Nicholas Restaurant’s New Location

I have been a fan of Nicholas Restaurant for a long time and I’m probably not the only one – this family restaurant has been in business in Portland for more then 35 years. It all started when the original Nicholas, “Dad” to the current owner and daughter Hilda, and grandfather to the Nicholas I met during my recent visit (Hilda’s son), took a risk using his retirement and pension to found Nicholas Restaurant after immigrating from Beirut, Lebanon. Despite this being their first time running a restaurant, Hilda’s parents found their pizzas and calzones were a hit and they were able to expand to the larger Lebanese homey menu you see today. I was sad to see them close up their hole in the wall Grand location, but also thrilled to see Nicholas Restaurant’s new location on SE Madison which now has room for a patio with heaters and umbrellas, plus more space (4x as much square feet) for distancing tables, and a medical grade air filtration system. And look at those cute booths and new bar. The second floor has a section perfect for a larger party of family and friends.
Nicholas Restaurant's new location on SE Madison includes a patio with heaters and umbrellas Nicholas Restaurant's new location on SE Madison now has room for a patio with heaters and umbrellas, plus more space (4x as much square feet) for distancing tables, and a medical grade air filtration system. And look at those cute booths Nicholas Restaurant's new location on SE Madison now has room for a patio with heaters and umbrellas, plus more space (4x as much square feet) for distancing tables, and a medical grade air filtration system. And look at those cute booths and new bar! Nicholas Restaurant's new location on SE Madison now has room for a patio with heaters and umbrellas, plus more space (4x as much square feet) for distancing tables, and a medical grade air filtration system. And look at those cute booths and new bar. The second floor has a section perfect for a larger party of family and friends! Nicholas Restaurant's new location on SE Madison now has room for a patio with heaters and umbrellas, plus more space (4x as much square feet) for distancing tables, and a medical grade air filtration system. And look at those cute booths and new bar. The second floor has a section perfect for a larger party of family and friends! Nicholas Restaurant's new location on SE Madison now has room for a patio with heaters and umbrellas, plus more space (4x as much square feet) for distancing tables, and a medical grade air filtration system. And look at those cute booths and new bar. The second floor has a section perfect for a larger party of family and friends!

During the pandemic I was thankful and incredibly impressed by Nicholas Restaurant‘s quick pivot to their “Flatten the Curve Healthy Menu” to serve the community. This was one of the fastest reactions to the times – they closed the dining rooms on March 16 2020 and started offering this menu right then. The menu at the time still had the same generous portions, but at a reduced price of $10 or less (with entrees still including salad and rice) to help those suffering financially and enhance their diet from unhealthy or processed food that might be what they think could afford. And, they were taking care of their team and their family with food. I ordered multiple times, and then when I heard they would be closing the SE Grand even stopped for takeout just to see it one more time.
Nicholas Restaurant's takeout from their 2020 Flatten the Curve Healthy Menu that offered $10 or less menu items so people with financial concerns could still enjoy good healthy food

As much as I enjoy the takeout, and especially eating that garlicky toum without subjecting anyone else to my aromatic breath as I eat it by the spoonful, I was excited to check out the patio immediately. There is nothing like having that fresh pita bread hot from the oven presented to your table with the zaatar and oil dip. We love the hummus so added that on as well even though we knew we would also be ordering a Mezza that had more hummus because well, we love hummus. F has a regular order that he doesn’t even look at the menu: the Arabian Breeze Mezza which gives highlights of multiple dishes: Hummus, hamara, caramelized onions mixed with tahini, majadra, fried cauliflower, and falafel.
Nicholas Restaurant pita with an appetizer of hummus. There is nothing like having that fresh pita bread hot and fresh from the oven presented to your table. Nicholas Restaurant Arabian Breeze Mezza which gives highlights of multiple dishes: Hummus, hamara, caramelized onions mixed with tahini, majadra, fried cauliflower, and falafel

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Brunch at Tusk and Upcoming Summer Party

Tusk in Portland took over the old Levant space on SE 24th and Burnside, transforming it into a light filled bright space with a sweet touch but continuing to offer Middle Eastern food and making use of the inherited open wood-burning hearth. Brunch at Tusk is only 10 AM – 2PM on Saturday and Sunday, otherwise they are open for dinner daily.

