Nicholas Restaurant
Exterior of the Southeast Madison restaurant, 2021
Restaurant information
Established1987 (1987)
Owner(s)Hilda Dibe
Previous owner(s)Nicholas Dibe, Linda Dibe
Food typeLebanese cuisine
Websitenicholasrestaurant.com

Nicholas Restaurant is a chain of three Lebanese restaurants in the Portland metropolitan area, in the United States. It is one of the oldest Lebanese and Middle Eastern restaurants in Portland.[1] The business also operates in Gresham.

History

Nicholas and Linda Dibe opened the first restaurant in 1987.[1][2] The Dibes fled Beirut, Lebanon in 1982, immigrated to Portland with their four young daughters. Five years later they opened the restaurant.[2] Nicholas invested his entire pension in the restaurant, which first served pizza and calzones.[2][1] Later, the Dibes started adding some of their favorite Lebanese dishes to the menu, which became popular with customers.[2] The restaurant is now owned by one of the Dibes' daughters, Hilda.[1] There are several locations which are operated by different extended family members.[3] The business also operates in Gresham.[4]

In 2020, Nicholas announced plans to relocate the flagship location to 1109 Southeast Madison Street, in the Buckman neighborhood, in 2021.[2][1] In April 2021, Nicholas opened its new location which has a full bar.[3][5][6]

Reception

Willamette Week's Lauren Yoshiko said Nicholas is best for "homestyle hummus and kebabs, every day for decades" and wrote, "If Pioneer Place is Portland's living room, Nicholas is the city's Lebanese kitchen."[7] Nicholas has been recognized in the newspaper's annual "readers' poll", winning in the "Best Mediterranean Restaurant" category in 2016,[8] 2017,[9] 2018,[10] and 2020.[11]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Bjorke, Christopher (2020-10-13). "Portland Lebanese restaurant Nicholas to relocate". Portland Business Journal. Archived from the original on 2021-12-06. Retrieved 2021-04-08.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Lebanese Dining Favorite Nicholas Restaurant Is Moving to a New, Larger Space After 33 Years". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  3. 1 2 Silberstein, Nina (December 31, 2020). "Nicholas Restaurant". The Southeast Examiner. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  4. Rosas, Angel (November 7, 2022). "Nicholas Restaurant reopens its door in downtown Gresham". Business Tribune. Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  5. Prewitt, Andi (April 5, 2021). "Portland Lebanese Institution Nicholas Restaurant Has Opened in a New, Larger Space". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  6. "Nicholas Restaurant Opens New SE Location". Portland Food + Drink. April 1, 2021. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  7. "Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  8. "Best of Portland Reader's Poll 2016: The Complete List of Winners". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2019-01-06. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  9. "Here are the Winners of the Best of Portland Readers' Poll 2017". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2019-01-06. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  10. "Here are the Winners of the Best of Portland Readers' Poll 2018". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2019-01-06. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  11. "FOOD, DRINK, RESTAURANTS". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2020-11-15. Retrieved 2020-10-14.

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