Nick's Drive In [House Made Gyros]

LTHForum,

Nick's Drive In has been discussed here and there as one of the few remaining joints still making their own gyros, true as this may be I was not particularly moved by their efforts.



Mild flavor, tight grain, no discernable char gyro meat was moist but dull in both texture and flavor. While white onion lent a pleasant bite, room temp pita, watery tzatziki, out of season tomato further served to suppress flavor.

Nick's Drive In Gyro Sandwich



My lunch companion mentioned he picks up gyros at Nick's on occasion, though mainly for convenience as he prefers Central Gyros, as do I. My gyro Chicagoland pick remains the juicy flavorful crisp strips of house made deliciousness at The Parthenon.

As an aside, the counter help was unsmiling, not exactly unfriendly, but of the 4-5 working there not a laugh, smile or friendly nod was seen in the entire time we were there.

Enjoy,
Gary

Nick's Drive-In
7216 N Harlem Ave
Chicago, IL 60631
773-631-5045

Central Gyros
3127 N. Central Ave
Chicago, IL
773-545-1276

The Parthenon
314 South Halsted
Chicago, IL 60661
312-726-2407

Just wanted to let you know I frequent the Parthenon during the week before monthly union meetings. Their gyros are the only ones worth eating in Chicago. The meat is truly homemade and is cooked and served with care. Also the roast suckling pig is one of the best kept secrets in the city!
This is my first post, be back when I learn to type faster. OPAAAA!

G Wiv wrote:LTHForum,


Mild flavor, tight grain, no discernable char gyro meat was moist but dull in both texture and flavor. While white onion lent a pleasant bite, room temp pita, watery tzatziki, out of season tomato further served to suppress flavor.

As an aside, the counter help was unsmiling, not exactly unfriendly, but of the 4-5 working there not a laugh, smile or friendly nod was seen in the entire time we were there.

Looks like not much has changed in the thirty or so years they have been around. I've often been tempted to test my memory but a certain guardian angel has just whacked me upside the head

i agree. to me gyros is the ultimate greasy spoon. i want the sour cream tzaziki, i want the thick and juicy cone meat and i want the greasy pita. if i wanted healthier food, i'd go for shwarma. nick's just doesn't cut it in that respect. for me, the best gyros is at The Works:

The Works
2676 Golf Rd
Glenview, IL 60025
(847) 724-0616

their shishkabob sandwich is also out of this world. ask for extra tzaziki sauce.

MBK

Re: The Works

Please help me out here. Many folks from the northern burbs proclaim their love for The Works, and in particular the gyros. That led me to try the outpost in the Loop (Van Buren, by the BOT), which seems solidly mediocre.

Can a Glenview Works fan comment on the relative goodness of the downtown branch?

i've never tried the downtown works Jeff. i do not know if my taste fits your paticular style either (sour cream tzaziki, greasy pita, juicy cone meat), but i can say with confidence that the Works in Glenview does that style very well. i'm not sure they are the same branch. i know only 1 location is listed on the menu i have, and that's the address in Glenview.

The Works in Glenview is our favorite gyro place since 1981. They cook the pita, the sauce is thick and the meat is crispy (unless it is super busy). The Wokrs in the loop is NOT affilaited in any way. I asked them. But their food is ok for independent take out burgers etc. The prices are pretty cheap there too. They make homemade potato chips and they say their soups are homemade. But that food court is depressing.

MBK wrote:i want the sour cream tzaziki

Great thread. I personally want nice yogurt tzaziki with garlic and acidic bite like Parthenon or Greek Islands. Sour cream will do in a pinch.

But...

Have you ever run into Miracle Whip tzaziki? (Great apologies to seebee for even mentioning this abomination?)

I swear that I was served Miracle Whip on a gyros at the Lucky Dog near Austin and Roosevelt last week. And other than this, I really like this place (gyros wasn't bad itself - crispy, shaved off the cone right in front of me, nice griddled pita).

But come on. I've had cloying mayo instead of tahini on shawerma in Russia, but I don't think I've ever been as offput by a condiment as Miracle Whip on gyros.

