Nicholas' Restaurant Reviews

Went here on a whim to try something new. In town for a couple of days and was seating right away. Amazing since the seating area is really tight. Waitress was perfect at offering suggestions on what to have Mezza meat and it gave us a sample of many things. All were very tasty and liked them all. The table next to me did have the kababs over rice which will be the next items I order when I'm in town.

There are some specialty restaurants, some of them particularly ethnic, that have such superb kitchens that any foodie would be in heaven. Nicholas on Grand Ave is one of them. The ambience is unimportant... noisy and crowded... but the food is divine! The general category is Middle Eastern. Every table gets its own huge pita made to order, and the delights multiply from there!

Amazing food, quick service, comfortable atmosphere. We loved everything about this place. We had Stephen's chicken ($14) and the lamb platter ($18), and both were amazing! Two adults can certainly split one meal.

I went here recently with coworkers and we really liked our food. We all got bowls. My coworkers got the lamb shwarma bowl and I got the chicken shwarma. The consensus was the rice, tzatsiki and meat were all really good, but none of us cared for the Kale salad that went with it. If we get a chance to go back I will request to have the salad left off. Overall this place is pretty small and parking can be difficult, so plan accordingly. The prices are also pretty high at this place for most items, though the lunch bowls were reasonably priced. One of my coworkers found a coupon on yelp for a free appetizer so definitely look into that. We got the hummus and it was delicious. I would come back for lunch for sure.

We wondered in here around 4:30 pm on a Thursday and it was packed! Great sign... This was the best Mediterranean food I've ever had! I had the lamb kabob platter and my husband had the beef shawarma. Both were better than amazing. Highly recommend!

Nicholas has moved from it's long-time location on SE Grand Ave to their new location on the corner of SE Madison and 11th. This new location is much better, with easier parking, a nice outdoor eating area, and very pleasant indoor dining room. The menu has not changed, and in two visits in May, 2021, we had great lunches. In my opinion, Nicholas has the best mid-range Lebanese food in Portland. We had both vegan and vegetarian mezas, chicken kababs, and and a gyro plate. All very good.

There are good vegetarian options at Nicholas, which has become one of my favorite restaurants anytime that we visit Portland. The food is excellent and is a great value, with plentiful food given for the amount of money. I especially enjoy the vegan mezza. This is a great place to spend time with friends and enjoy a large pita together!

We come here atleast once a month for the wonderful pita bread that is huge and puffy and hot. A little too cozy in seating, but it is an improvement from years ago when we could be eating get off our neighbors plate without realizing :) During my last visit service has vastly improved but alas the bread is not what it used to be. What used to melt in our mouth is now hard, rough and chewy. I hope they remedy it soon and bring it back to what it used to be.

Our family visited Nicholas for lunch and the small dining room was crowded and we had to wait a while to get in. Soon after we were seated, they brought a very good flat bread to the table to share. The atmosphere was clean and simple, but quite noisy. I ordered a lamb kabob bowl which came with rice and veggies. The chunks of lamb were nicely prepared and everything seemed fresh. The group also shared some falafels, spanikopita, and tahziki which all seemed to enjoy.

The food is great, especially the fresh made pita that is the size of a large pizza! The location I went to is small and always busy, so I would never go there with any kind of group. If there is just 2 of you, getting a table is easy. But any more than that, expect to wait. The meals are huge, so order with the idea of sharing or taking home leftovers. Also, they now serve beer.

We stopped by Nicholas as it got good reviews and was nearby the after dinner drink places we were hitting. We put our name in and they said they would text us. They sent us a link that showed our place in the waitlist and we could keep track of the wait. Had not seen that before. We were able to be out front when our table was ready. We sat in a very tiny place right by the door. The restaurant is right on Grand. We started witha huge large pizza sized pita bread for the table of 4 of us. Our server did a great job helping us with the menu. We opted for beef shwarma, a chicken and beef pita sandwiches and a chicken platter. Everyone at the table was very impressed with the food. My beef shwarma was a bit on the spicy side, but was delicious. We each also had delicious hummas which was good with the entrees and the pita bread. We very much enjoyed our meal here and will definitely be back.

I've been eating Lebanese/Middle Eastern food for 40 years and I think this is the best I've ever had. Baba ghanouj was outstanding! Beef kafta kabob was perfectly spiced. Best tabbouli salad...so hard to get the balance of ingredients right but they nailed it. Definitely should be on your list of places to try

We've been dining in or getting take-out from Nicholas for more than 20 years, starting when they were in their original location. The food remains delicious as ever, but the portion sizes are getting a little ridiculous. We recently ordered take-out including hummus and tabouli, the menu showed only one size available. We had to check, because the sizes were so small we thought we might have mistakenly received a side order. Each costs $9, and even accounting for inflation the amounts we received were tiny. I suppose the greens were added to the hummus in order to distract from the tiny amount of hummus provided. I just can't see the drive in to Nicholas as being worth it for these expensive-yet-tiny portions any longer.

Nicholas has a lot going for it. It's unique, memorable, and truly a departure from the typical cuisine. The problem is, the experience as a whole isn't quite as fulfilling as you'd hope for. It's not the type of restaurant you'd visit if you were only modestly hungry. Half of the regular size orders left me feeling bloated. Never did I believe I'd have reason to complain about portion size. Now I've seen it all. Way, way too much food. It's a first world complaint, granted, but I enjoy feeling satisfied; not on the brink of undoing my belt. Some of the wait staff were friendly and sociable. The waiter? Not so much. The service was fine, if not a bit chilly. Food arrived in a timely fashion, at a good temperature, and wasn't half bad. I was surprised at how uncomfortable the chairs were, and how restrictive the tables felt. If going, I'd recommend waiting for a booth (especially if you're tall and have long legs), since the tables here are unusually low and not so spacious. I couldn't help but be a little concerned that I enjoyed the appetizers more than anything I ate for the main course. Admittedly, the hummus and the pita bread were both some of the best I've had. When the main dishes arrived however, things started to decline a bit. There was too much marinade and condiments in the sandwiches, leaving the pitas soggy. So much so that they were dripping through their wrappings. The orders arrived on strange, small, triangular plate, half the size of a typical restaurant plate. It wasn't sufficient to contain the mess the sandwiches had become. The beef in most of the entrees seemed over seasoned and over tender. They also came with a strange form of chip/cracker/fry strings that were heavily toasted. Even after eating them all, I was unclear whether I enjoyed them or not. The specialty drinks, such as the Blended Peach Lassi were delicious. Overall, I'm glad I experienced their take on Lebanese cuisine here. Even still, it's not somewhere I'd revisit.

A mezza veggie platter, lamb kababs, a side of tzatziki sauce, and we went to town. Authentic Lebanese fare, in a somewhat small restaurant, delicious bread, and terrific mint infused lemonade to wash it down. It was a quick, and reasonable lunch that the 3 of us very much enjoyed. the service was somewhat scattered, but the food was the star of the show.

First and most important...don't let the appearance of this quaint restaurant turn you off because the food is OMG! With EVERY bite I took I exclaimed "this is the best __________ I've ever had!" that's how good EVERYTHING is!! From the moment the homemade pita arrived (see picture of how it comes all blown up and hot) I knew we were in for an amazing dining experience!! We both ordered the vegetarian mezza which included humus (the best I've EVER had), tahziki (the best I've EVER had), falafel (the best I've EVER had), tabouli salad (the best I've EVER had), roasted red pepper spinach cheese pie (the best I've EVER had), and their signature miniature manakish pie (this is made with a spice blend of oregano, thyme, dry mint, toasted sesame seeds and olive oil) - I'd never had that before so this was the BEST I EVER HAD!!). The food was SO GOOD and there was SO MUCH OF IT that I was afraid I wouldn't be able to finish. Be sure to come hungry. Like I said in the title, if I could only pick 1 restaurant in Portland to eat it would be HERE!

