Many groups going to Homecoming often choose more expensive, higher-end restaurants for dinner, mine included. However, this year, my group of 44 (yes, 44!) chose Nick and Jake’s, an upscale bar and restaurant for our meal.

Nick and Jake’s is located in the Plaza/downtown area, making it perfectly located to eat at after taking pictures in Loose Park or at the Nelson.

Although the private events room was taken, the management at Nick and Jake’s was very accommodating; they reserved eight tables out of their restaurant in the same section for our group. This worked out very well, allowing small groups out of the big group to socialize during dinner.

When I walked into Nick and Jake’s, the place was definitely busy, but not hopping. We were seated in the comfy booths in no time.

Due to the size and scope of our large group, we were given a group menu to choose from. For an appetizer, everyone had a salad that was essentially a classic Cobb served with either ranch dressing or honey mustard. The salad did not seem very healthy, but it definitely satisfied my craving for bacon. As for the entreé, we were given more choices: a salad, baby back ribs, a bacon cheeseburger, spaghetti, or chicken fingers.

Out of nostalgia, most everyone in my group ordered the chicken fingers. They were heavenly. Served piping hot with thick cut fries and a trio of sauces (ranch, honey mustard, and barbecue), I thoroughly enjoyed eating these after spending hours getting ready for the dance.

 After dinner, we were given the choice of either carrot cake or chocolate cake. Being the chocoholic I am, I of course ordered chocolate cake. The cake was wonderfully moist and the frosting was delicious and reminded me of my mother’s famous frosting.

Best of all, the tasty appetizer, entreé, and dessert only costed $25 per person including tax and tip, which is reasonable considering the size of our group and the quality of food.

I would encourage every group to seek out places like Nick and Jake’s for dinner because of the experience, not just the low cost. Low-key places are more likely to want to make your group’s experience enjoyable. Rather than simply turning my group away when the private room was unavailable, they reserved an entire section of their restaurant for us. No one felt awkward dropping their fork or knife because it wasn’t a stuffy, snooty place. We never had to wait more than 20 minutes for the next course.

Moreover, I will happily take some quality chicken fingers, salad and dessert rather than a slightly above average steak from Plaza III that cost $50. Chicken fingers now taste just as good as they did when I was a child.