Nick’s Restaurant Expanding to Newport Beach

Nick’s is coming to Newport Beach in October, according to the Nick’s website. It will be the eighth location for the upscale restaurant in Southern California.

The new spot, which will be at 1617 Westcliff Drive , was formerly home to vegan Mexican restaurant Gracias Madre, which closed in May.

Nick Nickoloff, a fourth-generation restaurateur, first opened Nick’s in Laguna Beach in 2008 alongside his father Craig Nickoloff. Since then, the restaurant has grown to three locations in Los Angeles County at Belmont Shore, Manhattan Beach and Pasadena; two in Orange County at Laguna Beach and San Clemente; and two in San Diego County at Carlsbad and Del Mar.

The Nick’s brand also expanded to include a Mexican restaurant and bar concept called South of Nick’s . There are now three South of Nick’s restaurants: one in Laguna Beach, one in San Clemente and one in Del Mar.

Nick’s serves New American cuisine, offering dishes such as salads, sandwiches, burgers and house specialities such as pan-seared Scottish salmon, Chilean sea bass, chicken piccata and aged top sirloin. The restaurant also features a beverage program that includes cocktails, wines and beer. It includes alcohol-free cocktail options, as well.

The restaurant brand aims to offer both higher end and affordable options in an upscale environment.

“Our mission is to operate restaurants in a spirit of excellence,” the Nick’s website reads. “We are committed to being among the best in the industry, operating friendly, relaxed, comfortable restaurants for all guests. We will serve great food and maintain high standards along with reasonable prices.”

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