Niko’s Lodge
1520 S Randall Rd, Algonquin, IL, 60102
Niko’s Lodge Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Algonquin for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
1520 S Randall Rd
Algonquin, IL, 60102 - Phone
- Website https://www.nikoslodgealgonquin.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Mon, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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Scott A.
Food: 2 stars Service: 3 stars Atmosphere: 5 stars Concept: 4 stars Skip as a sit-down dinner spot; DEFINITELY come to hang out with friends, watch the game, or grab bar food. If you're looking for a warm inviting causal spot to hang out, this place is hard to beat! With complimentary S'mores, couches around the fireplace, and a genuine lodge atmosphere, drop the temperature outside and you'll forget you're even in Algonquin! Note though, when I said bar food in my opening sentence, it's the same menu. It's just that generally one has different expectations when they eat at the bar than when they formally sit down. So this is not to say its bar food menu or there is one. Quite the contrary, the menu is without question fine for a full sit-down dinner with a decent reasonably diverse selection. The problem is it also seems to be pretty hit or miss. That said, my sole mission was to find a burger and the Niko burger I had was pretty good: 3 1/2 stars. In this area, your choice is pretty much either chain or bar. For non-corporate chain restaurant/bar burger options, there are few in this area and this is one of the better ones. The best and one-of-the-best burgers in all Chicago is actually across the street at Montarra but alas was off the menu this night. At Niko's, the burger I ordered was the Prime and Egg; requested rare came out medium-rare which was actually fine. I might even have ordered it medium-rare if places where actually better at not overcooking! The egg was overcooked but not horribly so. I'd come back. However, if you like your burgers well-done I probably wouldn't recommend these. The bun would be mismatched for a well-done burger and I suspect most would find it mediocre at best. While I didn't find the prices terrible; they are high for mediocre! I also sampled the Rotisserie Chicken. Looked great but unfortunately was drier than a well in a dessert. The accompanying beans however were excellent. A Prime Steak ordered at a nearby table looked amazing .....but then again so did the chicken. So for food Niko's wasn't so happening but a truly unique fantastic spot to hang out at !
(4)Niko K.
Change the NAME. Niko has nothing to do with this place. It was sold April 2014. Just letting the public know.
(1)Candi P.
Had dinner with my family, food was pretty good. The chicken pot pie was excellent, said my mom. Shared a half chicken and ribs with my dad. My fiancé said his burger was just alright nothing special. Service was definitely sub par. Our first two choices for appetizers were not available (calamari was our first choice) . The shrimp scampi that was actually available wasn't good. Just shrimp doused in butter with some seasoning. The s'mores with marshmallows you could roast outside was a nice touch but the graham crackers we got were kind of stale. Still fun though.
(3)Tommy P.
Went there to get a good dinner with my Dad was VERY disappointed in the meal and service!! We were sat and waited about 15 minutes and I had to ask for a waiter!! Not good to start. Asked for dry Ribs and got them swimming in sauce, now my Dad had ribs and Chicken. He wanted them with BBQ and his came dry! Bad day i hope!! I will try 1 more time but if same i will keep my 1 star!!
(1)Mike M.
Experienced some of the worst food and service ever. Not cheap either. I spent almost $100 with tip for me, my wife, and 3 year old child. Definitely a waste of money. Restaurant was moderately slow when we arrived. Our waitress hardy new anything about the menu or what they had to drink and she was not accommodating, poor communication skills, hardly around. We all ate about 2 bites of our meals and just couldn't stomach anymore. I paid and left (also left our meals which were all only missing 2 bites). Needless to say I will not be back
(1)Sarah H.
We've dined here twice now. The first time was just my husband & I. It was a nice meal, good service and good food. We took our kids on the 2nd visit. Typically our kids moan and groan whenever we decide to take them somewhere new. When I told them about the s'mores, they were sold. It's such a fun perk after dinner. We'll definitely be back!
(4)Phil L.
Pretty good draft beer selection and the rotisserie chicken is fantastic. Only downside is that service can be a little spotty when it gets busy. Been there several times and will continue to go. Drink specials during Hawks and Bears games too!
(4)Paul W.
We've been here several times. Food is reasonably priced and overall great service. All I've eaten was the cheeseburgers and the lasagna which is a must. My family enjoys Niko's just as much as I do. The St Charles location is a bit older but has a cozier feel somehow. Either way this place earns its five stars
(5)Nicole W.
Right in the heart of the shopping arena, Nico's can be seen with the wood burning pits awaiting your S'mores. The attractiveness of the exterior is defiantly an alluring factor to venture inside - it's too bad we didn't have someone greeting us when we arrived. Lunch Hour: We waited for several minutes before a hostess came hustling from the back, chewing the last couple bites of whatever she was eating. First impressions are always important, and this was a failed attempt of professionalism. My family member asked her if the S'mores were still available. Unsure on how to answer, the hostess started to walk away and look around the dining room for assistance. We waited for another several minutes before her co-worker came up and asked us if we were being helped. After finally being seated, all of our entrees, all different choices, were presented well and very promptly. However, the pretzel bread for the BBQ pork sandwich and the Blue Cheese Burger that was requested by two of us dining, failed to make it to the table. The Gouda soup was highly recommended by our waitress - pretty average in flavor and definitely should be avoided or considered last based on the hyped up review it received. When we began to exit the low-lit 'lodge' like experience, a group of female co-workers were huddled behind the hostess stand, giggling at the content of their jokes and stories. One of them managed to thank us for coming. Bottom Line: There are so many restaurants in the area, this one just ranked itself near the bottom.
(3)Taylor M.
I have eaten here twice now and have been pleasantly surprised both times. Both times we ordered the fabulous fried cheese curds which I think I devoured the majority of. The second time, I had the cream of chicken soup that I added the lemon to which was amazing. The first time I dined here I had the salmon cooked on a cedar plank which was awesome. I tried some of my boyfriend's rotisserie chicken that night and knew when I went back I would be ordering it. So the second time we went, I ordered the Mac and Cheese that had bacon and shredded rotisserie chicken... mmmm... cheesy goodness! The ambience of Niko's is cozy like you are dining in a log cabin out in the woods, even if it is located in Algonquin Commons. The best part is that they have fire pits outside for you to roast s'mores on either while you are waiting for a table or as dessert... for free!
(4)Stefanie S.
I can't even give 1star. This placing knowingly took a reservation an my phone number for a party of 25 then closed! They never called or even hinted that they wouldn't be open. They were closed to "perfect" their menu and "retrain new staff members". I can't even explain how mad I am. Now I'm scrambling to find a place that will accommodate 25 on a Saturday night. Don't waste your time!!!!!!!
(1)Megan M.
The first time I went to Nikko's I loved it. The server was amazing as was the food and ambiance. I called in a week advanced to make a reservation for 5 people at 5pm for mother's day. The girl I talked to put me down and it was all set for mother's day. I call to make sure the reservation was still set but I got no answer, that went on for three days. When mothers day came around and we drove to the restaurant, there was a sign saying 'closed for a few days to change the menu and staff'. I was outraged I didn't get a phone call or any kind of communication, and I like a good hour and a half away so it was not only a waste of time but a waste of gas. I don't plan to come back. Very disappointing.
(1)Linda R.
Ahh, what a difference a year makes! We were here a year ago to celebrate a 92nd birthday and returned tonight to celebrate his 93rd birthday! Well, I certainly wished I had gone somewhere else. We made reservations, so that was a plus on a Saturday night, but ended up in a big booth with elderly people who couldn't manage the booth. We made it work, but it was difficult to talk. Onto the food - appetizers - wanted some cheese curds - haven't had those in stock for 3 weeks - seriously? 3 weeks? I asked the waiter if they'd been to Wisconsin lately? It's really not that far away, the breading isn't that difficult. So what are they waiting for? OK, we decided to skip the appetizer. Main course - fine - we ordered: burger (too big for the birthday boy - 8 oz is really big for someone without that big of an appetite, but was told there's nothing they can do about it. We told him to order it anyway and just do the best he can; ribs/chicken were good; pot pie was flakey and good; tilapia was nice, but a little greasy; chicken marsala - just a chunk of chicken, pasta, and a thick gravy with mushrooms - definitely have seen better. No knives were offered - we had to ask for a knife to cut the chicken and the ribs an chicken. A butter knife was dropped on the floor and they actually asked if we wanted to replace it - and we didn't get a replacement. Seriously - just bring a knife - it's sort of essential. In fact, as we asked for a knife to cut the chicken, they had to ask what kind. Are you just clueless? Then, what really got me was dessert - it was a birthday party! Well, they only had pumpkin pie (hate it!). Nothing else. So we left..... This restaurant lost out on about $30 of sales. Can you really justify this? We also couldn't do the smores thing (but weren't really in the mood either). They wanted the 93 year old and his 88 year old wife with a walker to walk around to the patio to roast a marshmallow instead of out front. Don't think so..... Just don't think we'll be back. Sorry - this had been a fav, but this really put us off. There are too many other choices.....
(1)Sean M.
I've been here many times and the food has steadily declined. the last two times i ordered the ribs they were very fatty. also when i was there Friday night i had the chicken and it was extremely dry, and this is their specialty! I will say the service is always great. I hope they can correct this, because this used to be a great dinner spot.
(2)Steve C.
Six in our party . No one liked their meal. To much salt on the marinara to to pasty of a tomato sauce. The 'Boom Boom' shrimp was good. Wine was fairly priced. We liked the decor, but not much else.
(1)Alan G.
Its kind of rude to say helllooooo when one is caught off guard digging through a wallet looking for the right amount to come up with for the second beer. I had one beer, she walks off, then if 10 feet away and says arrogantly helloooo when she saw I was " inattentive." I honestly did not think she was even there since she had left. Whatever happened to going to up someone face to face and asking " excuse me, I noticed you finished your drink, would you like another one of the same?' she did not do that. she only asked " how was that?" when my head was down. when she saw I was not listening she did not even walk closer. she stood at a distance and said helllloooo which to me is plain arrogant. I am not going back. ever.
(1)Donna R.
I had really high hopes for this place since I know it has been here for a while, its predecessors, Claddaugh and Barley House didn't do so well. Came here with another couple after a movie and maybe we will give it another try.. First of all, we walk in asking to be put on the waiting the list, the hostess is VERY unsure of the time, saying a possible 45 minutes but offers a bar table that is open. We wait for our friends and just decide to wait it out. Then, about 5 minutes later tables are ready, now mind you NOBODY is mad, we are all super pleasant and she is now blaming the waiters for not telling her that tables were open and that nobody ever tells her anything. That is terrible service, just take accountability and say sorry for the mix up a table is ready. We sit down and I completely love the atmosphere, really laid back, lodgy feel, with dimmed lighting. Waiter arrives promptly and takes our drink order and says he will also be back with bread. Bread is decent, nothing to completely drool over. Then, looking at the menu I am pretty surprised as to how expensive things are there, I mean a Mac and Cheese bowl is $13. Do you want to be laid back Nikos or do you want to be fine dining? And here is where it really went downhill... Asked for re-fill on the bread basket, that never came Barely any pesto on my Pesto Chicken Sandwich (my friend said hers was fine) My husbands Steak sandwich was literally a piece of steak on bread -- he ended up asking for lettuce and tomato and steak sauce Friends mac and cheese side was just ok -- looked like something out of a lunchroom My doggy bag of sandwich was not packed up with my left over sweet potato fries and I plenty left, WTH
(2)Angie M.
