Where to begin with South of Nicks! Being that I am originally from Texas, finding excellent Mexican Food is super difficult (Yes, I know I grew up on TexMex) because I am so darn picky. A friend of mine recently recommended South of Nicks (she is a SoCal native). It did not disappoint.
First tip, it’s probably best to make a reservation unless you go at an off time. The parking lot is small and street parking can be hard to find. The street it is on is so cute and charming with lots of other storefronts to stop in to. Walking in, there is a small atrium with a water feature. Once inside the hostess pleasantly greets you. I’ve been several times and never disappointed with the warm greeting.
The lighting is low and the restaurant has several rooms in which guests are seated. The main dining room is towards the back of the building with a trendy bar as the centerpiece. If you’ve made reservations, the hostess will place a card with your party’s name on it. Two well trained servers then greet you by name and continue to work as team throughout your meal. While there is no kids menu, your server will kindly share what they have for your rugrats.
Just about anything on the menu I’ve had, has been wonderful. To start, I can’t pass up the pitcher of Skinny Margarita. It is so fresh and never watered down. A great appetizer is La Tablita. It has grilled prawns, prime ribeye, grilled chicken, refried beans, Spanish rice, pico de gallo and guacamole. You can switch any of the meats for some of their premium selections (salmon or sea bass) for an upcharge. It’s really pretty to look at too!
My most recent visit, I had the stacked chicken enchiladas. Their tomatillo serrano sauce is a thing of perfection. I’ve been looking for a sauce with these flavors for years.
Any dessert you order is going to wow you, that’s for sure! All in all, great food, great atmosphere, great service and overall wonderful experience. I’ll go there again and again.