Santander wrote:Have you ever run into Miracle Whip tzaziki?

Yes, now that I think of it, at CND Gyros, which I seem to be one of the few who really like. The place, not the Miracle Whip tzaziki.

The Works makes a really good gyros but the best ? im not sure..depends on what they are being compared to..if its Parthenon and/or Central Gyros then I have to disagree
and I really wish some of these gyros joints would go back to carving off the spit with a knife instead of those "shavers" !

Head's Red BBQ wrote:if its Parthenon and/or Central Gyros then I have to disagree
and I really wish some of these gyros joints would go back to carving off the spit with a knife instead of those "shavers" !

Interestingly enough, Central Gyros is the first place I ever saw one of those shavers (though I agree, it's a top tier gyros joint and one I frequent often).

Interesting posts. I've been to Nick's 3 times in the last 4 months since reading about it on here, and I've had one mediocre experience, and two stellar visits.

I went at night on each occasion and enjoyed hte coarse-grind and spicy simmer of the home-made gyros. It's unlike any other i've feasted on. It's true the Tzatziki is watery, but taste is more important than texture and I think their version rewards the pallete better than most. (maybe the watery sauce is better to offset the unapologetic meat than a thick sour cream textured version would be.

I'll have to check out the Parthenon's.

I've gone to Nick's perhaps a half dozen times, having initially "found" the restaurant via this board. I've always enjoyed the Gyros. I always ask for them to make it well done (they cut the meat and then grill it, creating a nice crisp outer shell) and order two extra pitas because the amount of meat is simply overwhelming for one. I agree that the consistency of the sauce could be a bit thicker, but the taste is quite good.

TComp wrote:Looks like not much has changed in the thirty or so years they have been around. I've often been tempted to test my memory but a certain guardian angel has just whacked me upside the head

Nostalgia got the best of me about 6 weeks ago on a Saturday afternoon. After a 25 year hiatus I fell victim to the "homemade gyros" sign.
"house assembled" would probably be more accurate.

Knowing that they make their own gyro meat, I've always wanted to give Nick's a try, but until recently, never had. In any event, I was really impressed with the meat, which had really nice seasoning and some nicely charred pieces. I preferred the Nick's gyro meat to the Kronos meat I usually have at Wally's in Park Ridge. That being said, I prefer Wally's overall as Wally's offers much better fries, a better tzatziki and tasty cheese and spinach pies. Any way I can get Wally's to use Nick's meat?

Date Night dinner from last night.

Nick's Drive-In
7216 N Harlem Ave, Chicago


Had a hankering for gyros and this place has an excellent homemade one. Loose pack, extra juicy, well filled! with a different flavor profile due to the use of beef along with pork. I Love this gyro.


I’ve also been on a barbecue beef kick lately and spotting it on the menu made it into my order. The sandwich was noted as “Italian Beef with barbecue sauce” and they weren’t kidding. It was literally an Italian Beef sandwich, dipped with the sauce squirted on top.


A little off putting but not bad. Pretty good beef sandwich with the Italian spices prominent and the sauce sweet without much tang. I liked it.

The restaurant has character and has patrons who are characters. A couple were hanging out near the register chatting with the owner (?)/manager, several having dinner. My Bride was happy to see they had Wheel of Fortune on the TV and several patrons were glued to it. A little kibitzing out loud amongst the crowd.


Nice mural out front, good parking with extra across the street.


It is a little far from home so we don’t visit that often but my urge caused us to make the trip.

A very nice visit!

Panther in the Den wrote:

FB72D54F-3736-455F-8064-40321ABB3EA9.jpeg

I’ve also been on a barbecue beef kick lately and spotting it on the menu made it into my order. The sandwich was noted as “Italian Beef with barbecue sauce” and they weren’t kidding. It was literally an Italian Beef sandwich, dipped with the sauce squirted on top.

Yep, there we go! That's exactly what it means at a few places I've been to around here on the Southwest Side, include my local Nicky's that I mentioned in the BBQ beef thread.