Popped in for a late lunch/early dinner an enjoyed a cocktail as well. The Pomegranate Martini was very good! I also tasted my friends Key Lime Martini which was delicious! Instead of a meal we opted to share some appetizers. We went with a few options of Calamari, Boom Boom Shrimp and Potato Skins. All were very good! There were so much potatoes and calamari left over we had to get to-go boxes (neither of us minded). I would definitely stop in again and make time to make a s'more on the way out!
(4)Layda C.
Excellent food and service - chicken kabobs are enormous! Could be an awesome meal for 2 people - Friday fish fry, all you can eat, yummy! Salmon - excellent. Very accommodating to changes to order such as substitutions. Even provided fresh steamed green beans when we didn't want butter. Server was very friendly, available when needed. Great looking restaurant but a bit dark n dreary when shades are drawn. Rock music too loud and didn't seem to fit.
(4)Michele B.
A warm comfy atmosphere to meet friends or for a family dinner. The menu is great with all the comfort food (and huge portions) you would expect from a family restaurant. The meatloaf is a sight to behold layered with creamy mashed potatoes and an abundance of gravy. After dinner you are treated to a complimentary package to make your own s'mores around the wood fires burning outside
(3)Art B.
Good food and prices in a cowboy grill atmosphere. One of our local favorites! My sons favorite part is the free s'mores to make over the patio fireplaces!
(4)Derek R.
The filet mignon here is really good. What I can't get over is the chicken, it is absolutely amazing and deserving of the title "famous" that they give it. I ordered the chicken and ribs combo and what I received was night and day. I love ribs, I make my own at home, so I asked the waitress before I ordered them "are they really famous ribs? are they really that good?" She assured me that they are and everybody loves them so I ordered them with my chicken... Big mistake. They slow cook the chicken in a rotisserie viewable by the patrons, so very delicious. It seemed as though they do not treat the pork ribs with the same respect. They were very dry and, for my tastes, way too much sauce on them. I told the waitress that the ribs were barely edible, dry and smothered in a run of the mill BBQ sauce. Her response was "this is not normal, I'm going to have them make you some fresh ones to take home." A woman I believe to be the manager also came and told me the same thing. I took them home, I tried the fresh ones, and they were good. I still think way too much sauce but good. My only problem with them is if you are going to put the title "famous" on them too they'd better be out of this world, like the chicken... not just good. I changed my review to this because my wife told me I was being unfair, that some people don't take words as literally as I do. Niko's is really good, and has great service. When claiming fame you should be ready for criticism.
(5)Chad W.
Great place. Great food. Decent prices. Great staff. I have been here 10 + times and not once have I had a bad meal. My wife had a below average burger and I don't care for their French onion soup. That aside I can say that their mile high meat loaf, fish fry, Reuben, pasta, chicken and ribs are all top notch. The staff is always on their game. Always been pleasant and fast. The decor is warm and cozy. When you walk in the smell of an open fire is wonderful. The kids love the s'mores. I just could do with a variety of music. The wall to wall country music could go at any time.
(4)juliet s.
The place has great atmosphere and the free smores is a great touch however, the food was mediocre and our waitress barely did her job. Our waitress did not know what hard cider was but said she was sure the bartender could make me a mixed drink. I asked what kind of beer they had and she claimed they only carried 4 different types?? She barely came to our table to check on us and my husband had to ask the hostess for our check. It was not a busy night. My husband's pot pie was soupy and lacked flavor and my salmon was dry. This place is probably okay for a very average meal or to have a few drinks at the bar (since I am sure their bartender knows what alcohol they serve) and some smores!
(2)Nicole M.
Went there last night for a friend for dinner. Food was good atmosphere was even better. I ordered the rotisserie chicken "special" which really is not a special because the special price is the same as the regular menu price. Chicken was dry but decent the garlic mashed were awesome. The house dressing was excellent as well. I loved the do it yourself smores as you walk out the door! I will be going back!
(4)Ryan H.
First time here.... I will come back. But I'll be more aware of the prices. The chicken is amazing. Everything sounds good on the menu. The atmosphere is very woodsy... It makes you feel like your in a cabin. Free smores is a big plus to
(3)Kate C.
I will never ever come here again! I went for a lunch on Sunday with a friend. We sat down and waited for a good 15 minutes before anyone came and talked to us. Finally, he came and he got our drink order. It took a long time for him to come back and check on us. It was okay though as we were chatting. Finally, our meals come the food was good. However what happened next was the worst customer service I have ever experienced. Our check came and we asked to simply split it in to two. He comes back and he had added additional money onto the order by adding the table next doors appitizers. He comes back and says he will fix it, he took our cards and ran them again for the right amount! He was not at all helpful and seemed stunned that I wanted to talk to the manager. The manager claimed that he voided the whole transaction for both of us. I am so irritated with the whole situation, I have advised my co-workers, friends and families of this horrible experience and encouraged them all to write off Nikos.
(1)Stephanie L.
Excellent food, slow service. I assume our server was just having an off day though. Large portion sizes, lots of yummy comfort food on the menu. Good drinks with an interesting cocktail menu. We will definitely be back, and this time we plan on utilizing the s'mores- last time we were way too full!
(4)Des C.
Food was fairly good but service could have been much better. We stopped by for a drink before dinner at Bone Fish because they didn't open until 4 (2 was advertised). When we arrived we went straight to the bar. All of the servers/bar tenders were by the service bar talking. After 3-4 minutes I looked over towards them and stood up a bit. Finally a nice lady came over to take our drink order. After a pleasant conversation she talked us into staying for dinner. Our soup and salad came out quickly but our entrees took about a half hour (really? At 4pm?). After we got our food our server disappeared and a new bar tender appeared. She was inattentive and couldn't figure out how to change the television station, nor did she seem to care. The food arrived and was pretty good. The portions were very large. Our bar tender/server showed up at the end of our meal. The only thing I can think is that she stuck around for the tip. Food good, service questionable!
(2)Mike C.
First time eating at Niko's and I was impressed. The only thing better than the food was our waitress Shannon. There are many places to eat in the Chicago area and especially on Randall Road but this one is now at the top of my list.
(5)Dean S.
This place has really declined on the past several months! We went last night and their liquor license had not been renewed. Hand written sign "closed" on the bar. They told us someone forgot to renew the license. Lots of staff but half of them were sitting at the back of the bar eating and watching the Hawks game. This place is screaming for new management!! Food was good but service was slow (must be eating and drinking at the bar). I would guess Niko's will be closed in about a month...stay away...
(1)Phil C.
The ambiance of this place is great, the bar looks inviting and I dare say that is the best thing going for it. After that would be the smell from the wood fires burning outside and the S'mores you can make. If you elect to eat here, don't kid yourself into thinking you're going to get a great meal. Think of the best meal you would cobble together after working hard all day and low on energy and know that, that meal will taste as good as anything that comes out of this place. Unfair...well lets see, I have visited this restaurant no less than three times and every single time I do, I am left wondering what the hell was I thinking. The soups are under seasoned and a luke warm, Pasta, is over cooked and the sauce is needs to meet the salt and pepper shaker just to wake it up. The fish is OK but the stir fried vegetables it is served with is again...bland...bland..bland. How about appetizers...hmmm if you were sitting at their bar tossing a few cold ones back, then you could give them a pass. However, if you pull up a chair to a table for a meal, check your expectations at the door. I like to think I am pretty fair when it comes to yelping a restaurant and I have to say, this place needs to start dialing up their game when it comes to ingredients, quality of preparation and food presentation. There is plenty of competition and choice in the Algonquin area, you can do much better. I don't plan on revisiting this place...Nikos is dead to me. Good luck...eat the S'mores and drink at the bar.
(2)Michelle M.
I ate at Niko's with my parents and husband tonight and honestly, I enjoyed it! I like the Wilderness Lodge-y atmosphere and the fireplaces and general cozy feeling. There was nice warm doughy bread and SAGANAKI on the appetizers menu. I cannot resist a pile of strongly flavored cheese doused in booze and set on fire and I am always happy when I see it on a menu! We also tried the chicken quesadilla, which is made with their own rotisserie chicken and was pretty tasty. Also, there was soup! I sampled a creamy chicken soup that was really good and had a cup of the red pepper and smoked gouda bisque- yum! My entrée, walnut chicken, was not my favorite ever. It was overly sweet and the crispy chicken breading did not hold up very well to the heavy brandy cream sauce. I would try something else next time. We also took a slice of their GINORMOUS chocolate cake home and while I really am not a cake person, as far as chocolate cake goes, it is appropriately rich and chocolatey with a solid wall of mini chocolate chips along the outer edge. This cake is huge and was enough for at least four people to enjoy for dessert, with leftovers. For food alone I would probably give the place 3 stars but I liked my experience overall and there was one particular gimmick that makes me bump them up a star: COMPLIMENTARY S'MORES. Yes, in a basket by the door next to the requisite mints is a giant pile of neatly packaged s'more supplies. They have fire pits outside where you can roast them yourself on your way out. This is basically the best thing ever!
(4)Ashley A.
I went here recently not knowing what to expect because we had walked in on a whim. I went in the dead of winter and was warmly greeted by several fireplaces blazing in a ski lodge type of atmosphere. The decor is so impressive and inviting. A friend and mine and I walked in with no reservation on a Tuesday night around 5:30 p.m. It wasn't very busy and we got seated right away. It was a bit busier by the time we left though. I know I will like a place when I see several things on the menu I would want to try. My problem was choosing which one! They have some decently priced sandwiches and burgers, as well as more expensive entree items. I got the Grilled Chicken Pesto sandwich...delicious! It had a unique flavor with the sauce they add to the sandwich. I would definitely get it again. The waitress we had was attentive and nice. Although, my friend's salad came without the chicken she had added to it. The waitress fixed the issue within a few minutes. I realize mistakes happen, and when they do I focus more on how the issue is resolved. Since the waitress was apologetic and made sure to fix the problem quickly, we were both satisfied. The salad, as I'm told, was equally delicious once her chicken was added to it. This may be weird to add in a review but I need to give 5 Stars to the women's restroom at this place! I walked in and it smelled so clean. Sometimes bathrooms can look clean but smell kind of bad... but not here. There were also beautiful fresh flowers on a little table. The stalls were new and also very clean. A last note about the restroom, they had the garbage can next to the door so you can open it with a paper towel (so you don't have to touch the door handle after you washed your hands) and promptly toss the towel in the garbage. A clean bathroom usually bodes more confidence that the kitchen is clean. I would recommend Niko's Lodge to anyone looking for a sound variety of menu items. They also have s'mores that you can roast by a fire. We ended up just taking a s'more to go since they are individually wrapped and ready to go. This is a unique feature that would probably be great for families with kids.
(4)Dan D.
