It doesn't surprise me that this place is reported to be closed. I wrote this draft months ago and never posted it. Here's what I thought about the place: This is the second bbq joint I've been to that serves deli thin brisket and I'm not sure what the reason is except $. It's a great let down. And it wasn't very tasty. I ended up dipping it in bbq sauce which I rarely do. The corn bread had a "sugar" crust I couldn't figure out. Other than that it was OK, but a bit dry for my taste. On a late afternoon, Sunday, the place was empty except for one other couple. (Maybe we missed the lunch rush?) It's a pretty big restaurant and there was a whole other seating area that was closed off. It's on route 202, so the traffic should be sufficient. They also ran out of a number of menu items. Again, late afternoon and they only smoke what they intend on selling, but I'll never know. Also, it appears this place was previously a trendy restaurant. The decor, stone walls, entry way bathrooms... all trendy. They swapped out the tables and chairs and stained some wood panels. This doesn't bother me so much as much as it is weird. If the food was excellent, I wouldn't care. (I've been to places with picnic tables indoors.) But it seems lazy or half conceived. Either continue to be trendy or put up some flat screen TVs. (Oddly enough, there was a TV somewhere and you could faintly hear a football playoff game.) Or continue the burlap/sawdust motif, but not both.
Tyler Illest
Okay so I have to say this is the best bbq I've ever had. It's up there with Virgil's in Austin Texas. Place isn't much from the outside but oh man the food is awesome! Bbq that will put hair on your chest. So don't be a wussy, eat Niks 202 bbq.
K J.
Food came out quick, was fresh, hot and delicious. Tasted like authentic, southern barbecue. They had a wide variety of items on the menu and an array of sauces to choose from. Will be returning!
Everett Lippel
Fantastic food and great service! Service is always the difference maker. Cordial with great recommendations! Sauces were great and they made these pot stickers that were incredible.
Sandr R.
If I could give this less stars, I would. Came in one night two hours before closing and they looked like they were already starting to close down the restaurant. Staff were rude and turned out lights while still we (and other patrons) were trying to eat. The food was dry and nasty. We will never go again or suggest this restaurant.
Poulam Saha
We received good service, but the quality of the food was exceptionally subpar. Other than the ribs, everything else was pretty poor. Do not order the wings here. Incredibly disappointing.
Gina P.
Please lord let that not be a pubic hair. It was! Serves me right, I should have known when the place was empty and the sauce bottles on the table looked like they had not be cleaned in years. Did I ignore the flys buzzing..sadly yes...Did I ignore the crazy dude who was there stating he could not remember where he stayed last night as he got to drunk and believes he stayed at the nearby motel...What!!? Do not stop, pass go far from here!
James M.
Love this place. The pulled pork is legit. I am originally from Texas and can say this is pretty dang close to right. Their sauces are good too. Haven't tried the Alabama white sauce yet. They will make sweet tea if you ask for it, but it tastes like instant tea. It's hardly ever busy, which is fine for me.
Carol Confalone
Simple great! Great service and food. Reasonably priced! Looking for good hamburgers to pulled pork, brisket and yummie Mac and cheese-this is the place. Oh can't forget sweet potatoes fries and regular fries! My family of 6 truly enjoyed it and will be back again!
Sandi C.
The Star is for the service which was great. The food is awful. We shared the 1/2 Chicken and Ribs. We ordered the crinkle cut fries(frozen) and cornbread(greasy) Apparently, 1/2 chicken in this establishment does not include a thigh. So it was more like a 1/3 if a chicken. The ribs had too much fake smoke flavoring but no other taste. We came away feeling ripped off. Also, the country western music was played from an app that plays two lines from a song and then changes to another song. Very disconcerting. It was like listening to a commercial for a CW compilation. Not exactly good for the palate. Even the soda had run out of syrup. I'm sorry but this was a huge disappointment. I would have complained but to what end? I'm never coming back again.
A really great place to get a bite to eat! the staff is exceptional, and I have never seen a plate of meat enjoyed so thoroughly. I recommend the family platter, with 7lbs of meat, 4 sides and Texas Toast. Share it with friends or tackle it yourself, if you really want to. you won't be disappointed. :)
Brian A.
This place is awful. Taste like they smoke their meat with wet newspaper. I'm actually surprised they are still opened or haven't changed their restaurant name/concept again. Nik really needs to get out of the restaurant game because the other niks brand restaurants are not much better.
Sarah O.
