Nik’s BBQ On The Lake

I’ve been back to this place since I posted the initial review about a year ago & the yiros was better — just. I think they time the grilling of their meat so that it’s properly cooked at their busiest times — which means you might get lucky, or not. It’s sad because the location is quite convenient, I’ll try again in ⁶⁄₁₂ months.
initial review
I ordered a takeaway Lamb Yiros — & I’m sad to say, expensive & undercooked gristle !!!
I did get it at about 2pm on a Sunday arvo, so maybe their evening yiros is better, but next time I’ll try a Fish & Chip shop.

Right opposite a lake, at Nik’s you can choose your style of dining, take away kebab/​yiros to enjoy on the covered verandah seating, indoor meal or white tablecloth table service.
Service is friendly and quick either way you choose and the sit down menu is extensive covering seafood, meat & vegetarian. There is a cabinet of really fancy & ethically sourced meats near the yiros takeaway counter — nice that you can see what you will get.
I opted for a felafel yiros with the lot (chips & a can of drink) and it was really flavoursome. The bread was fluffy and soft like the giros I used to get in Christchurch — very different to the dry Lebanese bread usually used at kebab joints. Garlic sauce and tzatziki made it extra tasty.

Friendly, fast & efficient service.
The owner can be found within most days, greeting you and helping the staff to take your order.
Whilst work colleagues & I haven’t ventured far through their menu (this is our hot chips & gravy place), everything I have had has been fresh & flavourful.
A reliable lunchtime venue.

This place is just as good as it gets! It’s located on Mawson Lakes boulevard and the restaurant has a really nice view of the lake as well so you can enjoy your food whist looking at the scenic views outside. I don’t know much about Greek food but it seems pretty authentic here. There seems to be quite a few Greek folks who frequent here so that should be a good sign! I think the best part is that in the evenings (I’m not sure about during the day because I always come here when the sun is down) they have a guy who plays Greek music on a… bouzouki if I am not mistaken? I love it! It really adds to the atmosphere of the place.
They’ve got a wide range of meal options to choose from savoury and sweet options like the baklavas. Also I’ve never had a disappointing meal here. Everything is so fresh, large in portion size and the prices are hard to beat as well. I think the AB here is the best, much, much better than the one you get at North Adelaide Burger Bar, although theirs is quite good especially if you’re in a quick need of a hangover cure after some heavy drinking in town. However, the yiros meat, thick cut chips, garlic sauce and all those lovely sauces that comes with the AB at Nik’s is just so much more fresh, succulent and packed full of flavour in comparison. It’s also more bang for your buck and I’ve never went back to North Adelaide ever since.
The staff are very friendly and accommodating as well even when they are flat out busy. I’ve never been served by a person who acted as though their cat just got ran over that morning and feel like they have to be the biggest ass to anyone who so much as glance at them let alone converse with them. Bonus points.
I wish I lived ten meters away from this place because I would be their number one customer and also because I am in love!

Lamb yiros was good. Hot chips very tasty.

09/​01/​2012
I like Paul’s review. I would like to add several more points I observed while eating in this restaurant!
1. Nik’s Bbq On the Lake make some darn delicious Greek food! Granted, there will be a mess after finishing your meal so don’t be surprised. Make sure you grab a plastic fork and napkin at the top of the counter, because sometimes they’re so flat out they forget to give you one.
2. By the end of the meal you will either be full or can’t finish it all… because they give you a generous serving of meat!
3. They attract people of all ages and cultures (Aussie, European, Asian, anyone is very welcome! etc.).
4. They were efficient behind the counter, and made sure that they wrote down how you like your yiros or meal was made «what meats and sauces would you like?». I always order the $ 10 Chicken AB with bbq sauce, tomato sauce, garlic sauce, and chips. I LOVE their AB… and my older brothers who regularly come here after work, do too.
5. The line is never long, usually there’s one or no people waiting. They are quick to say hello and take your order straight away…
6. The place generally smells GOOD. I mean, in the restaurant kinda way. LIKE it makes you even more hungry and excited waiting.
7. The view of the lake if you sit outside is an exhilarating one, and a great way to catch your breath on your break from the stresses of work! You might even catch a view of some of the cool and loud European cars that roar past.
8. I wonder if someone called Nik named this restaurant after himself or someone close to him? I’m probably wrong. If anyone knows, I think that’d be interesting note to add.
Overall — I really like Nik’s Bbq On the Lake… even way before I started Unilocaling. You cannot dissociate the Mawson Lakes Blv and Nik’s Bbq. They go together very well. I was really close to giving them 5 stars, but understand that I’m just generally a hard man to please…

When I walk into a restaurant and see cutlets of meat on display, I start to get interested. At Nik’s On the Lake you can choose your cut of meat. Yes, choose a cut of meat! How many small restaurants give you the option to do that? The only other restaurants I’ve seen that offer this service are expensive upper class restaurants.
As well as meat based options, the other specialties at Nik’s are the baked potato and the yiros. The baked potatoes are among some of the most elaborate I have ever seen, and the bolognese spud is the one I would personally recommend.
The staff are friendly and on my first time dining in I was greeted upon entering and taken to a table. My partner and I placed our orders and waited. I was surprised that the wait wasn’t that long actually, considering that the meat was custom cooked.
We had originally decided to go along for a quick meal, but decided to stay for desert. Normally if I was to go for a quick meal, that’s exactly what I would do. At Nik’s we were so impressed with the food and the fact that the waiting staff were easily accessible that we didn’t want to leave. If my stomach was bigger I would have sampled more of the delights on offer, but sadly the human body can only take so much food.
I suppose this means a return visit is in order!