Taking the elevator down below street level to Nick's feels a little like plunging underwater in a submarine. Once submerged, you'll find yourself in one of the best seafood restaurants in the city. This is definitely special-occasion dining which attracts an older, power-elite crowd, as well as a fair amount of business travelers with generous expense accounts.

The dining room is a spacious, open affair overlooking an outdoor plaza with an illuminated fountain and Chagall mosaic. Plush booths and loveseats (with individual light dimmers, no less) attract cuddly couples, while the generous space between tables allows for quiet conversation. Fresh seafood is the focus of the menu, which highlights specials flown in daily. Most of the preparations are straightforward, although some dishes include French or Asian accents (such as the seared ahi tuna served with a wasabi soy sauce). The menu also offers a fair selection for nonseafood lovers, including steak, veal chop with Barolo wine-truffle sauce, and lamb chops with mint sauce.

The street level Nick's Grill serves more casual fare, including sandwiches and flatbread pizzas. It's an appealing option for a late-afternoon light meal or for theater patrons in a hurry to catch a show.