It’s quite a contrast seeing almost kitty corner across the street the line of people waiting for the heavier Southern brunch and fried chicken and biscuits versus here, the lighter Middle Eastern brunch plates, many which are vegetarian, can be made vegan, and feel healthier. Extensive studies have shown that Mediterranean eating patterns – of which Middle Eastern food share some commonality with its use of chickpeas, lentils, vegetables, olive oil, etc. –  are directly correlated with good health including the reduction of that LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) bad cholesterol,  risk of Alzheimer’s by approximately 40 percent, and the development of Parkinson’s Disease. So let’s bring on the hummus and pita, shall we!

Bright interior full of light welcomes you and keeps you feeling cheerful during your meal.
Tusk in Portland interior Tusk in Portland interior

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DarSalam Lazurdi

I was thrilled to hear that DarSalam, which started as a food cart and then opened a brick and mortar restaurant in Northeast Portland on Alberta was going to open a second location right in downtown at 320 SW Alder, called DarSalam Lazurdi. I have high hopes that this will open up exploration of their Middle Eastern cuisine with a few special Iraqi dishes from their hometown of Baghdad to a larger audience.
DarSalam Lazurdi new location on SW Alder
Their lunch buffet that they offer Mon-Fri 11:30-3:30 is a huge bargain, with the to go buffet discounted $2 from the regular dine in price of about $12. They also serve happy hour (4-6 PM Mon-Fri, 2-5 PM on Sat) and dinner (6-9 PM Mon-Sat) and full bar available alongside their vegan, gluten free, and halal options or conscientious of the lactose intolerant.
DarSalam Lazurdi lunch buffet at the new location on SW Alder DarSalam Lazurdi new location on SW Alder

When I tried their lunch buffet, there was a big bounty of options to choose from and my plate was super heavy even though I took only one spoonful of everything they had on the line that day. In fact, I had to leave out the soup in my first pass, and one dish (pickled mango salad) ended up in that soup bowl instead because I was just out of room despite my careful trying to just taste everything.
DarSalam Lazurdi lunch buffet at the new location on SW Alder My crazy heavy plate with just one spoonful of everything at the buffet, including that Curry Roasted Chicken in the middle, some Potato Salad (green) that separates it from the Tilapia with Mixed Vegetables on the left. Then all around little scoops, starting from 1200, rice, Ful Mudammas (fava beans), Lamb Marga, Spinach White Bean Stew, Chickpea Marga, Tahziki Salad, Beet Salad,Eggplant Marga, and Hummus. In the separate bowl is the Pickled Mango Salad

That included during my visit

  • Pickled Mango Salad: Pickled mango mixed with tomato and chickpeas
  • Ful Mudammas: Fava beans lightly mashed, lemon, olive oil and garlic
  • Tahziki Salad: yogurt blended with fresh garlic, lemon juice and cucumber
    Pickled Mango Salad at the DarSalam Lazurdi lunch buffet at the new location on SW Alder: Pickled mango mixed with tomato and chickpeas Ful Mudammas (Fava beans lightly mashed, lemon, olive oil and garlic) at the DarSalam Lazurdi lunch buffet at the new location on SW Alder Tahziki Salad at the DarSalam Lazurdi lunch buffet at the new location on SW Alder: Rich yogurt blended with fresh garlic, lemon juice and cucumber
  • Beet Salad: Beets cooked until tender, cooled and mixed with yogurt and lemon
  • Hummus: Chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice and garlic, garnished with paprika and olive oil.
  • House Salad of  salad greens with onion, cucumber, carrots, olives, and seasonal herbs, drizzled with house dressing
    Beet Salad at the DarSalam Lazurdi lunch buffet at the new location on SW Alder: Beets cooked until tender, cooled and mixed with yogurt and lemon Hummus at the DarSalam Lazurdi lunch buffet at the new location on SW Alder: Chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice and garlic, garnished with paprika and olive oil Salad greens with onion, cucumber, carrots, olives, and seasonal herbs, drizzled with house dressing at DarSalam Lazurdi lunch buffet at the new location on SW Alder
  • Curried Roasted Chicken
  • Pan fried Tilapia with Mixed Vegetables
  • Spinach and White Bean Stew
  • Lamb Marga “Khema”: a slow cooked chickpea and shredded lamb strew
  • Eggplant Marga: a slow cooked strew with eggplant, diced potato, onion, tomato, red bell pepper and pomegranate
  • Chickpea Marga: a slow cooked strew with chickpea, tomato, sauteed onion and hint of cardamom
  • Basmati Rice
  • Freshly baked hot flatbread

