This lively Mediterranean eatery includes a cozy patio nestled along the historic brick street. The menus and decor pay homage to Giorgio Bakatsia’s upbringing in Greece and history in Durham—a revival of one of his former restaurants, Niko’s Greek Taverna, which was in this area many years ago. Delicious small meze and larger plates embracing ancient flavors from Greece and its surrounding regions are perfect for sharing around a table with friends.
This place is adorable inside and our waiter was very kind. The food is also good! But if you’re gluten free, you should go elsewhere. Their menu changed recently and less items are gluten free. As of writing this, their website menu is NOT up to date on what is available to eat. I’ll add menu photos here for what’s actually still gluten free. My main gripe is that the “spreads” section comes with bread to dip on the hummus/whatever you buy. You can’t substitute vegetables for bread. You have to have the bread and pay $11 for some carrots, bell pepper, and cucumbers to dip on the hummus. You pay $60 for 5 spreads and you can’t get a free bell pepper? There are better, less expensive, more accommodating gluten free options.
Christine Petras
Feb 13, 2026
5
Our first time dining at Nikos and it did not disappoint! Our server Mirna explained the menu and she made some recommendations which we really appreciated. She was top notch server and she was very attentive. The branzino and lamb kafta was delicious! The restaurant was lively but not too loud. Our table was cozy and we really loved the entire vibe as well as the seating. We are so happy to have a Michelin restaurant in Durham and we now understand! We made a reservation to come back again for my birthday.
Ryan Mandado
Feb 2, 2026
5
Visited this place after getting off a plane from Hawaii! Wow, amazing flavors and great good! We started with a shared meze platter. I recommend the beets and hummus for a tasty start. I ordered the octopus and really appreciated how the grilled and charred style elevated the taste of the dish! Highly recommend the banana baklava to end your night. All the drinks were great!
Also, best service from Mirna! She gave the best recs and we ordered everything she recommended. Thanks for making our experience great!
Lisa & Wes Williams
Feb 1, 2026
5
The Union Sourdough Bread was one of the best parts of the meal! Do it! The Crispy Calamari was a nice twist on an old favorite. The Haloumi Lettuce Boats were light and crunchy. The Short Ribs Pastitsio was a little light on the “Rib” but still very good. While good, the Truffle Ricotta Gnocchi was not the best. Too much salt and the gnocchi was a bit tough for our taste. Excellent wine and the service was fairly good.
Courtney Schammel
Jan 17, 2026
5
The food was delightful! Service was great. Our waiter (also a Niko) made wonderful wine recommendations. I can’t wait to bring out-of-town friends here!
Amanda Majeska
Dec 26, 2025
5
Our wait staff was Ah-amazing! The food was delicious, I had the hanger steak- 100% fabulous, though if you want more than just steak I’d add a side. My husband ordered the lamb, tasty and flavorful, unlike the steak, needed a little bit more protein to the meal but the sides were much better balanced. Only real downfall was feeling a little too close to the next table. Overall highly suggest this restaurant for a fun date night or even family night with older kids.
Jennifer Russum
Dec 14, 2025
4
My friend and I came for brunch and Mirna, our server, was awesome. Very kind and attentive to every detail. I usually eat dinner at Nikos and this was my first time trying brunch. The wait staff and atmosphere are always great!
Christopher Waymire
Nov 29, 2025
5
First time dining at Nikos and I was not disappointed. The owner was gracious and greeted us. The food was fantastic with the flaming saganaki cheese was a treat. The cocktails were great with twists on traditional mixes.
I would definitely recommend this spot! Opa!!
Tom Miller
Nov 24, 2025
5
We had an outstanding meal here on a Sunday night. We arrived early in the evening to a small crowd but by the time we left the dining area was full. Everything was prepared to perfection, the food was fresh, and the spices and flavors used in all the dishes were tasty, well balanced, and inventive without being overpowering. The Branzino and Byzantine Chicken were excellent, as was the Spanakopita and even the salad. The banana walnut baklava dessert was outstanding. With each course our expectations, which were high to begin with, were exceeded. On top of that, the service was excellent; friendly, personable, helpful, and attentive throughout the evening. This was our first visit but definitely not our last.
Jisoo Kim
Nov 14, 2025
5
I love this place. I’ve visited three times with my husband and sister.
The interior is cozy and beautiful, and it has a Greek vibe overall.
If you’re looking for good hummus, I’d definitely recommend theirs.
The crispy calamari was actually crispy and had a nice amount of squid inside.
I also enjoyed the gnocchi.
Val E
Nov 13, 2025
5
The Greek cuisine is spectacular. Lots of flavors! I’d recommend their cheese dish that they light on fire, the restaurant erupts and says “OPA”. It’s definitely a great experience! Don’t skimp on dessert, their baklava was 10/10
gracise zhang
Oct 19, 2025
5
My friend and I had dinner here to wish her a happy birthday. I'm glad we told Niko who served us about this. He was very welcoming, the food was delicious and everyone was very nice. We didn't realize they even surprised us with a birthday song which was really nice, even when it was close to their end of the day.