Good, not great, food, with very good service. We stopped in on a weeknight after running an errand nearby. The northwoodsy atmosphere was nice, with the fire pits going out front for the (free!) s'mores. Not a lot of folks there, we walked in and sat at the bar. Draught beer selection was pretty good. I had the half rack of ribs with roasted red potatoes and green beans. The ribs were, unfortunately, too tender. Really could have done with a little more chew. The potatoes seemed a tad underdone, while the beans seemed really fresh and well prepared. My wife had the Diablo Pasta, which was surprisingly bland. The chicken she added met with her approval. Might go back to try some of the other entrees, but not sure I would go out of my way.
(3)Lauren C.
I don't think this is a gluten-free friendly establishment, but I ate with friends and found my way through the menu. A hamburger without a bun it is! The hamburger was really good, and the hard apple cider was even tastier! Angry orchard mixed with your choice of caramel vodka or fireball is quite the fall treat!
(4)Daphne P.
The food is outstanding. The service was lacking a bit however it's the holiday season, it was a Saturday night right at dinner rush, and they definitely were busy with a party of 30+ so it wasn't that big of a deal - completely understandable and none of us were really in a hurry. Cream of Spinach and baked french onion soup was frickin' awesome. I had the full slab of ribs, garlic mash, and the key lime martinis were INCREDIBLE. The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars was because we had to ask for silverware, napkins. The bread never came. Didn't have cheese curds. Asked for garlic mash - received fries instead HOWEVER the waitress was a rock solid staff member and didn't even have to be told - she knew it was incorrect and said they would bring it out shortly. The beer list can definitely use some expanding. The atmosphere is great. This is our second time visiting and we'll definitely go back - haven't had a bad dish yet. The rotisserie chicken is amazing.
(4)Joe Z.
Started with the Gouda cheese appetizer. Bread was fresh, ratio of Gouda to marinara could have been a little more even. Our free bread was really hard, like it was a day old and they heated it in the microwave to make it warm and seem "fresh". I ordered the lodge burger, which was pretty good, but expected more beef for $10 (especially since they claim it has 3 different meats). Fries are fresh cut. Wife ordered the half chicken half ribs. Chicken was delicious, as were the veggies, but the ribs weren't so good. No dry rub, so the flavor is only on the outside, and you could tell they were boiled as they fell right off the bone without hardly trying. Also the bbq sauce was a little bit sweet, it could have used more molasses. Maybe I'm a rib snob after eating smoque downtown, but these ribs are certainly nothing to write home about. I've had better ribs at the local ribfest in LITH in July.
(3)L B.
Like everyone on here says, great atmosphere, however.....that's not the only thing you look for in a restaurant. The night we were there service was fair, the food was poor. We asked for a burger well done came out medium. My fish was very thick and wet, although it was fresh, it was not what you would expect for a pan seared piece of fish. My green beans were so drenched in a garlic butter they weren't edible. The smell of the garlic was so strong other at my table asked what smelled sooo garlicky! They really were bad. (How can you mess up green beans!!) My husbands prime rib grinder had a HUGE chunk of gristly fat in it. I mean as large as the whole half of his sandwich!!! If I was management or owner and was reading these reviews, I would surely notice a consistent theme..... Inconsistencies in my service and my food. They should definitely be paying more attention to things. I would have to say we would not go back based on our first visit to Nikos.
(2)Angie C.
Finger lick'n good! The ribs and chicken combo was delish. I now have my new rib place. Deana, the manager was very friendly, and provided amazing service. Their cheese curds were so good. A must try app. Great food, awesome service and the country music made it so cozy by the fire place. Definitely coming here more often now.
(5)Kevin K.
We sat on the patio and two tables were smoking. My wife 'very' politely asked them to stop since it's not allowed in IL and we had an infant. A guy at one table insulted my wife for asking. I told the manager that the guy was smoking and that he insulted my wife and the manager went right over to that table...and comped them an appetizer saying he's sorry for the trouble! Completely unbelievable, insulting, and stupid. We called him out on it and he showed no remorse, just trying to keep them happy he said. We got up and left before our meals came. We found the owner and he comped us a meal inside. A nice gesture but I still wanted to leave. My wife convinced me to take the offer. The food was terrible. My pasta was sopping with olive oil and tasted of jarred garlic. I ate only a few bites and couldn't stomach any more. My wife's burger looked like a previously frozen, plastic-looking, manufactured burger patty and wasn't appetizing in appearance at all. Hard to explain, it looked sterile. We will never be eating there again.
(1)Cait C.
This is 2.5 rating. Great service just ok food. I had the French onion soup it was meh. The pot roast was dry and flavor as ok. My mom liked the prime rib Sandwich tho. I would not go out of my way to go here
(2)Bill H.
Food wasgood but the service was sub par. Waited over 1 hour for our food, ran out of soup but didn't tell us till 20 minutes later after ordering. Our waitress had to be reminded to check on our food....her response, Oh I was just going to check on it!!! I would not go back, sounds like they have kitchen issues in getting orders out!
(2)The Decide R.
Great local place to grab a beer. Owners have really taken charge of their facility and made key improvements, like the patio and... Parking lot.. Pizza is tasty as well.
(4)Greg K.
Went here for lunch the other day and was really disappointed. Had dinner before here quite a few times and the food was great. At lunch the waitress all but ignored us due to a party in the other room she was also working. Took 45 minutes for our entrees to came out even though we ordered before the party people even arrived. Wife's lunch was luke warm at best. Got 1 refill on my drink and couldn't get any more because the waitress was missing. Not sure if I'd go back after this experience.
(2)B H.
The only issue is that the drinks are a bit overpriced, aside from that this place is very solid. The staff is courteous, the food is solid. They have s'mores too!
(4)D. V.
First time here !! Very good food. I had the pot roast, loved it !! My husband had a burger, he said it was great. Wonderful cream of chicken corn chowder. Good service. We'll be coming back !!
(4)Mrs. Z.
We have gone there plenty since it opened..and loved the food and the s'mores fixings. Went there tonight after not having gone there for months...no more s'mores, a band was set up in the fireplace waiting area (this area is one of the reasons we love to go there), and the food took 1.5 hours to get. Food was good...the waitress Susan was great...and felt very bad. Apparantly, Niko no longer owns this...for 6 months or so now...and this night, 2 cooks didn't show up...so they had to put some inexperienced folks in place. While we understand things happen....we are wondering if this was just a one time thing...or if it's more regular now. Anyway...Fridays there are bands now...which set up in the fireplace waiting area. Band was great though. AND....no more s'mores.
(2)Kaylee C.
This place is fairly new to the Algonquin location. It's a little more expensive than food chains, but it's perfect for a date night! It's a must try restaurant. Food is good portions and always enough for a leftover lunch. I've been here three times and 2/3 the service was excellent and the other time it was fair. If you're looking for a nice place to go out to dinner and not drive far this is the place to try!
(4)Jesus H.
Pro's - They have smores, nice atmosphere Con's - Pricey, average diner quality food They appear to have done substantial renovations inside when they took over this location. Which is surprising because the restaurant's previous decor and layout was very nice as well. The food is sub-par compared to the atmosphere. It is the typical diner quality food that you will find at allot of non-chain Chicago area restaurants. If you have been to Alexanders, Around the Clock or Village Squire the food here is on par with those restaurants. However Niko's Lodge costs a little more probably due to the location. Nothing was bad but nothing was really unique or worth going back for. For the appetizer we ordered the "cheese logs" thinking it might be a unique take on cheese sticks. In reality in was just a menu gimmick. They were just frozen and fry mozzarella sticks, the same kind you will find at Rosati's. For the entree I had the onion soup, it was pretty good and a hefty portion. They appear to really be into roasting chickens. They roast them out the open and must try to force fit them into as many dishes as possible. For the main dish I ordered Chicken Al Forno and it was a "hunk" of a roasted chicken sitting on top of spaghetti with cheese. Again, not bad just not as good is you would expect for the price and location. The best part of this restaurant's dining experience is the smores. They provide smores pre or post meal. I think this is supposed to go with the log-cabin gimmick. They have gas "camp fires" on the patio. It is a very nice concept and kids seem to love it.
(2)Jen R.
Excellent appetizers. First time here & stopped on a whim. We were pleasantly surprised with complimentary s'mores, the environment, and sight/smell of rotisserie chicken. We ordered cheese curds & potato skins, both of which were delicious. The BBQ chicken was moist, but just okay. It was well-seasoned, but the sauce was too sweet for my taste. My hubby & I ordered the same thing, and his "half" chicken was much larger than mine. We had more food than we could eat. It was great, above average, and service was nice. Will return.
(4)Chuck F.
My wife and I went here for our second visit, the first time is when they first opened. It was ok. about 6 months later we went back. it was about 9:00 pm. Dinner was in service and we asked if we were too late for a seat. a server walking by said not at all. she sat us in her section, she said she would be right with us..... after about 10 minutes we began to look around and we saw our server talking with her manager (not sure what it was about) we gave it a couple more minutes .... nothing..... we left.....
(1)Richard R.
We ate here using a $40 Groupon, so ordered much more food than we otherwise would have. We got potato skins and cheese curds for appetizers. The cheese curds were standard stuff with cocktail sauce, they were fried appropriately and not overdone like so often happens. The skins were huge and moist. My wife got the chicken and bacon mac and cheese, and I got the boneless pork chops that were featured tonight. The mac and cheese was tasty, with large chunks of chicken and lots of creamy cheddar. The pork chops were done perfectly and nice and juicy, they were served with my choice of potato (garlic mashed) and an ear of sweet corn as sides. Good value for a $50 check. We walked out with three take home boxes, enough leftovers for several more meals!
(4)Troy B.
Groupon had a deal so I decided to give Niko's a shot. We went on a Monday night and were seated immediately. The lodge atmosphere was nice and had a classier feel than what I first expected. Also, based on Yelp reviews I really wasn't expecting much except for a fun s'more time for my daughter. Our server was very prompt and informed and I would score service decently high based on a single experience. When it comes to food, the bread was nothing special but was warm and tasty. The salad was surprisingly fresh and crisp and my opinion started to change. Also, my daughter ordered the chicken and we had it come out immediately so she could get started. I'll say the chicken is delicious and roasted in an open rotisserie located in the restaurant. Since it appears on the menu so frequently, it was good to know that Niko's could nail their signature dish. I ordered the chicken and bacon macaroni for my entree and was surprised at the giant portion that came out. I was, however, surprised at how lacking in flavor it was. I realize there are a thousand takes on how macaroni and cheese should taste with a variety of sauces, seasonings, and toppings, but this dish was just plain bland. It was highlighted by the pieces if chicken but wasn't nearly enough to make it sustainable. Also, the breadcrumbs were clearly burnt and that was very disappointing. Definitely a quantity over quality entree. I'll say one thing about the s'mores, it is a really fun idea and they offer a few different options for roasting the marshmallows. My two complaints are, not enough trash cans to dispose of bags and sticks, and location of the wood burning fires. Both wood fires are located on the front sidewalk, right next to the parking lot. I realize they may not have had a lot of options, but basically standing in a parking lot roasting marshmallows lost its charm pretty quickly.
(3)Stephanie M.
The service and food is awful!!!! Both kids meals were overcooked and the chicken is way too salty. I was overcharged for fries and milk that should have come with the kids meal. When I spoke with owner he showed no empathy. Restaurants don't survive with service like this.
