Nicholas Restaurant Lebanese and Mediterranean Cuisine
Lebanese restaurant · Buckman
1109 SE Madison St, Portland, OR 97214
Highlights
Generous Lebanese portions, fresh pita, and flavorful mezze platters
Generous Lebanese portions, fresh pita, and flavorful mezze platters
"Nicholas has been a Portland institution for Lebanese food since the ‘80s, and it’s still packed. So packed that they moved the original location to a loftier space in the inner Southeast, complete with a sprawling patio and full bar. Luckily, the pillowy, freshly baked pita that could feed a family of four is as good as ever. Bring a group and split a mezze, a Manakish pizza sprinkled with za’atar, and a slew of kabobs. Hummus and baba ganoush have become ubiquitous in the city over the years, but muhammara, the earthy red pepper dip, thickened with walnuts, is harder to find in Portland. Nicholas’ version is so rich and flavorful that you’ll want to get a container to go and devour it in private. " - krista garcia
"Like craft beers with sentence-long names and the word “artisanal,” mezze plates have become pretty cliché in Portland. You’ll find them as the vegetarian compromise on menus at way too many bars and restaurants. But at Nicholas, a Lebanese restaurant on a busy Central Eastside strip, the mezze platter is the highlight of the menu. Depending on which you choose, spinach-cheese pie, tabouli, falafel, hummus, and freshly baked pita will arrive at your table. The space is fairly tight, and you’ll want to stay for a while, ordering rounds of pita for the last smear of babaganoush - so maybe don’t show up with a whole crew after a Grand Ave bar crawl. Come back for a weeknight date instead, and you’ll likely just walk in with no wait." - krista garcia
"The Gresham outpost of the popular family-run Lebanese restaurant serves the same freshly baked pita, creamy hummus, pizzas, and meze the original is known for. Right on the quintessential small-town main drag, Nicholas, with its gold and scarlet color scheme, is suburban-style spacious with generous room between the solid wood tables and wrought-iron chairs. It’s worth saving room for dessert, with options like chocolate-peanut butter baklava." - Janey Wong
"Nicholas has been a Portland institution for Lebanese food since the ‘80s, and it’s still packed. So packed that they moved the original location to a loftier space in the inner Southeast, complete with a sprawling patio and full bar. Luckily, the pillowy, freshly baked pita that could feed a family of four is as good as ever. Bring a group and split a mezze, a Manakish pizza sprinkled with za’atar, and a slew of kabobs. Hummus and baba ganoush have become ubiquitous in the city over the years, but muhammara, the earthy red pepper dip, thickened with walnuts, is harder to find in Portland. Nicholas’ version is so rich and flavorful that you’ll want to get a container to go and devour it in private. photo credit: Brooke Fitts photo credit: Brooke Fitts" - Krista Garcia
"Nicholas is the grand dame of Lebanese food in Portland, and its takeout game is extremely strong. Quick work-week lunchers can grab a bowl of lamb with saffron rice and toum, or a chicken shawarma wrap. For dinner, families may instead opt for meze platters with things like hummus, muhammara, or tabouli, or individual meze like ground beef-stuffed grape leaves or arnabeet, a fried cauliflower dish. Chocolate peanut butter baklava is a smart finish to any meal." - Brooke Jackson-Glidden
