Nick's on Main

We had a birthday dinner here and it was a very pleasant experience! I will definitely be back.

The service was very attentive and everything seemed to work like clockwork.

The food was well presented, cooked consistently, and tasted great.

The chef/owner came by our table, chatted, and even took a photo with us. What I enjoyed the most was the quality of conversation. Other restaraunts have chefs come by and it feels rushed or insincere, this was not like that!

**4.5 STARS**

The S.O. surprised me for a romantic NYE dinner... I literally didn't know where we were going and I was scared but he did a good job indeed!

We walked in and it was packed... considering it was a very tiny, intimate place. At first I thought it was going to be THAT restaurant where no one was making eye contact to us (I meant the servers) and finally the host saw us and told us to follow her.

I thought they had another place in back... we walked past by the kitchen and onto this room... I felt kinda weird since it felt like we were heading to a secluded area. Finally, we walked into a room (good space for an art gallery) and there was another couple -- apparently it was the holding area until our table was ready. It all made sense after the fact... I thought initially that the S.O. reserved the whole entire spot for us... NOT. The space was so tiny that it made sense to lead us to another room next door instead of gawking at the other patrons eating their food.

We waited for about 10-15 mins... I liked the fact that you could order a glass of wine from their wine list... thus the S.O. and I shared a glass of the Testarossa Pinot Noir ... They give you a generous pour and it was delicious indeed!

Finally the host came back and we got seated... it's very small... and we got seated by the door but it was cold so the S.O. asked if we could move to another table not by the door... fortunately they accommodated our request and it was a good start indeed.

We ordered the following:

Me:
- drunken prosciutto with fig = wow, just what I needed! Prosciutto tasted fresh, generous portions... with fig and olives... yum!

- bolognese pasta (special for the night) = I was so full from the appetizers and the wine that I ended up just taking this home... it was good bolognese sauce though so try it if they have it on the menu!

S.O.
- crab risotto = first taste, it melted in my mouth! I can't believe I'm going to say this but this was really really really delicious! It's just the right taste, well cooked risotto and the crab meat was generous as well. I think this is by far the best risotto I've had, EVER.

- pork tenderloin = this was also tender and the side dishes that accompanies this dish was well thought out ... the flavors all matched and it was tender and delicious.

I guess this is the first review that I actually tasted the S.O.'s dish... I'm honestly glad I did.

For dessert... I HAD to get the banana bread pudding... which was delicious as well but the S.O. had to eat most of it. I was full. He got the creme brulee which was creamy and delish as well. Let's say he inhaled that one.

Service... superb. Nick was going around asking if everyone was good... and that was really nice.

Overall, I'd have to give props to the S.O. for doing his research and for taking me out here... wonderful food... service and definitely rocking company!

Only 4.5 stars due to the holding area... it was weird.

PS: definitely make a reservation!

Wow~ The food here blew me away. I came here for lunch on a Saturday, and had called a few days in advance for a reservation. It was pretty packed when I got there, so it's a good thing I had a reservation. Parking in downtown Los Gatos is usually a little difficult, but I was pretty lucky and parked right in front of the restaurant.

The first delicious treat was their complimentary bread with an amazing sauce. It was so good that we finished it, even though I probably should have left some more room for my entree. What we ordered:

- TUNA TAR TAR TOWER ($13) : This was my favorite dish, and I loved every part of it. I love tuna tartare, and the one at nick's was perfect. The tuna tasted very fresh, and their ginger soy dressing was delicious. Avocados were also fresh, and I even liked the picked cucumbers that topped the tuna. It was served with a spicy cabbage salad on the side that I thoroughly enjoyed too.

- LOBSTER BLT & AVOCADO SANDWICH ($15) : Great sandwich. The lobster to bread ratio was perfect, so you can really taste the lobster.

- LOCH DUART SALMON WITH DUNGNESS CRAB ON LEMON RISOTTO ($17) : This was my main dish, and just like everything else we tried, it was cooked perfectly. The salmon was not overcooked, and it was very tender. The lemon risotto had just the right amount of creaminess that went very well with the crab.

- BANANA BREAD PUDDING : This was my least favorite dish. The flavor was very good, but the bread pudding was too dense for my liking. I usually like my bread pudding softer so it just melts in your mouth when you eat it.

