Nikos - Tasty Greek

I am not well versed in Greek cuisine. My knowledge prior to residency consisted of Greek salad, Souvlaki, Pitas and Tzatziki and little of the intricacies of Mediterranean food nor the contexts in which they became so popular. However with such a vibrant Greek population in Winnipeg and so many working in pediatrics, I have had the honour and pleasure to see Mediterranean art, taste its food and explore its culture. With that, I knew I had to frequent the typical Greek restaurants in town, starting with Nikos.

Nikos is a well known popular Greek joint on Corydon Avenue. Consistently ranked as one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in the city, Nikos was also a staple amongst the pediatric residents (Greek and non-Greek alike). The bright blue signage and modern white lettering make an attractive entrance and beckons one forward to its Greek delights.

The menu is extensive and features a litany of items ranging from their signature submarines sandwiches to large breakfast items to full on dinner options. Reading about the restaurant and perusing through the menu you get a sense of authenticity in their food; in fact, according to their website, Nikos has been family owned over the last 22 (!) years.

A majority of Urbanspoon patrons seem to swear by the Avgolemono Soup, a chicken and lemon based broth soup filled with chicken breast and rice. The initial spoonful provided an overwhelming tart lemon-y flavour, almost rendering any other flavours null. However, after a few more bites my tastebuds adapted to the tartness and began to appreciate the hint of salt, a playful amount of sugar and the creaminess of the rice. In fact, by the end I was unashamedly shoveling the addictive soup down.

Wanting to try a variety of things I ordered the Roast Lemon Chicken Dinner. It started off with a "Authentic" Greek Salad which was, in fact, the North American version featuring lettuce, cucumbers, a wedge of tomato, onions and feta in a olive oil vinaigrette. I was rather disappointed by the authenticity of the salad but had no qualms with the taste and portion size.

The dinner includes Roast Lemon Chicken, Roast Lemon Potatoes and Pita Bread. Nikos here does not skimp on the protein and delivers three large pieces of tender roast chicken. The chicken had a nice lemon-y aroma and a hint of rosemary and sage on the semi-crisp outside while juicy and tender on the inside. Although tasty I did find the tartness of the lemon a little overpowering, especially after the initial overload of lemon flavour in the soup.

The potatoes here were excellent with a beautiful flaky tenderness and a sharp rosemary aroma. Again the major flavour here was of lemon, but I did not mind it here as the creamy dull potatoes needed a strong counteracting taste. The pitas were as you would expect, warm and toasty.

Overall Niko's offers solid Greek cuisine and is easily one of my recommended restaurants for anyone looking for Mediterranean cuisine. I feel they went overboard with the liberal use of lemon and would have appreciated a more balanced attack of Greek flavours, but they nevertheless offer tasty, large portions at reasonable prices.