So why has Nick Kassis, owner of Nick’s New York Pub in North Myrtle Beach, been seen wearing a Redskins jersey when everyone knows he is a die-hard Jets fan? He lost a bet. Nick’s girlfriend, Brandy Young, is a Redskins fan, and they bet on the Redskins/Jets game. The loser has to wear the other team’s jersey all day on Sundays through the end of the season. There’s a lot going on during football season at Nick’s on any day of the week. Chef Tom Heinz might be whipping up a plateful of Mini Cheeseburgers, or bartender Laura Baghart could be mixing her shooter specialty called Applesauce containing Goldschlager, Apple Pucker and pineapple juice. Now that Nick’s has a nifty Web site at NicksNewYorkPub.com, you can check out the entire menu and see what specials are going on. But what they don’t tell you is the bread and Italian sausage they use is from JJ Cassone in the Bronx, and that their hamburger meat is double-ground by a butcher so it cooks better, and that their potato chips are homemade in-house.Nick’s is at the intersection of Second Avenue North and U.S. 17 Bypass in North Myrtle Beach, and the number is 249-7600.

So, I have been passing this place on a weekly basis. It didn’t really jump out at me as a kind of Wow! You’ve got to stop here place, but something in me always wanted to stop in and check out Nick’s New York Pub. Just north of Main Street in North Myrtle Beach on Highway 17, Nick’s name always intrigued me. What exactly would make a bar in North Myrtle Beach a New York pub? I wondered if it was really like a bar in the Big Apple.

Well, last Saturday I decided I would go check it out. I have never been to New York and therefore only have Hollywood images of New York. Nick’s sure felt like it got it right on. I walked into the place, and was absolutely stunned by the aroma coming from the kitchen. It smelled so good, my knees got weak. As soon as I walked in, I expected to see a bunch of cops, firemen, and detectives sitting around the bar, talking about their day’s adventures. Interestingly, the bar is against the front wall with picture windows looking out onto Highway 17. I don’t think I have ever seen a bar positioned like that. Toward the back is a cozy dining room that I envisioned Mafiosos and their hulking bodyguards meeting rivals or independent hit men there. Okay, so I have a bit of an imagination. I am not saying this place had a rough crowd or was unfriendly. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. While the ambiance was New York tough, the people were wonderful. The bartender and regulars were friendly and easy to talk to. I ordered a drink and went over the menu. Everything had a New York theme, like a Babe Ruth sandwich or Central Park pretzels. There was a lot to choose from appetizers to full steak dinners. I went halfway. I ordered the Phil Rizzuto steak, three eggs, toast and fries. It was under the category of Heroes. It referred to the former New York Yankee. The meal was perfect. The steak was a wonderfully medium rare and the eggs were perfectly cooked. Especially tasty were the fries, which had a great, crispy taste to them. The food was great and the drinks were strong. If this was what a New York pub is like, then I might have to head up to the big city someday. Nick’s New York Pub is an ideal place to be for a little taste of the Big Apple.

Christopher Huff is an entertainment reporter. You can reach him concerning information about the Entertainment page at christopher@readtheherald.com