Nicholas' Restaurant

27 ratings since posting on Wednesday, June 1, 2005
Nicholas' Restaurant
in Portland
318 SE Grand Ave
(503) 235-5123
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(submitted by Miranda )

Overall Rating

*****

based on 27 ratings
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*****
Yumtasty
We try to go there on weekdays after 2pm when business is slower for them. Or I especially like calling in a take out order at busy times & walking through the lines to gather my food & prance out with it. I usually order the lentil soup & a veg mezza for me & my Man to share & we always have leftovers for under $20. Just remember to bring cash! :) - Musiikkielämä , posted 06/29/08
*****
Worth enduring the wait and crowd
I passed by Nicholas' for years because of the long lines and was intrigued by the smells wafting from therein. Finally waited and went inside one day and was rewarded with one of the most amazing eating experiences in my life!
I recommend either vegetarian or meat mezza platter but you must really try the labneh sandwich. Amazing!
Some of the dishes do have an overload of spices for Lebanese food, yet you can get used to it (I usually eat at all the Jerusalem restaurants in Vancouver- which is a lot more down-home Arabic/Mediterranean fare) and their hummus is really tart - yet good - compared to most.
Some of the waitstaff can be a bit sniffy, but I don't need to be treated like royalty if the food is sufficient. - rich , posted 06/29/08
*****
Holy pita!
This place is the best for dolmathes and the hummus is top notch, too. They aren't stingy with the the pita either. Some of the best background TV. - Jerry , posted 03/25/07
*****
Tzatziki that changed my life!
I was introduced to Nicholas' by an ex who insisted that it was the best meal in the city and on that particular point, he did not disappoint. The food is incredible. The Tzatziki is phenomenal (I didn't know what I was eating for the first few visits because it was so amazing it failed to resemble any of the other Tzatzikis I had known in former culinary lives). The prices are low and the service is fast, if brusque. Try the mezza platters (they come in omnivore, vegetarian, and vegan) for a 101 on Lebanese goodness and don't expect to walk away hungry (lots of food, it usually makes two meals). It's a hole in the wall with a well-earned legendary reputation.

It's true that they don't take plastic (so what, quit crying and visit the ATM already) or reservations (if you're going on a Friday or Saturday night, expect to wait to be seated, but they will serve you pretty quickly once you're in). However, despite these seemingly insurmountable hurdles, it will be one of the best meals you've ever had. Really. - Battlestar , posted 02/04/07
*****
delicousness.....
if you got a little like i do, its tough to eat here...pretty crammed with the high chair and all...
last time i had to take it to go cuz my son was yelling and throwing things...luckily, everyone thought it was cute. the food was even good when it was cold at home! - ~crisea~ , posted 02/04/07
****o
bring cash
Not bad, not bad -- but if you live off your debit card like I do, you'll go hungry. They take cash, and some dinosaur action called "checks" (huh, wuzzat??) so leave the plastic in your pocket if you've waited forever to get a seat. And yea, they have some surly waitstaff.
I heard that most of the Lebanese places in town are owned/run by members of the same family; that's why Ya Hala is good up at 78th & Stark, and the place at 34th & Belmont, too (tho the pita is a tad more legendary at Nicholas). But Nick's got good a good rep, and a near-in eastside location, so the line is always out the door. - Jenny , posted 12/19/06
*****
Sooo Goood
There never needs to be ANY other restaurant other than Nicholas in existance.
You will never need to eat anywhere else AGAIN.

