A Home Town Gem!
Operating since 1978, the Wooden Nickel Bar & Grill sits in the same building, 3 doors down, where the infamous Whiskey Hill Bar once stood.
The food is good, the drinks are cold and the bar is steeped with history and character. It’s not a bar for the meek or mild. Its had moments of being rough and tough inside, but for the most part, as you get to know the regulars, it’s not so bad after all. Just be prepared, stay on guard and always know your surroundings! That’s the best way I can put it.
It’s the food that brings me back here over and over again! And It’s a regular hangout for me and the Imura Sushi Chef Boyz After Hours. It’s another one of those places where everyone knows your name!
Historical Note
These two plaques sum up the Wooden Nickel atmosphere. The plaques are attached on the wall of the building outside facing Freedom Blvd.
Why Come Here?
Aside from the drinks, the food is worth your time here! And it’s affordable. I love eating their Nickel Special Burger, especially when I’ve been drinking. If anything, it “sort of” soaks up the alcohol that’s floating around in your stomach, just looking for that right moment, to upheaval and spew itself all over the bar!
Now, I’m no doctor or scientist, and don’t claim to be! And, I can’t prove that eating a heavy meal will save you from alcohol stupidity, but more often than not, I “feel” like it does, just based on my own trial and error experiences…
This burger is served on a french roll, it’s massive in size and comes with bacon, mushrooms, cheese, avocado, sprouts, lettuce, mayo and a meat patty cooked to your liking! A medium rare patty makes this burger taste even better in my personal opinion. If the patty is well done (like in this photo) then it’s dry and it sucks! Again, just a personal opinion.
Breakfast!
My all time favorite breakfast plate here is the skirt steak and eggs. I order my eggs sunny-side up and my skirt steak medium rare! The steak is marinated in a teriyaki sauce and is large enough to be two meals.
It’s only served between the hours of 9 am and 11 am.
The steak is juicy, tender and full of flavor. Again, medium rare is my personal recommendation, but even having it medium well is acceptable for the folks that can’t stand watching their steak bleed out a bit on the plate.
The #5 Omelette
Another favorite breakfast plate of mine is the #5 omelette: bacon, swiss cheese and mushroom!
See the contents busting out of the egg flap. It’s a sizable meal that will happily fill you up. Buttery sauteed mushrooms with thick sliced bacon and melted gooey cheese is a mouth watering experience.
The Dirt Digger
The Dirt Digger is another large plate of food. If you like eating two meals in one, then this plate is for you!
Thick sliced ham, bacon, sausage patty, eggs anyway you want them, toast and potatoes.
Seafood Omelette
Bay shrimp, real crab, avocado and a seafood sauce supreme is a seafood lover’s delight!
Sometimes eating simplistic meals is amazing. Pancakes, for me, is that simple meal.
Lunch: Grilled Ham & Cheese
The ultimate comfort food in my life is the grilled ham and cheese sandwich! As a kid, it was what I grew up on. Layers of grilled ham with that melted gooey cheddar cheese, in between two buttered and grilled slices of sourdough bread. It takes me back to childhood every time! I also had a small cup of clam chowder soup that is made every Friday. I sprinkle pepper and Tapatio over the chowder. It’s thick with chunks of clams. The perfect cold and/or rainy day meal.
Another favorite sandwich of mine is the Ruben! Thousand Island dressing, sauerkraut, melted swiss cheese and corned beef. The fries on this plate are house cut fries. Delicious!!!
The roast beef au jus sandwich is another good one to eat.
Tuna melt for those of you who want to curb the meat. It’s a tasty sandwich. I’m a fan of tuna.
I’m a sucker for onion rings. Crispy and in abundance. These tasty rings are great!
For me, soup on any day is good. I ordered this split pea soup on a day that was cold and rainy, which made the soup even better! It’s hearty soup with chunks of ham and carrots.
Nothing beats fresh made cream of mushroom soup! Sorry Campbell’s soup, you are a distant second. Occasionally, Wooden Nickel makes this soup as a soup du jour. Creamy, smooth and rich in mushroom flavor, you can’t go wrong with it…unless you are lactose intolerant.
Dinner: Rib Eye Steak
I love a good rib eye steak! Unfortunately, Santa Cruz County does not have a restaurant dedicated to all things steak! I’m convinced it’s a “hippie-vegan” conspiracy!
However, there are a handful of restaurants that serve a good steak! There are 3 restaurants I go to locally for those steaks! And one of them is right here at the Wooden Nickel. And, in my opinion, the best steaks in South County.
I order my rib eye rare! It’s smothered in a buttery, garlic mushroom saute. And, I get the baked potato loaded with sour cream and butter (you have other choices).
Savory, tender, juicy steak, that has that salty outer crust with that buttery mushroom and garlic flavor…so dang good!
When mussels and clams are available, the seafood fettuccine is a good choice.
For my vegetarian friends…they have salad plates available just for you! I don’t do this often, but I have actually eaten salads here and have no complaints! However, my poor colon thinks it’s a zombie outbreak every time I surprise it with salad. They have other salads to try as well…come check it out!
Let’s talk drinks! When I visit for breakfast I typically indulge in Bloody Mary’s with my meal. I like mine on the spicy side. And sometimes this is breakfast!
Every so often I have martini’s here. I usually use Tito’s or Ketel One vodka. Most times, I like it dirty (olive juice) and other times I like it plain.
On a typical night out with the Imura Sushi Chefs, I go to my standard drink at Wooden Nickel…Jameson on the rocks! Cheers!
Wooden Nickel is located at: 1819 Freedom Blvd. Freedom, Ca. 95019. (831) 724-2600.
Solid reviews PT. The history of the Nickel really adds character.
Thank you Craig!
IM HUNGRY AGAIN! I swear I’m gaining weight just LOOKING at these photos! Thank you Paul – your articles, photography and descriptions are just simply delicious!
Hahaha…thank you Dilara!
Thumbs up again, Paul!
Thank you Kevin!
One of these days……
Seeing this food is making me CRAZY!
Ha-ha Dan!
went to wooden nickel with my lovely wife and we both had a pastrami melt whoa enough food took half home to have with soup for dinner. It had been a long time since i had been there so glad I got my hair cut from Molli where I first met you she told me about your blog page gave me the address,and I already hook up my neighbor good luck on you blog page
Thank you Frank!