Nick's Nest

It's a hot dog place that's not trying to be anything but a hot dog place. YUM. Perfect hot dogs, friendly service, cool remote mechanism that staff uses to open the door for you. Generally authentic atmosphere, if that matters. It's real because it's like 40 years old. I love haute, nouvelle cusine as much as the next guy, but who needs pretension all the time? Get you some!!!

Love a great, local hot dog shop. Not bad, not great. As with all things MA, about 30 percent more expensive than it should be. Relative I guess. Hot dogs were fine. Buns a little dry and the condiments didn’t help. My onion rings were not good at all. That cheap, flash frozen, minced onion type. Tasted like onion jelly rings. My soda, seriously too much ice, three sips and it was gone. Place is small and I should have eaten in my car. They literally just slide hot dogs to you on a napkin on the counter. Right at snot level where the kids are drooling. Group of kids and parents came in while I was eating and they were wildly obnoxious. Parents and kids. I do understand the Masshole reference since I have moved here. No respect for anyone other than themselves.

I recently visited Nick’s Nest in Holyoke and had an awesome experience. I tried two hot dogs—one chili cheese dog and a loaded potato dog—along with their deep fried pickles. The food was delicious, and the whole place had a great, welcoming energy. The hot dogs were perfectly prepared, with generous toppings that hit the spot. I’ll definitely be back to try more from the menu. Highly recommend if you’re in the area and looking for tasty, casual eats!

Expensive for what it is- standard size hot dogs on standard buns, with Lays brand chips and house brand fountain drinks. There are other things on the menu that folks seem to love, but I've tried a lot of it and I've never left saying "that was worth the money." I will say the taste of the hot dogs is unique to this place and yummy. The service is pretty slow but very friendly and homey. The atmosphere at 3 stars because I always walk out of there smelling like the fry grease. The place is an institution and worth a trip to say you've had it, but it's def expensive for what it is.

Nick's Nest the legendary landmark for hotdogs, greasy food and ice cream. There is no need to comment on the dogs they are legit delicious wieners 😂 For out of town visitors this is a must stop for a quick bite to eat. Crush a few dogs and smash some cheese curds! I compliment their staff they handle business.

Food is good, I got 2 hot dogs with ketchup, mustard, chili, and onions. My mouth was very happy. The service was good she was very friendly and smiling 😃. Plenty of little stools line up in front of a couple of large windows. The place has that classic old hot dog joint feel. Good vibes for chowing down dogs or getting it on the go for a quick stop. I recommend stopping by.

My husband loves chili dogs, and we’ve visited many hot dog spots around the country, so we had high hopes for Nick’s Nest. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. The chili dogs were mediocre and far too expensive. We also ordered cheese curds, which were cold and not cooked fresh. I don’t think we’ll visit again.

the hot dogs are great! the chili cheese toppings were a good addition. the fries and cheese curds were yummy. the only thing i would skip next time is the mac and cheese. next time we’re in holyoke, we’ll be stopping in here!

Awesome hotdogs and more. Macaroni and potato salads. Also excellent ice cream. Very friendly staff and a 50's diner vibe.

The hot dogs are good. I do like their special hot dog offerings. But ordered a large fry and I think it was 5 fries and when I said I ordered a large they said it was the large. That was enough for us to not go back.

Overpriced overrated. Hotdog sits in a salmonella bath of water and what looks like margarine/butter, then reheated not even natural casing hotdogs. It was subpar at best. Look elsewhere for a good hotdog or make them at home.

Different is all I got to say, it's a good different tho keeps you guessing what the hot dogs are in. Looks like a normal dog joint. Workers are friendly. Have been back several times and still going.

If there was a way to leave zero stars I would. My wife and I were enjoying a Sunday ride and she mentioned she was craving a chili dog. We have been hearing from folks "you have to try Nick's Nest". So we did. What a disappointment. My wife's chili dog was cold. I had their "Reuben" sessional hot dog. It was cold, anemic excuse for a hot dog. Costco hot dogs far better, twice the size and half the cost. As to the rest of our order- Cole Slaw, $2.49 for less than 2oz Home Baked Beans under cooked, no seasoning or flavor. Some beans were still crunchy. Onion Rings- under cooked, greasy, no flavor or seasoning. Not homemade, definitely frozen. Loaded Tater Tots- these were fair, a bit cold and greasy but at least had some flavor Two Frappes"essentially were flavored milk, not enough ice cream. No flavor, the St Patrick's monthly flavor no mint. Nick's Nest you have been measured and found wanting. I cannot in good conscience recommend dining here.

