Niko Niko's
The restaurant's exterior in 2017
Restaurant information
Established1977
Owner(s)Dimitri Fetokakis
Food typeGreek cuisine
Street address2520 Montrose
CityHouston
StateTexas
Postal/ZIP Code77006
CountryUnited States
Other locationsMarket Square Park
Websitewww.nikonikos.com

Niko Niko's Greek & American Café (more commonly known as Niko Niko's) is a restaurant located in Montrose District, Houston, Texas known for serving Greek cuisine. Chrisanthios Fetokakis opened the restaurant in 1977, and ownership was eventually passed on to his son, Dimitri Fetokakis.

History

According to Niko Niko's official site, Chrisanthios Fetokakis opened a walk-up window restaurant on May 1, 1977, earning $15 the first day it operated.[1] After an initial struggle to open, Fetokakis received assistance from Pete Pappas of the Pappas Restaurants franchise.[1] Eventually, Fetokakis' son Dimitri became owner of the restaurant. Dimitri considered Pappas a lifelong mentor, and was saddened by his death in 2005.[2]

In 2005, owner Dimitri Fetokakis began landscaping the median across from the restaurant as part of a commitment to Montrose Boulevard Conservancy's "beautification" project.[3] Before the Houston recycling program known as RecycleBank went into effect in 2009, Niko Niko's used polystyrene plates, bowls, and cups to serve food and drinks. Since the program's implementation, Fetokakis made the decision to switch to environmentally friendlier (though also more expensive) "enviroware" plates and degradable plastic bags.[4] Houston residents participating in the incentive program can earn points for recycling and redeem them at the restaurant.[5]

After more than 30 years of doing business from its location in Neartown, Niko Niko's expanded in 2010 by adding a kiosk in Market Square Park in Downtown Houston.[6] The 375-square-foot (34.8 m2) "sidewalk cafe-style operation" focuses on "to-go" foods such as gyro sandwiches, shish kababs and hummus.[6][7]

Niko Niko's has sponsored World Gyro Eating Championships at the annual Festival of Greece.[8] In 2009, the restaurant hosted a viewing party after being featured on the Food Network's television program Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.[9] The restaurant appeared on the show again 11 years later in 2020.

In May 2014 the restaurant announced it was opening a new restaurant in an H-E-B at Farm to Market Road 518 at Texas State Highway 288 in Pearland, Texas.[10]

Reception

Houston Press has awarded Niko Niko's with the following recognitions: Best Pork Chops (2001),[11] Best Chicken Soup for the Soul (2003),[12] Best Pork Chop (2005),[13] and Best Family-Owned Restaurant (2008).[14] In a 2010 review, Amber Ambrose of the Houston Press criticized the restaurant's Athenian Mushroom Burger, but conceded that "no rain nor sleet nor snow and now no dry burger could ever keep Niko Niko's off the Houston favorites list".[15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "History". Niko Niko's. pp. 1–5. Archived from the original on July 30, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  2. ↑ Britton, Nicki (December 21, 2005). "Co-founder of Pappas Restaurants dies". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. Archived from the original on January 9, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  3. ↑ Friedberg, Jennifer (September 18, 2007). "Plans being made for Montrose Blvd.'s revitalization". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  4. ↑ Casey, Rick (November 14, 2009). "Niko the Greek bets on recycling". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. Archived from the original on January 30, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  5. ↑ DeLony, Doug (October 20, 2009). "City to Reward Recyclers with Prizes". KRIV. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  6. 1 2 "Niko Niko's spins gyros downtown". Orlando Business Journal. American City Business Journals. April 23, 2010. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  7. ↑ Morago, Greg (April 12, 2010). "Montrose icon Niko Niko's to expand to downtown's Market Square". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. Archived from the original on April 15, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  8. ↑ Hoffman, Ken (May 20, 2009). "This guy's humble, but boy, can he eat". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Corporation. Archived from the original on May 22, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  9. ↑ Shilcutt, Katharine (September 30, 2009). "Opa! It's the Niko Niko's Viewing Party". Houston Press. Village Voice Media. Archived from the original on October 10, 2009. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  10. ↑ Dunn, Molly. "Openings & Closings: Niko Niko's Heads to Pearland While Dunkin' Donuts Continues Its Houston Takeover" (Archived 2014-05-18 at the Wayback Machine). Houston Press. Friday May 16, 2014. Retrieved on May 18, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Best Pork Chops – 2001". Houston Press. Village Voice Media. 2001. Archived from the original on January 23, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Best Chicken Soup for the Soul – 2003". Houston Press. Village Voice Media. 2003. Archived from the original on January 29, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Best Pork Chop – 2005". Houston Press. Village Voice Media. 2005. Archived from the original on January 29, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  14. ↑ "Best Family-Owned Restaurant – 2008". Houston Press. Village Voice Media. 2008. Archived from the original on September 11, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  15. ↑ Ambrose, Amber (April 9, 2010). "What Not to Order at Niko Niko's: Athenian Mushroom Burger". Houston Press. Village Voice Media. Archived from the original on April 13, 2010. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
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