My wife wanted to show me some of the highlights of Fisherman's Wharf as she remembered them, but sadly, many of the experiences that she recalled simply weren't present anymore. Maybe they were a casualty of COVID, or a bad economy, or because we were there on a Monday? Regardless, she was determined to grab some fresh seafood from one of the purveyors near the pier, and selected Nick's Lighthouse as our destination.
We were seated at a well-worn booth in the back of this modest restaurant with its dive-bar interior aesthetic. She ordered a crab cocktail and a Corona (with lime, of course!), while I went with the fish and chips, to share with our toddler son.
Service was quick, but not particularly attentive. Our food, when it arrived, was a bit polarizing: while my wife absolutely loved her heaping helping of crab meat, lemon and cocktail sauce, my fish and chips were just plain awful. There was a very strange, unpleasant, almost perfume-y undertone with every bite, likely something added to the breading; whatever it was, it was rather off-putting. My wife said it tasted moldy; while I didn't get that particular flavor, the sensation of eating fried in Calvin Klein was too much for me; I didn't finish it.
More than likely, there was just something in the batter that I didn't personally appreciate. The fish itself was fine; not the best, not the worst. Portion size here is great for the price, though. And had I selected a different entrée, I'm sure I would have far more favorable things to say. As it stands, I hesitate to recommend Nick's Lighthouse, even though my wife's experience was much better than my own. But hey, avoid the fish and chips, and you'll probably be just fine.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
tiara k
Food was very bland, and overpriced for sure
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
Jordan Hill
Dirty nasty not friendly environment
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Chris Williams
Good clam chowder, oysters, & crab cakes
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gabo A
Food was great. Servers didnt appear too welcoming. This place charge service fee 18% & dont care much about customer service. Pricey but food was delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 2
Leo Boeren
Simple but good restaurant on Fishermans Wharf. Terrace and inside tables. Simple but good menu. Friendly staff. Live music on other side of the street. We tried the fish and chips and the shrimps and chips, both were tasty. Would fully recommend eating at this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
W Z
Don’t eat here! My dumbass got haggled by the street howlers to eat here because other places were closing at 730pm and Boudin had kitchen issues so they shutdown early.
Worse food ever. Everything tasted very old and fishy. They use the garlic butter sauce to mask their pre-cooked seafood. The shrimp was rubbery. Blue point oysters were very slimy. The Dungeness crab was pre-cooked/frozen and reheated with their crappy butter sauce.
Do not come here! Making this review in the restaurant and wouldn’t be surprised if I got back to the hotel with diarrhea
I
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Alex
Food here is mediocre, and they upcharge the price drastically. For fish n chips, chicken tenders, a seltzer, and a beer, I was charged $68 although the menu prices add up to $49. They will automatically do gratuity, which is not written on the check to sign and tip on. Not worth the money, def a tourist trap.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Jamie Won
Crab cakes are “100% crab” but taste wholly of flour. Fried fish is over done and hard
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
M Abalos
Arrived at SF airport around 8am, jumped on cable car, made it over to Fisherman's Wharf by 1030am. Went straight to Nick's Lighthouse and started our lunch feast.
My partner, as usual, love the spicey crab. The sauce is to die for. The price has gone up quite a bit since Covid days, but still worth coming back to. I love the clam chowder bowl bread. Price has gone up too but still has the same delicious taste. The clams are small chunks of meat. Unlike other places, we've been given puréed clam chowder. Also, suggest that crab cakes be prepared more on the crispy side.
Nick's staff members are friendly and accommodating.
There are now tables and chairs outside of restaurant - love it. All that's needed are canopies to provide us some shade. It was super sunny today. Would have been nice to have when we were there.
Nick’s Lighthouse is hands down one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. The food was terrible — bland, rubbery, and honestly inedible. For the outrageous prices they charge, it felt like a complete scam. Nothing tasted fresh, and it was obvious they cut corners on quality.
To make it worse, the bill came out way higher than expected. Extra charges showed up that were never explained, and it felt like they were just trying to rip people off. It’s the kind of place that preys on tourists who don’t know better.
I regret wasting my money here, and I strongly recommend avoiding this place. There are plenty of other spots nearby where you’ll actually get decent food for a fair price
Tomás Madeira
Terrible, asked for the 12 dollars kids meal gave me the adult one, added his own tip for all 5 of my friends even though we split the bill, was not worth because the food was terrible
Susie Clark
The food was good but it seemed like they cut corners and overpriced for what you get. A $40 bowl of seafood and no bread?