This past summer my girlfriend and I dined at two restaurants in Western Massachusetts that have been open for so many years that my grandparents had actually dined there back when they were dating in their youth: the Student Prince and Nick's Nest. And what I learned is that both of these badass places have been stayin' alive by the strength of their unique and delicious offerings, upon which nostalgia is just the mustard on the dog. This paragraph is for hotdog lovers. Coming from somebody who loves roadfood in general, hotdogs in specific, and has a laser-like focus on eating hotdogs, for a decade in Chicago, and two plus decades on the East Coast: you have to go to Nick's Nest for the hotdog. The Nick's Nest dog is has a unique golden buttery umami-ful flavor profile, with a gentle snap, on toasted bun, that's in complete harmony with their signature chili. The cheese fries are awesome. What else is there to say? Nick's Nest is old school counter service. The speed of the hotdogs means although you are able to eat for a full meal, the efficiency may make it feel more like a snack. I'm not a doctor, but I would prescribe at least a minute of breathing deeply after each hotdog is ingested, to allow the brain to best absorb the gentle snap of hotdog satisfaction. And then order some ice cream.

If you love hotdogs and all the works this is the place to go. Right in the Highlands of Holyoke the owner and I'm not sure what his name is is extremely pleasant and the hotdogs are reasonably priced with 1 million different things to put on them. If you're looking for a snack and a quick bite it's the way to go!

Had lunch the other day at Nicks it's alright nothing special regular hat dogs there onion rings pretty good

We weren't blown away by Nick's. Maybe because we had high expectations.. But it was just a hot dog? Wasn't particularly special. Just an average hot dog

Nicks nest has been a staple in my life for most of it. Mainly the last ownership. (Haven't been home in a bit) Iconic Holyoke locations like this remind you you're still in "small town USA" You have officially ruined hot dogs and beans for me if I eat them anywhere else. Looking forward to a visit soon. The secret in the cooking style is what makes it for me.

Made a stop to the "famous" Nicks Nest because we were in the area. Ordered 4 hot dogs, a chicken tender meal, Mac and cheese and some fries. The thing they are supposed to be known for was the worst part of our entire order. All 4 hotdogs were cold and the buns (not toasted) were full of the yellow oil those cold hotdogs had been rolling in for who knows how long. The rest of the items were ironically HOT. The fries were good but the Mac and cheese was a little funky tasting like they used a weird mix of cheeses. Bottom line is that I would not come back unless it was for ice cream. The food was not worth the money paid.

Awesome classic place! Hot dogs are always great and the service is very vintage diner style. Great place to stop by.

No visit with my New England cousins would be complete without a pilgrimage to my late father's favorite childhood restaurant! Serving tasty treats to Holyoke for two years shy of TEN DECADES, Nick's Nest has rightly attained the status of beloved institution. Their 1920's recipe melt-in-your-mouth franks served in split top buns are unlike anything you are likely to find anywhere else. Ive been coming here since my Dad brought me as a tyke and I admit Im still thrilled by the vintage Chicago Coin band box in the corner. At the drop of a coin in one of the the table top jukeboxes which line the walls, a curtain magically parts revealing a pint-sized Swing era bandstand populated by tiny mechanical musicians who move and sway to the music! There's even an ingenious pully contraption used by the cashier to open the front door for customers as they exit with hands full of hot dogs!

I love Nick's Nest. Over the years it's pretty much stayed the same. And that's nice. The hotdogs come from the local butcher Arnold's, they have their own secret liquid that they keep the hotdogs at the right temperature. The Hot dog buns are the traditional New England Style bun, top loading. Everybody's friendly and nice. It only has maybe 11/12 seats. My father would tell me stories about Nick's nest when he was younger in the 1920s in Holyoke. Get a hotdog for a dime $.10. Not anymore and you can't get a gallon of gas for $.35 either. But I would put these hotdogs against any gourmet hot dog. And as a professional chef for more than 35 years and some of the most beautiful hotels and restaurants and Southern and Northern California. I've made a hotdog or two. Even winning best chili competition for the Coachella Valley. The Coachella Valley that's where Palm Springs California sets.