That is how good this place is. I love it!!!
We drive from the coast just to get our Meza plate fix. - Brandy , posted 11/17/06
*****
Best food for the price
probably the best food ive ever had in this price bracket. Ill wait on the list for pretty much as long as I have to to get my fallafel fix. - Jbot , posted 10/01/06
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*****
f**kin' right, it's good
that sums it up. - Unsubscribed , posted 09/22/06
*****
yum
Very good and cheap eats! - Kristina Kinney , posted 09/18/06
*****
great food, cute place
Nicholas' is small, family-run, and very vegetarian-friendly like most lebanese places. The pita is my favorite part; it's served steaming on a pizza-sized platform that's slightly smaller than the giant pita. Everyone at the table rips off of the same enormous piece of bread. It's delicious. The lentil soup's good, as is the mezza platter and the baklava. Definitely recommended. - holden , posted 06/27/06
****o
Yum!
My honey brought me to Nicholas' so I could enjoy serious Middle Eastern food. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. I was really impressed when he told me how the owner had brought his family's brick oven over from Lebanon so the food could be just like it was back home. I'm going back. :) - Polly , posted 05/29/06
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offline 260
****o
Great food
Service not the best, but quality of food and price make up for it! - I , posted 03/20/06
***oo
Mr. Sassypants!
Our waiters was the absolute worst. On one ocassion my roommate, who was feeling sick at the time, drank some of my water by accident and insisted on getting me a new water. My roommate said when he came by "I am sorry I am sick and I drank his water by accident can we please have another" which was followed by sassypants rolling his eyes, throwing the water in the sink, and grabbing a pre-made glass of water. Now most of you must be thinking hey grabbing a glass of water 3 feet away from you is really easy, BUT IT ISN'T at least when sassypants has to get it! ITS HARD! He also hates getting to go cups for coffee which causes his eyes to roll like linda blair! He does like however, doing pullups on the doorway above the hallway to the restroom to get his duffle bag as he slammed the chair down, which he stood on before doing his shameless display of his muscles, of which I am sure no one really cared about. It was a sour experience hopefully I won't have mr. sassypants. BEWARE OF THE TRIBAL ARMBAND TATTOO! - Robot Robot Robot... , posted 03/20/06
*****
fucking mmmm
little lebanese place at 318 SE Grand Ave.. it's all about the taste with this place, truly one of the best restaurants in portland - Brock , posted 03/18/06
*****
Yummmm!
I really dig Nicholas'. I have been eating there for over ten years, morphing from vegan to full on meat eater, and I have never been dissapointed. I only visit P-town now, and nearly always go to Nicholas'. - Aura , posted 02/27/06
*****
Can't wait to return.
I remember having lunch here and it was excellent. Soon I will bring the posse. - Serpent Raver , posted 02/13/06
*****
yummy
manakish!! - Emilie , posted 01/30/06
***oo
just go to Ya Hala
I had a hankering for lebanese food so I tried this place out (twice!) but it was just disapointing. Ya Hala on Stark up by 82nd is infinitly better. - Lauren , posted 12/27/05
*****
Love it!
Small, family run, excellent quality. - , posted 08/18/05
*****
PDX vs. NYC: PDX WINS
Nicholas' was my first PDX restaurant experience. I knew after eating there that yes indeed, to Portland I must move! Well, *maybe* not exactly at that moment, but I was amazed that Portland had food that measured up to NYC! - yma , posted 08/09/05
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*****
Fantastic
The hummus is excellent their vegetarian OR vegan mezza platters are incredible. You won't be sorry if you have leftovers to take home for a midnight snack or breakfast. - Unsubscribed , posted 07/07/05
*****
Portland's only Lebanese!
I have stopped trying other places in town. Fresh baked pita, huge portions,cheap prices. So popular there is often a line but the food and service is so quick it is still worth it. - Brooklyn , posted 06/28/05
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*****
Best
Get the veggie Mezza plate and the meat Mezza plate perfect meal for two. - Unsubscribed , posted 06/16/05
****o
Worth the Wait, Love the Leftovers
Nicholas' is an amazing mediterranean/lebanese place. It is pretty small, so you often have to wait, but well worth it. I recommend the Mezza Platters, they are huge and cheap. Vegan options available. Huge pita bread is the best. - Miranda , posted 06/01/05

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