Ben 'N Nick's

Ben 'N Nick's is one of my favorite places to grab a pint and a quick bite to eat. It's good pub food at a good price point. Service is always super friendly, and there are a few tables outside, if that's your preference (heat lamps don't always work, though). A minor gripe is that aside from salads and a few celery sticks, there are hardly any vegetables on the menu. It's a cash-free establishment.

Stopped in for the annual Pliny the Younger triple IPA and was pleased to immediately find a seat at the bar. Tried the grilled cheese sando with tomato soup. And it was a perfect combo with the beer. The thick bread was grilled to perfection and the soup was very flavorful.

Title: Cheers to the Local Pub and Grill!So, there's this local joint, a pub, or a bar and grill, depending on how fancy you wanna sound. We waltzed in, and let me tell you, the vibe around the shops outside sets the stage for a cozy urban adventure. It was a Sunday, and the locals had clearly decided this was the spot to be for the basketball and football showdowns on the big screens. The staff? Oh boy, they were like your best pals you never knew you had - friendly, courteous, and quicker than a hiccup. Being welcomed like that in a new place is like a warm hug for the soul.Now, the food portions were no joke - more than enough to fill even the hungriest adventurers. And don't be fooled by the "bar" part; this place is family-friendly. I mean, there were kids running around, and even the grandparents were chilling like they owned the joint. It's just that kind of place.But let's get to the real deal: the food. Look, you're not in a five-star steakhouse here, but what they serve is darn tasty. I went for the fish and chips, while my daughter tackled a burger. Flavor? It was there, baby! But let's be honest, you're here for the drinks and the atmosphere anyway. And that's how they snag that sneaky fourth star from me.So, go on, enjoy your adventure in this local gem. Trust me, the food will satisfy, the atmosphere will charm, and you'll probably have a drink or two that makes you feel like a connoisseur. Heck, even I thought about trying one, and I'm as sophisticated as a rubber chicken. Cheers!

I know I already left a rating for this place but my husband was craving their fried chicken sandwich today so we ordered pick up. I was going through their menu and found a falafel plate, I have to say that I'm still comfortably full five hours later! Not only are their drinks tasty and the people who work here are friendly but their menu has such a great variety of everything. My husband and I agree, it's a must try!

Renewed interest when I saw their Instagram post about allowing friendly dogs inside. My friend was dog sitting and took our dog over to the confusion of the workers who said there was just a dog brawl the week before and didn't know the owner had made that post. They let him stay though, and our dog were the only one, so she got all the attention. Today there is one dog at the bar and two out on the parklet. My husband and I were third in line to "seat ourselves" at 6:45pm on a Friday in February. The couple in front of us left and we were next because the party of 4 wanted a booth. We were seated at the end of the long copper table meant for groups. We have been here with a larger group before. The only annoying thing about this seat is that some people who are impatient hover above you while they wait for a table. The waitstaff is efficient. They take your order and clear your table quickly. The check is paid with handheld machine and it's now a cashless restaurant. There are four tvs for sports lovers. Three over the bar and one in the "dining area." There are a few parklet tables, and some tables in the windows, which open during nice weather.Very convenient location across from Rockridge BART. Otherwise you can pay for street parking or find free residential parking. There are two unisex restroom, one hidden in the dining corner, and the other towards the kitchen.There is a full bar and happy hour. You can sign up for their email list or social media to keep up on events, but they regularly have karaoke and trivia. If you walk by, they will have posters on their windows.We have been here only occasionally over the last 10 years of living in Rockridge. Today we had the deviled eggs, which come six in a plate and are well formed. The cheeseburger is juicy but too bready for my liking. The fries have that double crisp crust trend that showed up some decade ago for no good reason, but ketchup helps everything. There is a caddy full of all kinds of condiments for the table. We also had the Caesar kale salad, which is very big. The chicken cubes are juicy but the crispy garbanzos aren't too cohesive. We asked for a takeout box and it was compostable and came to the table for us to self pack. Kid friendly so there were some kids during our visit. Neighborhood bar and grill. Nothing mind blowing but a good staple to have in the area.There is wifi available, check the menu on the wall for the password.

Accommodated well my big part of 15 people although there is no reservation system. I called a week ahead then the day of just to confirm and it was all good. Overall vibe was good and food seemed good, friends enjoyed. I only tried the fries and they were amazing! One of the best fries.

We were desperately looking for a sports bar to watch the US Open yesterday because of the DirecTV Disney ESPN dispute. Luckily we found Ben 'N Nick's to be showing the tennis matches . So we decided to have a beer and dinner while watching. We sat next to the window by the sidewalk so we could watch the tennis and observe the outdoor foot traffic.We were happy some of the menu choices were different from regular bar fare. My husband had the College Chicken Club which was made with roasted chicken vs fried and served on Texas toast with crispy french fries. I had the Falafal Plate - with house made falafal, hummus, a lovely quinoa tabbouleh and warm pita bread. Everything was delicious, freshly prepared and came to the table in a timely fashion. We were very impressed by the friendly courteous staff and their attentive nature. The atmosphere is relaxed and family friendly. There is a great selection of drinks and the food is a generous serving. A definite go to for a casual dinner and drinks.

I you like Chicken Pot-Pie, then be prepared to fall in love with Ben 'N Nick's version. It's made with fresh thickly cut veggies, tasty chicken in every bite, and packed with a flavor reminiscent of Grandma's chicken soup. Oh and yes, with theeee most flaky, yet crunchy (in an awesome way) overlay of crust, this is a winner! Whewww weee, I've eaten plenty of pot-pies in my decades on earth. I'm clear, that on this sunny Saturday I happened upon Ben 'N Nick's, that I just had the best one I've ever had. My side salad was a treat too! It was cold, crisp, clean, dry romaine (usually green leafs- but I swap those to suit my pallette) with an awesome Cesar dressing. OMG- nearly forgot to tell you- this is not the average size serving, so if two of you are present (and in the mood to share) you'll both be satisfied! Disclaimer- I was not paid for this review by my awesome waitress- Persephone!

A proper pub. Good selection of beers including Pliny! Pub style food is excellent and god portions. Staff have always been great and fun. Highly recommend this place!

Great food at great price. They have just added chicken pot pie, which we loved. The waiters are super friendly and accommodating :)