Overall, it is a great place to celebrate some holidays and if you like the original taste of the ingredients, Greek food is a great choice!! Really recommend:)
Paula M
Sep 28, 2025
5
Everything about this place is PERFECT! Love the outdoor garden seating next to a beautiful historic red brick building. We loved the presentation of the saganaki! The cheese, creamy with the added lemon. Plus the perfect light crispy top! Then we had amazing lemon rice soup. Woah. I’ve had it at my friend’s Grandma’s Greek restaurant and that was always my favorite… until now!! Then the rice, squash and Byzantine chicken!! Perfectly moist chicken with the lightly seasoned crispy skin. Thank you Brandon for your recommendation!! We will come back again!
Lauren Anne
Sep 13, 2025
5
AMAZING! Took my mom here before a show at DPAC and I am so glad I did. The service and ambiance were both spectacular.
We got the brussel sprouts, santorini shrimp, and the pumpkin ravioli special. The pumpkin ravioli special was our favorite but it was all delicious. We finished with the galaktoboureko, which our server recommended, and the fig and feta cheesecake. The galaktoboureko is super unique but ended up being our favorite so definitely worth the try.
Definitely worth coming in if you’re in the Durham area!
Kishan Patel
Aug 28, 2025
5
Nikos is a great spot in the Brightleaf area of Downtown Durham. It’s very dog-friendly, the staff is welcoming, and the menu has a wide selection with options for different diets.
Brenda W
Aug 18, 2025
5
This place is a 10/10. Plates are shareable. We ended up ordering the specials for the night along with a few other dishes. If you are open minded and just try it you will have a wonderful experience. Our server Lauren was amazing. I was not too fond of the hostess checking in, but other than that it was worth it.
Kay
Jun 26, 2025
5
I can't remember a better Greek restaurant that I have been to outside of Greece. It has a very authentic and upscale vibe. The cocktails were phenomenal and the food was out of this world. It is a bit pricey, but worth every penny.
John Doe
Jun 21, 2025
5
Amazing food. The Greek Mac and Cheese is superb as is the Greek yogurt. Great staff. Everyone seemed very kind and prompt. Parking is a challenge and the chairs are hard wood, but the food is excellent -- tasty, good portions, and not doused with sugar or salt. Highly recommend.
Shantel Richardson
Jun 9, 2025
5
Josh is an amazing server. Very friendly and great timing for food.
The staff listen to feedback. They made a vegan friendly eggplant moussaka between my first and second visit. The chefs here clearly get the ability to build complex and delicious flavors like almond, fig, fennel, and sea salt feta cheesecake. I strongly suggest getting a reservation and treating yourself.
Holly Sullenger
May 13, 2025
5
Our first visit to Nikos but it won't be the last! Great service. Delicious, mouth watering food. Beautiful decor. We went for a birthday dinner and received special cookies and a song. Phenomenal night thanks to Nikos.
Elizabeth Arthur
Apr 13, 2025
5
Beautifully decorated and ambiance for every occasion. Menu and wine list have a good variety. The food is fantastic, and Margaret Rose took very good care of us!! Thanks for a nice evening!!
Stacie Dye
Mar 29, 2025
5
We had an unforgettable dining experience tonight! We arrived early without a reservation, and were immediately impressed by the restaurant's beautiful ambiance and relaxed vibe. It did get busier and louder as the evening went on, but the atmosphere remained pleasant. Our waiter, Niko, was a true standout—friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. He provided just the right amount of attention, answered all our questions, and made excellent recommendations.
We opted to share several small plates and were absolutely delighted by the hummus, tzatziki, and warm pita bread. I was thrilled to try a mocktail, while my friend enjoyed a glass of wine. The crispy calamari, Santorini lemon shrimp, and zucchini cakes were all bursting with flavor. The grand finale, however, was the Dubai chocolate dessert—it was a decadent combination of dark and white chocolate mousse, crunchy pistachio phyllo dough, and pistachio ice cream. My friend already declared that she’ll be starting with the Dubai chocolate next time! We’re already looking forward to our next visit to explore more of the menu.
Kerri-Lynn Scheitel
Mar 24, 2025
5
This place has stunning decor, amazing staff, and the food is authentic and delectable. My fiancé and I were drooling from the salad and the calamari to our mains. Dessert was a bonus, thank you to Athena for a special birthday treat! Next time I am in Durham I will definitely be going back here as it came highly recommended by all the locals.
Molly Olivia
Mar 21, 2025
4
The food here is very good and it is such a cozy environment. I wish the service matched. I have been two different times in 3 weeks and unfortunately had the exact bad service from two different teams. It is a restaurant with multiple small plate options, and you'd imagine it would be for sharing. But they don't course anything, so everything arrives at the table at once, and they never clear anything once it's done. Both times, our table was overflowing with empty plates and brought dessert menus, dessert, and checks. Nothing cleared. Every time a server passed or offered us dessert/check they left with empty hands.
I think the staff just needs better training. The management has failed their staff.