Came on a Monday afternoon after the lunch rush was over. But, I was still barely in time for their lunch specials. The menu has changed since I've even been to their Broadway restaurant. Delicious new bowls and wraps! Service was fast and friendly, food was delicious. Prices were not cheap anymore. (I think I've lost all sense of what's appropriate to charge for lunch!?!) Here's a helpful hint: if you are ordering a bowl to avoid eating bread, tell them not to bring the huge piece of bread to your table, because they will, and then you'll feel obliged to eat so me, ruining your diet!

Rainy night in Portland and a long wait. Once we were served it was wonderful. We thoroughly enjoyed an exquisite dinner..! All dishes were a treat to the taste ..!! Highly recommended..

I went with some friends here for lunch one day. I had a gyros bowl. They brought fresh baked pita style bread throughout our visit. The food was a good size and tasty for what we spent. They had very good iced coffee. We had a appetizer, which wasn't my thing. But the others in my party loved it. So it was probably more to me and my tastes, than the food served. The staff were highly attentive and friendly. I would go back again. Although we went right in and sat down. I am of the understanding that it can get very crowded with quite a wait. I would lob to go back again. Parking can also be a problem to find at times.

I stood for about five minutes before anyone welcomes or direct me to set on a table. Then,when I chose something in the menu, I have been told that these prices are not effective yet, which makes no sense. But I was hungry and ordered chicken kebab which was average. They served an Arabic fresh pita with Zaatar and green olive oil and it was good. Dont get me wrong, the waiter was so polite tho but may be the work wasn't so well-organized.

Eleven of us, both adults and children, enjoyed a recent dinner at Nicholas. We shared a number of very good dishes family-style (Arabian Breeze Mezza, Lamb Kabob Platter, and others), which satisfied vegetarians and meat-eaters, adults and children alike. (I believe that we ordered 2 dishes for every 3 people.) The non-stop arrival of enormous fresh-baked puffy pitas helped manage our hunger as we waited. Service was fine.

I had been to the Broadway Nicolas before, so I was excited to take my brother and his girlfriend to this restaurant. The experience this time wasn’t quite as good as I remember. The food was still great but the service was lacking. We got seated right away but it took a good 5 minutes plus for anyone to bring us water, and we had to ask for our waters to be refilled. Our waitress was friendly and gave us some good recommendations. The food was really good. We ordered the Arabian Breeze Mezza which was basically a sampler platter for their hummus varieties along with some other tasty things. It was a great dish to try a lot of things on the menu, and the amazing pita they give you it was a great choice. We also ordered the lamb shawarma plate. It was good, but the meat was a little tough. Overall the food was great, but the service was lacking.

This was our first lunch in Portland, close to our son's workplace and it was packed with people! Authentic Lebanese and Mediterranean food that was totally delicious! Each table has a stand for an enormous housemade warm flatbread that could fill you up before the meal comes! I had the vegetarian Mezze platter that had the traditional hummus, tsatsiki, a delicious rice pilaf and falafel. Richard had the Lamb Shawarma and Chris had the Gyros - all superb!

Visiting my daughter and had dinner at Nicholas's on Broadway. It's a bit of a hole in the wall place, but the food was terrific. Everything was tasty and fresh. We waited a bit to be seated and the service was good. I would go back again!

We ordered shwarma and gyro to go online on the drive back from an Around Portland Tour (located a few blocks away). We got the food to go because we were concerned about time - it was ready by the time we got there (and we were early) and we still had time so at the last minute we decided to stay. The inside dining atmosphere was absolutely delightful - we chose to eat outside to be covid conscientious. The staff accommodated our change of heart on the spot. The swarm and the gyro were fantastic - some kind of green sauce on the shwarma that we'd ever had before - delicious! Some lightly pickled veggies in the gyro made it different and familiar all at the same time. Very fun place!

The server said he was new, then said they had no sides of their amazing chopped chile concoction because the menu had changed and they weren't offering it anymore. Didn't even check. It's the first time in years that we've had to eat there without this "shatta." It turns out that they do have shatta for the pizza, so he might have asked if I could have a side of shatta with my meal, which came twenty (20) minutes before my dining companion's. Hint: Ask for a server who is part of the Lebanese family that runs this place. They really care about their customers.

To say I like Lebanese/Middle Eastern food would be an understatement...I love it. And the food at Nicholas on SE Grand did not disappoint. You are in love from the moment the server brings a large pizza size flat bread to munch on. For an appetizer we (3) ordered beef sambisik which were excellent. The main courses were lamb platter, lamb kebab, and chicken kebab. The kebabs came with 2 skewers filled with perfectly marinated and delicious meat and veggies. One skewer proved to be enough. The second skewer went home for a second meal. I felt comfortably full and restrained myself from having a piece of homemade Baklava, but looking back, I wish I had! I would rate Nicholas a 5 based on the food, but the wait was almost 30 minutes and the restaurant is fairly small and noisy. Our server was good, but she was stretched with the number of tables she was serving. All in all a wonderful meal and I will go back again.

Wow first time here I’m impressed this food is amazing, customer service and prices excellent I highly recommend this restaurant I got falafel plate and shawarma plate I’m full the pictures show the awesomeness

This place is amazing!!! Super vegan friendly ... and a dog friendly patio too :) The line to get into this place never stops!!! I sat on the patio and had no wait. I had the vegan Arabian Breeze Mezza .... soooo good! I especially loved the cauliflower!! I also loved the pita bread presentation; a huge puffy pita bread on it's own special stand :) Unforgettable food! Definitely going to re-visit!!

I stop here whenever in Portland. It is small and crowded and if you don't like it, that's great. That means I don't have to wait as long to get in. Worth the wait.

Just an excellent menu with fantastic meat and vegetable dishes, fresh baked Lebanese bread, so many choices. Try the mezza ( both meat and non-meat). Perfect for sampling a variety of dishes. Very inexpensive and worth every penny.

After being advised of a 5-10 minute wait, the young man at the door finally comes over to tell us, with 3 empty tables to tell us he thinks it might be another 5-10 minutes. Horrid service and a poor attitude from the staff.

There is no ambiance at Nicholas' Restaurant and you need to be willing to wait for a table since it is so popular. However, the wait is worth it. We ordered 3 different dishes and all of them were fabulous. The pita bread is huge (the size of a large pizza) and they are generous with it, if you want more. It is the best Middle Eastern restaurant I've been to outside of the Middle East.

Terrible experience. At least 8 empty tables but they would only seat us outside. The group that walked in after us were seated right away. Inside. I wanted to leave, but my husband had his heart set on lamb kebabs. We atyed. With the flies. And the busy street. And the dirt. The rice was and lamb were both overcooked and midway through our meal I discovered they failed to tell us chicken kebabs were only $12. Which I would have ordered. We enjoyed a lovely view of all the empty tables inside. Save your money. Go to the burrito place a couple doors down.

We had a wonderful dinner here on our last night in Portland. We loved the generous portions and huge pita bread to start. This place does Lebanese right! Highly recommend trying if you are in Portland area.

Edgar made the difference. This capable server made us feel at home and back to the extraordinary experience that Nicolas can be. We arrived early enough to get a table right away, and the restaurant filled up in five minutes, as happens every day. In spite of the crowds waiting to enjoy the food, they don't rush you. Wonderful, healthy, outstanding food!

We took advantage of the lunch menu and were not disappointed. It was truthfully only as authentic as you'd expect from a lunch-deal but still very flavorful, well cooked and also very very reasonably priced. I'd definitely be happy to return and check out their regular menu.

The food was absolutely AMAZING. Highly recommend the chicken thigh kebab plate. The saffron rice was hands down the best rice me or my fiance have ever had! We also ordered the arabian mezza and it was also really good but the kebab was NEXT level :) !

This small, but enchanting restaurant is a great place to go for a change of pace that tastes great. A couple can order two or three different items and not break your budget. Lebanese food is exotic if you are only use to the basics. Try it, it just might be your fav new taste.

