Tried Nicholas Restaurant in Portland and went with the gyro and babaganoush. The gyro was really solid--tender, well-seasoned meat with that classic savory flavor, wrapped up with fresh toppings and sauce that tied it all together. The babaganoush was smooth, smoky, and super flavorful without being too heavy. Portions were generous and everything came out fresh. It's one of those spots that feels consistently reliable when you're craving good Mediterranean food done right. Definitely a place I'd go back to for a casual but satisfying meal. read more

While visiting family in Portland, we came here for dinner and I can immediately see why my family love it! Nicholas Restaurant has a really cute, welcoming vibe, with outdoor tables and plenty of seating inside. They have a great selection of drinks, and I decided to try the house Arnold Palmer--made with fresh lemonade and cinnamon mint iced tea. It was unique and really refreshing. We started with a few appetizers for the table: hummus, tzatziki, and falafel balls. Everything came out quickly and was a hit. The hummus tasted incredibly fresh, the tzatziki had a nice tangy kick, and the falafel balls were perfectly crispy and flavorful. For my main, I ordered the chicken breast kabob plate, which came with two skewers, rice, tzatziki, and garlic sauce. The chicken was incredibly tender and cooked just right. Overall, a great meal with fresh, flavorful food and a relaxed atmosphere. I can definitely see why my family keeps coming back--this spot is well worth a visit. read more

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The complimentary fresh housemade pita bread was very tasty! It is soft, fluffy and a little crunchy on the bottom. It's great for dipping into any of the other mezzas. Our server suggested we try the homemade spicy red sauce for an extra kick to our dishes. I ordered the vegetarian mezza bowl and it was so filling. Plenty of food to go around. We also enjoyed the lentil soup. There was no wait to be seated on a Monday afternoon. Our food came out pretty quick. We sat in a quiet booth area. There were nice decorations and photographs of the owner and his family. read more

Nicholas Restaurant - Pita Bread - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Seated fairly quickly for a group of 4 walking in, parking might be a challenge, we were lucky and got a spot that is reserved for the restaurant otherwise you'll have to pay in the parking lot or park on the street. Huge portions which is expected for the price. Excellent food, we literally enjoyed everything!! The pita is HUGE , the waiter was kind to let us know because we were going to order two. read more

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This restaurant is so gorgeous and when you walk up has a full parking lot, along with plenty of street parking. There is also a nice bonfire on the outside with chairs should you find yourself waiting a bit for your reservation or want to enjoy your leftovers on your way out. It is busy! It is a popular spot, this was very clear as we walked in as noticed how many tables were taken. We also noticed how many awards this place has won over the years that stretches beyond 2020! This food came quickly and the service was very kind. I loved how many gluten free GF options there were to pick from and the ability to ask questions without fear to our server. It is very tasty and I cannot wait to go back and try even more food from this place. This was the first time i have found real pita bread that can actually be pulled apart and feels like actual bread. Most of the time it's substituted with pita chips and that always makes me a little sad. But this place kept the smile on my face. Every bit of it was amazing. Try something new and expand your pallet. I tried the arak mojito and thought it wasn't the drink for me, due to the intense black licorice flavor.... I'm so happy I gave it a try then switched to a white wine. My husband loved the gluten free beer the space also offers! 10/10 experience. read more

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Yes! Yes! Yes! Here visiting a friend who immediately pointed to this place when we mentioned Mediterranean food. Such a good choice!! Parked on the street but there is some parking available for free in the lot or paid adjacent to the restaurant. Lots of seating from couples to large groups on two levels. Service is good and came back with answers on the things we had questions. Everything was so good. The only thing we did t care for was the kale salad on the shawarma plate lol. Not a kale fan tbh. Chicken shawarma was delicious and came with tahini sauce. Garlic sauce is crazy strong but good Chicken kabob pizza was exceptional. Loved the caramelized onions. The fresh baked pita was hard to say no to, so we didn't. We ate most of it with hummus. The falafel were tasty but a tad soft but that's a preference thing. The Turkish coffee was a Brazilian blend with cardamom, go figure... $81 out the door for three people and appetizers and coffee. No drinks and we brought tons of food home for leftovers. This is a must repeat!! read more

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The food was fantastic, would recommend to anyone wanting great Mediterranean food. Great quality. read more

