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    Nikos

    4.1 (130 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

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    NIKOS ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Nikos

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    Flaming saganaki
    Chrissy A.

    Ever since I found out about Nikos being added to the Michelin Guide 2025, I wanted to go. When my best friend mentioned one Saturday that she wanted to go, we hopped online and were thrilled to get a 5pm reservation for later that day. We got an email about 4pm confirming our booking, saying that they were very busy that evening and they wanted to make sure we were still coming. So we got there at 4:58 and walked inside, where the hostess seemed really irritated that we were on time. She told us we would have to wait and then proceeded to ignore us until 5:01. Never mind that there was a queue forming behind us. (I understand that they don't open until 5...but why is your door open and why ask us to make sure we're on time since you're so busy, if you're going to be rude?) Fortunately our server was much more pleasant we forgot about the hostess. To start, we both ordered Flower Power cocktails, and the roasted cauliflower and flaming saganaki (that came so highly recommended) to share. I liked the sauce on the bottom of the cauliflower, it really made a very balanced dish. And the flaming cheese was a wonderful spectacle that was very fun and pleasing to the senses but just ok tasting. Even the jam that some raved about was a little salty to me. But I feel like they were both good value. We then shared the Short Ribs Pastitsio, which was my very favorite thing of the evening. It was VERY rich, but the meat was so amazingly tender and the sauce was elegant...I was so pleased with this dish. To end we got the Dubai Chocolate (even though we shouldn't have...we were so full!) It was also delicious. I'm not sure I get the whole trend, but I thought the mousse with the bitter dark chocolate and the creamy pistachio ice cream was great. All of this and I haven't mentioned how beautifully everything was decorated...it was comfortable and classy and unpretentious to me. I really loved the ambiance. Not only did the manager come to our table to make sure our meal was satisfactory, we also met the owners on our way out. Overall very pleased with our experience.

    Michelin 2025 [Well Deserved]
    Dan D.

    Had an *outstanding* dinner at Nikos Greek restaurant in the aptly named Brightleaf Square the other night: what a great experience. The Michelin star is well-deserved: the food is outstanding, I recommend sharing with Mezedes - small plates, think tapas-style. The interior vibe is very modern and hip. And the service was top tier. Strongly recommended. PS: You should definitely make reservations.

    Shanelle Y.

    The service here was great! Staff members were kind and welcoming and the food came out quick. Ambiance was upscale and kinda fancy, but not overly so. For appetizers my friend and I shared the cauliflower which was recommended by our server and the hummus. I thought the cauliflower was very good and 10/10 in terms of flavor and the hummus was just okay - not bad by any means but could've done without it. For entree I got the salmon and while I did like the taste, I didn't love the overall mushy texture of the dish. Soft fish + mashed potatoes + liquid sauce + citrus fruit = too many mushy textures at once. Personally, I think the dish would've been better with something crunchy or with whole potatoes instead of mashed, but maybe that's just me.

    Interior
    Lauren H.

    It's ok. I had high expectations going and with all the recent hype. However, it did not live up to my expectations. And it definitely didn't live up to what I've experienced in other Michelin star restaurants. Every part of our meal was almost unbearably greasy. I don't even know how based on the items that we ordered. One item we almost sent back. The menu does have a nice variety but the preparation was really lacking. Our waiter was nice but seemed new. The interior is very cozy and comfortable.

    Mushroom
    Garrison T.

    Nikos is such a great addition to downtown Durham. The food is fresh and delicious. Our server was exceptional and knowledgeable. I enjoyed my drinks and food. This is great for a girl's night, business meeting, or a date. They have options for vegetarians and meat eaters alike.

    Eggplant
    Vanessa R.

    This is a very cute restaurant, great atmosphere and delicious food. I was in town just for one night and wanted to have something light for lunch. We found this place in downtown and it was hard to find parking at the beginning but once we did, it was an easy walk to the shopping center where Nikos is. It took some time to get our food, they were super busy but food was delicious, salad was fresh and chicken was very tasty. The ceiling and wall decoration of this restaurant is very interesting, I loved the lamps they have and the sunlight they get through the windows, it gives the place a great feeling.

    Natural lighting and the original brickwork! Open and airy interior.
    Smythe R.