The downtown space is gorgeous with lots of bold royal blue and gold colors. The new larger location has room and plans for live music and belly dancing on weekend evenings.
DarSalam Lazurdi new location on SW Alder DarSalam Lazurdi new location on SW Alder DarSalam Lazurdi new location on SW Alder DarSalam Lazurdi new location on SW Alder

The service is kind and respectful with a bit of homeyness and humility. You can order from the menu during lunch so you aren’t restricted to the buffet, but it will be slower than the obvious serve yourself of the buffet line. You go to the register at the end to pay your bill.

Even after a second trip to the buffet, my wonderful group of women lunching with me stepped up to ordering all the desserts to share between us. And it was the perfect ending.
Clockwise desserts at DarSalam you see Baklava, a Date Roll and a dessert called Dark & Honey Clockwise desserts at DarSalam you see Baklava, a Date Roll and a dessert called Dark & Honey

As much as you enjoy the food at the buffet, don’t miss leaving a smidge of room for the desserts. Their menu could include some desserts you may not have ever heard of before beyond your usual classic:

  • Baklava, a honey and roasted pistachios rolled up in layers of crisp phyllo dough. The use of pistachios here instead of walnut is what makes it Middle Eastern instead of Mediterranean
    DarSalam Lazurdi dessert Baklava, a honey and roasted pistachios rolled up in layers of crisp phyllo dough
  • DarSalam Lazurdi Date Roll, tender dates wrapped around walnuts and rolled in coconut flakes then drizzled with date honey
    DarSalam Lazurdi Date Roll, tender dates wrapped around walnuts and rolled in coconut flakes then drizzled with date honey
  • Sweet Yogurt Gaemar, a dessert of a thick sweet yogurt topped with lots of date honey
    DarSalam dessert of Sweet Yogurt Gaemar, a dessert of a thick sweet yogurt topped with lots of date honey
  • Dark & Light with Dibbis Date Honey and Tahini Sesame Paste on a plate served with warm flatbread for dipping
    Dar Salam Lazurdi dessert called Dark & Light with Dibbis Date Honey and Tahini Sesame Paste on a plate served with warm flatbread for dipping

I was too stuffed from that first lunch to try the Iraqi shredded meat plate, so forced myself (ha ha ha… it was the bare-bones rationalization I needed to justify a return trip) to come back to try those dishes for you. This is Iraqi style tender shredded meat – your choice of chicken or lamb. I went with chicken.
DarSalam Lazurdi Iraqi Shredded Meat Rice Plate, choice of chicken or lamb atop a bed of basmati rice with a dollop of chickpea marga and with a side of soup or salad. Here you see chicken.

It can be served as an appetizer with your choice of hummus, baba ghanoush or tahziki and flatbread. Or, have it on salad on a bed of greens, or as a main dish atop a bed of basmati rice with a dollop of chickpea marga and with a side of soup or salad. During happy hour, you can have it as an Iraqi Shawarma.

I like it as the rice plate because it means you get the chickpea marga too and a pretty substantial cup of the Adis, a lentil soup. And, it pretty much means you now have 2 meals from that one order – I had it for dinner two different nights with the leftovers as my second meal.
DarSalam Lazurdi Iraqi Shredded Meat Rice Plate, choice of chicken or lamb atop a bed of basmati rice with a dollop of chickpea marga and with a side of soup or salad. Here you see chicken. DarSalam Lazurdi cup of Adis, lentil soup

On my other visit as we awaited our food, we were given a complimentary pita with za’atar dip of the za’atar spices in olive oil.
DarSalam Lazurdi starter of fresh warm pita bread and dip of za'atar in olive oil

We shared an appetizer of the Mixed Dolma with onion, zucchini, and grape leaves stuffed with rice, diced vegetables and spices infused with sun dried tomato and pomegranate. My favorite are the dolma stuffed in onion rather than the grape leaves.
Mixed Dolma with onion, zucchini, and grape leaves stuffed with rice, diced vegetables and spices infused with sun dried tomato and pomegranate. My favorite are the dolma stuffed in onion rather than the grape leaves Mixed Dolma with onion, zucchini, and grape leaves stuffed with rice, diced vegetables and spices infused with sun dried tomato and pomegranate. My favorite are the dolma stuffed in onion rather than the grape leaves