Food was incredible, from the big pita on the counter with wood fired bubbles and the tabletop olive oil and herbs. The service was just fine, friendly and straightforward. We went at 7'ish and we were told (numerous times) that the kitchen closed at 8, but we were sure to order all our yummy stuff with plenty of time to spare. Super kid friendly, with a kids menu that was delicious (watermelon, veggies, rice & chicken or pizza as the entree). Drinks were awesome; a mango lassi that was smoothie-esque and a strawberry lemonade that our daughter loved. The dipping Mezze was a hit- the baba G has massive smoky flavor and the bell pepper hummus was sweet and had great depth of flavor. I'd go back just for that! Lentil soup- delicious; not a yellow smush! Totally had herbs and actual lentils, I'm sure my protein goals were smashed (joking, but maybe not?). I missed dessert cause I was too full and now that's a reason to go back! Ambiance- clean, super pretty, spacious booths, upstairs looked like a bigger meeting space. read more

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Nicholas might be my favorite restaurant! I get the Arnabeet (Fried Cauliflower) Lebanese style fried cauliflower topped with tahini. The tahini is SOOO Delicious I Love to treat myself to the peanut butter chocolate baklava! I've also had many other things. Also I'd like to highlight that they use biodegradable to go boxes and world centric utensils, which is compostable! Whatever you get, you won't be disappointed. Thank you again to all who work at Nicholas Restaurant! read more

Absolutely INCREDIBLE food! The restaurant is set up beautifully; we had a nice seat in a booth. They serve a delicious bread with oil/herbs before taking your order, and have a great and simple kids menu that includes a fun s'more treat. I can't rave enough about the food. Everything was so tasty and great quality! Great service as well. Definitely a new favorite, and will be our go-to Mediterranean restaurant. read more

Nicholas Restaurant - Chicken Breast Kabob Plate, Chicken Thigh Kabob Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Upon arriving we were served two glasses of water by the host !! A+ then he brought us oil to dip our bread in. Shortly after the server came to take our drink order. He brought out warm bread then we ordered the chicken shawarma and dipping Mezza, hot sauce and a side salad. It all came out very soon but we were able to take out this me eating, the chicken shawarma was so incredible it was made by angels. The baba ghanoush & Lebnah were probably the best I've ever had! The salad was served with a tangy yogurt dressing and the kale carrot salad serviced with the shawarma was unbelievable !! You'll love it here !! read more

Our favorite restaurant for Greek food! Perfect for lunch or dinner. The mezza plates and kabob bowls are our favorites. Both have great portions and tasty dips. The complimentary pita bread is a nice touch. read more

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Great place for lunch! Food was delicious and service was good. Liked that they had a few dedicated parking spots in the lot (so we didn't have to pay for parking). read more

Nicholas Restaurant - Vegetarian Mezza Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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The food was very well seasoned, the best Mediterranean food I've ever had! Granted it was the first time I've tried it but they set the bar high! The server was also very nice! 10/10 would come again! read more

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Have no idea what just happened here tonight. ---First tip: bring a jacket if you want to sit inside. It was cold in July. ---Second tip: Don't sit outside because their staffing isn't sufficient to care for everyone out there. The food was good when we could actually get it brought to the table. They didn't bring the food out to each of us at the same time, so do you wait? No mention of what to expect... The free bread and olive oil dip was fantastic. We asked for another when the entrees were delivered. Then asked for it again because none arrived. Then asked for it again ... Fourth time it got there but everyone was already done with their entrees. Lamb kabob is very flavorful. Big chunks of lamb with red peppers & onions. Big cup of rice was done just right... And the side salad that comes out with the entree is a nice bonus. Another at our table ordered the veggie mezza, a wide variety of delicious items such as hummus, tabouli, falafel and more. Five stars on the food. Plenty to eat... The service is terrible. So many staff members but none of them got it right. It is like watching ants run around the food in circles without finding it. An SNL skit that wasn't funny. Most of the people outside were running out of drinks constantly. One table got up to get refills at what looks like a water station only to find it empty. Another table sat patiently for almost 25 minutes before a waiter came up and asked if orders had been taken. When one of us complained to another staff that we had not seen our waiter in forever the answer was "he is covering three floors and I'll try to find him". The response was very snippy. I get that they are busy but they were empty when we arrived and just got left in the dust. She obviously didn't find our waiter because it was another 15 before he arrived with nothing we had asked for saying "how is everything?". We about lost it at that point One of us went in to complain. Still nothing! The spinach pie came out approximately 40 minutes after the entree (we asked about it three times). We were surprised that plate wasn't comped. Waters were finally refilled but immediately went empty and were never filled again. This place is a disaster with their service. The bread requested an hour earlier finally arrived but everyone was already finished with their meals. The check took another ten minutes to arrive. We were there for an hour and 50 minutes. There are so many Mediterranean places in Portland. This used to be one of my families favorites but it's turned into a train wreck. This was on a Monday, so no idea how any one survives a busy day like Friday or Saturday. read more