Back to Nicholas after a while away - still got it. New menu has plenty for the vegetarian and a large variety for the carnivore. Can't find better Middle Eastern in the city.

Nicholas is a wonderful departure from standards Lebanese fare, owing to the cleverness of its chef, the quality of its ingredients and willingness to take a step beyond the predictable. We shared the Arabian Breeze mezze dinner which included (in addition to standard items) Tahini, Falafel, an exceptional Garlic fried cauliflower, Roasted eggplant, Caramelized onions with tahini and Hamara (roasted red pepper, tomato walnut paste). Both the caramelized onion and Hamara were out of the ordinary and exceptionally rich and flavorful. We added a few lamb kabobs (unmarinated and ordinary) and Baba Ghanoush to round out our meal. No review of this restaurant would be complete without a shout-out to the incredibly fluffy, hot pita rounds that are brought to the table in succession. The bread is fresh, light and addictive! We didn't explore the dessert menu, but each plate that I saw at nearby tables seemed to be a success with diners.

We were glad that our flight was bumped (to a later time) so that we could enjoy the outstanding Middle Eastern food at Nicholas' Restaurant on Grand Avenue. The atmosphere was terrific, with some upbeat (but not overbearing) Middle Eastern pop music. The bread, hummus, and chicken kabobs were amazing. Highly recommended.

My family and I wanted to try something different than our normal restaurant pick. We did a quick search using the tripadvisor search app. Wow this app is great! We found Nicholas about 8 miles away and decided based on review to give it a go. We drove by it the first time and easily parked and walked to it the 2nd time (it is right by Andy and Bax...a Portland fun favorite itself). This was a great place to eat and the food was what we were looking for. My daughter loved the large bread/pita that they brought out and set at our table. Food was delivered fast and was tasty. We will eat here again. I recommend this as a try for sure.

They've made some changes: two clean lavs, some sentimentality on the walls, moved the cash register, raised prices, new menus. The food is still excellent, and we were fortunate that Edgar was our server. When you place your order, request a carry out box, because the portions are very generous.

My wife and I visited our daughter and son-in-law in Portland, OR last October. The first night, we had a late dinner at a Lebanese restaurant- the Nicolas restaurant on Grand [apparently there are other locations]. The food was fabulous- everything seemed fresh- nice flavors- and the service was perfect. The giant, warm, pita bread they brought out was excellent- we tore off hunks and dipped them into the humus. We ordered three different Mezza (sampler) platters- meat, Vegan, and “Arabian Breeze” vegan. All were good to eat, interesting and it was fun to try all these different items and flavors. We had tons of leftovers which we took back to our daughter’s place and finished off the next day. The cost for the food, before tip, was $59.00 for the four of us. Talk about reasonable! My daughter said she liked how our server [Edgar] kept bringing out different parts of our meals while we were eating. I highly recommend Nicola’s- Grand- it was one of my most memorable meals. I hope you found this review helpful.

This place is really, really good. We ordered a ton of food and every item wowed us with the flavor profiles: Appetizers: * Baba Ghanoush * Veggie Stuffed Grape Leaves Mains: * Arabian Breeze Mezza * Shawarma Plate * Lamb Kabobs Drinks: * Turkish Cold Brew The baba ghanoush was perfect, textbook flavor and texture and delicious with their house made pita that we had to get a second serving of. The veggie dolmas were great, served with a tasty green tahini sauce and stuffed with nicely cooked chick peas and tomato for a sour pop. The dips in the Mezza were the standout of the plate, especially the muhamarra dip which again was incredibly good with the house-made warm pita. The falafel, lentil rice, and hummus were similarly enjoyable. Everything on the shawarma plate was delicious, the seasoning on the lamb was on point and the saffron rice was some of the fluffiest, stickiest rice I've had. The turkish cold brew was the literal icing on the cake, with fresh brewed coffee and a healthy helping of caramel, chocolate, and whipped cream it pulls double duty as a drink and dessert. If you can, get something with muhamarra and something with lamb and saffron rice, because those three are the stars of the show. We'll be coming back!

Second visit here! I have to come more. Wonderful food, cozy seating assignments, always busy, but expect good conversation, outstanding wait staff and delicious food. Large portions to share! The Baba Ghanoush is the best in town. I had a chicken kabob salad, yum yum, with 2 large skewers of meat and lots of fresh feta. Bring all your friends here!

We had a GREAT time at this restaurant. Staff was awesome and helpful and food was wonderful. I would highly recommend to anyone visiting and would definitely go again!

Came here for lunch and the service was fast and we were given a giant naan bread right upon arrival. Our waiter was very attentive and our food arrived swiftly and everything was very good. Ordered just starters and sides and ended up with enough to take home for dinner.

it was actually good, not great. the service was very good,the food was good but i`ve had better, good size portions and the bread! oh man the best one i've ever had. the lamb gyro is a good option and the mezza is a good option if you dont know what to order. they have vegetarian options too. nice place!

Super disappointed. Last time I got a gyros was at a food cart and it was terrible. So I thought I’d go to a real restaurant and get a real gyros. The menu said, “lamb gyros with feta and tzatziki”. Well, it had tomato, onion, lettuce, and pickle. Five thin slices of lamb for $15. Please!

Went on a supper busy night. Crowded but we were well taken care of. Food was phenomenal. Highly recommend the fried cauliflower and the salmon kabobs. Rice was to die for.

The food is excellent, beyond words! It was my first time trying levanese food and now it’s my favorite.

We eat here regularly, it is one of our favorite places in Portland. The food is great, and the service is always pretty good too. The grand location is a bit small, but the food is definitely worth it. We especially like the Arabian Breeze Mezza Platter, it is a meal in itself!

I went here on the recommendation of the staff at Miller Paint across the street. What a great place. It's small and cramped, but so what!? Staff was super friendly. I think I was served by the owner (she looked like the woman on the back of the menu). Very quickly after I sat down I was presented with a pita the size of a large pizza, so fresh it was still inflated from all the hot air inside it. I thought it was a mistake and that they'd given me someone else's Aloo Paratha. So tasty, especially with the dip they include. I ordered the falafel sandwich, which was good, especially with their hot sauce, which I think is made in-house. Can't wait to go back and try more.

Everything we've ever eaten here was fresh, tasty and a great value. Four of us ate for under $40 and could not finish our dinners. Can't beat this spot for value and fun!

This restaurant may look like a hole in the wall, but don't let that deter you. The food is excellent, best Middle Eastern fare I have had. The portions are generous, and the pita bread is served warm, at your table, with refills.

Had frequented the Gresham location a few years back but this was the first time we visited the original Grand location. Restaurant was very busy but the wait to be seated was not protracted. The restaurant itself, was small and intimate with plenty of diners on this Sunday evening. Good atmosphere albeit a bit hard to hear! As with all our previous visits, the food was front and center: Meat Mezza, Spinach Pie, Shawarma Beef Sandwich, Sambousik, Tambouli (salad and side) - all were good...and the Lebanese beer to wash it all down was surprisingly tasty! Will be back!

The 15 minute wait for a table in this bustling establishment was enjoyable and entertaining as we watched huge, freshly baked pita bread come out of the fiery, brick oven and get draped over small serving platters placed in the middle of customers' tables. It was fascinating. The Arabian breeze vegan Mezza is a sampler of some of the best Middle Eastern food we have EVER had! The mezza was easily split for two people, especially when coupled with pita. Everything was tasty and delicious, especially the roasted garlic eggplant.

Tried this for lunch. Sat outside. Started with hummus. It is a nice portion, no skimping here. Then had felafel while we waited for sambousik. We tried the feta sambousik. Terrific. Would make a meal out of all three types next time. Then we split the chicken and hummus plate and our son had a kebab sandwhich. A perfect lunch. Among the very best.

