My family has wandered past Nicky Rottens Bar & Burger Joint in Coronado a few times on our way to the beach. I always thought it looked like a fun place for a night out sans kiddos, and last weekend we finally gave it a try! My husband and I showed up on a Saturday night to a packed house with several big games on the TVs all around the restaurant. We were greeted by two kind hostesses and shown to a table near the window with a great view of the downtown San Diego skyline.
I sometimes worry about service when a restaurant is as crowded as Nicky Rottens was on a Saturday night, but they were on point. Everyone from the hostesses to our server Jess and the manager Aaron were all very friendly and helpful. We even learned some history about the place and about how they support the local military in many ways. They had all of the big games playing on the dozen or so televisions scattered around the restaurant, so you had a view no matter where you were seated.
The menu is heavily burger-focused, but also includes a few other items including tacos, sandwiches and hot dogs. They have several appetizers, salads and desserts to choose from as well. Nicky Rottens features a great drink menu with some really fun cocktails, local brews and more. We sampled a few drinks between the two of us and my fave drink of the night was definitely the Jalapeño Marg!
In lieu of a traditional appetizer, we opted to share a caprese salad and it was wonderful! We also shared a burger and the fish tacos and I’m not sure which one I liked more. The fish tacos had a generous serving of battered fish and were delicious. The burger with swiss, mushrooms and caramelized onions was cooked perfectly and the beef was excellent, even the tater tots were great!
We got to witness a man attempting the burger challenge (and failing) and a ton of people just having a really good time. Nicky Rottens Coronado was a really laid back and fun place to spend a Saturday evening, parking was easy (or maybe we got lucky) and the prices are very affordable compared to other Coronado dining options. I also love that the restaurant plays music versus turning up the volume on the sporting events on TV, it makes it fun even for those who aren’t into the game. We can’t wait to head back to Nicky Rottens Coronado!
We received a complimentary dinner for two in exchange for this review, but all opinions are my own.