(1)Furious M.
Don't know why people think this place is so good. Overpriced tasteless food terrible service. They can keep the s'mores at the end of the meal. I would rather have a good meals. Big Skillet restaurant in Elgin on Big Timber SMOKES this place. Nikos lodge sucks.
(1)Paul K.
More like 3.5 stars. Good beer selection and very good pizza. Now be prepared, this is a bar style type of pizza, not Chicago. The sauce has a very smoky flavor to it but is very good.
(3)Cary B.
Went there once before and the food was good, not great. But last night I ordered tilapia and it was inedible. The rice was like paste, the veggies were mush and the fish was hard. My son had mile high meatloaf, which he had our 1st visit and this time he said it was ok, not great like the time before. Salads were regular lettuce with 2 cherry tomatos--nothing interesting about them. The waitress was ok, polite but hurried, are you ready to order, no, be back in a minute type of thing. If we had a question we would have to do it quickly. After the meal I told her mine was awful as evidenced by it mainly still being on the plate. I told her about it, she said she'd take it off the bill. Ok, that's fine. The bill came and she did take the entree off, but added on a 2.99 side salad. Guess I didn't complain about that! As far as the s'mores, both times the fire pit wasn't lit and when I asked they said thyey'd send someone to light it....we left both times and it still wasn't lit so no s'mores for us. There's now only 1 fire pit, not 2. Bottom line....just ok. But no reason to go back.
(2)jan l.
We had dinner there last night. 7:15 reservations, place was busy, but no one was waiting for a table. We thought it was very okay. And pretty loud. There wasn't anything really good, and aside from the green beans, there wasn't anything really bad. Some people here commented on them being expensive, but worth it. For the most part, we didn't feel they were terribly over-priced (except the roasted garlic app for $10.00) For an appetizer we ordered the Shrimp Boom Boom (I think). It was the special for the night for $13.00. Probably their rendition of Bonefish Bang Bang Shrimp. We asked the server how it was being received, and she replied that every single person said it was better than Bonefish. Really. Every single person? It was okay. It was an order of 6 large shrimp swimming in a sauce of blue cheese. Nice flavor. But certainly no Bang Bang. My husband ordered the prime rib. It appeared to be a choice cut, not very tender or much flavor, which surprised us for $25.00. I ordered the rotiserrie Greek chicken. Very good. Very nice flavor, moist. When asked about sides, our server simply asked what kind of potato would you like? No mention of coleslaw, beans or mac & cheese. And the vegetable wasn't an option. You simply get them. As mentioned previously, the green beans were horribly over cooked and mushy. Which was fine with me, i hate them anyway. In the course of the evening, several people sent plates back to the kitchen, which was odd. We probably won't go back, and not because it was a bad experience. It was just not memorable, so when thinking of where to go, we won't think of it again.
(2)Sherry D.
This is the same place that used to be in Huntley. They moved into the building that was originally a Claddaugh, which went out of business, so the decor is the leftover from them. If they have a different chef, I'd be willing to try it, because the food in Huntley was horrid. Chicken Marsala with some kind of orange, gross, salty mess that tasted like it was some kind of powdered mix. Average italian entrees. Since they're on restaurant.com I may be willing to give it a whirl based on all positive reviews, but if it's the same food as what was in the Huntley location... don't think so.
(2)Larry B.
Went there for lunch yesterday. has a pseudo lodge ambience. very dark inside. Had a salad with chicken which was good but 14 bucks? service was ok but the waiter seemed a little robotic as he said the exact same thing to every patron that came in, LOL. the dinner prices seemed a little high for a casual restaurant. I would go there for lunch but if im going to spend over 20 bucks on an entree there are far better places to do that.
(3)Lynn D.
Awsome.... My Boyfriend and I have been to Niko's Five Times now.. Atmosphere is Fabulous.. Just like a Winter Camping Lodge-Complete with Wood Burning Fireplaces. Classy (not cluttery) wall Hangings. Rustic Look. Lighting is perfect for Seeing as well as Looking Good in it.. We have sat in the Booths, near the Bar And at the Tables. There is Plenty of Room to move around. Waiting for a half hour, as most everywhere on a Saturday night, Was actually FUN! There are Couches to sit on, a Fire to look at, Marshmallows to Roast outside while waiting... AND a Guy with a Guitar.. After being seated, the Sound from the Jukebox and the Bar is No issue whatsoever.. Even when the Place is Jumpin'... I've had the Rotisserie Duck, Stuffed Flounder and Walleye... All Were fantastic.. I am an AVID Chef and Everything Has Its' own Unique Taste.. I've also asked for an addition to a recipe and a change in one of the sauces... Done Perfectly.. My Boyfriend and His Daughter absolutely LOVE the Ribs.. He Wasn't 'Thrilled' with the Hamburger, But The Garlic Mashed Potatoes are a MUST HAVE.... They are even better than Mine.. New England Clam Chowder is Fantastic as well and the Vegetables. They are cooked perfectly.. Don't worry about asking for a refill of Your drinks, they always seem to know when You need another one ! That leaves only the Service.... Impeccable... All of the Wait Staff are Friendly, Fun and Professional. There is no asking "How are We Doing Here" when Your Mouth is Full. And when paying in Cash, they know how to give change so that you can tip accordingly.. All in all, YES... We Will Be Dining At Niko's Lodge for The Years To Come... Thanks, Niko.... Job Well Done.
(5)Nick G.
This place just opened a few months ago. My wife and I were going for lunch across the street but saw Niko's was open and decided on something new. Ordered the potato skin appetizer which was very good. I ordered the half Grecian rotisserie chicken which came with green beans and I also asked for garlic mashed potatoes. The chicken was FANTASTIC!! Garlic mashed are certainly on my top 5 list as well. This is more of a dinner place (in my opinion) but the food (at least this experience) was great!! We will definitely be back. Our server, Nick, was very nice and the rest of the staff also seemed very receptive to their patrons. The inside does have a lodge feel (by design) and is very nicely decorated. This place blows away the other two restaurants that once existed at this location.
(5)Jessica S.
Impressed by the friendly service and food. It does have lodge feeling. We were seated right in front of the fireplace. I had the 1/2 rotisserie chicken and 1/2 slab of baby back ribs, garlic mashed potatoes and veggies and house. It was a lot of food! Everything was very good. The ribs were very tender and bbq sauce tasty. The chicken was also very moist and tender. I had a ton of leftovers the next day even. Hubbie got a steak sandwich and sweet potato fries. We will definitely be back again and again! Oh and the complimentary Make Your Own S'Mores at the end were a nice touch. We have since dined both inside and out. Great on the patio too.
(4)Amykate C.
This was a debatable 5 star, but because the place is a bit pricey (though worth it) and the music was almost too loud to talk over and they are new I give it a 4. Our waitress was super friendly and was able to answer all our questions about the food and gave us her opinion on the best food in the place (We almost always get the typical "it's all good" ). She was also totally right when she recommened the I believe its called chili chicken, the sauce tasted almost like a sweet and sour sauce but it was some of the best chicken I've ever had, unfortuately it was my husbands. I ordered a chicken garlic dish which was also very good- but I would get the roteserrie chicken or the chili sauce dish next time. Our food came out fast and they forget to put the sauce on my husbands chicken so when our waitress asked if the sauce was good he mentioned he wasn't sure if it was on the chicken, she looked at it, told him it was not then brought out another half chicken! I was impressed they didn't just bring it in the back and add the sauce or get him a cup of it. Overall great service, quick, knowledgeable and helpful. We went on a weekday and did not have to call ahead. The menu has a decent variety and The Lodge itself has a similar look to the last resturant that was there but it is more open and I love that you can see the chickens roasting when you walk in. Also learned they do take out or catering type stuff which I am def. going to look into.
(4)Chris P.
Love this place all months of the year, but even better during the winter months, since it is a lodge. Good drinks, great atmosphere and great food. Sometimes I don't understand why they have so many people on staff, but I have never sat at a table so i don't have an answer for that. I plan on being there many times over the winter.
(5)Karen G.
Had a great Birthday party for my husband with kids and grand kids. Booked the circle room and they were great about the time we spent, privacy, bringing a birthday cake from home. All waitstaff were great. The food was plentiful and good and every consideration was afforded to our children in the group! Thanks for making it a great party.
(4)Michael B.
Very poor food and high prices. Clam chowder was canned cream of chicken soup with a few bits of clam, no potatoes. Fish fry haddock was soggy and greasy, flavorless. Loaded baked potato was stale, reheated mess. The only thing decent was the coleslaw. Overpriced mixed drinks. Never go there again.
(1)Michael G.
well, i wanted to try a different place and went here...very disappointed with my food. They have rotisserie chicken has there big thing so I order the combo half chicken with pasta. I got a small salad with it as well which was nice and crisp. So when my main dish comes there is a kinda small half chicken and a HUGE portion of spaghetti. The chicken was decent, with lots of seasoning flavor but dry. Then I tried the pasta with red sauce, TERRIBLE! It tastes worse then a dollar microwave dinner, and the only flavor it had was bitter. The person I was with got the southwest salad which was huge and said it was good and ate it the next day. I am sure this place has some good stuff and maybe I should not have gotten the pasta but, if I ever go there again I know what i am not getting. The inside was nice, it has been 2 other restaurants which were Irtish themed ans seemed to basically keep that look, and it is dark I even said to the person I was with about how the table next to us was in all shadow.
(2)P G.
I went to Niko's for Father's Day and the service was terrible. Thought we would give if another shot because maybe it was just because they were so busy. We want yesterday and again the service was terrible. We saw our waitress maybe 4 times total. She didn't even take our order or being out any of our food. Apparently she had several tables inside and outside. The food was ok. Not amazing. My salad was drowned in dressing (even though I asked for it on the side...) We will never be going back. Not worth our time or money.
(1)Sarah C.
We have been so sick of the same old places to go for dinner. Saturday we decided to try Nikos Lodge and we were so glad we did. The food was excellent, best meal I've had out in a long time. I got the lemon chicken with artichokes and my husband got the steak and ribs. Everything was cooked perfectly and the service was great as well. Just make sure to go early or make a reservation because it was packed and rightly so!
(5)Mike B.
All I can say is the place is OK.
(3)David S.
Went to the bar on Friday and had a great bartender. Don't remember her name but she had a flower in her hair and was very prompt and friendly. She happily suggested food to me as well as what drinks would go best with it. She had a smile on her face all night even when the bar got really busy. Good food and great service!
(5)Dave C.
I love the look and feel of this place, they've done a nice job making it feel like a mountain lodge. The place was quite busy for a Thursday night at 7:30, but we were seated within 5 minutes. We sat in the room in the back, it had a nice fireplace going on in there, but it made the room feel quite warm. It was also a very noisy environment when all the tables are full, I could barely carry on a conversation with my family. The food was ok, my daughter ordered the Italian beef & she commented that it lacked flavor, I tried a bite & it was bit bland. The French Onion soup was a nice portion & very good taste. The Rotisserie chicken was shared between my wife and I as the portions are huge. It was moist, but really nothing special going on there, just average taste. I've had way better rotisserie chicken from Costco. I might try this place again & go for a steak, but this was just average taste for what we ate. The Smore's afterward outside on the fire was a nice fun touch.
