Nick's Inn

Nick’s Inn

5400 Portage Ave

204-889-4548

Growing up in St James, you cannot miss the short drive to check out Nick’s Inn in Headingly for their burger and fries.  As a teen who didn’t know much about what makes good food and why, Nick’s was always the place to go for a great burger.  Now, so many years later, and as a food professional, how would Nick’s food stand? 

The décor hasn’t changed much; the place still looks like a beat-up joint and the seats sit just a little lower since the padding is a more compact.  You have the obligatory ripped vinyl but I think this is all part of the charm of going to a diner.  The drywall in the washroom has been torn out, revealing the inner piping and workings—I smell some renovations in the air.

That’s not all I smell.  If you put a blindfold on me, I would still know that I’m in a burger joint.  There’s no mistaking the waft of fryer oil, mixed in with ground beef searing.  This is a good thing.

The perfect patty comes nicely seared on the outside but slightly overcooked on the inside; there isn’t much juice left but it’s still tastes moderately moist.  When you squeeze down into your burger, there should still be plenty of juices running out of the meat.  There’s no juice here.  There’s a ton of vegetable, perhaps a bit too much as it is difficult to stick the entire stack into your mouth.  There’s a lot of mayo and it ends up on your hand because the Kaiser falls apart.  The chilli tastes deep and rich, and there’s the perfect amount here—acting as an accent without dominating the taste of the burger.  The processed cheese is a letdown.  It costs so little to upgrade from processed plasticky cheese to real slices, but it upgrades the burger tremendously. 

The narrow, home-cut fries have a little bit of grease but they still taste crispy.  There’s just enough salt to give it good seasoning without going overboard.  The side of coleslaw has no mayo and just enough vinegar to keep it moist.  The vegetables taste fresh and crispy.

Our server offers prompt, friendly and genuine service throughout our experience.  It’s been a long time since I’ve been here but now I remember why I used to come all the time.  Nick’s offers great food at a reasonable price, among a friendly atmosphere.  What more could you ask for?

If you come, beware that they take cash only.  There’s an ATM in the entranceway if you need.

**** /5

This is a free product that I'm happy to bring to you.  If you enjoyed reading this, please consider clicking on the accompanying ads.  This is the only payment I receive for offering this public service.  Thank you as always for reading.