Thanks Dan for the great experience!

A cozy Italian restaurant located in the heart of downtown Pasadena. The prices are quite fair for the portion sizes and the taste was satisfactory although nothing that will blow you away. If you’re looking for a safe-bet Italian restaurant with pasta that tastes just as you would expect and nothing more beyond that, this is a good safe option and the service here is excellent with incredibly friendly and attentive staff.

Nice ambiance, and good location in Old Town Pasadena. The food was good. I had a cheese-less pizza (they did not have an option of vegan cheese) and loaded it up with 6 toppings! Sautéed spinach side was good also.

Sushil P

Visited Nick's at Pasadena for lunch. Joined the Waitlist via Yelp - and upon reaching was told it would take ~45 mins to get seated (We were party of 2 and 1st on Waitlist ! ) They advised to get bar seating which we managed to find. We requested if we could order drinks at the bar but would prefer to be seated at the table for food. The hostess said they will try, but I doubt they did. Other than this hiccup of not getting a seat even after waiting for 40 minutes everything else here was great. The pizza was very good. Drinks were great , our bartender was awesome. Ambience is top notch ! I will be back for sure and make reservations in advance next time !

Albert Vo

My first time here for a company dinner. The shrimp taquitos were crunchy and flavorful. The Chilean sea bass was fresh and juicy, but it was a bit salty to my liking.

Ed Tom

I passed by this years for many years . It has absolutely no appeals but finally came here for the first time and I was blown away how nice it is inside. As matter of fact, I thought it was just a little restaurant but it was huge inside. It is actually 2 floors! And the food? O g! Best Cioppino ever!! It is huge! The seafood is cooked to perfection.. Chilean sea bass melts in my mouth!! Butter cake was good but is not amazing like Mastros!! Devil eggs was excellent!!

+13

Basel Zedan

This is the second time I’ve been to Nick’s, but the first time in over a decade. I came for a Christmas work dinner. We reserved a table on the second floor which was perfect for the dinner as it was more quiet. I started with a season Fig Old Fashioned which was delicious…and strong. Would recommend before it’s off the menu. I got the Center Cut Filet and opted for mashed potatoes instead of the fully loaded baked potato. The mashed potatoes were very, very average but the steak was good (though I’m starting to learn if I’m not at a steakhouse to not order a steak because it’s simply not the same) and the asparagus was good. For dessert, we tried the Lemon Cake and the Warm Butter Cake. Lemon Cake was very refreshing but the Warm Butter Cake stole the show and was easily the best thing I ate all night. I’d come back just for that. Our server was very attentive the entire night and brought out a birthday treat for one of my coworkers which was a nice gesture. All in all, a good food experience and I hope it doesn’t take another decade before I’m back.

This place serves no nonsense Italian fare. The highlight of our meal is the lasagna, it was cheesy and delicious. The shrimp Parmesan and chicken piccata were pretty good except that they were accompanied by very salty roasted potatoes and sautéed spinach respectively. The Italian sub and the desserts were average. Our server was attentive.

Public pay parking structure across street Outdoor seating with cover on both side of streets since this restaurant located on corner Plenty of seating on Wednesday night House salad is very plain - not recommended Chicken Alfredo pasta- one best pasta I had since the covid.. eat will hot.. sauce gets thick when cold Pizza - cheese.. yummy even I am meat lover type person Pizza - veggies, I did not eat it because have toppings I don't eat. But my friends love it. Garlic bread is okay wish have more garlic flavors. I would go back for the pasta..

K

The service was excellent, but I did wish they provided restaurant-quality paper napkins, and not ones from the restroom. The atmosphere was nice. But, the food was okay. To our disappointment, the pork rib was chewy, and did not fall off the bones as expected. However, their margherita pizza and salmon were good. Our overall experience was not bad.