Next time I'm coming back for the "trust the chef", which means the chef cooks you whatever he feels like at the time. A guy at the next table ordered it, and it looked delicious. He received a halibut dish, and I love halibut. I think it'd be fun too to be surprised by the chef. The owner Nick was also super friendly, and came around to our table a few times to chat with us. I love this place, and I can't wait to go back.

Cute little place that only holds about 20 people in the entire joint. We made reservations for lunch and so glad we did as the place gets packed. Complimentary bread cubes (so fluffy and delicious) with a sun-dried tomato dipping sauce to hold us over until we ordered. So yummy! If you ask for another basket, they actually charge you so something to note....

What I swallowed:

CRAB BLT SANDWICH with POMMES FRITES and SIDE SALAD: This was originally the lobster sandwich but I opted for the crab instead as I wanted the avocado and the tarragon aoli so they were happy to oblige to my request. The sour dough was perfectly toasted and held up to my dripping crab meat juices. This sandwich was so addicting I opted to not touch much of my mixed green salad as I wanted to savor each and every bite of my crunchy sourdough sopped up with crab juice wonderfulness. The pommes frites are thin and super delicious as well. This was a very addicting dish.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Mk1expZCld__kiq_-t7K9g#ubzyzroD1bKsAfX5Dfo9hQ
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Mk1expZCld__kiq_-t7K9g#-8dtQgCii4OT0QNr3Yl3Wg

PEACH BREAD PUDDING with RUM SAUCE A LA MODE: Damn, this was delicious. The four of us shared this dish but it was so delicious I could have easily eaten one of these by myself. The bread was heavenly creamy and crusty in just the right parts and the peachy rum sauce gave it just the right amount of sugary punch. The scoop of vanilla ice cream was bit dinky (about the size of a rounded teaspoon) but still gave the bread pudding just the right amount of creaminess.

I would definitly come here again to check out some of their other delicious items on the menu, even if it was just to go back and have that crab sandwich again 'cuz it was BOMB!

Service was super friendly and the food came out fairly quickly. Decent lunch prices ranging from $12+ for a sandwich/fries/salad combo type deals so reasonably priced for delicious food, great portions, and great ambiance.

Nick's on Main is an extremely popular and highly rated restaurant in Los Gatos. I've had it bookmarked for quite awhile, although I've heard that reservations are often a must given how busy it can get.

Fortunately, due to a very late lunch, I was able to stop by Nick's and try their American cuisine.

The interior space is a small one and it's not surprising it gets crowded. It definitely feels like a bistro-type atmosphere and the chef personally comes and greets everyone regarding their meal.

The lunch menu is actually quite broad and includes a wine list, appetizers, entrees, as well as many sandwiches.

I opted for one of their most popular sandwiches, the lobster roll, and heard that their crab melt is also very popular. The order:

Prosciutto with olives - nice thinly sliced prosciutto served with tasty olives. Always safe.

Steamed Mussels - had a taste of the thai chili and cilantro butter mussels. They were very good.

Lobster roll - a California version of the classic and delicious. Bacon, avocado, and a tarragon aioli gave it that California flavor but the minced lobster meat made it the classic lobster roll. The lobster pieces were moist, tasty, and room temp (not too cold or hot). I enjoyed this. It was served with pommes frites.

Extremely happy to have finally tried Nick's and to now know that they are also open for lunch. I have no doubt that Nick's would make a great dinner place, especially for a date-like ambiance.

Nick's accepts credit cards, including American Express.

Had a wonderful experience at this friendly little bistro on Saturday night.

Placed a late reservation on a whim and when we arrived we were greeted warmly and well taken care of throughout the evening. Service was tops... from a tip on an unwritten menu item and the sauternes to go with it ... to careful attention to timing... we were even asked if we'd like to relocate to one of the more desirable window seats as soon as it came available.

I had the Loch Duart salmon with dungeness crab buerre blanc, lemon risotto and sauteed asparagus. I'm a huge fan of salmon and an even bigger fan of crab so this was perfect for me. Satisfying without being too heavy.

My friend had the duck confit with creamy polenta and roasted brussels sprouts. Portions are large and the duck confit was so deliciously rich and hearty you almost wished it was storming outside. A roaring fireplace and a cognac afterward would have been picture perfect...

We shared a bottle of Dehlinger Pinot Noir from the short but well planned wine list. Fantastic...but that's a given.