The Falafel here instead of being round balls are more doughnut shaped and much bigger! Here they came part of a Vegan Mezza Plate (on the regular Mezza menu, but that was also part of the happy hour menu) that included the Hummus, Baba ghanoush (smoky roasted eggplant ground with tahini, garlic, lemon juice and garnished with zaatar and olive oil), pickled mango salad, and three falafel (made from ground chickpeas and spices cooked to order from scratch
Darsalam Lazurdi Vegan Mezza Platter with Hummus, Baba ghanoush (smoky roasted eggplant ground with tahini, garlic, lemon juice and garnished with zaatar and olive oil), pickled mango salad, and three falafel (made from ground chickpeas and spices cooked to order from scratch) Darsalam Lazurdi Falafel Donuts, made from ground chickpeas and spices cooked to order from scratch

If you order the Arab Coffee, know that it’s a pretty thick and dark coffee, with a hint of cardamom sweetness. They are served in authentic Iraqi sipping glasses and you can actually get refills of it! Do NOT drink to the grounds.
Arab Coffee: Rich, thick and dark coffee, with a hint of cardamom sweetness, served in authentic Iraqi sipping glasses. Refills available.

There is also a pretty interesting cocktail menu here that uses a lot of the spices and rose water in the beverages to give you the flavors of the Middle East. On the left you see a special which I think was being rotated out of the menu for December, a Rabbit’s Foot with VSOP Brandy, Luxardo, Cardamaro, Creme de Cassis, Green Chartreuse and Orange Bitters. On the right, I was tasting a preview of a new drink that might appear on the menu, the Philippe that takes advantage of the housemade mango juice they offer with rose water.
DarSalam Lazurdi cocktail menu and Bartender's Choice special drink of Rabbit's Foot with VSOP Brandy, Luxardo, Cardamero, Creme de Cassis, Green Chartreuse and Orange Bitters DarSalam Lazurdi Bartender's Choice special drink of Rabbit's Foot with VSOP Brandy, Luxardo, Cardamero, Creme de Cassis, Green Chartreuse and Orange Bitters Cocktail with housemade mango juice and rose water

You can dine at this DarSalam Lazurdi location downtown, or on their website you can even get delivery of their menu items from Delivery Dudes. If you visit this coming Sunday December 13th from 1 – 5 PM, DarSalam is hosting a Holiday Stop & Shop with small local businesses with appetizers on them as you do a little holiday shopping, and 15% of their proceeds will go to the work of Mercy Corps with Syrian and Iraqi refugees.

Do any of these food items tempt you, which one?

Darsalam Lazurdi Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Arabian Nights Cafe

It may seem like a dine out a lot- and to be fair, I do. F and I are childfree, and he’s not only vegetarian, but a picky and healthy vegetarian. I’m just… not either of those. At least when we dine out.

When we’re home, our meals are usually very simple and repetitive, and we also often eat on our own because I want nothing to do with his cold black beans or lentil soup out of a can or Morningstar concoctions with BBQ sauce. Meanwhile he is uninterested in my sauteed spinach and rice plates or riffs on mac and cheese. Even though I love delicious food and pretty much eat/blog as a hobby and a way to spend my leisure time, F is not shy to admit that if he could stop doing 3 things, one of the top 3 would be eating! For me, things like having to sleep so many hours to be functional or going to the bathroom or having to wash my hair every 36 hours make that list… and I would never even think to put eating on that list.

There are several places though that we both really really enjoy and bring us together to bridge this divide on food. Arabian Nights Cafe, a less than 10 minute walk from our home, is one of those guilty pleasures we both share great affection for. If on the way home he comes in carrying a bag of take-out from Arabian Nights, even if it’s just a side of fries with that garlic sauce, I just can never resist. I’ll tell you now that it’s totally a divey hole in the wall. But we don’t care.