    A meetup group of eight of us met one Wednesday evening to enjoy the food and atmosphere of Nikos in Brightleaf Swuare. The space is wonderfully light and airy, fully utilizing the heavy oak beaks and brick walls but adding winsome touches of Greek culture to the modern furnishings. Collin helped us get seated and our drinks ordered, and then read us the daily specials. We tried the flaming cheese appetizer ("I'll bet it's on fire!" - and it was!), and there was enough for the whole table to have a taste. Also shared the fried potatoes, which were light and golden, like a house made Tater Tot but tastier, with a nice dipping sauce. I ordered the Shrimp Orzo with Grilled Octopus (I mean, what's not to love from just the title!!). Several others had the Chicken Shwarma wrap, which they said was the best shwarma they had eaten. All of them took half of it home for lunch! The orzo was stunning, with 5 or 6 huge shrimp covered with a creamy orzo and dotted with a balsamic/Kalamata olive paste. A half dozen octopus tentacles were grilled to perfection and overlaid in a beautiful presentation. But why, why do chefs insist on cooking shrimp with tails on into a sauce? It just means that the diner is going to have to get fingers into the food to pull the shell off, which takes away from the enjoyment. Those shells can't add that much flavor to the orzo. Desserts were split between the Dupai chocolate and the Fig and Mascarpone cheesecake. Both were amazing, but I did note that no one finished the pistachio and phyllo dough filling. I tried a bit of it, and it was kinda fibrous, like coconut almost in texture, but there was almost no flavor. Hit they reported the chocolate was more than worth the slight disappointment there! My cheesecake was delightful and fun, served as a long, narrow strip, rather than a square or wedge. Really nice end to a fun and filling dining experience. The remainder of the entree reminded me how good it was the next day. Thanks again, Collin!

    Pastitsio with short rib
    Lauren K.

    I hopped on the bandwagon after the Michelin recommendation, and I was duly impressed. The cocktails were smooth with nice flavors. The flaming saganaki was a spectacle, but the best part of the dish was actually the walnut shallot jam. My husband and I both finished off our delicious entrees and still opted for dessert, which was a satisfying ending to the meal.

    Special - crusted flounder
    Justin F.

    I had an excellent dinner here. We decided to check it out after hearing about the Michelin recommendation. Reservation was easy to make on OpenTable. Walking in the vibe was nice and casual. The waiter was great, explaining the menu and going through the specials. I ended up ordering the flounder, which he told me was caught fresh in Wilmington. Drinks and appetizers were so good, I highly recommend the zuicchni cakes. We were too full for dessert, so maybe next time.

    Cauliflower and beets with hummus and vegetables
    Richard A.

    Let's get one thing out of the way...it's pricey. That aside, everything about this place is delicious, inviting, friendly, memorable and perfect. The decor is random, but somehow works. The service was awesome, timely and friendly. And the food was incredible. We enjoyed the hummus, sourdough, vegetables, fried cauliflower, beets, lamb steak, wine, cocktails... And every sip and bite was delicious. Definitely coming back.

    short rib grilled sandy
    Yolanda Y.

    Nikos has such a lovely space with artsy decor and a tastefully set-up open kitchen, paired with an exposed brick wall. This place is just adorable for a celebration or a brunch on a sunny day to treat yourself in the charming historic Brightleaf Square. The ambiance here is excellent. That said, the service unfortunately left a lot to be desired. Our appetizer (the Mabucha) was forgotten until I reminded the server. When my main dish arrived, a different server nearly dropped the egg off my plate, audibly gasped, and walked away with an awkward laugh without an apology. As for the food, the smoked trout borek was fantastic. I absolutely loved it. The short rib grilled cheese was so satisfying and a crowd pleaser (though, of course, it's hard to go wrong with something like that). The ricotta gnocchi was delicious on its own, but the side vegetables were under-salted and included several tomato tops, which we had to eat around. And sadly, the Mabucha (the one thing I fought for because i was so looking forward to it) was extremely disappointing: underseasoned, with raw-tasting peppers that overwhelmed the dish. Overall, we genuinely enjoyed several dishes and found a couple of standouts. I would have given this place four stars based on food alone, but the service experience brought the overall impression down. Overall I think of Nikos as a "hit-or-miss" kind of place. Some dishes felt like 9/10s, others closer to 5/10s. Compared to somewhere like Kipos in Chapel Hill, which consistently lands around a 6-7/10 with much more reliable service, this felt more uneven. Though I do hope to return and try more, and wishing for more pleasant surprises.

    Spanakopita
    Rahima J.

    We came to dinner here with very high expectations as many people had said the food here was to die for. The inside is very cute but definitely get a reservation if you plan to have dinner as it gets very busy very fast. The best part of our meal were the beats - they had the most flavor. The other portions of our meal were quite tasteless and not the best options to choose.

    Hanger Steak
    Lyndie F.

    Maggie was professional and friendly, our food was delicious, and the experience was wonderful.

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    1 month ago

    Delicious modern Greek-influenced dining. Clearly very popular too. Nice wine list and knowledgeable bartender.

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    Not bad not amazing. I wish the menu was a bit bigger but definitely a good spot for a night out because of the good atmosphere.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Nikos

    Is this a family friendly place?

    We've eaten brunch and dinner here and noticed there were some families at brunch with small kids. I guess it would depend on what kinds of foods your kids will eat.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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