So as a local, I have a lil bit of a warm spot for this place... it's always been the place to go after a baseball game in the summer, or to get a nice hot cup of soup in the winter. I like the old time ambiance of the place, and the simplicity of the menu. I'm not a super hot dog lover, but I have to say, along with Fenway Franks.. Nicks franks are def one to get me in the mood for one. I love the weird buttery sauce stuff they sit in that goes get on the toasted roll. The hot dogs have the nice snap to them... I wish maybe they were a lil bigger, or even a lil cheaper.. it gets a lil pricey for a family of 4 with a cpl hot dogs each and a side.. maybe like meal option deals would be nice even. I enjoy their homemade Mac salad and also can't go wrong with the fries. Ice cream is always great in the summer and they do a magnificent job always serving the packs of little leaguers who come by after the game. This will forever be a summer staple for my family, and will continue to enjoy it as the years go by!

Whaaat? I've never, ever written a review of Nick's Nest?! This is one of the biggest oversights during my Yelp tenure. I've been to Nick's Nest many times in the twenty years I lived anywhere near to it, and I love it to the point where I will go well out of my way to visit when I return to the area. I love their hot dogs. The thing about their hot dogs is that they are flavorful and juicy, and melt in my mouth like a good hot dog should. Neon lights. A band box on the wall. Formica countertops. Coin-operated mini jukeboxes. Summer is so much more summery at Nick's Nest, I wish I were there now!

Hot dogs taste exactly the way they did when I used to eat there as a kid in the 80s. They're boiled hot dogs not grilled so if you don't like boiled hot dogs you won't like them. A lot of people are complaining they didn't look "cooked". That's because boiled dogs don't get that char on them like grilled dogs. The dogs I had we're perfectly cooked. Plus the addition of fries and onion rings are a great touch. The beans were never my favorite but everyone I go with loves them. Love how the inside has been preserved. Hope this place stays around for a long time.

We are two Australians trying to find something American. Walked in, smelt like a rat shed. The two girls were lovely.. but seriously .. what's with uncooked hotdogs lying in fluro slime? Ordered a chocolate ice cream .. ok .. chili cheese fries .. omg lol ewwww - no flavor - just tasted old and walmart cheese wiz ...will always remember this place, we couldn't stop laughing lol

Excellent for a hotdog stand, tons of toppings, homemade baked beans, thick cut fries. Each dog is about 3.50 each but that includes unlimited sides. There is an ice cream shop in the back too, as well as a few picnic tables for seating.

Oh man this place is good! The Mac & cheese is so yummy! Fries are excellent, chili cheese fries too! Everything we had was super yummy!

they've just got a great old school vibe & the hot dogs are one of a kind. big fan of their sauerkraut and relish combo.

Hot dogs, pop-corn, Italian ice and 24 soft serve flavors! There are tables in the front, service on the side of the building and picnic-tables for the nice weather. Plus, overflow parking lot down the street a bit. A couple minutes off the highway, make this an easy stop for locals or tourists.

Went here recently. Not only is the food terrible and not like it used to be...but the owners have really ruined their reputation in town in local government threatening their customers for their founder and valid opinions. I would much rather Nicks Nest be demolished and a nice restaurant finally move onto Northampton street.

Came here for the first time recently after driving by a number of times. Pretty good place to just stop in and grab a quick bite. I'd recommend the chili and cheese, I also tried the relish, onion, and cheese combo but didn't enjoy it quite as much. Overall, can't complain and I'll probably be back, I've just got to be in the mood.

Amazing dogs. If you're ever in western Massachusetts, take a detour through Holyoke and stop by Nick's Nest for THE most awesome hot dog you've ever eaten. Apparently they are still made from the original 1920's recipe -- "just beef and pork with no scraps or filler, and lower in fat than most hot dogs." My husband grew up a few miles from Nick's and swears it's barely changed since he was a kid. Not being a huge hot dog fan, I was less than enthusiastic on my first trip to Nick's while visitng family in MA. Whoa -- what a shocker. The flavor and texture was like no hot dog I'd eaten before... maybe because it was real meat and not all those awkward by-products that we don't like to think about, much less eat... aggghhh.... Anyway, the menu is limited - hot dogs, baked beans, popcorn, frappes, sundaes, and sodas but everything is great -- especially the hot dogs.

