Nick’s on 2nd Long Beach

Nick’s on 2nd Long Beach is an upscale-casual American comfort food restaurant located at 4901 E. 2nd Street in the Belmont Shore neighborhood of Long Beach, California. Part of the Southern California-based Nick’s Restaurants hospitality group founded by restaurateur Nick Nickoloff, the Belmont Shore outpost occupies a corner space at the intersection of 2nd Street and Argonne Avenue. Designed with retracting floor-to-ceiling glass walls, warm dark-wood paneling, plush leather booths, and a central indoor-outdoor bar, the restaurant draws both local coastal residents and visitors looking for scratch-made American classics, hand-shaken cocktails, and polished table service steps from the Pacific Ocean.

What to Expect at Nick’s on 2nd Long Beach

The culinary program at Nick’s on 2nd centers on elevated American tavern fare prepared from scratch daily. Guests regularly begin meals with house specialties such as the Parmesan-crusted Asparagus Fries ($15) served with buttermilk ranch, lightly fried Bacon Deviled Eggs ($13) topped with crumbled applewood bacon, or Jumbo Blackened Mexican Shrimp Taquitos ($19) paired with avocado salsa and chipotle ranch. Raw and lighter starters include Sashimi-Grade Tuna Tartare ($23) with micro wasabi, spicy soy, avocado, and crispy wontons, alongside a daily scratch soup ($12) and Spinach & Artichoke Dip ($18) with warm tortilla chips and aged cheddar. Market salads bridge the gap between lunch and dinner, led by the Petite Bistro Salad ($10) tossed with Napa cabbage, Tuscan kale, white cheddar, roasted almonds, and mustard bacon vinaigrette, and the Spicy Thai Noodle Salad ($23) combining udon noodles, grilled chicken, Thai chiles, mint, Thai basil, and peanut dressing.

Main plates span prime steaks, seafood, sandwiches, and hearty comfort classics. Signature entrees across the Nick’s kitchen include the Original Ribeye Melt served on grilled Parmesan sourdough with caramelized onions and Swiss cheese, San Francisco Cioppino simmered in a spicy lobster tomato broth, buttermilk fried chicken with mashed potatoes, and pan-seared Scottish salmon. Every meal comes to a close with the restaurant’s signature Warm Butter Cake, baked in an individual ramekin with a crisp sugar crust and topped with house-made berry compote and vanilla bean ice cream. The wrap-around bar pours California coastal wines by the glass, local craft beers on draft, and classic cocktails like the spicy cucumber margarita and barrel-aged old fashioned, while the open-air patio windows allow ocean breezes from nearby Alamitos Bay to circulate through the dining room.

• Signature Starters: House originals including Crispy Parmesan-Crusted Asparagus Fries ($15), Lightly Fried Bacon Deviled Eggs ($13), and Blackened Shrimp Taquitos ($19).
• Warm Butter Cake: The flagship house dessert featuring rich, golden-crusted cake baked to order and crowned with cold vanilla ice cream and fresh berry compote.
• Market Salads & Sandwiches: Daytime and evening favorites ranging from the Classic Caesar with brioche streusel and fried capers ($14) to the Prime Ribeye Melt and Bistro Burger.
• Indoor-Outdoor Glass Architecture: Retractable glass walls along E. 2nd Street and Argonne Avenue that merge the mahogany-trimmed dining room and bar with the Belmont Shore streetscape.
• Full Bar & California Wine List: Handcrafted seasonal cocktails, draft beers, and a curated selection of Napa, Sonoma, and Central Coast wines served at the central granite bar.

Nick’s on 2nd Long Beach at a Glance

Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings

Because Nick’s on 2nd is one of the highest-demand dining rooms along the Belmont Shore corridor, booking a table several days in advance—especially for Thursday through Sunday evenings—is strongly advised via online reservations or by calling the host stand directly. Walk-in guests have the best success arriving between 2:00 PM and 4:30 PM on weekdays or taking first-come, first-served seats at the wrap-around bar. If you are driving, metered street parking lines E. 2nd Street, and municipal public parking lots sit one half-block north and south behind the retail storefronts along Argonne, Granada, and St. Joseph avenues. Travelers using public transit can ride Long Beach Transit bus routes 121 or 131 directly to the 2nd Street and Argonne Avenue stop. The entire ground-floor restaurant features a step-free entrance from the sidewalk, wide aisles between booths, and ADA-accessible restrooms.

Its central position on Belmont Shore’s pedestrian shopping spine makes Nick’s on 2nd easy to pair with coastal Long Beach sights within a 5-to-15-minute walk. After lunch or dinner, stroll three blocks south to Rosie’s Dog Beach and the paved Shoreline Pedestrian Bikepath for views of the Catalina Express ferries and offshore oil islands. Ten minutes east on foot brings you to the Naples Island canals, where gondolas glide past waterfront homes along the Rivo Alto Canal, or to Horny Corner and Mother’s Beach on Alamitos Bay for calm-water kayaking and sunset walks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the opening hours and best times to dine at Nick’s on 2nd Long Beach?

Nick’s on 2nd opens daily at 11:00 AM, closing at 10:00 PM Sunday through Wednesday and at 11:00 PM Thursday through Saturday. For a relaxed atmosphere without a wait, arrive for an early weekday lunch at 11:15 AM or a mid-afternoon meal between 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM.

How much does a meal cost at Nick’s on 2nd and are reservations required?

Starters and shareable appetizers range from $12 to $23, market salads run $9 to $23, and main entrees typically fall between $22 and $48. While walk-ins are accommodated at the bar and when tables open, advance reservations are highly recommended for prime dinner hours and weekends.

How much time should I budget for dining at Nick’s on 2nd?

Plan on 60 to 75 minutes for a two-course weekday lunch and 1.5 to 2 hours for a full multi-course dinner with cocktails and the made-to-order Warm Butter Cake. If you are joining the walk-in waitlist on a Friday or Saturday night, factor in an extra 30 to 45 minutes.

What is the dress code and is the restaurant wheelchair accessible?

The restaurant maintains a smart-casual coastal dress code; neat resort wear, collared shirts, and jeans are welcome, while beachwear and shirtless attire are not permitted. The single-level layout provides step-free sidewalk entry, accessible table seating, and ADA-compliant restrooms.

When planning your Long Beach travel guide or comparing verified american restaurant and breakfast restaurant in Long Beach, pair this stop with standout local spots including Schooner Or Later, Long Beach Marriott, Lions Lighthouse, and Saint & Second (nearby).