Nick's has been one of my favorite restaurants since I moved to Madison in 1996. It's cozy and chill and reminds me of a little diner in New York. It's a great place to eat, drink and study.
The seating is awesome. Big giant booths seat up to about 10. And the jukebox has a wide variety on it. (I think it's second on State Street after the Irish Pub.)
My favorite is the Bacon Cheeseburger. Six bucks gets you a big juicy burger with cheese and crispy bacon, a bun that holds up and fries on the side. Another favorite is the Boss Burger which you can have the green peppers and cheese cooked in the middle. Various specials include hot turkey with mashed potatoes, corned beef and cabbage, prime rib, and the feta burger.
For the vegetarian there's a variety of options: veggie burger, veggie Reuben, veggie gyro, veggie melt, spinach pie, and salads.
They have the best pies in town that change occasionally from rhubarb to cherry. Desserts also include homemade baklava, sundaes and strawberry cheesecake.
While it is open for drinks, the atmosphere is so chill you nearly fall asleep. I think Nick's works best as a restaurant.
During the summer they offer outdoor seating. You can also find Nick frequently behind the counter flipping the burgers and when he's not there, his brother is - it's family owned and operated.
Nick's is by far the most underrated restaurant in Madison.
dining
Monday - Thurday.: 10am - 10pm
Friday + Saturday: 10am - 11pm
Sunday: 11am - 8pm
Bar
Monday + Thursday: 10am - 1am
Friday + Saturday: 10am - 2am
Sunday: 11am - 8pm