(2)Dean S.
This place has really declined on the past several months! We went last night and their liquor license had not been renewed. Hand written sign "closed" on the bar. They told us someone forgot to renew the license. Lots of staff but half of them were sitting at the back of the bar eating and watching the Hawks game. This place is screaming for new management!! Food was good but service was slow (must be eating and drinking at the bar). I would guess Niko's will be closed in about a month...stay away...
(1)Phil C.
The ambiance of this place is great, the bar looks inviting and I dare say that is the best thing going for it. After that would be the smell from the wood fires burning outside and the S'mores you can make. If you elect to eat here, don't kid yourself into thinking you're going to get a great meal. Think of the best meal you would cobble together after working hard all day and low on energy and know that, that meal will taste as good as anything that comes out of this place. Unfair...well lets see, I have visited this restaurant no less than three times and every single time I do, I am left wondering what the hell was I thinking. The soups are under seasoned and a luke warm, Pasta, is over cooked and the sauce is needs to meet the salt and pepper shaker just to wake it up. The fish is OK but the stir fried vegetables it is served with is again...bland...bland..bland. How about appetizers...hmmm if you were sitting at their bar tossing a few cold ones back, then you could give them a pass. However, if you pull up a chair to a table for a meal, check your expectations at the door. I like to think I am pretty fair when it comes to yelping a restaurant and I have to say, this place needs to start dialing up their game when it comes to ingredients, quality of preparation and food presentation. There is plenty of competition and choice in the Algonquin area, you can do much better. I don't plan on revisiting this place...Nikos is dead to me. Good luck...eat the S'mores and drink at the bar.
(2)Michelle M.
I ate at Niko's with my parents and husband tonight and honestly, I enjoyed it! I like the Wilderness Lodge-y atmosphere and the fireplaces and general cozy feeling. There was nice warm doughy bread and SAGANAKI on the appetizers menu. I cannot resist a pile of strongly flavored cheese doused in booze and set on fire and I am always happy when I see it on a menu! We also tried the chicken quesadilla, which is made with their own rotisserie chicken and was pretty tasty. Also, there was soup! I sampled a creamy chicken soup that was really good and had a cup of the red pepper and smoked gouda bisque- yum! My entrée, walnut chicken, was not my favorite ever. It was overly sweet and the crispy chicken breading did not hold up very well to the heavy brandy cream sauce. I would try something else next time. We also took a slice of their GINORMOUS chocolate cake home and while I really am not a cake person, as far as chocolate cake goes, it is appropriately rich and chocolatey with a solid wall of mini chocolate chips along the outer edge. This cake is huge and was enough for at least four people to enjoy for dessert, with leftovers. For food alone I would probably give the place 3 stars but I liked my experience overall and there was one particular gimmick that makes me bump them up a star: COMPLIMENTARY S'MORES. Yes, in a basket by the door next to the requisite mints is a giant pile of neatly packaged s'more supplies. They have fire pits outside where you can roast them yourself on your way out. This is basically the best thing ever!
(4)Greg K.
Went here for lunch the other day and was really disappointed. Had dinner before here quite a few times and the food was great. At lunch the waitress all but ignored us due to a party in the other room she was also working. Took 45 minutes for our entrees to came out even though we ordered before the party people even arrived. Wife's lunch was luke warm at best. Got 1 refill on my drink and couldn't get any more because the waitress was missing. Not sure if I'd go back after this experience.
(2)B H.
The only issue is that the drinks are a bit overpriced, aside from that this place is very solid. The staff is courteous, the food is solid. They have s'mores too!
(4)Des C.
Food was fairly good but service could have been much better. We stopped by for a drink before dinner at Bone Fish because they didn't open until 4 (2 was advertised). When we arrived we went straight to the bar. All of the servers/bar tenders were by the service bar talking. After 3-4 minutes I looked over towards them and stood up a bit. Finally a nice lady came over to take our drink order. After a pleasant conversation she talked us into staying for dinner. Our soup and salad came out quickly but our entrees took about a half hour (really? At 4pm?). After we got our food our server disappeared and a new bar tender appeared. She was inattentive and couldn't figure out how to change the television station, nor did she seem to care. The food arrived and was pretty good. The portions were very large. Our bar tender/server showed up at the end of our meal. The only thing I can think is that she stuck around for the tip. Food good, service questionable!
(2)Mike C.
First time eating at Niko's and I was impressed. The only thing better than the food was our waitress Shannon. There are many places to eat in the Chicago area and especially on Randall Road but this one is now at the top of my list.
(5)Derek R.
The filet mignon here is really good. What I can't get over is the chicken, it is absolutely amazing and deserving of the title "famous" that they give it. I ordered the chicken and ribs combo and what I received was night and day. I love ribs, I make my own at home, so I asked the waitress before I ordered them "are they really famous ribs? are they really that good?" She assured me that they are and everybody loves them so I ordered them with my chicken... Big mistake. They slow cook the chicken in a rotisserie viewable by the patrons, so very delicious. It seemed as though they do not treat the pork ribs with the same respect. They were very dry and, for my tastes, way too much sauce on them. I told the waitress that the ribs were barely edible, dry and smothered in a run of the mill BBQ sauce. Her response was "this is not normal, I'm going to have them make you some fresh ones to take home." A woman I believe to be the manager also came and told me the same thing. I took them home, I tried the fresh ones, and they were good. I still think way too much sauce but good. My only problem with them is if you are going to put the title "famous" on them too they'd better be out of this world, like the chicken... not just good. I changed my review to this because my wife told me I was being unfair, that some people don't take words as literally as I do. Niko's is really good, and has great service. When claiming fame you should be ready for criticism.
(5)Chad W.
Great place. Great food. Decent prices. Great staff. I have been here 10 + times and not once have I had a bad meal. My wife had a below average burger and I don't care for their French onion soup. That aside I can say that their mile high meat loaf, fish fry, Reuben, pasta, chicken and ribs are all top notch. The staff is always on their game. Always been pleasant and fast. The decor is warm and cozy. When you walk in the smell of an open fire is wonderful. The kids love the s'mores. I just could do with a variety of music. The wall to wall country music could go at any time.
(4)juliet s.
The place has great atmosphere and the free smores is a great touch however, the food was mediocre and our waitress barely did her job. Our waitress did not know what hard cider was but said she was sure the bartender could make me a mixed drink. I asked what kind of beer they had and she claimed they only carried 4 different types?? She barely came to our table to check on us and my husband had to ask the hostess for our check. It was not a busy night. My husband's pot pie was soupy and lacked flavor and my salmon was dry. This place is probably okay for a very average meal or to have a few drinks at the bar (since I am sure their bartender knows what alcohol they serve) and some smores!
(2)Kate C.
I will never ever come here again! I went for a lunch on Sunday with a friend. We sat down and waited for a good 15 minutes before anyone came and talked to us. Finally, he came and he got our drink order. It took a long time for him to come back and check on us. It was okay though as we were chatting. Finally, our meals come the food was good. However what happened next was the worst customer service I have ever experienced. Our check came and we asked to simply split it in to two. He comes back and he had added additional money onto the order by adding the table next doors appitizers. He comes back and says he will fix it, he took our cards and ran them again for the right amount! He was not at all helpful and seemed stunned that I wanted to talk to the manager. The manager claimed that he voided the whole transaction for both of us. I am so irritated with the whole situation, I have advised my co-workers, friends and families of this horrible experience and encouraged them all to write off Nikos.
(1)Stephanie L.
Excellent food, slow service. I assume our server was just having an off day though. Large portion sizes, lots of yummy comfort food on the menu. Good drinks with an interesting cocktail menu. We will definitely be back, and this time we plan on utilizing the s'mores- last time we were way too full!
(4)Ashley A.
I went here recently not knowing what to expect because we had walked in on a whim. I went in the dead of winter and was warmly greeted by several fireplaces blazing in a ski lodge type of atmosphere. The decor is so impressive and inviting. A friend and mine and I walked in with no reservation on a Tuesday night around 5:30 p.m. It wasn't very busy and we got seated right away. It was a bit busier by the time we left though. I know I will like a place when I see several things on the menu I would want to try. My problem was choosing which one! They have some decently priced sandwiches and burgers, as well as more expensive entree items. I got the Grilled Chicken Pesto sandwich...delicious! It had a unique flavor with the sauce they add to the sandwich. I would definitely get it again. The waitress we had was attentive and nice. Although, my friend's salad came without the chicken she had added to it. The waitress fixed the issue within a few minutes. I realize mistakes happen, and when they do I focus more on how the issue is resolved. Since the waitress was apologetic and made sure to fix the problem quickly, we were both satisfied. The salad, as I'm told, was equally delicious once her chicken was added to it. This may be weird to add in a review but I need to give 5 Stars to the women's restroom at this place! I walked in and it smelled so clean. Sometimes bathrooms can look clean but smell kind of bad... but not here. There were also beautiful fresh flowers on a little table. The stalls were new and also very clean. A last note about the restroom, they had the garbage can next to the door so you can open it with a paper towel (so you don't have to touch the door handle after you washed your hands) and promptly toss the towel in the garbage. A clean bathroom usually bodes more confidence that the kitchen is clean. I would recommend Niko's Lodge to anyone looking for a sound variety of menu items. They also have s'mores that you can roast by a fire. We ended up just taking a s'more to go since they are individually wrapped and ready to go. This is a unique feature that would probably be great for families with kids.
(4)Dan D.
Good, not great, food, with very good service. We stopped in on a weeknight after running an errand nearby. The northwoodsy atmosphere was nice, with the fire pits going out front for the (free!) s'mores. Not a lot of folks there, we walked in and sat at the bar. Draught beer selection was pretty good. I had the half rack of ribs with roasted red potatoes and green beans. The ribs were, unfortunately, too tender. Really could have done with a little more chew. The potatoes seemed a tad underdone, while the beans seemed really fresh and well prepared. My wife had the Diablo Pasta, which was surprisingly bland. The chicken she added met with her approval. Might go back to try some of the other entrees, but not sure I would go out of my way.
(3)Daphne P.
The food is outstanding. The service was lacking a bit however it's the holiday season, it was a Saturday night right at dinner rush, and they definitely were busy with a party of 30+ so it wasn't that big of a deal - completely understandable and none of us were really in a hurry. Cream of Spinach and baked french onion soup was frickin' awesome. I had the full slab of ribs, garlic mash, and the key lime martinis were INCREDIBLE. The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars was because we had to ask for silverware, napkins. The bread never came. Didn't have cheese curds. Asked for garlic mash - received fries instead HOWEVER the waitress was a rock solid staff member and didn't even have to be told - she knew it was incorrect and said they would bring it out shortly. The beer list can definitely use some expanding. The atmosphere is great. This is our second time visiting and we'll definitely go back - haven't had a bad dish yet. The rotisserie chicken is amazing.
(4)Joe Z.