Ok this is a rating for the ice cream only!!! I have been here many times and chances are I will continue to drop by - the jimmies/sprinkles are ALWAYS fresh and free!!! The flavored soft serve is not always tasty meaning if I order a flavor my ice cream doesn't taste like the flavor. I ordered butterscotch but it tasted plain. I ordered a small and next time I will order a baby size for more flavor. Very nice workers!!

If I had know about Nick's I would have moved to Holyoke sooner! Love this place. Get the chili and cheese dog - sooooo yummy!!

If you like hotdogs, you really can't go wrong with this place. A true 1950s feel...

Used to be a good place. New owners have not kept up old standards. Had been going there for 55 years time to try a new place. So sad that new owners do not know how to keep the old ways.

Nothing special at all. Plain boiled hot dogs in supermarket style, plain white bread, split-top buns. And for 3 bucks each.... Just not worth it to me for a hot dog.

No frills, New England style hot dogs. Quaint 20's style atmosphere (they've been open since 1921!) reminiscent of Holyoke's glory days that have long passed. Baked beans and fries are pretty good too. I think I love their hand-made rootbeer floats the best; you can't get them at the outside ice cream window, you have to go inside.

Basic boiled hot dogs on a cold bun. Not the experience my mom told me about from back when she used to go.

Overpriced hot dogs floating in a yellow liquid... I guess locals like it but couldn't tell you why.

One of my favorite places to eat in western mass. Best hotdogs around. Best service. I've only had pleasant experiences here since I was a child. It's like you're taken back to an old school small diner. Lots of history in this place. I highly recommend it!

Went there yesterday with my wife. After trying to find a decent place for a quick bite to eat, we settled on this place due to its high Yelp reviews. I am not sure what the hype is but their hot dogs and "famous baked beans" is nothing to write home about. Beans were very bland and dry. I had two chili dogs and she had two dogs with sauerkraut. The chili was also bland and hot dogs and buns were nothing special. Plain hotdogs that are boiled and regular white bread buns that you can buy in any grocery store. Wife and I both were sick the next morning spending a lot of time in the bathroom. These hotdogs were the only thing we had eaten yesterday. Would never go back or recommend them to anyone that I know.

I have been to Nick's Nest about 3 times and wasn't overly impressed. The hot dogs are ok, but not as good as any deli frank you'd get the supermarket. The steamed buns are very good though. The last time I was there I got their baked beans and thought they were horrible. They were so thick they were like glue. I think I had potato salad the last time and pulled like a 6 inch hair out of it. That was the last time I went back. The prices are outrageous. For 3 hotdogs, you could buy a whole pack at the store. Plus the creepy mystery oil they roll the hot dogs in does not look to appealing.

Best hot dog you will find in Holyoke!!! Come support the local guy and enjoy a delicious dog!

The best Hot dogs I've ever had. Baked beans might be even better. They used only take cash Nalley even accept credit cards which makes things a lot more convenient. Make it a point to come here every time I come back to Western mass

My disappointment with Nick's Nest probably is largely the result of too-high expectations -- I'd heard it was THE place for hot dogs and baked beans in the area, and that it was a must-visit. So visit I did. The place itself is definitely worth a peek -- old-school look and feel, with a big ol' popcorn machine, counter seating and a front door that opens remotely via pulley. Got a hot dog with mustard, a serving of baked beans, and a Nick's Nest bottled lemonade. Alright, I am not the biggest hot dog fan. When I say my dog was bland and rather nondescript flavorwise, you may or may not want to take that as a positive. But I do love baked beans. Little plaques in the counter area advise patrons to try their famous homemade baked beans. The plaques are spaced 2 or 3 seats apart, such that you'd have to have 20/400 vision to not receive the message as you dine. I did try the baked beans. More salty than sweet or smoky, they just weren't my cup of tea (or beans). Also, the serving included a few rather large hunks of pork fat. To be honest, I didn't identify the smooth, rectangular white blobs -- my husband did. And his reward -- which he appreciated -- was the placement of said blobs into his cup. Definitely not the ideal spot for vegetarians (although scooping out the fat made me wax a bit nostalgic for my own meat-free years of yore). But most disappointing was the Nick's Nest bottled lemonade, which turned out to be a beverage produced elsewhere, consisting mainly of high fructose corn syrup. I was seduced by the branding, and didn't read the label before buying. I was doubly disappointed when I realized the Nest also serves delicious Rollie's root beer, which is made in Holyoke. They've also got a few other menu items and a soft-serve window (the latter a must 'round these parts). Probably worth a stop when in town -- for the ambiance alone -- but probably not worth a drive (unlike the White Hut in West Springfield -- for that place, believe the hype!). Three stars instead of two because (a) my husband loved his food, and (b) it's a local landmark.