Every time we order, the pita bread is always piping hot and fresh out of the oven, and it’s so soft and poofy.
Arabian Nights Cafe fresh piping hot pitas

He always gets the same thing, because he is a huge creature of habit. He finds something he likes, he will become a regular at that location with that same dish. Here at Arabian Nights Cafe, it’s the Arabian Nights Mezza Platter, a combination plate of hummus, baba ghannouj, falafel, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and tabouli. The baba ghannouj here is really incredible because of it’s smokiness. There are lots of times we don’t like the dolmades dish because the leaves are hard, but at Arabian Nights the chef marinates them an extra long time than usual, making them very soft.
Arabian Nights Mezza Platter, a combo of hummus, baba ghannouj, falafel, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and tabouli Arabian Nights Mezza Platter, a combo of hummus, baba ghannouj, falafel, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and tabouli Arabian Nights Mezza Platter, a combo of hummus, baba ghannouj, falafel, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and tabouli

While F always gets pretty much the same thing at every Meditteranean restaurant (always hummus and falafel, and maybe baba ghannouj), I like exploring different foods. That’s why I like going to new places, and also ordering new dishes at the regular places. The one time I asked F to dine in at Arabian Nights, I decided to try the Arabian Nights Cafe entree of the Mixed Grill Supreme with three skewers of chicken, lamb and kafta kabob served with rice, small salad and a side of cucumber yogurt.
Arabian Nights Cafe Mixed Grill Supreme entree of Three skewers of chicken, lamb and kafta kabob served with rice, small salad and a side of cucumber yogurt. Arabian Nights Cafe Mixed Grill Supreme entree of Three skewers of chicken, lamb and kafta kabob served with rice, small salad and a side of cucumber yogurt.

I couldn’t believe how much food there was on the plate. While the chef apologized he didn’t have any glass plates and had to serve me my food on a paper plate while F got the fancy plate, I thought it was homey and charming. And looking at those kabobs and mountains of rice, who’s looking at the plate itself? And, I was impressed that the lamb was tender and cooked perfectly medium for me and the kafta kabob was delicious also.

It clearly meant that my side order of Cheese Pie, a house dough that is used to make that doughy pita plus cheese spread on top, was clearly unnecessary to get me full, though it was super enjoyable.
Arabian Nights Cafe Cheese Pie, a house dough that is used to make the pita plus cheese spread.

The place is really a dinky and small. But I don’t judge – and would completely understand if on your visit you chose to get carry-out, which is what I think most people do given it’s in the PSU area in the South Park Blocks and it’s literally steps to a picnic in the park. Here’s an example of the carryout the Chicken Shawarma Platter with thinly sliced chicken over rice that is served with rice, small salad and a side of cucumber yogurt. That’s like 2 servings there in that box with that single order.
Arabian Nights Cafe in Portland, carryout of the delicious Chicken Shawarma Platter with thinly sliced chicken over rice that is served with rice, small salad and a side of cucumber yogurt Arabian Nights Cafe in Portland, carryout of the delicious Chicken Shawarma Platter with thinly sliced chicken over rice that is served with rice, small salad and a side of cucumber yogurt

The Lamb Shank, which I got as carry out, is big enough for two. The lamb is fall off the bone, and served with traditional bokhari rice along with small salad and a side of cucumber yogurt.
Arabian Nights Cafe in Portland Lamb Shank, lamb shank served with traditional and flavorful bokhari rice along with small salad and a side of cucumber yogurt Arabian Nights Cafe in Portland Lamb Shank, lamb shank served with traditional and flavorful bokhari rice along with small salad and a side of cucumber yogurt

My only disappointment is that the Arabian Nights Beef Shawarma Sandwich (thinly sliced beef rolled with tomatoes, parsley, pickles, onions and tahini sauce) is small. Though maybe this is actually an advantage so you can justify also getting a side of fries with that garlicky sauce. Yeah,  it totally rationalizes it. F knows when I have a crappie day and want to wallow at home the fries with that sauce always are a comfort to me.
Arabian Nights Beef Shawarma Gyro Sandwich - thinly sliced beef rolled with tomatoes, parsley, pickles, onions and tahini sauce Arabian Nights Beef Shawarma Gyro Sandwich - thinly sliced beef rolled with tomatoes, parsley, pickles, onions and tahini sauce

I support all small business owners – be it those beautifully designed restaurant with Northwest wood and maybe even white tablecloths,  those pop ups with multiple courses where you bring prepped food in Tupperware, or if you working out of a food cart, or those out of a little hole in the wall. Sure I love a restaurant and being served like I’m special,  but there’s something sorta luxurious about take-out or delivery food out of boxes and yes, paper plates and plastic utensils.

What is your little hole in the wall that you love by your home? What us your family regular take out joint?

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