Without Peer At The Pier

In Ocean Beach, it's déjà vu all over again.

"The new Nick's at the Pier may sound familiar, because it's very much like Nick's at the Beach, the original in P.B.," San Diego magazine restaurant critic Robin Kleven Dishon said.

"Nick's at the Pier took over the old Quigg's building that some people might remember had a prime location at the foot of Newport and Santa Monica.

"The cuisine at Nick's at the Pier is quite familiar. They took a lot of the same classics that they've been making over at the P.B. location.

"You'll still see the old fashioned meat loaf, some of the best onion rings in town. For $4.95 a basket, you can't go wrong with these," Dishon said.

Nick's at the Pier definitely has an O.B. hang loose vibe to it, but the menu is a bit more upscale than you might expect.

"I recommend the mahi-mahi in tortilla crust or the one in a cumin crust. Both of these come with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. And the California scampi is served with Serrano chilis, garlic and a kind of buttery sauce," Dishon said.

"They have a jalapeno chicken breast that's got just enough spice to be really interesting and another special seafood pasta with feta cheese and basil that's been my favorite for years.

"On the lighter side, you can get a wrap, a Caesar wrap made with chicken or shrimp, and it's chipotle-flavored, which really makes it quite out of the ordinary. Comes with Asian cole slaw and fruit and you're out of there for $11."

Nick's at the Pier offers a fun and funky beachfront feel and menu that that has wide appeal.