No Fear Here: How Niko's Souvlaki Persevered Despite The Pandemic

No Fear Here: How Niko’s Souvlaki Persevered Despite The Pandemic

By Loulou Chryssides Posted: September 6, 2020

Photo/Athena Alex Studi

Home to dozens of Michelin-guide restaurants and cuisines spanning continents, Astoria has become known for being one of New York City’s culinary centersGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Walk to any corner in the neighborhood and get introduced to a different corner of the globeGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Hundreds of restaurants call Astoria homeGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. So, when COVID-19 hit the city, many were left with tough decisions to makeGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. And, within the first month, billions of dollars in revenue were lost due to restrictions on dining to curb the spread of the virusGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

Fortunately, restrictions have eased up and paths have been formed for restaurants to function at a slightly more normal levelGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Outdoor dining has been permitted in New York City for the last couple of months and will remain in place through October 31^st of this yearGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Delivery and takeout have also been options for patrons who prefer to dine at homeGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

And then, there are the restaurants who have opened despite all of the potential challengesGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Since March, a handful of new restaurants have successfully opened throughout the neighborhoodGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Their brave and bold decisions show us what it means to be ‘Astoria Strong’Give_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

One such establishment is Niko’s Souvlaki, located at 19-33 Ditmars BoulevardGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Known for its authentic Greek dishes such as handcrafted gyros, souvlaki, and biftekia (patties), Niko’s Souvlaki fast gained attention for opening during an uncertain moment in timeGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. The restaurant has been highlighted by The Wall Street Journal, NBC New York, and moreGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

Niko’s Souvlaki had initially been set to open before the pandemic started, however due to challenges stemming from the virus its opening was temporarily delayedGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. However, owner Niko Lamprou believes in the motto of ‘fortune favors the bold’, and ultimately decided to open up shop in AprilGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

“The community hugged us (from a distance) from day oneGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. It makes us feel so great and unique, we feel blessed for the positive reception, repeat customers, and general vibe of community loveGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. We built up our delivery clients in the beginning due to takeout and delivery restrictions, but it turns out people were excited to have a new option, especially during the tough times of the quarantineGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Since we opened our patio, more and more people are coming in to taste our food and enjoy the ambiance of our corner spot by Astoria parkGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. We couldn’t love our location moreGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. We live in the neighborhood and have loved becoming a part of the community”, said LamprouGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.