Started with the Gouda cheese appetizer. Bread was fresh, ratio of Gouda to marinara could have been a little more even. Our free bread was really hard, like it was a day old and they heated it in the microwave to make it warm and seem "fresh". I ordered the lodge burger, which was pretty good, but expected more beef for $10 (especially since they claim it has 3 different meats). Fries are fresh cut. Wife ordered the half chicken half ribs. Chicken was delicious, as were the veggies, but the ribs weren't so good. No dry rub, so the flavor is only on the outside, and you could tell they were boiled as they fell right off the bone without hardly trying. Also the bbq sauce was a little bit sweet, it could have used more molasses. Maybe I'm a rib snob after eating smoque downtown, but these ribs are certainly nothing to write home about. I've had better ribs at the local ribfest in LITH in July.
(3)D. V.
First time here !! Very good food. I had the pot roast, loved it !! My husband had a burger, he said it was great. Wonderful cream of chicken corn chowder. Good service. We'll be coming back !!
(4)L B.
Like everyone on here says, great atmosphere, however.....that's not the only thing you look for in a restaurant. The night we were there service was fair, the food was poor. We asked for a burger well done came out medium. My fish was very thick and wet, although it was fresh, it was not what you would expect for a pan seared piece of fish. My green beans were so drenched in a garlic butter they weren't edible. The smell of the garlic was so strong other at my table asked what smelled sooo garlicky! They really were bad. (How can you mess up green beans!!) My husbands prime rib grinder had a HUGE chunk of gristly fat in it. I mean as large as the whole half of his sandwich!!! If I was management or owner and was reading these reviews, I would surely notice a consistent theme..... Inconsistencies in my service and my food. They should definitely be paying more attention to things. I would have to say we would not go back based on our first visit to Nikos.
(2)Angie C.
Finger lick'n good! The ribs and chicken combo was delish. I now have my new rib place. Deana, the manager was very friendly, and provided amazing service. Their cheese curds were so good. A must try app. Great food, awesome service and the country music made it so cozy by the fire place. Definitely coming here more often now.
(5)Kevin K.
We sat on the patio and two tables were smoking. My wife 'very' politely asked them to stop since it's not allowed in IL and we had an infant. A guy at one table insulted my wife for asking. I told the manager that the guy was smoking and that he insulted my wife and the manager went right over to that table...and comped them an appetizer saying he's sorry for the trouble! Completely unbelievable, insulting, and stupid. We called him out on it and he showed no remorse, just trying to keep them happy he said. We got up and left before our meals came. We found the owner and he comped us a meal inside. A nice gesture but I still wanted to leave. My wife convinced me to take the offer. The food was terrible. My pasta was sopping with olive oil and tasted of jarred garlic. I ate only a few bites and couldn't stomach any more. My wife's burger looked like a previously frozen, plastic-looking, manufactured burger patty and wasn't appetizing in appearance at all. Hard to explain, it looked sterile. We will never be eating there again.
(1)Cait C.
This is 2.5 rating. Great service just ok food. I had the French onion soup it was meh. The pot roast was dry and flavor as ok. My mom liked the prime rib Sandwich tho. I would not go out of my way to go here
(2)Bill H.
Food wasgood but the service was sub par. Waited over 1 hour for our food, ran out of soup but didn't tell us till 20 minutes later after ordering. Our waitress had to be reminded to check on our food....her response, Oh I was just going to check on it!!! I would not go back, sounds like they have kitchen issues in getting orders out!
(2)The Decide R.
Great local place to grab a beer. Owners have really taken charge of their facility and made key improvements, like the patio and... Parking lot.. Pizza is tasty as well.
(4)Mrs. Z.
We have gone there plenty since it opened..and loved the food and the s'mores fixings. Went there tonight after not having gone there for months...no more s'mores, a band was set up in the fireplace waiting area (this area is one of the reasons we love to go there), and the food took 1.5 hours to get. Food was good...the waitress Susan was great...and felt very bad. Apparantly, Niko no longer owns this...for 6 months or so now...and this night, 2 cooks didn't show up...so they had to put some inexperienced folks in place. While we understand things happen....we are wondering if this was just a one time thing...or if it's more regular now. Anyway...Fridays there are bands now...which set up in the fireplace waiting area. Band was great though. AND....no more s'mores.
(2)Kaylee C.
This place is fairly new to the Algonquin location. It's a little more expensive than food chains, but it's perfect for a date night! It's a must try restaurant. Food is good portions and always enough for a leftover lunch. I've been here three times and 2/3 the service was excellent and the other time it was fair. If you're looking for a nice place to go out to dinner and not drive far this is the place to try!
(4)Jesus H.
Pro's - They have smores, nice atmosphere Con's - Pricey, average diner quality food They appear to have done substantial renovations inside when they took over this location. Which is surprising because the restaurant's previous decor and layout was very nice as well. The food is sub-par compared to the atmosphere. It is the typical diner quality food that you will find at allot of non-chain Chicago area restaurants. If you have been to Alexanders, Around the Clock or Village Squire the food here is on par with those restaurants. However Niko's Lodge costs a little more probably due to the location. Nothing was bad but nothing was really unique or worth going back for. For the appetizer we ordered the "cheese logs" thinking it might be a unique take on cheese sticks. In reality in was just a menu gimmick. They were just frozen and fry mozzarella sticks, the same kind you will find at Rosati's. For the entree I had the onion soup, it was pretty good and a hefty portion. They appear to really be into roasting chickens. They roast them out the open and must try to force fit them into as many dishes as possible. For the main dish I ordered Chicken Al Forno and it was a "hunk" of a roasted chicken sitting on top of spaghetti with cheese. Again, not bad just not as good is you would expect for the price and location. The best part of this restaurant's dining experience is the smores. They provide smores pre or post meal. I think this is supposed to go with the log-cabin gimmick. They have gas "camp fires" on the patio. It is a very nice concept and kids seem to love it.
(2)Jen R.
Excellent appetizers. First time here & stopped on a whim. We were pleasantly surprised with complimentary s'mores, the environment, and sight/smell of rotisserie chicken. We ordered cheese curds & potato skins, both of which were delicious. The BBQ chicken was moist, but just okay. It was well-seasoned, but the sauce was too sweet for my taste. My hubby & I ordered the same thing, and his "half" chicken was much larger than mine. We had more food than we could eat. It was great, above average, and service was nice. Will return.
(4)Lauren C.
I don't think this is a gluten-free friendly establishment, but I ate with friends and found my way through the menu. A hamburger without a bun it is! The hamburger was really good, and the hard apple cider was even tastier! Angry orchard mixed with your choice of caramel vodka or fireball is quite the fall treat!
(4)Nicole M.
Went there last night for a friend for dinner. Food was good atmosphere was even better. I ordered the rotisserie chicken "special" which really is not a special because the special price is the same as the regular menu price. Chicken was dry but decent the garlic mashed were awesome. The house dressing was excellent as well. I loved the do it yourself smores as you walk out the door! I will be going back!
(4)Ryan H.
First time here.... I will come back. But I'll be more aware of the prices. The chicken is amazing. Everything sounds good on the menu. The atmosphere is very woodsy... It makes you feel like your in a cabin. Free smores is a big plus to
(3)Phil L.
Pretty good draft beer selection and the rotisserie chicken is fantastic. Only downside is that service can be a little spotty when it gets busy. Been there several times and will continue to go. Drink specials during Hawks and Bears games too!
(4)Paul W.
We've been here several times. Food is reasonably priced and overall great service. All I've eaten was the cheeseburgers and the lasagna which is a must. My family enjoys Niko's just as much as I do. The St Charles location is a bit older but has a cozier feel somehow. Either way this place earns its five stars
(5)Chuck F.
My wife and I went here for our second visit, the first time is when they first opened. It was ok. about 6 months later we went back. it was about 9:00 pm. Dinner was in service and we asked if we were too late for a seat. a server walking by said not at all. she sat us in her section, she said she would be right with us..... after about 10 minutes we began to look around and we saw our server talking with her manager (not sure what it was about) we gave it a couple more minutes .... nothing..... we left.....
(1)Richard R.
We ate here using a $40 Groupon, so ordered much more food than we otherwise would have. We got potato skins and cheese curds for appetizers. The cheese curds were standard stuff with cocktail sauce, they were fried appropriately and not overdone like so often happens. The skins were huge and moist. My wife got the chicken and bacon mac and cheese, and I got the boneless pork chops that were featured tonight. The mac and cheese was tasty, with large chunks of chicken and lots of creamy cheddar. The pork chops were done perfectly and nice and juicy, they were served with my choice of potato (garlic mashed) and an ear of sweet corn as sides. Good value for a $50 check. We walked out with three take home boxes, enough leftovers for several more meals!
(4)Troy B.
Groupon had a deal so I decided to give Niko's a shot. We went on a Monday night and were seated immediately. The lodge atmosphere was nice and had a classier feel than what I first expected. Also, based on Yelp reviews I really wasn't expecting much except for a fun s'more time for my daughter. Our server was very prompt and informed and I would score service decently high based on a single experience. When it comes to food, the bread was nothing special but was warm and tasty. The salad was surprisingly fresh and crisp and my opinion started to change. Also, my daughter ordered the chicken and we had it come out immediately so she could get started. I'll say the chicken is delicious and roasted in an open rotisserie located in the restaurant. Since it appears on the menu so frequently, it was good to know that Niko's could nail their signature dish. I ordered the chicken and bacon macaroni for my entree and was surprised at the giant portion that came out. I was, however, surprised at how lacking in flavor it was. I realize there are a thousand takes on how macaroni and cheese should taste with a variety of sauces, seasonings, and toppings, but this dish was just plain bland. It was highlighted by the pieces if chicken but wasn't nearly enough to make it sustainable. Also, the breadcrumbs were clearly burnt and that was very disappointing. Definitely a quantity over quality entree. I'll say one thing about the s'mores, it is a really fun idea and they offer a few different options for roasting the marshmallows. My two complaints are, not enough trash cans to dispose of bags and sticks, and location of the wood burning fires. Both wood fires are located on the front sidewalk, right next to the parking lot. I realize they may not have had a lot of options, but basically standing in a parking lot roasting marshmallows lost its charm pretty quickly.
(3)Stephanie M.
The service and food is awful!!!! Both kids meals were overcooked and the chicken is way too salty. I was overcharged for fries and milk that should have come with the kids meal. When I spoke with owner he showed no empathy. Restaurants don't survive with service like this.
(1)Furious M.
Don't know why people think this place is so good. Overpriced tasteless food terrible service. They can keep the s'mores at the end of the meal. I would rather have a good meals. Big Skillet restaurant in Elgin on Big Timber SMOKES this place. Nikos lodge sucks.
(1)Paul K.
More like 3.5 stars. Good beer selection and very good pizza. Now be prepared, this is a bar style type of pizza, not Chicago. The sauce has a very smoky flavor to it but is very good.
(3)Larry B.
Went there for lunch yesterday. has a pseudo lodge ambience. very dark inside. Had a salad with chicken which was good but 14 bucks? service was ok but the waiter seemed a little robotic as he said the exact same thing to every patron that came in, LOL. the dinner prices seemed a little high for a casual restaurant. I would go there for lunch but if im going to spend over 20 bucks on an entree there are far better places to do that.
(3)Cary B.