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Mei Berry
Love it here, Food was amazing, drinks are delicious, the fact they child friendly and have great music playing im so happy here! Coming back again and again
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ben Jaw
Good is so bad and expensive. Take me 30 min to get the bill
My wife wanted to show me some of the highlights of Fisherman's Wharf as she remembered them, but sadly, many of the experiences that she recalled simply weren't present anymore. Maybe they were a casualty of COVID, or a bad economy, or because we were there on a Monday? Regardless, she was determined to grab some fresh seafood from one of the purveyors near the pier, and selected Nick's Lighthouse as our destination.
We were seated at a well-worn booth in the back of this modest restaurant with its dive-bar interior aesthetic. She ordered a crab cocktail and a Corona (with lime, of course!), while I went with the fish and chips, to share with our toddler son.
Service was quick, but not particularly attentive. Our food, when it arrived, was a bit polarizing: while my wife absolutely loved her heaping helping of crab meat, lemon and cocktail sauce, my fish and chips were just plain awful. There was a very strange, unpleasant, almost perfume-y undertone with every bite, likely something added to the breading; whatever it was, it was rather off-putting. My wife said it tasted moldy; while I didn't get that particular flavor, the sensation of eating fried in Calvin Klein was too much for me; I didn't finish it.
More than likely, there was just something in the batter that I didn't personally appreciate. The fish itself was fine; not the best, not the worst. Portion size here is great for the price, though. And had I selected a different entrée, I'm sure I would have far more favorable things to say. As it stands, I hesitate to recommend Nick's Lighthouse, even though my wife's experience was much better than my own. But hey, avoid the fish and chips, and you'll probably be just fine.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Food was very bland, and overpriced for sure
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 3
Dirty nasty not friendly environment
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Good clam chowder, oysters, & crab cakes
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was great. Servers didnt appear too welcoming. This place charge service fee 18% & dont care much about customer service.
Pricey but food was delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 2
Simple but good restaurant on Fishermans Wharf. Terrace and inside tables. Simple but good menu. Friendly staff. Live music on other side of the street.
We tried the fish and chips and the shrimps and chips, both were tasty.
Would fully recommend eating at this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Don’t eat here! My dumbass got haggled by the street howlers to eat here because other places were closing at 730pm and Boudin had kitchen issues so they shutdown early.
Worse food ever. Everything tasted very old and fishy. They use the garlic butter sauce to mask their pre-cooked seafood. The shrimp was rubbery. Blue point oysters were very slimy. The Dungeness crab was pre-cooked/frozen and reheated with their crappy butter sauce.
Do not come here! Making this review in the restaurant and wouldn’t be surprised if I got back to the hotel with diarrhea
I
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Food here is mediocre, and they upcharge the price drastically. For fish n chips, chicken tenders, a seltzer, and a beer, I was charged $68 although the menu prices add up to $49. They will automatically do gratuity, which is not written on the check to sign and tip on. Not worth the money, def a tourist trap.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Crab cakes are “100% crab” but taste wholly of flour. Fried fish is over done and hard
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Arrived at SF airport around 8am, jumped on cable car, made it over to Fisherman's Wharf by 1030am. Went straight to Nick's Lighthouse and started our lunch feast.
My partner, as usual, love the spicey crab. The sauce is to die for. The price has gone up quite a bit since Covid days, but still worth coming back to. I love the clam chowder bowl bread. Price has gone up too but still has the same delicious taste. The clams are small chunks of meat. Unlike other places, we've been given puréed clam chowder. Also, suggest that crab cakes be prepared more on the crispy side.
Nick's staff members are friendly and accommodating.
There are now tables and chairs outside of restaurant - love it. All that's needed are canopies to provide us some shade. It was super sunny today. Would have been nice to have when we were there.
Recommend Nick's 👍🏼
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Nick’s Lighthouse is hands down one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. The food was terrible — bland, rubbery, and honestly inedible. For the outrageous prices they charge, it felt like a complete scam. Nothing tasted fresh, and it was obvious they cut corners on quality.
To make it worse, the bill came out way higher than expected. Extra charges showed up that were never explained, and it felt like they were just trying to rip people off. It’s the kind of place that preys on tourists who don’t know better.
I regret wasting my money here, and I strongly recommend avoiding this place. There are plenty of other spots nearby where you’ll actually get decent food for a fair price
Terrible, asked for the 12 dollars kids meal gave me the adult one, added his own tip for all 5 of my friends even though we split the bill, was not worth because the food was terrible
The food was good but it seemed like they cut corners and overpriced for what you get. A $40 bowl of seafood and no bread?
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 4
Love it here, Food was amazing, drinks are delicious, the fact they child friendly and have great music playing im so happy here! Coming back again and again
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good is so bad and expensive. Take me 30 min to get the bill
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
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