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At Nicol’s at the Pier Restaurant, you’ll show up looking for a tasty dinner. But you’ll be doubly impressed by the view.
I showed up for my first meal at Nicol’s on the Pier on a bright and sunny day, when all of the green around Table Rock Lake was bursting and full. It was the kind of evening when you want to enjoy the view, and we got a chance to do that at The Pier.
The restaurant, which is located at Kimberling Inn Resort and Conference Center, looks out over the lake and all the scenic goodies that surround it. Although the restaurant’s décor could use some updating, the menu (and that’s what you go there for, right?) is packed with great options. As a matter of fact, Chef Bob Nicol and the restaurant recently won a 2010 Golden Fork Award from Gourmet Diners Society of North America.
I ordered the halibut entrée. The fish was topped with a delicious, crusty bread-crumb mixture and served with a side of pineapple salsa. Add the crunch of the bread crumbs, and I was in texture heaven. My dinner came with a baked potato (with all the fixings) and a side of fresh green beans. The portion was bigger than expected.
My dinner date opted for the shrimp milanaise entrée. The dish had six lightly breaded and fried shrimp topped with a rich hollandaise sauce, all served over rice pilaf. It also came with a side of green beans. The shrimp were delicious, fried just enough to add some crunch but not so heavily that they were greasy.
We went the seafood route on that sunny day. But we had a hard time veering away from the steaks. The restaurant is also known for its prime rib. A man at a table near ours ordered the prime rib sandwich, which had a chunk of prime rib so enormous that it hung off the edges of the giant roll. I think I know what I’ll be trying on my next visit: A prime rib sandwich with a side of great view.
Plan It!
Nicol’s at the Pier
Where: Located in Kimberling Inn, 11863 Hwy. 13, Kimberling City, 417-739-4311
Hours: Open for dinner Thursday to Saturday.
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