I don't honestly understand what is so terrible about this place. Then again... I am a vegetarian. So I don't know what the barbecue even tastes like. But they have this AMAZING grilled mushroom dish that I could eat every day. Their cornbread is crumbly but sweet and tasty, and their texas toast is so addictive. The mac and cheese could use a little work, but it's not bad. My husband has gotten meat here, and claims it is very good. Ultimately, there are definitely turn offs - we have never seen a single other customer in there, for one thing. They also don't play music all the time, so the silence is deafening. The servers are delightful but service is slow, and there is quite an issue with flies buzzing around. Still, I've been here twice now and I'll probably go back to be honest.
Zachary K.
Look this place was empty, and probably should have had a few more people. I can see how the loud country music would be a turn off for most NJ folk given they dont seem to be much of a country music group, but I quite enjoyed it being one of three people there. I ordered the brisket and it was average. I didnt feel like it was cut straight off the smoker and more so smoked earlier and just sat in a pan for a while. I did thoroughly enjoy all four of the BBQ sauces. The mac and cheese was cheesy but I would have liked it with a bit more garlic and salt. The cornbread was delightful as well but the corn pieces in it were chewy. It could have used maybe a dash of cinnamon to liven it up. Overall decent food and nice staff, but without writing this review, a year from now I will probably not remember I ever came here.
Lena L.
I went to Nik's because my husband won a gift certificate in a competition they sponsored. We went with another couple. In my opinion you have to judge a bbq place by the food because they're often not the most glamorous joints. I'd say they're all a little sticky, this one maybe a little bit more than most. I had to ask for soap in the women's room and after she refilled it didn't work so I used the men's room. What-ev's. We ordered food for four or whatever that platter is and it came with a ton of food and 4 sides plus Texas toast. The ribs were falling apart and everyone raved at how tender they were. The brisket was a bit fatty (in a you need to cook it lower slower and longer not in a duh brisket is a fatty meat way) but it had good flavor. The dark meat chicken was spot on but the white meat was a touch dry. As far as sides, the Mac & Cheese was good, the baked beans were slamming awesome, sweet potato fries were on par and the corn bread not bad. Texas toast was yummy garlicky. It's also BYOB which keeps the cost down. Overall it's a 4 star joint, not for your wedding anniversary night out but for a good meal for a decent price.
It doesn't surprise me that this place is reported to be closed. I wrote this draft months ago and never posted it. Here's what I thought about the place: This is the second bbq joint I've been to that serves deli thin brisket and I'm not sure what the reason is except $. It's a great let down. And it wasn't very tasty. I ended up dipping it in bbq sauce which I rarely do. The corn bread had a "sugar" crust I couldn't figure out. Other than that it was OK, but a bit dry for my taste. On a late afternoon, Sunday, the place was empty except for one other couple. (Maybe we missed the lunch rush?) It's a pretty big restaurant and there was a whole other seating area that was closed off. It's on route 202, so the traffic should be sufficient. They also ran out of a number of menu items. Again, late afternoon and they only smoke what they intend on selling, but I'll never know. Also, it appears this place was previously a trendy restaurant. The decor, stone walls, entry way bathrooms... all trendy. They swapped out the tables and chairs and stained some wood panels. This doesn't bother me so much as much as it is weird. If the food was excellent, I wouldn't care. (I've been to places with picnic tables indoors.) But it seems lazy or half conceived. Either continue to be trendy or put up some flat screen TVs. (Oddly enough, there was a TV somewhere and you could faintly hear a football playoff game.) Or continue the burlap/sawdust motif, but not both.
Okay so I have to say this is the best bbq I've ever had. It's up there with Virgil's in Austin Texas. Place isn't much from the outside but oh man the food is awesome! Bbq that will put hair on your chest. So don't be a wussy, eat Niks 202 bbq.
Food came out quick, was fresh, hot and delicious. Tasted like authentic, southern barbecue. They had a wide variety of items on the menu and an array of sauces to choose from. Will be returning!
Fantastic food and great service! Service is always the difference maker. Cordial with great recommendations! Sauces were great and they made these pot stickers that were incredible.
If I could give this less stars, I would. Came in one night two hours before closing and they looked like they were already starting to close down the restaurant. Staff were rude and turned out lights while still we (and other patrons) were trying to eat. The food was dry and nasty. We will never go again or suggest this restaurant.