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I enjoyed my visit here! I ate outside - service was good. Food was very quick and tasty. My friend ordered the chicken skewers, I had a bit and it was delicious. We also order a Lamb Gyro, Tabouli, Spinach Pie, Falafel, and a Hummus Plate - Nothing disappointed! I would return! read more

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DECENT ATMOSPHERE AND STAFF, FOOD IS MERELY "OKAY" (AT BEST) Kinda baffled as to how this place gets as much love as it does. The food is just alright. Certainly not great; merely alright. The lamb I had was incredibly chewy. Several bites made it back on my plate as I got tired of chewing gristle. For the price, that should simply not be the case. A good lamb dish would be prepared with the gristle cut away. But there I sat: chewing, chewing, chewing on lamb bubblegum until I caught on to what was in my mouth and spit it out. Overall, a terribly boring eating experience. You could get the same or far better at a food cart for 25% less. read more

Got a good dinner at this local favorite that has a few locations, including this one in Buckman. It has similar charm to other other locations. Nicholas Restaurant is proudly family owned and operated. Has the classics. There's meaty as well as vegetarian options such as falafel. A few years ago they opened their newest location. It's got a pretty similar menu. There's indoor seating and the heated patio. Got some of the healthier options on the menu. There's a pretty good variety. It's about $9 for the Falafel Balls. These are made with onions, parsley, and spices. Crispy on the outside while chewy on the inside. It's about $9 for the Tabbouli Salad. This is seasoned with lemon, mint, olive oil, onions, parsley, quinoa, and tomatoes. Had a pretty healthy meal. It's the newest location of this local restaurant located on SE Madison at 11th Avenue in an area that's not the prettiest but pretty safe. There's plenty to get for both meat eaters and vegetarians. read more

Nicholas Restaurant - Falafel Balls And Tabbouli Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

we went for lunch and really had a delicious meal, we were seated quickly in a clean restaurant with good ambience. the pita style bread they serve is a definite stand ou, freshly made and great for dipping in everything! our lunches were very generous portions and neither of us could finish them! we will definitely go back read more

The food is fresh and hot . Service was really good. Ambiance was clean and fast paced. The service was great and the people were friendly.

The food here is fantastic! They bring out a large, warm pita served on a pizza tray with a side of herbed olive oil dipping sauce -- absolutely delicious. The skewers of meat with salad and rice were excellent, and of the salmon, lamb, and chicken we tried, all were good but the chicken was the standout. Service was excellent as well -- they offered more bread and refilled drinks promptly, though we were so stuffed that takeout containers were all we could accept of their generous hospitality. read more

Been there, will come back. Nicholas' serves a decent generic Mediterranean meal. Always nice portions, acceptable flavors. While nothing stands out, the dearth of choices for this cuisine in Portland brings us back here a few times a year. read more

Nicholas Restaurant - Lamb gyro wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I had lunch at Nicholas Restaurant with a group of friends. We have a year end tradition of meeting at a local coffee shop in the morning. Then a group of us that want lunch will break off and pick a restaurant that has options for everyone in the group. I'm happy to say that Nicholas fits that bill! The restaurant was packed, but we were able to get a table that fit the 5 of us fairly quickly. They also brought out a large pita bread with a dipping oil sauce. I try not to do oil, so not sure how that was. The waitress heard me mention that I don't do oil, and said that hummus could be served without the added oil, glad she mentioned that. We were able to order as soon as we were ready. The menu clearly had labels that showed vegan and gluten free options. I ordered the Vegetarian Mezza Bowl..and it was delicious! It was both vegan and gluten free. My friend who is vegetarian, but not vegan ordered the same thing. A couple of friends that eat meat got bowls with some type of meat, another friend got lentil soup with something on the side, not sure what. All the portions were generous, and everyone exclaimed that it was delicious! Almost everyone needed containers to go, because of the portion sizes. I loved the decor of the restaurant, it had an authentic Mediterranean feel to the restaurant. Service was very attentive, we did separate checks and there were no issues with that There is a small parking lot for this location, it's free as long as the spot has a sign that says Nicholas Restaurant. But I parked on the side street with no issues. I would definitely love to return in the future. read more