Never miss a chance to stop for a meal when traveling through the area. Meat mezza is our go to. Good service and great food

Baba Ganoush with a hint of spicy heaven. Get the meat mezza platter to taste a sample of the different items with the most amazing flavorful spices that explode your senses crazy! ?They also do Vegan mezza. Get a side of hummus too and eat. Enjoy with the warm homemade to order pita bread the size of a large pizza that they will keep on bringing you!

From the beginning with that giant Lebanese bread hot out of the oven, to the appetizers, to mixing up menu items with pleasure by the wait staff, to the fantastic skewers (lamb & chicken), everything was great. Not a fancy place, but the food was really perfect, tender, tasty, and quite obviously made from scratch. This place bookmarked for the next trip to Portland! Don't miss it. Also vegan options which I enjoy but just could not pass up the kabobs.

We wanted something different for a night out with friends. We had read good reviews and wanted to give it a try. The restaurant was full of people and quite noisy, but the food was amazing, large portions and the wait staff friendly! We will be back!

My friend and I decided to come to Portland for the weekend for a "Food & Beverage" Crawl. We ended up at Nicholas' on a recommendation and WOW are we happy. Before you can even settle in they bring out a fresh out of the fire fresh backed flat bread pita the size of a hub cap! The menu offers a wonderful variety of choices while not being overwhelming. Portions are generous and the wait staff is friendly. Best of all, the food is bursting with Lebonese flavor!

This place in a gem. Nothing fancy. But excellent food. You have to have the pita bread. It's gigantic. Funky atmosphere and oftentimes a line outside

Great sampler platters, awesome fresh pita bread! Vegan friendly. Peanut butter chocolate chip baklava! Great friendly staff! Will definitely return when we are in town again!

Visiting Portland after moving away 10 years ago. Revisiting my favorite restaurants. Had to make my way over to the east side for Nicholas's mjadra. So good. The pita bread is amazing. I also had lamb and chicken kababs. Sigh. I'm happy and full!

We have loved Nicholas for years, we went back after not going for a long time. We managed to get right in without a wait when we arrived on a Sunday at lunch time, which is extremely lucky. Our bread and seasoned dipping oil arrived quickly, steaming hot. We ordered hummus and it's always wonderful. My husband and I split a kebab order, which comes with a side salad and a big pile of seasoned rice, and small dish of toum, a creamy garlic sauce that is my favorite! The dish comes with two kebabs, we usually get one chicken and one beef kafta, so yummy. Son had the gyro, which comes with crunchy pita chips and tzadziki, he could barely eat after polishing off so much bread, hummus and the rest of my salad. We always take home leftovers, always, even when sharing. Sometimes we just order our food to go if there's a huge crowd, and take it to the Rose Gardens to eat. Love this place!

I had some delicious saffron rice and chicken with a yummy salad. The whole meal was really good and plentiful. I left there happy and stuffed. It was my first time there. I can't wait to return!

This is HANDS DOWN the best Lebanese food I have had in my life. I ordered the lamb Shawarma Plate and couldn't have been happier. I have another trip planned to the Portland area in 2 weeks and I know where I'll be getting my dinner!

Horrible...and here’s why: our food (appetizer, too) was delivered 4 minutes after we placed our order with the server. We could tell it had been made ahead of time. The spanakopita had a glassy somewhat wet look and the falafel wraps - well, the falafel looked rubbery. The good was not hot. We will never go back!! We will stick with Hoda on SE Belmont!

Hot fresh made pitas delivered to your table as soon as you are seated with olive oil spice to dip was a great start. Unique falafel and meat stuffed grape leaves were fabulous. Lamb gyro was just average. Overall great experience.

I loved my shish Ka Bab and the salad had amazing homemade tahini dressing. And loved the cinnamon mint iced tea and the service was wonderful also!!

This surprising location brings a whole new opportunity to enjoy the recipes and service of this wonderful family inspired restaurant. We feel really lucky to have chosen this for our lunch spot prior to riding the wonderful bike trail nearby. You need no advice on what to order as all is topnotch and flavorful. Treat yourselves.

First time in this fabulous place, the story on how they started it, printed in the menu was breath-taking, another proof that a country made of immigrants is something to celebrate, regardless of your political party. The food was delicious, the pita bread was literally out of the oven, you can even see the baking process from one of the external windows! The hummus was phenomenal, and the Zhatar fries were really good; their lentil soup was creamy and perfectly warm, their lamb platter was really well cooked. Their NE Broadway location is cozy and just the right size, the decor was spot on, it was pretty packed with customers and the service provided by Anna and Evelyn was EXCELLENT!!!! We are definetly coming back!

I have been coming here ( one on SE Grand Steet ) for the last 5 years not on a regular basis but on a yearly basis. The review is based on my observations over the years : 1) Wait times on Friday & Saturday. Place has been always been heavily crowded on Friday evenings & Saturday evenings. They accept without reservations and if you intend to walk in, be prepared for atleast a 15 or 20 minute wait for a table. 2) Service : Service has never been extra-ordinary. Its not bad as well that one can complain of. Sort of right in the middle which just about keeps you happy. It hasn't changed now thought they got in more servers now. 3) Cards or cash : They accept both now. Before it was a cash only business. This is a welcome change & good one. 4) Food quality & quantity : FANTASTIC. After all this is the reason one visits a restaurant : Good food. If you are going for the first time, you may want to order just one main course for two people. The serving sizes are huge and in most cases 1 order would suffice for two people. In case one needs more, order again. 5) Price : They have shot up the prices this year significantly. Starters are now 8$ and dishes like Vegan Mezza is 14$. Salmon Kabob is 17$ . I have never seen the prices this high before. It was about 30-40% lower in the years before. I wonder if this price hike has something to do with the US Dietary Committee recommending Mediterranean diet. I am not sure when such a steep hike went in as well, since my last visit was in June 2014 when the Vegan Mezza cost about 10$ - 11$ . The serving sizes are more or less the same though.

Fast, delicious lunch! We were looking for a quick lunch while waiting for a board tune up across the street. Totally stumbled upon this place by accident - a very happy accident. The fresh, hot pita was amazing. I had a lunch bowl with falafel - quite yummy and a nice lunch portion. My daughter had the gyro sandwich, also very good. Looking forward to going back!

Took my parents to Nicholas' Restaurant so they could experience Lebanese food and they loved it. I would recommend the shawarma chicken - very flavorful. Kids ordered pizza which I would not recommend. Their dish came unapologetically late and burnt.

Hmmm... old classic restaurant but packed, and clearly a favorite with locals. As good a Middle Eastern as you will find anywhere. Worth the short Uber ride from downtown.

I have eaten here with our younger son, and with friends. Middle eastern, starting with huge wedges of pita 16 inches across. Add several mixtures to dip into, starting with hummus. Portions are huge; share or be prepared to take some home. Several varieties of lamb, or mixed dish platters.

This place rocks Mediterranean food! The shawarma lamb with humus was superb. their tzatziki is awesome. I loved the place

Great meal of lamb and other middle Eastern food. Pita bread just out of the oven. Lots of food and very good also. I tried the rice pudding for dessert and it was also excellent.

Great food at reasonable prices. Their pitta bread and dipping sauce keep you busy until the main course arrives.

Everything is delicious here! I've been in other places and this has been the best!!! The bread is delicious, we tried this time the falafel, stuffed great leaves and the lamb.

We were here with a group of about 6. I ordered a salad that was supposed to have mint in it, but instead tasted like nothing but a huge bowl of pure mint. I could not even eat it. I think I forced three bites. I also ordered the roasted cauliflower & that was delicious (other wise I would've went hungry). My BF had a spinach pie that was described as having peppers, cheese and spinach - but inside the dough was nothing but peppers! No spinach. No cheese. The service was VERY slow and the food was a huge disappointment. There are SO many other restaurants on this street, skip this one and move on!

