David L.
Yelp
When the word "Nick's" is mentioned in Tuscaloosa, you usually have to have to qualify it because it's either in reference to Nick Saban the revered coach of Alabama or Nick's Steak House. The next obvious question is does Nick Saban own Nick's? Locals hate that question and the answer is no. Also known as "Nick's in the Sticks", they have been around since 1939. It's rumored that they have resisted expanding in fear of losing their homestyle charm. This leads to the problem of space as their popularity grows and the lines grow longer and longer. If you're not there when they open for dinner, expect a long long wait. And not in a nice waiting area with padded benches, but outside in hopefully decent weather. Our party of 7 were standing outside in chilly temperatures. Even their parking lot is a simple dirt field with patches of gravel.
If you look up "hole in the wall" in the dictionary, you'll find a picture of Nick's. The interior is as cramped as their outside waiting area is vast. There are only about 10 to 12 tables, a small bar that you can't sit at since there are really no spaces for stools. The walls are plastered with Alabama memorabilia includes yes, Nick Saban. Interestingly their ceiling is coated with autographed dollar bills.
Their menu is as simple as their restaurant. 4 pages of drinks, burgers, desserts and of course their steaks. They are also known for their special cocktail they affectionately named Nicodemus. You can see the bright red drink in the dispenser on the bar. My entree came with a salad. It looked like it was from a simple bagged salad but their salad dressing "caddy" was outstanding especially their ranch. I suspect their most popular order is the filet and baked potato. Everyone in our party ordered that except William who got the hamburger. I got the "large" 6 oz filet which arrived wrapped with bacon around it's circumference. It reminded me of the Omaha bacon wrapped filets you can order online. I wonder if Omaha stole the idea from Nick's? I ordered my filet medium rare but most of my filet was closer to medium. Seasoned beautifully and tasting just as scrumptious, my filet hit the spot. The baked potato arrived wrapped in foil with the skin crisped just the right amount. I got mine "dressed" so it came with a slice of American cheese. Not what you would normally expect, but this is the famous Nick's. You'll also not expect what you will pay when you get the bill. That slice of cheese and simple decor is probably why you can get a filet, baked potato and salad for under $20! This isn't Flemings after all, it's Nick's.
I'm glad I finally had a chance to eat here. There is so much history and presence just sitting under that dollar-billed ceiling. Service was excellent, food was good and company was even better. If you get the chance, check them out. You can then say you've eaten at the famous Nick's in the the Sticks.