Nicholas Restaurant - Nicholas Restaurant: Vegetarian Mezza Bowl. - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I do take out from this place and am never disappointed! The chicken kabob is tender and yummy! The gyro is slobber good! Their sauces are spot on! Check it out if you get a chance. Portland staple. :) read more

Amazing food and salad. Definitely worth to visit this place. Highly recommend for dinner. read more

Nicholas Restaurant - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Thoroughly enjoyed my dinner here! The food was great as was the service. We were seated immediately and checked on often as we tried to decide what we wanted to order. Once we did order, food came out quickly. We ordered quite the spread starting with cocktails and the Vegetarian Mezza, then the Lebanese Sesame Cheese Pizza, Beef Kafta Kabob Plate, and finishing with both the traditional Baklava and Peanut Butter Chocolate Baklava. Just about everything was a winner, and the portions were huge! We shared everything amongst 3 of us and walked out with plenty of leftovers. Favorites were of course that complimentary massive pita to start, the Beef Kafta Kabob Plate and the toum that was served with it - it was some of the best toum I've ever had, and both baklavas. The Lebanese Sesame Cheese Pizza was also really good, though I think I'd order one with more toppings next time. We also all enjoyed the Mezza, it just didn't shine quite as brightly as some of the other dishes. read more

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This wasn't the best return experience I've had. Granted, it's been a really long time since I've been to Nicholas Restaurant, and it wasn't even at this location. My wife and I treated my brother and his wife here for lunch. It wasn't too crowded despite it being lunchtime on a Saturday afternoon. The wait staff was friendly and we were seated right away. Everyone was fairly satisfied with their orders. I mean, it was the first visit for everyone else at our table. Now, I am not a picky eater, and I really enjoyed most of what we had. But I was sorely disappointed to find that the meat mezza that I ordered was severely lacking in actual meat. Honestly, I think they forgot to bring out my lamb. Also, it took forever for my order to come out. We ate family style, so I wasn't left to watch everyone else eat while I waited for my food to come out. Although, when my SIL offered me a taste of some of her lamb I politely declined because I was expecting my order to come out any second. I normally go to a place 2-3 times before deciding whether or not I'd recommend it. But I can't bring myself to return. It's too much effort for me when I know of several other similar restaurants I can go to. I guess I can say this: If you're curious, they're worth a look. But I, for one, will not be making any extra effort to head this way again. 3 stars because I was the only (visibly) disappointed person at my table of 4. I would like to add that we were pressed for time and everyone else seemed to be having a good experience. If it were just me and my wife, I might've flagged someone down to see what was up with my order. read more

Amazing food, delicious as always u have been coming to Nicholas for years. The new location is big, spacious and nice ambiance. read more

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We've been coming here for years, but this last time, something was off. We always order lamb, but it was dry and tough. We brought a big group of friends and bragged about the amazing food/experience, but we were saddened that the quality & service just wasn't there. read more

I had a great experience here. The food and service were both really great. I enjoyed eating hummus and pita, which was delicious. I totally recommend coming here. read more

When one thinks of Mediterranean food in Portland, Nicholas makes the top of the list. Huge portions and delicious food, Nicholas is an absolute gem. They are known for their huge pita bread (that is free!! I mean in this economy?!) that is most pillow-ly, soft, cloud-like pita bread you will ever have. I think about this pita bread every time I have store-bought ones that make the Greek gods cry. We got the Arabian Breeze Mezza, Lamb Kabob, and Beef Kofta Kabob. The plates were huge! Loaded with food. It was more than enough food for two people. We took plenty of leftovers home. Everything was perfectly seasoned, without overpowering spices. All the food layered together sang heavenly choruses with my tastebuds. Service was fast and attentive. It was a full house on a Friday evening, but food came out in a timely manner and we did not feel rushed. Nicholas truly does not disappoint and this is the place for Mediterranean food in Portland! read more