My daughter was looking to try something new and at 15 interested in exploring. We've driven by here for years and have never stopped. What a mistake! This place is wonderful. Hirim provided very attentive service. He has a nice smile too. The food was so good I had to stop myself from over eating. To start off they bring you a giant homemade pita with dipping sauce. We had the meat stuffed grape leaves, gyros, and lamb kabob salad. Everything was so yummy. I am looking forward to visiting here again in the near future.

Great and friendly service! The pita and hummus to start is excellent. Big portions and really tasty. Especially loved the spinach pie.

A friend of my son's said we must go to Nicholas and get the Vegetarian Mezza platter, this was enough for a meal alone. My son ordered the Lamb Platter and I got Stephen's Beef Shawarma, which we took most of home. Next time we will just get the Mezza platter, everything was fantastic, just too much of a good thing.

The big draw here is the 14 inch fresh hot pita bread for every table. I believe you can get all you want. The three of us had a veggie mezza which is an assortment of hummus, and yogurt and things to put them on and a lamb platter that was very good and a gyro sandwich which was your usual fare. The server was very very friendly and they get an extra star for that reason alone. The neighborhood is getting sketchier, the place has less than 10 tables, but it is an authentic experience, they work hard and we had fun. We had no trouble parking on the street.

The meza platters are really good at all of the locations. I can't speak about the meat dishes, but the vegetarian dishes are pretty good. I would recommend this place over quite a few other restaurants in Portland to be honest. The locations are clean and the service is quick, which is unusual in Portland. The seating is really tight, but the food is worth it.

I took my Aunt here for her birthday. The waiter, Omar, couldn't have been more energetic, quick, engaging and attentive, including a birthday desert!!! Our food was OVER THE TOP, delicious, starting with the HUGE homemade pita bread, bigger than a pizza!. The Humus and all vegetarian sampler dishes were delicious. Despite the crowds, there wasn't any party waiting too long. The waiters were very quick, the food came out immediately and was piping hot and delicious. The Spanikopita was out of this world! Order the Turkish coffee for desert, as it tasted like one with chocolate, caramel and whipped cream on top.

This is a relatively small, unpretentious restaurant. The service was very good-- attentive, friendly and polite. The food was also very good, as was the humongous pita/naan-type bread they bring to nosh on beforehand. The prices are very good, too. The only real criticism I have of the place is that it is very small in relation to the number of customers seated or waiting to be seated. If possible, you should try and make reservations, otherwise the wait can sometimes be long.

Absolutely phenomenal Lebanese! We came in and did two different vegetarian mezzas and couldn't have been happier with the food. It's flavorful, rich, well-spiced, and straight from Lebanon. The only downside: the space. Be prepared to get very close and personal with your neighbors. However, it's well worth, I can't imagine finding better Lebanese food outside of Beirut.

This place was very good. The hummus was fantastic as well as the homemade bread. I had lamb gyro and it was very good. Wife had the the chicken shawarma. Had good flavor and rice was perfect. Our friends had the lamb version and looked equally appetizing. The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive. Probably the only thing holding this place back from a five star rating is seating. It's one thing to go to a nice restaurant with capacity for 30 or so but to be sitting on top of the people next to you was a little unnerving. During peak hours be ready for a wait but the food was worth it. Sorry I miss d getting pics on this one.

In town for conference. Came to Nicholas' at the recommendation of my sister, who is local, and great trip advisor reviews. Restaurant was PACKED on a Wednesday night which I took as a good sign. We were able to get a table quickly. Drink menu is limited to beer and wine. We were a group of four- including two work colleagues I convinced to join us. Appetizer was a dry (but soft and warm) pita with hummus. Olives were not on the menu as an appetizer which we thought was odd but were able to order two bowls. My husband had the salmon kebab which came with rice and a salad which he said was ok, if a bit bland. My veggie mezze consisted of tabbouleh which was 99% parsley (where were the tomatoes and other flavors?)-yuck. Our co worker thought the same and we both left it on the plate. The hummus and yogurt dip were just "ok". The spinach pocket that came with it was actually good. The little pizza that accompanied it was not. It was hard and dry (could barely bite through it) with a thick dusting of what seemed like dry dust. I think these were supposed to be spices but were pretty flavorless. I pity our colleague who got this as a big pizza entree. Service was slow but friendly. No one said a word about the meal and we could not get out of there fast enough. Really not very good at all--embarrassed to have brought anyone else to this restaurant.

When you sit down at Nicholas the first thing you know you have a lovely Lebenese flat bread delivered to your table along with an olive-oil and spice dip. OK - you can fill up on this by itself! But don't - the food that is to follow is just too good to pass up. If you like flavor - you really need to visit one of the Nicholas' restaurants in Portland! Try the Arabian Breeze Mezza - a great sampler that will introduce your palate to some wonderful flavors.

Authentic, delicious food. Loved the quaint atmosphere, quick service. Would recommend to visitors looking for something off the beaten path in Portland.

Nicholas' Restaurant is on S.E. Grand Avenue, right on the B Streetcar line. It's pretty easy to find parking in the neighborhood if you drive. I have to warn you: I have spent a lot of time in the Middle East and have eaten a lot of food in Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, Iran . . . The restaurant is authentically small and crowded. The food is sort of semi-authentic Middle Eastern fare and is not fine. The table comes with a big, wide, hot Arab bread, and you can ask for more and more if you can get the busy waiter's attention. Some of the specialty dishes were huge and were priced accordingly. The starters are overpriced. The quality of food is fair enough, especially if you are hungry. I liked Al Maza beer in Lebanon, but it tasted insipid here. Perhaps it just doesn't travel well. I don't think this restaurant would prosper in the Middle East--well, maybe in Egypt. It's OK, though, and if I am going out with friends who really want to go there, I'll just keep my mouth shut except to eat a bit and drink a Corona.

Even though we ate there about 3 pm, the place - which is very small - was packed and terribly noisy. The place seems popular with young parents and the attendant screaming, crying children. Tabletops and menus looked and felt dirty. I didn't want to touch them The food was ok, but it's pretty easy to find good Middle Eastern food, and this seemed pretty standard. I'm not sure why the restaurant gets such great reviews...

We have been to Nicholas many times when visiting Portland. This summer, I ordered out for 12 people including a variety of dishes: Hummus, Spinach Pies, Kibbeh, Roasted Vegetables with Tahini Dressing, Lentils with Rice and Fried Onions, and Tzatziki sauce. Everything was delicious but the lentils and rice dish was a little drier than usual. Otherwise, my guests loved the meal - and the homemade pita bread is always delicious. I have never been disappointed when I eat at this restaurant - it's a little hole in the wall but the food and service is always great. The prices are right also.

We had the monthly special hummus with pumpkin - delish - and I got their seeded pizza. The pizza was delish but I would get it with cheese next time. The flavors were so complex and the texture unlike anything I've eaten before.

Parking is very difficult and restaurant on the weekend is very crowded. It is a very tight place... But this should tell you something.. Your patience will be rewarded through an amazing taste sensory journey. The food is simply wonderful and the fresh made pita bread melts in your mouth and they keep bringing it to your table.. Warm.... So be patient if it is crowded. Manager and staff are very helpful.

Nicholas’s Restaurant on SE Grand Ave. is a place I go back to over and over. It is a fall back kind of place where we’ll be shopping on the east side and it’s lunch time and we say “let’s just go to Nicholas’s” . Firstly the food is good and served in nice portions. The Kibbah Snack is a favorite as is the Gyro and the Vegetarian Mezza with its Spinach Pie and Manakish, YUM! They always start you out with a flat bread and dip and the toughest part is not filling up too much. The food there is reasonably priced although the prices have gone up these last years as they have become more well known and opened the other sites. A meal with a beverage will run $13-18ish (2014) The restaurant itself is lacking. As you walk in the door the air conditioner drips on your head. If the restaurant is full you must wait outside, if it is afternoon you will be in full sun as there is a western exposure. The interior is well worn with stained fabric (don’t look too closely) stapled over padding for the bench backs, decorative tile missing and a hole or two in the wall board, wires duct tapped to ceiling beams and a less than tidy floor. If you sit near the back check your seat as the employees regularly use the back two chairs to stand on to reach things in the food area. The staff is nice and has always been friendly even when busy. If they are crowded it can be a bit slow but that is only because of the volume, they work pretty fast. The parking is street parking, Grand has meters but the side street is free. Over all I would say the food is yummy and a good deal served in a tacky place. I go back time and again.