We received good service, but the quality of the food was exceptionally subpar. Other than the ribs, everything else was pretty poor. Do not order the wings here. Incredibly disappointing.
Please lord let that not be a pubic hair. It was! Serves me right, I should have known when the place was empty and the sauce bottles on the table looked like they had not be cleaned in years. Did I ignore the flys buzzing..sadly yes...Did I ignore the crazy dude who was there stating he could not remember where he stayed last night as he got to drunk and believes he stayed at the nearby motel...What!!? Do not stop, pass go far from here!
Love this place. The pulled pork is legit. I am originally from Texas and can say this is pretty dang close to right. Their sauces are good too. Haven't tried the Alabama white sauce yet. They will make sweet tea if you ask for it, but it tastes like instant tea. It's hardly ever busy, which is fine for me.
Simple great! Great service and food. Reasonably priced! Looking for good hamburgers to pulled pork, brisket and yummie Mac and cheese-this is the place. Oh can't forget sweet potatoes fries and regular fries! My family of 6 truly enjoyed it and will be back again!
The Star is for the service which was great. The food is awful. We shared the 1/2 Chicken and Ribs. We ordered the crinkle cut fries(frozen) and cornbread(greasy) Apparently, 1/2 chicken in this establishment does not include a thigh. So it was more like a 1/3 if a chicken. The ribs had too much fake smoke flavoring but no other taste. We came away feeling ripped off. Also, the country western music was played from an app that plays two lines from a song and then changes to another song. Very disconcerting. It was like listening to a commercial for a CW compilation. Not exactly good for the palate. Even the soda had run out of syrup. I'm sorry but this was a huge disappointment. I would have complained but to what end? I'm never coming back again.
Restaurantji Recommends
A really great place to get a bite to eat! the staff is exceptional, and I have never seen a plate of meat enjoyed so thoroughly. I recommend the family platter, with 7lbs of meat, 4 sides and Texas Toast. Share it with friends or tackle it yourself, if you really want to. you won't be disappointed. :)
This place is awful. Taste like they smoke their meat with wet newspaper. I'm actually surprised they are still opened or haven't changed their restaurant name/concept again. Nik really needs to get out of the restaurant game because the other niks brand restaurants are not much better.
I don't honestly understand what is so terrible about this place. Then again... I am a vegetarian. So I don't know what the barbecue even tastes like. But they have this AMAZING grilled mushroom dish that I could eat every day. Their cornbread is crumbly but sweet and tasty, and their texas toast is so addictive. The mac and cheese could use a little work, but it's not bad. My husband has gotten meat here, and claims it is very good. Ultimately, there are definitely turn offs - we have never seen a single other customer in there, for one thing. They also don't play music all the time, so the silence is deafening. The servers are delightful but service is slow, and there is quite an issue with flies buzzing around. Still, I've been here twice now and I'll probably go back to be honest.
Look this place was empty, and probably should have had a few more people. I can see how the loud country music would be a turn off for most NJ folk given they dont seem to be much of a country music group, but I quite enjoyed it being one of three people there. I ordered the brisket and it was average. I didnt feel like it was cut straight off the smoker and more so smoked earlier and just sat in a pan for a while. I did thoroughly enjoy all four of the BBQ sauces. The mac and cheese was cheesy but I would have liked it with a bit more garlic and salt. The cornbread was delightful as well but the corn pieces in it were chewy. It could have used maybe a dash of cinnamon to liven it up. Overall decent food and nice staff, but without writing this review, a year from now I will probably not remember I ever came here.
I went to Nik's because my husband won a gift certificate in a competition they sponsored. We went with another couple. In my opinion you have to judge a bbq place by the food because they're often not the most glamorous joints. I'd say they're all a little sticky, this one maybe a little bit more than most. I had to ask for soap in the women's room and after she refilled it didn't work so I used the men's room. What-ev's. We ordered food for four or whatever that platter is and it came with a ton of food and 4 sides plus Texas toast. The ribs were falling apart and everyone raved at how tender they were. The brisket was a bit fatty (in a you need to cook it lower slower and longer not in a duh brisket is a fatty meat way) but it had good flavor. The dark meat chicken was spot on but the white meat was a touch dry. As far as sides, the Mac & Cheese was good, the baked beans were slamming awesome, sweet potato fries were on par and the corn bread not bad. Texas toast was yummy garlicky. It's also BYOB which keeps the cost down. Overall it's a 4 star joint, not for your wedding anniversary night out but for a good meal for a decent price.
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