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We've been here numerous times and loved the food so much! Unfortunately the last time we went was NYE for lunch and service was slightly lacking. We asked to be seated in a booth (as we usually do) but were told that's for larger parties only. The server said it makes his job easier. When I took a seat at a table, he questioned and asked if I really want to sit there (?). They took 15 min to take our order and the food wasn't as hot as expected. Pita didn't arrive until just before our food. Service was overall sub-par. I'll chalk it up to it being NYE and not write off this place completely. The food is usually really tasty and packed with flavor. Their garlic toum is one of my favorites. The chicken kabobs is something we've ordered multiple times and never disappoints. Plus complimentary bread (which you can ask for more of!) and dipping oil is a plus. There's a small parking lot and usually big enough so that we don't have trouble. read more

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The food is always so flavorful and mouthwatering delicious. I was very happy with my order. The quality and quantity are well worth the price point. The atmosphere is inviting and warm. I love the smells, as they creep from the kitchen. Good amount of seating and the staff are very attentive. Make sure to try their desserts and the mango drink... so good! I always bring my friends and family from out of town to this location! Cheers! read more

Nicholas Restaurant - Beef Kafta Kabob Plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

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Nicholas Restaurant is an amazing experience. I am a fan of Middle Eastern cuisine. I think they do wonderful vegan cuisine. I spent six weeks backpacking around the Middle East and have always been a fan of this cuisine. Nicholas Restaurant clearly marks what is vegan for their vegan options. On arrival you get a giant piece of pita bread that has been freshly made and warm it comes with dipping EVOO aka extra virgin olive oil. There were two vegan bowls on offer for lunchtime either the vegetarian mezzo bowl or the roasted veggie bowl. I went with the former that includes hummus, falafel, tahini, tabouli, and majadra. All of it was delicious. The service here was very friendly. They were busy with good reason. They also have numerous awards from the Willamette Weekly and for good reason. Worth checking out! read more

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We chose to eat outside so that we can have our dog with us. I got a look inside which was nicely decorated, colorful and inviting. We ordered the muhumra (red pepper and walnut spread) and minced lamb with hummus. The muhumra was savory and rich from the walnuts and the drizzled oil on top. The hummus had pine nuts sprinkled on top with some kind of fresh green sauce on the minced lamb which also was savory and filling. I wanted more of the green sauce to balance out the dish more. The complimentary, freshly baked bread made our meal complete and I enjoyed our meal. Next time I will sit inside and enjoy the ambiance with ac :) read more

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Food was excellent! The falafel, tabouli and flatbread was killer!!!! Definitely a great find. Service was friendly and fast. Couldn't have been better. read more

Whoops! The food was so good and I forgot to take pictures. We ordered salmon kebab and Arabian plate. Especially I loved cauliflower and tzatziki. read more

Nicholas Restaurant - Oh crap! The food were so good and forgot to take pictures. - Mediterranean Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Ordered for take out because I was craving baba ghanoush, and this place got good reviews. We ordered baba ghanoush, extra pita, and the chicken shawarma plate. The food here was really flavorful, and the baba ghanoush definitely hit the spot! I really miss true chicken shawarma from home where they literally carve it off of the rotisserie, but that doesn't seem to be something that is found in the area. The pita here is massive, perfect for dipping! The baba ghanoush had a good smoky flavor, so I would definitely come back for it I've never had Jasmine rice at a Lebanese place so I thought that was interesting. The food held up really well even though the drive home was quite long due to a cargo train passing. There is a parking lot in front, but only a few are free for Nicholas. There is street parking, which is great! I am interested in coming back and trying out the other menu offerings! read more

When I want great Mediterranean food, we will make the drive to Nicholas. The service is great, the decor is gorgeous but definitely needs temperature adjustment inside the restaurant; it's always cold. We ordered baba ghanoush, chicken kabob, beef kafta and kid's pizza. Food never disappoints. read more

I try to snag food here every couple of years when I visit PDX (I used to live here). This place remains the gold standard of Portland Lebanese food. Delicious. read more