If I am in Portland this is always on my must do list. I also stop at the location in Gresham if I am traveling to the airport, it's worth the drive just to eat here. Very authentic food, good prices great portions.

Outstanding Lebanese food, plenty of choices and you will not leave hungry. Some of the best I have had. Service was right on and the food was so very tasty. Highly recommend trying a platter or appetizers to sample their many fine dishes.

We are not that adventures when it comes to food but this restaurant was so great that I do see ourselves going back to it. Great hummus and great fresh bread and amazing olive oil that was incredibly fragrant. The restaurant was very busy and a little too loud for us but food was so great that everything else was unimportant.

Serious comfort food. The Mezza plates are divine and the service is great! Large menu, huge portions. This has become our go-to place for celebrations, and we always leave happy and full.

There are three Nicholas' restaurants in the greater Portland area. The food is consistent between all three. It is wonderful food! They start with a huge, piping hot-from-the-oven pita-type bread that is so big they have to raise it up off the table on its own stand or it wouldn't fit. Everybody breaks off pieces and dips it into a dipping oil with delicious herbs in it. The rest of the food is excellent (some favorites of mine are the kabobs and mezza plates). There is plenty of variety for vegetarians as well. This Grand Ave. location is tiny and often has hungry diners lined up down the street, so if that's the case, drive over to the Broadway location, which is bigger. They never seem as crowded. It's not that far away from this location.

We arrived 7 pm on a Wednesday to a packed restaurant. Fortunately, we had to wait only a few minutes to be seated. There's a good reason this place is so popular. We each had one of the mezze platters so we could sample a variety of their dishes. each had the hummus, tahziki, felafel and tabouli. All were top notch. The vegetarian sampler had a spinach pie which was not bad but not brilliant, and a manakish pie, which is a small pizza topped heavily with zatar and oregano and was wonderful. The meat mezza and a delightful chicken kabob piiza and a very good beef kafta skewer. every table gets a giant tender pita. The platters cost, respectively, $14 and $16, a great price given the quality and quantity of food. Service was friendly and adequate, the ambience was pleasant and family-friendly. I expect to return when visiting Portland.

Good Middle Eastern food is one of my favorites. It also fits with my food choices and Nicholas was a very nice experience. As with most things, the attention to detail is what matters and Nicholas gets the details. From the fresh mint in the tea to the warm, off the griddle pita bread, to the fresh sauces served with your meal. The toum is amazing! Service was attentive but not aggressive or smothering. Outdoor seating is available but Broadway is a busy street and it was mid 90s in Portland so we were indoors. Seating is comfortable and the music is good. I had a Lamb Kebab Salad and would have it again. Give this place a try!

We stopped in for late lunch and had a great meal. The restaurant is a little close in terms of seating, but the wait staff was friendly and the food was quite good.

We had 3 appetizers and 4 entrees. They were all great. The hot giant pita that comes with every meal is extraordinary. We would all go back ... And we will!

My daughter is a vegetarian and chose this place for her birthday dinner and we loved it. Lots of veg choices but lots of meat choices also. Everything is fresh and it tastes wonderful, we can't wait to go back and try some other things. The first thing you get is a fresh hot plate of pita with a nice dipping sauce. They have some interesting drink choices too. There were four of us in the party and we all had something different and everybody loved what they had. You probably could have a great meal on just the appetizers but you would be shortchanging yourself if you did. The place is small, cramped and nothing fancy, it certainly doesn't look too special from the sidewalk but don't let that stop you this place is all about the food. The servers are friendly and helpful with suggestions and explanations about the different dishes. The prices are very reasonable and unless you are starving you will be taking some home with you. We will be going back soon.

Super tasty food, we visited twice during the week we stayed in Portland, the food never disappoint and the service is excellent.

I went there two two friends and we are all gluten free and I was so very happy to learn that there is gluten free pita bread! I have never had Lebanese food before, and was it every awesome! We had the lamb and the humus and cauliflower, so they all tasted yummy! I highly recommend this place!

You are served a giant pita bread with olive oil. Order the hummos; it's delicious! I went to lunch with some gal pals, and we each had a different bowl. I loved the lamb kabob with buttery rice and smooth & fresh kale salad. My friends enjoyed the veggie and Moroccan chicken bowls. This is a great find for your hummos & kabob fix!

Friends took us to the Madison St location (they’d visited before) and we were blown away with quality of all the dishes we ordered. We will definitely be back to work our way through the selection of mouth watering choices. Wait staff was pleasant, attentive without hovering and I appreciated the lack of superlatives used as a word choice by those who have a small vocabulary (pet peeve by this GenXer). Loved the outdoor dining space. The lamb was the best my partner has ever tasted and that’s saying a lot. Would have loved to taste the baklava but we already took to-go boxes due to large portions. Do yourself a favor and give this place a try. Highly recommend the vegan spinach pies, lamb kabobs and chicken kabob pizza (for those that love heavy garlic and a lot of cheese).

Eat here with friends. I try the maze, which is good. Service is good, price also reasonable. If you want to try Lebanese food, try here, you won't be disappointed

We went to Nicholas on Friday night. I was very hungry and before we ordered anything they got a warm huge pita on the table. We ordered the babaganush and that made such a good start for me. We ordered lamb platter, which came with rice and salad. The rice was quite soft and tasted really good. Lamb eas well cooked and any mediterrean restaurant can not go wrong with lamb cooking. Nicholas was no exception to that. The service was very good. Overall a very good experience.

Great food I have never had a bad dish. Bread, Lamb, Tzatziki, Baba Ganoush and even the hummus is great. Be warned it can have long lines for dinner and lunch any time of the week. Hint have a early dinner or lunch to avoid the crowds.

I’m giving this restaurant a 4 rather than a 5 because we like our pita bread lighter than the one they serve and I also have had better tabouleh. Besides that, everything was delicious. We ended up ordering too much food and took some home. We were so happy that they also serve Turkish coffee. Fun and good place to dine!

We stopped in at lunch and shared lentil soup, hummus,and a falafel sandwhich. Portions are more than ample at a fair price. The giant serving of flatbread made ordering more (to finish the hummus) unnecessary. Everything was well-prepared and tasty, though we prefer a somewhat more seasoned style of lentil soup.

This place is really good. They make their own bread and it was delicious. I got lamb kebabs and they were juicy and the saffron rice was very good. Very friendly servers.

Hot bread, great hummus, what else could you want?! If the wait is long, there is always Next Adventure and Andy and Bax to shop at.

A dear friend suggested to come here for my birthday lunch. She and her family have been here several times over the years of there growing family. I am glad she suggested this place our waitress Winter greeted us as soon as we arrived and brought us the pita bread with the dipping oil the herbs seasoned the oil beautifully. the pita came out very warm right from the oven and very delicious. We shared a Lamb platter it was delicious the lamb was cooked to medium. I personally like Med. rare meat and she said I could order it that way. when we told Winter that it was my birthday we chose the cheesecake which was delicious. I ordered a falafel appetizer to go for lunch today. I did have left overs from the lamb so today's lunch is going to be great.

The vegetarian mezza was all good, especially the spanakopita. With that and the giant pita they had already brought, plus the excellent Baba Ghanoush we ordered, it was plenty of food. The service was outstanding.

