Nicholson's Tavern & Pub

The burgers are amazing and the fries are served with house made ketchup.  If you are used to Heinz 57 your taste buds will be in shock.  Apparently Duck fat is high in Triptafan and left me drowsy afterwards.

Advance caveat: we stopped in for drinks only, not food, just last night.  I've eaten here numerous times before and had decent to good food, but it's been a few years, so again, this review is a snippet from a Friday night with my wife and another couple.  

(I'm revising the rating to a final 2 stars, as I've visited the place a dozen times; however, this rating would absolutely be a 1-star if based only on below experience).

Nicholson's last night, in terms of cleanliness, quality and speed of service (and having to endure drunk morons at the bar), was horrible .  We arrived at 9PM; the place was an absolute mess in the bar area, and the bar staff was doing NOTHING TO CLEAN THEIR TABLES.  Worst part of all: we were 4 people out of a grand total of 8 who were at the bar-top tables, so it was virtually empty.  However, we still had to search for a table ourselves (no host anywhere in sight and no one thought to step in and "act the part" as we're wandering the bar area in circles looking for a clean table).  

We eventually did find (on our own) the one and only single clean bar table, out of about 7 or 8, only one of which was occupied.  

So there we sat ungreeted, for 10 minutes or so, on a Friday night....  The service sucked, it took 15 minutes to get our drinks.  2 guys were so drunk and obnoxious at the bar, that I felt on the verge of playing bouncer as one of them was loud, insulting, and out of control with a patron.  Do I even have to say that no one from behind the bar or any manager was monitoring the situation....

Final note: although I know the food can be first-rate at this restaurant, and the interior design is inspired (wall to wall beautiful woodwork plus awesome ceiling trusses with ornate turnbuckling), it's going to be a long time before Nicholson's sees this foursome again.  I can find better-managed downtown bars where the Friday night staff actually cares about their place of business, and their clients.

Lastly, although I don't drink scotch whiskey (prefer American bourbons), I would be remiss not to mention that their scotch selection is truly incomparable, world-class.

Took 2 younger girls w us here before the ballet. Great service, good food and decent prices.  Only thing is if you don't have a reservation you don't get in! They are always packed.