South of Nick's Del Mar | Mexican Kitchen + Bar — Restaurant in San Diego

Went to this place today arrived at 6:25 took them about 30 plus to get us a table. We were greeted by Nicole Short girl with dark hair about 5’2 in height. She did looked like she was not having a good day. She told us they would get us a table in a few minutes. She did not take our names. We asked Tami a tall blond if we can head to the bar while we waited, she was pleasant and said yes. I asked at 6:45 if our table was almost ready the Tall blond nice girl said let me check and then I told her they never took our name! She suggested for us to close out our tab at the Bar so we can get seated so we did. She apologized and then Nicolle the short dark hair girl said I have a table now. The dark hair girl was not pleasant at all, she took us to our table then very blantly held the menus so my husband and I can grab them off her hands. He demeanor was not pleasant at all. We noticed she sat others before they sat us previously we were only a party of two while others were coming in and getting seated before we were. Then while we were seated and eating our food she sat another couple across from our table. She was smiling and placed the menus on the table for the other couple as she smiled. When she gave them to my husband and I she held them on the air and just watched as we fetched them off her hand and no smile of any kind. This is not good customer service, we have only been here once before for a Christmas party and we enjoyed the e tire experience. I don’t know what was wrong with this gal but that is not ok. We left at 8:09 and consumed over $200 dollar plus tips from the. At and the dinner table. We sit deserve to be treated this way especially if we are spending our money there. Horrible service from the dark hair short Hostess working February 2, 2024 at 6:25 to 8:09.

The food was amazing as always the bar people were great and very pleasant to work with. The drinks were also great!

Our server Ari was amazing! Hands down to her great customer service skills! She was attentive to our needs with a great smile on her face at all times. There was another food expeditor who was also amazingly friendly and helpful, she was a dark...

It was Sunday, July 27th at 7:30pm, my girlfriend and I were dressed up, mildly sun-kissed, and fully prepared to sip margaritas and eat our weight in upscale enchiladas. We walked into South of Nick’s in Del Mar feeling good—until the hostess greeted us like we had just insulted her abuela.

No smile. Barely any eye contact. Just enough energy to gesture vaguely toward a table like it pained her to acknowledge our reservation. I half expected her to ask, “Ugh, why are you here?” I thanked her for the table and menus and was greeted only with a quick turn and walk away. Maybe she felt providing a welcoming atmosphere was below her pay grade.

Luckily, once we were seated, the mood shifted. Our waiter was warm, attentive, and actually seemed glad we existed—a low bar, but by that point, it felt like a miracle.

The food? A solid redemption arc. It was everything you hope for from elevated Mexican cuisine: fresh, full of flavor, and not trying so hard it forgets where it came from. The flavors had depth. The guacamole was bright. Even the chips felt like they were made with love. It’s a shame the love stopped at the front door.

Here’s the thing—first impressions matter. A great hostess sets the tone for the night. Instead, ours made us feel like we had crashed a private party where we weren’t invited. It didn’t just affect us; it undercut the efforts of an otherwise talented and gracious team.

Would I go back? Maybe. But next time, I might sneak in through the kitchen just to avoid the icy front...

Recommendation: Eat here! OMG The Chips and Salsa!

First time eating at South of Nick's in Del Mar. Our usual location is San Clemente. We love it and recommend it often.

Value: $73.42 Two meals plus tip, no liquor. Floutas - 5/5 - we've gotten this dish so many times. Love it. Taco Platter - 5/5 - street tacos - usually get this, and split the floutas and tacos with my wife. Butter cake - 5/5 - This is a must. We got it warmed up , to go. The CHIPS! They are my favorite. I LOVE their chips and salsa. We will order it to go even. Every time we eat here I get extra salsa. You should just ask them at the start to bring out an extra dish. They serve two salsas, mild and hot. As well as a bean option. All are great, but the hot one is too hot for the wife and I can only do it a bit. But we LOVE the mild. Dang, could drink the stuff.

Atmosphere: Music is loud, but not quite as loud as at Nick's in San Clemente, where we ate last night. Place was clean / hip. We were able to get a reservation for 6:30pm same day. We were stoked. They sat us immediately. Loved it.

Serive: Good. Our server came by our table every couple of minutes, literally. We had a table next to us so she was ble to help all of us. She was great.

Mall location - Wow. Some amazing restaurants here. Told my wife we needed to move so we could live close enough to walk here every day. We'd love it. You can't go wrong with any of the...