Went there once before and the food was good, not great. But last night I ordered tilapia and it was inedible. The rice was like paste, the veggies were mush and the fish was hard. My son had mile high meatloaf, which he had our 1st visit and this time he said it was ok, not great like the time before. Salads were regular lettuce with 2 cherry tomatos--nothing interesting about them. The waitress was ok, polite but hurried, are you ready to order, no, be back in a minute type of thing. If we had a question we would have to do it quickly. After the meal I told her mine was awful as evidenced by it mainly still being on the plate. I told her about it, she said she'd take it off the bill. Ok, that's fine. The bill came and she did take the entree off, but added on a 2.99 side salad. Guess I didn't complain about that! As far as the s'mores, both times the fire pit wasn't lit and when I asked they said thyey'd send someone to light it....we left both times and it still wasn't lit so no s'mores for us. There's now only 1 fire pit, not 2. Bottom line....just ok. But no reason to go back.
(2)jan l.
We had dinner there last night. 7:15 reservations, place was busy, but no one was waiting for a table. We thought it was very okay. And pretty loud. There wasn't anything really good, and aside from the green beans, there wasn't anything really bad. Some people here commented on them being expensive, but worth it. For the most part, we didn't feel they were terribly over-priced (except the roasted garlic app for $10.00) For an appetizer we ordered the Shrimp Boom Boom (I think). It was the special for the night for $13.00. Probably their rendition of Bonefish Bang Bang Shrimp. We asked the server how it was being received, and she replied that every single person said it was better than Bonefish. Really. Every single person? It was okay. It was an order of 6 large shrimp swimming in a sauce of blue cheese. Nice flavor. But certainly no Bang Bang. My husband ordered the prime rib. It appeared to be a choice cut, not very tender or much flavor, which surprised us for $25.00. I ordered the rotiserrie Greek chicken. Very good. Very nice flavor, moist. When asked about sides, our server simply asked what kind of potato would you like? No mention of coleslaw, beans or mac & cheese. And the vegetable wasn't an option. You simply get them. As mentioned previously, the green beans were horribly over cooked and mushy. Which was fine with me, i hate them anyway. In the course of the evening, several people sent plates back to the kitchen, which was odd. We probably won't go back, and not because it was a bad experience. It was just not memorable, so when thinking of where to go, we won't think of it again.
(2)Sherry D.
This is the same place that used to be in Huntley. They moved into the building that was originally a Claddaugh, which went out of business, so the decor is the leftover from them. If they have a different chef, I'd be willing to try it, because the food in Huntley was horrid. Chicken Marsala with some kind of orange, gross, salty mess that tasted like it was some kind of powdered mix. Average italian entrees. Since they're on restaurant.com I may be willing to give it a whirl based on all positive reviews, but if it's the same food as what was in the Huntley location... don't think so.
(2)Lynn D.
Awsome.... My Boyfriend and I have been to Niko's Five Times now.. Atmosphere is Fabulous.. Just like a Winter Camping Lodge-Complete with Wood Burning Fireplaces. Classy (not cluttery) wall Hangings. Rustic Look. Lighting is perfect for Seeing as well as Looking Good in it.. We have sat in the Booths, near the Bar And at the Tables. There is Plenty of Room to move around. Waiting for a half hour, as most everywhere on a Saturday night, Was actually FUN! There are Couches to sit on, a Fire to look at, Marshmallows to Roast outside while waiting... AND a Guy with a Guitar.. After being seated, the Sound from the Jukebox and the Bar is No issue whatsoever.. Even when the Place is Jumpin'... I've had the Rotisserie Duck, Stuffed Flounder and Walleye... All Were fantastic.. I am an AVID Chef and Everything Has Its' own Unique Taste.. I've also asked for an addition to a recipe and a change in one of the sauces... Done Perfectly.. My Boyfriend and His Daughter absolutely LOVE the Ribs.. He Wasn't 'Thrilled' with the Hamburger, But The Garlic Mashed Potatoes are a MUST HAVE.... They are even better than Mine.. New England Clam Chowder is Fantastic as well and the Vegetables. They are cooked perfectly.. Don't worry about asking for a refill of Your drinks, they always seem to know when You need another one ! That leaves only the Service.... Impeccable... All of the Wait Staff are Friendly, Fun and Professional. There is no asking "How are We Doing Here" when Your Mouth is Full. And when paying in Cash, they know how to give change so that you can tip accordingly.. All in all, YES... We Will Be Dining At Niko's Lodge for The Years To Come... Thanks, Niko.... Job Well Done.
(5)Nick G.
This place just opened a few months ago. My wife and I were going for lunch across the street but saw Niko's was open and decided on something new. Ordered the potato skin appetizer which was very good. I ordered the half Grecian rotisserie chicken which came with green beans and I also asked for garlic mashed potatoes. The chicken was FANTASTIC!! Garlic mashed are certainly on my top 5 list as well. This is more of a dinner place (in my opinion) but the food (at least this experience) was great!! We will definitely be back. Our server, Nick, was very nice and the rest of the staff also seemed very receptive to their patrons. The inside does have a lodge feel (by design) and is very nicely decorated. This place blows away the other two restaurants that once existed at this location.
(5)Jessica S.
Impressed by the friendly service and food. It does have lodge feeling. We were seated right in front of the fireplace. I had the 1/2 rotisserie chicken and 1/2 slab of baby back ribs, garlic mashed potatoes and veggies and house. It was a lot of food! Everything was very good. The ribs were very tender and bbq sauce tasty. The chicken was also very moist and tender. I had a ton of leftovers the next day even. Hubbie got a steak sandwich and sweet potato fries. We will definitely be back again and again! Oh and the complimentary Make Your Own S'Mores at the end were a nice touch. We have since dined both inside and out. Great on the patio too.
(4)Amykate C.
This was a debatable 5 star, but because the place is a bit pricey (though worth it) and the music was almost too loud to talk over and they are new I give it a 4. Our waitress was super friendly and was able to answer all our questions about the food and gave us her opinion on the best food in the place (We almost always get the typical "it's all good" ). She was also totally right when she recommened the I believe its called chili chicken, the sauce tasted almost like a sweet and sour sauce but it was some of the best chicken I've ever had, unfortuately it was my husbands. I ordered a chicken garlic dish which was also very good- but I would get the roteserrie chicken or the chili sauce dish next time. Our food came out fast and they forget to put the sauce on my husbands chicken so when our waitress asked if the sauce was good he mentioned he wasn't sure if it was on the chicken, she looked at it, told him it was not then brought out another half chicken! I was impressed they didn't just bring it in the back and add the sauce or get him a cup of it. Overall great service, quick, knowledgeable and helpful. We went on a weekday and did not have to call ahead. The menu has a decent variety and The Lodge itself has a similar look to the last resturant that was there but it is more open and I love that you can see the chickens roasting when you walk in. Also learned they do take out or catering type stuff which I am def. going to look into.
(4)Chris P.
Love this place all months of the year, but even better during the winter months, since it is a lodge. Good drinks, great atmosphere and great food. Sometimes I don't understand why they have so many people on staff, but I have never sat at a table so i don't have an answer for that. I plan on being there many times over the winter.
(5)Karen G.
Had a great Birthday party for my husband with kids and grand kids. Booked the circle room and they were great about the time we spent, privacy, bringing a birthday cake from home. All waitstaff were great. The food was plentiful and good and every consideration was afforded to our children in the group! Thanks for making it a great party.
(4)Michael B.
Very poor food and high prices. Clam chowder was canned cream of chicken soup with a few bits of clam, no potatoes. Fish fry haddock was soggy and greasy, flavorless. Loaded baked potato was stale, reheated mess. The only thing decent was the coleslaw. Overpriced mixed drinks. Never go there again.
(1)Michael G.
well, i wanted to try a different place and went here...very disappointed with my food. They have rotisserie chicken has there big thing so I order the combo half chicken with pasta. I got a small salad with it as well which was nice and crisp. So when my main dish comes there is a kinda small half chicken and a HUGE portion of spaghetti. The chicken was decent, with lots of seasoning flavor but dry. Then I tried the pasta with red sauce, TERRIBLE! It tastes worse then a dollar microwave dinner, and the only flavor it had was bitter. The person I was with got the southwest salad which was huge and said it was good and ate it the next day. I am sure this place has some good stuff and maybe I should not have gotten the pasta but, if I ever go there again I know what i am not getting. The inside was nice, it has been 2 other restaurants which were Irtish themed ans seemed to basically keep that look, and it is dark I even said to the person I was with about how the table next to us was in all shadow.
(2)P G.
I went to Niko's for Father's Day and the service was terrible. Thought we would give if another shot because maybe it was just because they were so busy. We want yesterday and again the service was terrible. We saw our waitress maybe 4 times total. She didn't even take our order or being out any of our food. Apparently she had several tables inside and outside. The food was ok. Not amazing. My salad was drowned in dressing (even though I asked for it on the side...) We will never be going back. Not worth our time or money.
(1)Sarah C.
We have been so sick of the same old places to go for dinner. Saturday we decided to try Nikos Lodge and we were so glad we did. The food was excellent, best meal I've had out in a long time. I got the lemon chicken with artichokes and my husband got the steak and ribs. Everything was cooked perfectly and the service was great as well. Just make sure to go early or make a reservation because it was packed and rightly so!
(5)Mike B.
All I can say is the place is OK.
(3)David S.
Went to the bar on Friday and had a great bartender. Don't remember her name but she had a flower in her hair and was very prompt and friendly. She happily suggested food to me as well as what drinks would go best with it. She had a smile on her face all night even when the bar got really busy. Good food and great service!
(5)Dave C.
I love the look and feel of this place, they've done a nice job making it feel like a mountain lodge. The place was quite busy for a Thursday night at 7:30, but we were seated within 5 minutes. We sat in the room in the back, it had a nice fireplace going on in there, but it made the room feel quite warm. It was also a very noisy environment when all the tables are full, I could barely carry on a conversation with my family. The food was ok, my daughter ordered the Italian beef & she commented that it lacked flavor, I tried a bite & it was bit bland. The French Onion soup was a nice portion & very good taste. The Rotisserie chicken was shared between my wife and I as the portions are huge. It was moist, but really nothing special going on there, just average taste. I've had way better rotisserie chicken from Costco. I might try this place again & go for a steak, but this was just average taste for what we ate. The Smore's afterward outside on the fire was a nice fun touch.
(2)Candi P.
Had dinner with my family, food was pretty good. The chicken pot pie was excellent, said my mom. Shared a half chicken and ribs with my dad. My fiancé said his burger was just alright nothing special. Service was definitely sub par. Our first two choices for appetizers were not available (calamari was our first choice) . The shrimp scampi that was actually available wasn't good. Just shrimp doused in butter with some seasoning. The s'mores with marshmallows you could roast outside was a nice touch but the graham crackers we got were kind of stale. Still fun though.
(3)Scott A.