The place is really nice, old fashion looking, the food is ok but the service wasn't good at all, I had the feeling that I was receiving a mediocre service because of my ethnicity, I have no plans to return to this place. SSG Aviles, Jose

Always loved the hots dogs, but it's the incredible service that deserves 5 stars. I bring my father in the Soldiers Home a milk shake every week. As soon as I pull into a parking space they start making it. I am literally in and out in seconds. Best staff ever.

Best hot dogs and Nick's has a charm to it - 6 stars

After reading other reviews I was excited to go to Nick's, but I ended up being fairly disappointed. The hot dogs here are pretty good, especially the chili cheese dog, but they aren't phenomenal or anything. I was very disappointed by the baked beans. The ambiance was definitely nice, at least for a first visit, but I agree with the comments about this place going downhill. Maybe it was good in its heyday, but Nick's is nothing special now.

Please note this review is mostly for the hot dog... ...which was quite unique and tasty, if not exceptional. The dog tasted good and was swimming in some sort of yellow stuff I think may have been straight up...grease? Fat? Either way some of it soaked into the bun and was yummy. The bun was not toasted but still passable, nice and soft, and the sauce was ok, somewhat spicy with a good amount of cumin. The building is amazing and I'd gladly come back just for the ambiance. I also got a strawberry frappe which was, you know, exactly what you'd expect. Good stuff. BTW - I just noticed this place for some reason is listed as $$$. A dog and frappe for me was like $6.

I do love an old-fashioned hot dog place, and Nick's certainly qualifies. When I lived in the area, I'd sometimes pop up from Spfld for lunch and have a picnic nearby. Having moved out of the area in 2003, I had begun to jones for Nick's, to see if it was same as it ever was. We went on Saturday, bringing our five-year-old daughter, who loves hot dogs (esp. from Wasses, in Rockland, ME), and she was really quite happy with them here. We adults loved our chili-cheese-kraut dogs, and she loved her ketchup dogs, and the orange drink (referring to the color, not the flavor) was a blast from the past. Coffee frappe was delicious. Only negative was that the beans seemed a bit salty.

While I'm not personally a fan of their renowned hot dogs, I do love the ice cream. Everyone is always friendly and the atmosphere is really nice even though it's so small. When Pokémon Go was live and active, I'd visit here a lot. It's good for group plans too like sports, family, and groups of friends. They have so many different flavors including my favorite which is butterscotch.

This is not the Nick's Nest that I grew up with, unfortunately. I made a trip there a few months ago, and I was saddened to see that the quality of food and service were not the same. It should be noted that the service was awful, as it seemed like I was inconveniencing the workers by buying a hot dog. Also, they have the nerve to charge high prices. You're selling hot dogs, people. Very sad.

If you like hot dogs and are even slightly nostalgic, you have to visit Nick's a least once. It really is one of Holyoke's landmarks. The hot dogs are very good. I think they keep them in trays that have melted butter in them and as one reviewer eluded to, some of that butter seeps into the bun. Yum! The beans and french fries I could take or leave. I usually get a couple of dogs with mustard and onions and a root beer. Who doesn't love a "gadget" door? The front door is hooked to a cable so when you tun around to leave, if your hands are full, the pull on a cable from behind the counter and it opens the door just long enough so you can use your hands to balance your hot dogs!

I have been coming here since it was a baby, and my mom has been since she was a baby and now I get to bring my baby!! I seriously love the old school feel!! I always get popcorn (extra butter )2 hot dogs(one isn't enough ) with relish and mustard, baked beans, and a chocolate milk!!! Order what I order and you won't be disappointed

I have not eaten a hot dog in a billion years...but if you enjoy them then you need to go to Nick's Nest. This place is landmark. My advice for out of town folks looking for come classic American eats? Hit up Nick's Nest and then trek over to West Springfield to the White Hut.