Big Nick's in the Big Apple

When someone gives me the opportunity to go to New York City for a day, of course I'm going to take it. However, living in Nashville and not having an infinite amount of expendible income, this means a very long drive through the wee hours of the morning in a van with six other people. Needless to say after a drive like that, a person needs to eat. Enter: Big Nick's Burger and Pizza Joint.

Located on the Upper West Side, Big Nick's specializes in, you guessed it, burgers and pizza. And yes, I had a burger and, yes, it was incredible. Stuffed with bleu cheese, cooked to perfection and so big I only dared to finish half, it was everything I'd expect from a $10 New York burger but at half the price. Other impressive burger creations include the Burger Florentine with spinach, olives and feta and the Pizza Burger with mozzarella sauce on a toasted English muffin. The pizza menu is just as exotic, with toppings like tuna, clams, hot dogs and eggplant parmigiana.

When the seven of us first approached Big Nick's, we were worried. From the outside it looks like a kitchen inside with just four tiny tables on the sidewalk for customers. It was raining, and two of the tables were already taken. It looked like our best laid plans had been thwarted, but then I spotted a tiny sign on the door. "More seating in back." I figured we had come that far, we might as well check it out. When we squeezed through the narrow entry way, we found ourselves in a bustling diner with several booths and tables, two kitchen areas and headshots of famous and not-so-famous actors covering the walls. We were immediately seated, impressive for a group of seven, and handed the menu, a 27-page pamphlet printed front and back.

But if all they offer is burgers and pizza, why would they need a 27-page menu?

Because Big Nick's is so much more than burgers and pizza. Influenced by the owner's Mediterranean background, this diverse diner's menu offers a wide selection of Italian and Greek entrees like baked ziti, ravioli and souvlaki. Then there's the breakfast offerings, served all day. But perhaps the biggest selling point for us as a band was their creative and extensive vegetarian and vegan menu. Since five out of seven of us are vegetarian or vegan, finding a restaurant for all of us to enjoy takes a little thought. Big Nick's rose to the occasion, serving hot dogs, burgers, quesadillas, and sub sandwiches all made with tofu, soy or some other veggie-friendly substance. They also offer sweet potato fries and enormous salads.

So if you find yourself on the Upper West Side with a group of people who love food, no matter what kind, Big Nick's is the place to go. If you're hungry, chances are you can find something in Nick's encyclopedia (a.k.a. the menu) that you will enjoy. And if you aren't hungry, go anyway. Chances are something will intrigue you enough to give it a try. If nothing else, just sit and contemplate what might have happened to all the faces of aspiring stars staring back at you from the walls where they wait to be discovered, and maybe you'll discover a new favorite place to eat.