Food: 2 stars Service: 3 stars Atmosphere: 5 stars Concept: 4 stars Skip as a sit-down dinner spot; DEFINITELY come to hang out with friends, watch the game, or grab bar food. If you're looking for a warm inviting causal spot to hang out, this place is hard to beat! With complimentary S'mores, couches around the fireplace, and a genuine lodge atmosphere, drop the temperature outside and you'll forget you're even in Algonquin! Note though, when I said bar food in my opening sentence, it's the same menu. It's just that generally one has different expectations when they eat at the bar than when they formally sit down. So this is not to say its bar food menu or there is one. Quite the contrary, the menu is without question fine for a full sit-down dinner with a decent reasonably diverse selection. The problem is it also seems to be pretty hit or miss. That said, my sole mission was to find a burger and the Niko burger I had was pretty good: 3 1/2 stars. In this area, your choice is pretty much either chain or bar. For non-corporate chain restaurant/bar burger options, there are few in this area and this is one of the better ones. The best and one-of-the-best burgers in all Chicago is actually across the street at Montarra but alas was off the menu this night. At Niko's, the burger I ordered was the Prime and Egg; requested rare came out medium-rare which was actually fine. I might even have ordered it medium-rare if places where actually better at not overcooking! The egg was overcooked but not horribly so. I'd come back. However, if you like your burgers well-done I probably wouldn't recommend these. The bun would be mismatched for a well-done burger and I suspect most would find it mediocre at best. While I didn't find the prices terrible; they are high for mediocre! I also sampled the Rotisserie Chicken. Looked great but unfortunately was drier than a well in a dessert. The accompanying beans however were excellent. A Prime Steak ordered at a nearby table looked amazing .....but then again so did the chicken. So for food Niko's wasn't so happening but a truly unique fantastic spot to hang out at !
(4)Niko K.
Change the NAME. Niko has nothing to do with this place. It was sold April 2014. Just letting the public know.
(1)Nicole W.
Right in the heart of the shopping arena, Nico's can be seen with the wood burning pits awaiting your S'mores. The attractiveness of the exterior is defiantly an alluring factor to venture inside - it's too bad we didn't have someone greeting us when we arrived. Lunch Hour: We waited for several minutes before a hostess came hustling from the back, chewing the last couple bites of whatever she was eating. First impressions are always important, and this was a failed attempt of professionalism. My family member asked her if the S'mores were still available. Unsure on how to answer, the hostess started to walk away and look around the dining room for assistance. We waited for another several minutes before her co-worker came up and asked us if we were being helped. After finally being seated, all of our entrees, all different choices, were presented well and very promptly. However, the pretzel bread for the BBQ pork sandwich and the Blue Cheese Burger that was requested by two of us dining, failed to make it to the table. The Gouda soup was highly recommended by our waitress - pretty average in flavor and definitely should be avoided or considered last based on the hyped up review it received. When we began to exit the low-lit 'lodge' like experience, a group of female co-workers were huddled behind the hostess stand, giggling at the content of their jokes and stories. One of them managed to thank us for coming. Bottom Line: There are so many restaurants in the area, this one just ranked itself near the bottom.
(3)Taylor M.
I have eaten here twice now and have been pleasantly surprised both times. Both times we ordered the fabulous fried cheese curds which I think I devoured the majority of. The second time, I had the cream of chicken soup that I added the lemon to which was amazing. The first time I dined here I had the salmon cooked on a cedar plank which was awesome. I tried some of my boyfriend's rotisserie chicken that night and knew when I went back I would be ordering it. So the second time we went, I ordered the Mac and Cheese that had bacon and shredded rotisserie chicken... mmmm... cheesy goodness! The ambience of Niko's is cozy like you are dining in a log cabin out in the woods, even if it is located in Algonquin Commons. The best part is that they have fire pits outside for you to roast s'mores on either while you are waiting for a table or as dessert... for free!
(4)Stefanie S.
I can't even give 1star. This placing knowingly took a reservation an my phone number for a party of 25 then closed! They never called or even hinted that they wouldn't be open. They were closed to "perfect" their menu and "retrain new staff members". I can't even explain how mad I am. Now I'm scrambling to find a place that will accommodate 25 on a Saturday night. Don't waste your time!!!!!!!
(1)Megan M.
The first time I went to Nikko's I loved it. The server was amazing as was the food and ambiance. I called in a week advanced to make a reservation for 5 people at 5pm for mother's day. The girl I talked to put me down and it was all set for mother's day. I call to make sure the reservation was still set but I got no answer, that went on for three days. When mothers day came around and we drove to the restaurant, there was a sign saying 'closed for a few days to change the menu and staff'. I was outraged I didn't get a phone call or any kind of communication, and I like a good hour and a half away so it was not only a waste of time but a waste of gas. I don't plan to come back. Very disappointing.
(1)Tommy P.
Went there to get a good dinner with my Dad was VERY disappointed in the meal and service!! We were sat and waited about 15 minutes and I had to ask for a waiter!! Not good to start. Asked for dry Ribs and got them swimming in sauce, now my Dad had ribs and Chicken. He wanted them with BBQ and his came dry! Bad day i hope!! I will try 1 more time but if same i will keep my 1 star!!
(1)Mike M.
Experienced some of the worst food and service ever. Not cheap either. I spent almost $100 with tip for me, my wife, and 3 year old child. Definitely a waste of money. Restaurant was moderately slow when we arrived. Our waitress hardy new anything about the menu or what they had to drink and she was not accommodating, poor communication skills, hardly around. We all ate about 2 bites of our meals and just couldn't stomach anymore. I paid and left (also left our meals which were all only missing 2 bites). Needless to say I will not be back
(1)Sarah H.
We've dined here twice now. The first time was just my husband & I. It was a nice meal, good service and good food. We took our kids on the 2nd visit. Typically our kids moan and groan whenever we decide to take them somewhere new. When I told them about the s'mores, they were sold. It's such a fun perk after dinner. We'll definitely be back!
(4)Linda R.
Ahh, what a difference a year makes! We were here a year ago to celebrate a 92nd birthday and returned tonight to celebrate his 93rd birthday! Well, I certainly wished I had gone somewhere else. We made reservations, so that was a plus on a Saturday night, but ended up in a big booth with elderly people who couldn't manage the booth. We made it work, but it was difficult to talk. Onto the food - appetizers - wanted some cheese curds - haven't had those in stock for 3 weeks - seriously? 3 weeks? I asked the waiter if they'd been to Wisconsin lately? It's really not that far away, the breading isn't that difficult. So what are they waiting for? OK, we decided to skip the appetizer. Main course - fine - we ordered: burger (too big for the birthday boy - 8 oz is really big for someone without that big of an appetite, but was told there's nothing they can do about it. We told him to order it anyway and just do the best he can; ribs/chicken were good; pot pie was flakey and good; tilapia was nice, but a little greasy; chicken marsala - just a chunk of chicken, pasta, and a thick gravy with mushrooms - definitely have seen better. No knives were offered - we had to ask for a knife to cut the chicken and the ribs an chicken. A butter knife was dropped on the floor and they actually asked if we wanted to replace it - and we didn't get a replacement. Seriously - just bring a knife - it's sort of essential. In fact, as we asked for a knife to cut the chicken, they had to ask what kind. Are you just clueless? Then, what really got me was dessert - it was a birthday party! Well, they only had pumpkin pie (hate it!). Nothing else. So we left..... This restaurant lost out on about $30 of sales. Can you really justify this? We also couldn't do the smores thing (but weren't really in the mood either). They wanted the 93 year old and his 88 year old wife with a walker to walk around to the patio to roast a marshmallow instead of out front. Don't think so..... Just don't think we'll be back. Sorry - this had been a fav, but this really put us off. There are too many other choices.....
(1)Sean M.
I've been here many times and the food has steadily declined. the last two times i ordered the ribs they were very fatty. also when i was there Friday night i had the chicken and it was extremely dry, and this is their specialty! I will say the service is always great. I hope they can correct this, because this used to be a great dinner spot.
(2)Steve C.
Six in our party . No one liked their meal. To much salt on the marinara to to pasty of a tomato sauce. The 'Boom Boom' shrimp was good. Wine was fairly priced. We liked the decor, but not much else.
(1)Alan G.
Its kind of rude to say helllooooo when one is caught off guard digging through a wallet looking for the right amount to come up with for the second beer. I had one beer, she walks off, then if 10 feet away and says arrogantly helloooo when she saw I was " inattentive." I honestly did not think she was even there since she had left. Whatever happened to going to up someone face to face and asking " excuse me, I noticed you finished your drink, would you like another one of the same?' she did not do that. she only asked " how was that?" when my head was down. when she saw I was not listening she did not even walk closer. she stood at a distance and said helllloooo which to me is plain arrogant. I am not going back. ever.
(1)Donna R.
I had really high hopes for this place since I know it has been here for a while, its predecessors, Claddaugh and Barley House didn't do so well. Came here with another couple after a movie and maybe we will give it another try.. First of all, we walk in asking to be put on the waiting the list, the hostess is VERY unsure of the time, saying a possible 45 minutes but offers a bar table that is open. We wait for our friends and just decide to wait it out. Then, about 5 minutes later tables are ready, now mind you NOBODY is mad, we are all super pleasant and she is now blaming the waiters for not telling her that tables were open and that nobody ever tells her anything. That is terrible service, just take accountability and say sorry for the mix up a table is ready. We sit down and I completely love the atmosphere, really laid back, lodgy feel, with dimmed lighting. Waiter arrives promptly and takes our drink order and says he will also be back with bread. Bread is decent, nothing to completely drool over. Then, looking at the menu I am pretty surprised as to how expensive things are there, I mean a Mac and Cheese bowl is $13. Do you want to be laid back Nikos or do you want to be fine dining? And here is where it really went downhill... Asked for re-fill on the bread basket, that never came Barely any pesto on my Pesto Chicken Sandwich (my friend said hers was fine) My husbands Steak sandwich was literally a piece of steak on bread -- he ended up asking for lettuce and tomato and steak sauce Friends mac and cheese side was just ok -- looked like something out of a lunchroom My doggy bag of sandwich was not packed up with my left over sweet potato fries and I plenty left, WTH
(2)Angie M.
Popped in for a late lunch/early dinner an enjoyed a cocktail as well. The Pomegranate Martini was very good! I also tasted my friends Key Lime Martini which was delicious! Instead of a meal we opted to share some appetizers. We went with a few options of Calamari, Boom Boom Shrimp and Potato Skins. All were very good! There were so much potatoes and calamari left over we had to get to-go boxes (neither of us minded). I would definitely stop in again and make time to make a s'more on the way out!
(4)Layda C.
Excellent food and service - chicken kabobs are enormous! Could be an awesome meal for 2 people - Friday fish fry, all you can eat, yummy! Salmon - excellent. Very accommodating to changes to order such as substitutions. Even provided fresh steamed green beans when we didn't want butter. Server was very friendly, available when needed. Great looking restaurant but a bit dark n dreary when shades are drawn. Rock music too loud and didn't seem to fit.
(4)Michele B.
A warm comfy atmosphere to meet friends or for a family dinner. The menu is great with all the comfort food (and huge portions) you would expect from a family restaurant. The meatloaf is a sight to behold layered with creamy mashed potatoes and an abundance of gravy. After dinner you are treated to a complimentary package to make your own s'mores around the wood fires burning outside
(3)Art B.
Good food and prices in a cowboy grill atmosphere. One of our local favorites! My sons favorite part is the free s'mores to make over the patio fireplaces!
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