So... here I am, driving north bound on Grand Avenue... it's 8:30, just left a long meeting, I'm starved and knowing that just about every decent restaurant in our area closes at 9:00 pm I'm thinking and driving as fast as I can to find a place to eat! On my right side I spotted Nichola's... been there some time before and made an instant decision to stop in... banged into the parking lot, ran to the door (it's 8:45 by now) and lo and behold, the place was bustling... great energy, happy people amazing hot bread on the tables, happy servers (and a bunch of them) and only a couple of vacant tables... Straight up! I was treated very nicely with fast pleasant service, the bread came out (amazing) with a very nice dip... I ordered the Chicken Kabobs and out they came... the best I've ever had!!! The tabouli salad fantastic and what a great experience... this place will be on my dance card anytime I am in the area and don't miss it... Okay, okay, okay... so it's not the least expensive place around BUT if you want really great food, a fun energetic environment and wonderful people don't miss... so what if it's a couple of dollars more, take it from me, its worth every penny!!!!

Although the place was very crowded, the waiters and waitresses were friendly, and the food was so delicious!

Our son and his wife are vegetarians and they love Nicholas' while my wife and I would give it a pass. We've got very good Lebanese restaurants where we live and they pack pita with meat when they prepare a gyros or shawarma, not so here. The vegetarian options are very good, but they put the least amount of meat we've ever seen in a middle eastern restaurant.....anywhere.....and we've traveled in the middle east too. Pretty big rip off in our eyes.....because the prices are not reflective of what you are getting.....

It was a typical rainy night in Portland and we had to eat before going to the theater. The neighborhood was funky, but not threatening in any way we felt. Hungry, a little pressed for time, getting colder. We got lucky! My wife and I hadn't expected to find Nicholas' Restaurant, although we'd heard it was excellent. We went in and were given the last two seats in the house. It took a fairly short time for the waiter to take our order, although things slowed down after that. First came the bread: spectacular in appearance, in flavor, in volume. Accompanied by the best tzatziki I've had outside of Greece-- and maybe inside of it too! The other three bread accompaniments were also excellent. I usually don't like hummus at all, but even this was very good. The meat dolmas were a new idea for me, and I was pleasantly impressed. Unlike most lamb that one seems to get these days, the kebabs were tender and delicious. Somebody in that kitchen really knows how to buy and prepare lamb! My wife was also very pleased with her vegetarian choices. Servings were generous so we didn't have dessert. The coffee was strong and sweet, as it should be in a mediterranean restaurant. So why not five stars? The food is definitely five star food. The crowdedness of the building made things a little more cramped than was comfortable. And, as a person with some hearing loss, the noise made it difficult for me at times. I wish that there was some sound deadening strategy in effect. Final reason: there was no retsina on the wine list. I know this isn't a Greek restaurant, but a good, tangy retsina would have been perfect.

Excellent food and drinks. Stephens chicken and lamb burgher with "THE BEST FRIES" i have ever eaten.

Been here many a time and this visit was back to 5 star. Food was excellent and service was great. Had my favorite chicken kabob. Try it

We had falafel, hummus, tabouli, Lebanese pizza, spanikopita and more. All amazing. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. We've found our new favorite place.

Went for dinner tonight have to say the food was really good but the service was terrible I have never had such bad service I had to call her and ask for some drinks she just handed us the bill without even asking if we wanted desert it was awful, we where a family out for dinner and all she was interested was the two guys sitting at the table beside us won't be rushing back for the service

this placed USED to be the best. but they have more than DOUBLED their prices over the past couple years - to practically unaffordable prices. and they give you less food for twice the money. they have lost my business for life. so, the food is quite good, but for the price... you can find other Mediterranean restaurants that are equally good. so sad to see they got greedy :(

I attended a convention at the Convention Center and did not want to have lunch there. Took a walk, and about three blocks away walked past this restaurant that was jammed with locals, but saw two tables getting cleaned for the next guests. It is not fancy. Food is outstanding. First of all, a freshly baked enormous puffy pita bread was delivered and put on a stand up pedestal. Delicious! Enough for at least four people. I ordered a chicken skewer over a kale salad and was able to substitute hummus for Taziki. Also had iced tea. Service was quick. Friendly staff and big menu. When I left, people were waiting to get in and some were eating outdoors--beautiful weather that day. Take out, too.

Very friendly staff but the worst meat we ever had, not only in Portland but on the entire world. We ordered shawarma and lamb kebab.both was hard as a rubber. We have been to various Mediterranean and Lebanese restaurants, not only in the U.S. but in Turkey, Lebanon, Greece. The quality of the meat, hummus was really bad at this restaurant. We never had lamb meat that is hard as we ate in this restaurant. Very disappointed.

We enjoy Mediterranean cuisine and Portland had no shortage of options. After doing some research, we settled on Nicholas, Broadway location as we found out that one is larger. We arrived mid week and the place wasn't too crowded. We got lucky too and found a spot right in front by the entrance. We started with their fresh bread (WOW!) and and order of Baba Ghanouj. Both were very good. Then we had the Chicken Kabab plate (was on special too) and the Vegetarian Mezza (Hummus, tzatziki, falafel, Tabouli, spinach pie and more). It was a lot of food for the money and very good too. The Tabouli, Baba, bread, chicken, rice were the highlights for me. If you enjoy this type of cuisine, give them a try. It was a filling and tasty treat!

I was in Portland for a conference at the Oregon Convention Center, located in an area with few restaurants within reasonable walking distance. This was a terrific find for lunch. They also serve dinner and colleagues have recommended it for that also. I can't say enough about the food. You sit down and are immediately served a huge warm, hot pita-like bread. We ordered the meat mezza to share and a lentil soup each. The portions are very large and we were not able to finish the meal. (In fact, you see lots of people leaving with their doggie bags.) The lamb skewer was perfectly seasoned and cooked; the hummus clearly freshly made; the tabbouleh some of the best I've had--not too much onion and lots of tender parsley. (Yes, I've had it when it was made with tough parsley leaves.) I can't say enough about the restaurant. I hear they have several branches, all of them supposedly as good. Very, very good value also.

There was a significant amount of inconsistency between menu items. Some good, some bad. It definitely was not worth the wait.

I've been trying to find a place that serves this type of Lebanese food since moving up here from California where we had some great Lebanese restaurants we went to on a regular basis. The chicken kabob bowl with amazing garlic sauce was really good as was the hummus. The giant fresh made pita with the herb olive oil dip that comes with your meals was something unique and very flavorful. This place is very small, but we hit it just right and were seated right away. The service was good although it took a while since it was peak lunchtime and very crowded. The food was definitely worth the wait

This was our second visit and we were not disappointed. Mezze plates are fun because you get to try several items. The service was quick. The only disappointment was that my husband was expecting something different when he asked for lamb shawarma and was served hummus with lamb that was not shaved like he expected. Our companion had kibbeh, which was delicious. We will definitely go back again.

Went to Nicholas' partially looking for great Greek cuisine since my favorite place, Alexis closed due to the owner's retirement after 30 years of the best Greek food in PDX. The menu listed the food as "Mediterranean" and was mostly Lebanese with a few Greek style dishes. Fortunately, I love great Lebanese food, too! Was pleasantly surprised by the food quality and service. Ordered a chicken shawarma which was very good, vegetarian stuffed grape leaves [Dolmathes in Greek], humus, baba ganoush, and tzatziki [need more garlic, but ok]. A freshly made huge Pita that was very good. I will go back again to try other Lebanese dishes they prepare.

We were looking for a quick place to eat at 2pm on Sunday. We found Nicholas open and full. We didn't have to wait, but as we are our lunch, we saw many people coming and waiting. I ordered the vegan mazza and the humus worth the warm giant pita bread is amazing. Everything feels homemade. The place does not have an ambience but we did not care much about it. The price was very good too. The only complain is that the waitress came asking us if everything was alright at least ten times. We could not figure out why.

Visiting Portland for the first time and craving for something not-fancy-different and not too far from our hotel at the Lloyd Center. The place was packed, including outdoor seating, on a Friday @7pm! Loved the Lamb Sampler, which paired well with a rosé, and the Lebanese salad. Will try this place at lunch before heading home.

