Nick's Manhattan Beach

Nick's sits in Metlox Plaza with a patio that faces the plaza itself rather than the ocean. Inside, the kitchen is behind glass, one wall carries old photographs of the pier, and there's vintage Metlox pottery on the way to the restrooms. The menu is American: parmesan-crusted asparagus fries with ranch, boneless buttermilk fried chicken with a biscuit and gravy, a prime rib dip sold until the day's roast is gone, plus a few sushi rolls. Only part of the room takes reservations; the rest is kept for walk-ins.