When it comes to getting a proper late-night dinner in the Lower Haight, options are somewhat sparse—if you don’t count pizza or hot dogs. But bar crawlers will soon have another dining option, as Nickies Bar introduces a new chef, new menu and extended hours. 

On September 9th, Nickies (a Hoodline advertiser) will debut completely revamped brunch and dinner menus, new brunch cocktails and, for the first time ever, dessert. The sports bar will also serve dinner an hour later (until 11pm) and brunch an hour earlier (beginning at 9am).  

This is the first time Nickies has changed its menu in three years. According to manager Sean O’Donovan, an outdated and inefficient kitchen was causing inconsistencies in dinner and brunch service. When the bar's former chef moved on, Nickies decided it was time to start fresh: new chef, new menu and new digs. 

The new menu will have all of the same sports-bar staples—mac and cheese, wings, Caesar salad—“but with a twist”, said new chef Anthony Rudkin. For example, the buffalo wings are now “Guinness-braised smoked wings”, and the Caesar is now Mediterranean-inspired, with crunchy chickpeas instead of croutons. Overall, the menu will focus more on mains like steak or fish than bar stacks. 

A Missouri native, Rudkin has worked in restaurants since he was 15; most recently, he's cooked at Steins Beer Garden in Mountain View and the Cheesecake Factory in Corte Madera. Rudkin describes the new menu as “Missouri comfort food” and is most excited about the house-ground burger and the dessert: a warm Guinness brownie with Bailey’s ice cream and Jameson toffee sauce.

To prepare for the overhaul, the bar closed its kitchen for a remodel on Monday. It will remain closed until the new menu's debut on September 9th.

Thanks to tipster Garrett C. for the tip.