The food is amazing, the assortment is authentic and very well done. I have eaten here many times and always enjoyed my meals. I recommend the Meat or the Vegie Grape Leaves, Yum. I love their Lintel soup and salads, the dressing is yummie. Honestly all the food is really good and clean.

This is the place. You have to go. Everything we had was between excellent and unbelievably good. We particularly loved the lamb kabobs, gyros, hummus, strawberry lemonade, and of course the perfect pita bread they pile on your table. A fantastic meal!

This restaurant moved from their South East Grand location years ago. Check their website. Good food and service. They are now at 11th and Madison.

Can't remember how I happened on this place - but since I've first been I've been going back over and over! I call it "crack rice" that they serve on the side to everything - no idea what they put in it but it's addicting. MUST get the kafta (ground beef) kabobs. MUST get the mezza with the pita and the hummus. MUST get the stuffed grape leaves. MUST overorder and eat too much and still go home with enough leftovers for tomorrow night! And MUST get turkish coffee to end the night!

First time for Lebanese food and I was not disappointed. The pita bread was a welcome change as it was fresh and delicious. I had the Steven's chicken which was superb and my wife and daughter had the combo. I would recommend going there for a change from burgers and fries as the food was wonderful.

If you pass by on Grand Avenue at lunch, you will always see this place full. The food is authentic and delicious. Lunch features flatbread to go with various bowls or wraps which can be adorned with grilled meats (or not!). The rice in some combinations is saffron and the vegetables are well prepared. I havn't (yet) been here for dinner but I'm looking forward to it!. It is small so you may have to wait for a table.

My husband and I LOVE this place, can not begin to describe what a great experience it is to go dining with Nicholas! The staff are very helpful and attentive, really great personalities and are very nice. Helpful when it comes to ordering. We know exactly what we want when we go in, which is usually a plethora of food! First off, you get this amazing pita like bread that they bring to you at your table and continue to replenish as you eat away at it. But remember, you have a ton of food coming, so save some room (it can be hard too). The tahziki is really great, along with their hummus. We ordered toum once and it was unbelievably good, if you are a garlic fan! I always go for their chicken shwarma plate, it comes with everything I like and it always ends up being a lunch and dinner for me, because of the large portion size! The rice is out of this world, I dont know how I have gone this long in life without having it, make sure you get this with your meal, and if anything order a side to take home with you so you can simply eat it by itself! Sticking to the platters is a good idea, so you can experience all of the delicious flavors they offer. You can get a gyro most Mediterranean places you go to, but you definitely need to try new things when you are here. finish your meal off with some delicious warm Turkish coffee and you are set in dream land for the rest of your day! Must visit if you like to experience new cultures and food. Fun atmosphere for date night, small or large group. Also GREAT great value for the amount of food you get, my husband and I ordered drinks and multiple appetizers and plates and came out to 50 dollars, not bad, this even got saved for our dinner later that night!

We both tried the chicken kebab. The chicken wasn't grilled like kebabs should be and the rice was extremely salty. They used way too much chicken bouillon! What in the world happened to the rice? What was this, Rice-A-Roni? It did not taste like authentic Lebanese food. I enjoyed reading their history, their beautiful story on the back of their menu of how they made their restaurant a success, but the food did not fit the story. I can only imagine the inexperienced cooks in the back. Not sure why this place is so popular. Maybe we need to come in and try another dish, but if the chicken kebabs could not come out right, why would anything else? The menu is a bit overpriced for the quality of their food. The ginormous puffy flat bread that they brought out was impressive, but the sauce they served with it had no soul, no taste. The bottled beer was great. The waiter took a long time as well to get our check. We miss the Baba Ghanouj in Long Beach, CA http://www.babaghanoujrestaurant.com/Location.html They serve authentic Lebanese food, down to the tea and all, the real deal, not here though, unfortunately.

I always leave this place in a food coma. I recommend coming in during lunch right at open before the frenzy of hungry people arrive at noon. Everything is delioucios. Especially the lamb kabobs and the fresh oven baked bread! Great place for those who are vegetarians as well.

Spanikopita is usually one of my favorite menu choices. I was sooo disappointed in this particular recipe and I found it inedible. It wasn't made in a phyllo dough??

I have been going to Nicholas for about 12 years. I pat them a visit every trip there. I recommend the lamb kebabs, the hummus and pita, the gyro and the peach yogurt beverage.

We went in without reservation and it was quite early in the evening.. The restaurant was already very busy! We used to eat at their Gresham location, but recently moved closer to downtown, so decided to check this one out. As we sat down, we looked at their menu... and we found that our favorite is not on their menu: the chicken meshwi :( We had tried everything on their menu and although you can't go wrong with any of the dishes, the chicken meshwi is our favorite! And we were really craving it that evening! We decided to see our luck and see if they serve it even it's not on their menu... Unfortunately our waitress, Sambat (?) told us they no longer serve that dish! Honestly at that point, we were very disappointed and our whole appetite was ruined. But... it turned out to be one of the best experiences for us, all thanks to Sambat!! She really turned the situation around! We ordered tea as it was raining outside and since we were there, we decided to warm up a little before hunting for another restaurant for a meal (and prepare our stomach that it won't be getting any chicken meshwi that evening!). As we drank our tea.. our bread came! Normally the bread is offered only if you order a meal... at least that was my impression. And then Sambat brought us hummus to go with it!! We were so delighted!! It was almost surreal! It's hard to find good restaurants with good customer service these days...! She was very apologetic and really regretted that we had to start our evening like that... Simply amazing! I never felt more welcomed than this! What could've been a loss of a client, she made us want to come back just to have tea! :) Thank you Sambat! And I'm sorry if I misspelled or got our name wrong! You are truly a gem for Nicholas'! We will definitely come back! PS. We were billed only for our tea!

Excellent Lebanese cuisine and service.Generous portions,price including beer very reasonable . Number of people waiting outside on an early Friday evening reflected awareness of the quality and popularity of the Restaurant. Friendly atmosphere, with clients of all ages including singles, couples and parties of four. Definitely value for the money, when in Portland will certainly return to again.

Brought here by our daughter for lunch. What a marvelous combination of flavors! Their lunch bowls can't be beat. We had 4 different bowls and each was different and delicious! Reasonably priced as well.

This place is very good. The lamb was a little over cooked for my taste but tasty nonetheless. Their salads and mezza platter was quite good in all respects. The table was tiny and there was no space for the dishes, as well as it being quite loud, but still, a great experience.

I stumbled upon Nicholas' Restaurant and decided to give it a try; one doesn't encounter a Lebanese restaurant very often. The seating are was small and busy with local clientele. The service was great. This is not a fast meal, so take your time and plan on enjoying some unique Mediterranean flavors. If I am ever in Portland again, this will be a must-stop location. Although, I hope to do so with a friend; the servings are too big for one.

Nicholas’ big lamb burger was fabulous! We enjoyed the hummus and spinach pie as well! Will definitely be back to this place!

This place is amazing! The food is super tasty and the staff is friendly and welcoming. We have been here twice and each time was equally delicious. The portions are hearty as well, we had leftovers both times. Get the mezza plate, it's like a sampler of lots of different items, good dips to eat with the pita bread...which is amazing! They make it fresh in a wood fired oven, and they bring it to the table piping hot. Its large, so you can definitely share it and they will bring more if needed. We stumbled upon this place on a whim and I'm so glad we did. We'll be back everytime we come to Portland!

I have been here three times. It's always excellent. Dinner starts with a dramatic presentation of a pita fresh from the oven. Great to enjoy with the Lebanese sesame dip and a glass of wine. I recommend the Lebanese wines, which are both very good and not easy to find elsewhere. My favourite dish is the minced lamb with pine nuts, served over hummus. (One eats it with the pita, as a dip, not with a knife and fork, though those are provided). Nicholas's a Portland tradition, busy,noisy and always full of friendly people.