Nick's may not be the destination for a *stereotypically* romantic evening... whispers of sweet nothings may be a little difficult with happy, chatty patrons seated at tables close enough that you could reach over and share a bite ... but you won't be at a loss for passion and joie de vivre here, that's for sure.

So, if you and a loved one or good friend/s are looking for a lively place with great food, full of neighborly banter and smiles all around... definitely put this one on your list. You won't be disappointed.

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Update: 04/2010

Oof. Went back recently and there IS such a thing as too much butter, I still like the place but bring your lipitor...

We had the pheasant over creamy polenta with wild mushrooms and haricot verts as well as the filet mignon over white beans and cherry tomatoes w/duck confit and they were swimming. Far too rich for me.

Don't miss the abalone though. Lightly fried in panko... it was amazing.

4 1/2 stars.

I've been here 2-3 times and each time they have never failed to impress me. An absolute must-have is their mussels. The sauce is to die for! Flavorful without being too salty, and it came with a plate of fries.

While this place is $$$, their dishes are not those pretentiously small plates. Their appetizers are almost as big as the entrees, so if you find multiple appetizers you want to try (ahem, mussels) do it! It will be more than enough.

For entree's my date got the roasted rack of lamb, which was not as good as the appetizers but still definitely worth 4 stars. I got the salmon with crab on top. It was good - standard salmon. It was the crab and tasty risotto beneath that really made it more unique.

For dessert: the banana bread pudding and raspberry cheesecake is good. I have yet to try more.

Service is great - they make you feel uber important, and Nick himself comes out to ask how everything is.

I've honestly have had better food that I maintain that this place deserves four stars because there are little things about this restaurant that are quite whimsical and worthwhile. Two of these being:

1. the cookbook they give you to hold the bill
2. the "trust the chef" appetizer menu item

I got the trust the chef menu item because I love the idea of letting the chef's creative juices flow by doing whatever he feels with whatever ingredients he has on hand. The dish ended up being a risotto with pork belly with wild mushrooms and an egg on top. It was tasty but very overwhelmingly rich and texturally all mushy. The flavors were there but it left barely any room for my main course which was a seared ahi tuna dish that I could barely eat a quarter of.

For dessert I had the banana bread pudding which was delicious. It isn't the best bread pudding I've had (the best I've had was a crossaint bread pudding) but it would definitely be in the top three best bread puddings I've had.

This place is super tiny so making reservations would be a good idea.

If I wouldn't gain weight each time I had Nick's, I'd eat it every time I visited San Jose. It's THAT good. And there are enough things on the menu to entertain me.

Had dinner here last night for the very first time. I walked by here often but they were also closed (I guess I usually come by during Sundays). We had the chef's pick which turned out to be duck confit. It was perfectly marinated! I love sauces on my food and it also came with pork belly. Who doesn't love fat? :p

For dinner, we had the seabass and salmon. The seabass was super moist and delicious. Even my much hated lentil beans tasted good. The flavors were good... but I still don't like the texture of the bean. Not Nick's fault. The salmon was really good too.

We had the bread pudding for dessert and it was good. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Yums!

Will be back to try all the other stuff on the menu like mussels and crab risotto!

I originally heard about Nick's on Main by word of mouth, not Yelp. I tried to make a reservation using OpenTable, but Nick's isn't in their system. That seemed so strange in this day and age. Oh well, I called and got a table right at 11:30 when they opened. Boy, people weren't kidding when they said it's small. I was lucky I got to sit in the window so I wasn't squished right up next to other diners. When I went, the tuna tartare was on the menu as a whole salad, but after I asked, I was told that yes, I could have it as an appetizer instead. Good, that meant I could also order the lobster BLT with avocado. I appreciated that my server let me finish one dish before placing my sandwich order. I find that many places are in such a hurry to get you in and out that they serve appetizers and entrees virtually simultaneously, but not at Nick's, thank you very much.

The tuna was tasty and tender. The only tiny criticism would be the fish was slightly over dressed so it tasted more like the dressing and less like the tuna. I liked the addition of pickled cucumbers to add some textural contrast to the tuna and avocado.

My lobster sandwich was disappointingly filled with tiny bits and pieces of lobster knuckles. It was noticeably void of any hearty chunks of lobster. The sandwich came with some fries and a salad that seemed to be coated in oil-no seasonings, just oil.
Overall, I enjoyed my lunch, but was a tad underwhelmed by my entree plate.