Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.
They say “the early bird gets the worm” and Rosie has been getting a lot of choice worms since, like clockwork, she wakes us up every morning at 6:15. Seriously, you can set your watch by her. This is followed by her early morning nap at 7:15.
There is another saying, which is, “you can’t see the forest for the trees.” Such was the case when our sharp eyes did not notice Niko’s full-page ad opposite our column. Our friends Bruce and Mary told us about it and said we should check it out. Always in search of a good deal, and not being able to afford eggs for breakfast, we sped off at noon to Niko’s Grill and Pub in Marengo for their early bird specials.
Niko’s Grill and Pub
7509 S. Grant Highway
Marengo 60152
(815)506-2055
www.nikosgrillpub.com
Directions: Take Rte. 47 to Main Street West, turn right on Marengo Road, at the roundabout take US 20 West to State Street to restaurant.
Estimated Travel Time: 18 minutes
The restaurant itself has a homey country vibe to it. There is a huge bar area right off of the equally large dining room with wrap around windows to enjoy the view. There also is a beautiful hall in the rear which can accommodate groups up to 150 people.
Lucky for us, we went on a Sunday and found out they offer an additional special. They have their “Sunday School” promotion where you can choose from two appetizers: chicken wings ($1 each, minimum ten) or bruschetta ($10) which is normally $16. We chose to be frugal and went with the Bruschetta (5). This was grilled crostinis, fresh mozzarella, tomato, aged parmesan, and a balsamic reduction. When the waitress brought over our appetizer, we were surprised to see what a deal it truly was. The crostinis had a thick slice of fresh mozzarella on top to keep the crostini from getting soggy, and this was topped with a mound of perfectly seasoned chopped tomatoes and drizzled with the balsamic reduction. This was a great start for our Sunday outing.
On to deal number two. On Saturday and Sunday from 12-4 p.m. Niko’s offers “early bird specials.” You get your choice from five different entrees for $15. Truth be told, these specials don’t include any before dinner bread, soup, or salad, but come on, what do you want for $15???
If there’s meatloaf on the menu, Jim is all over it. So, what do you think he ordered? He had to have the meatloaf with garlic mashed potatoes. What arrived was the Leaning Tower of Meatloaf. There were two thick slices of meatloaf layered between the garlic mashed potatoes all smothered with brown gravy. He was in heaven and half of his dinner came home in a doggie bag.
Nancy decided on the Fried Shrimp with her choice of potatoes. She opted for the rice pilaf instead. There were ten nice sized shrimp and she ate them all up. She enjoyed every last crumb.
We almost forgot to mention the last surprise of the day. Our meals
came with a vegetable, but today not just any vegetable. We had the most delicious charred Brussels sprouts. This was a BIG surprise because this is normally a premium side for an upcharge at other restaurants. Jim even ate all of his vegetables!!!
FYI: This restaurant is handicap accessible.
We went to get an inexpensive meal, but we never thought it would be this good. We talked with the manager and fortunately, Niko plans to keep this deal available for the foreseeable future.
The price for our early bird deal was $50.40, saving $24 off the regular cost, priceless…
Jim’s take: The food exceeded my expectations on quality and quantity.
Nancy’s take: Fried shrimp is just fried shrimp, but pair it with Brussels sprouts and that knocks it out of the park!!!
Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at thediningduo@gmail.com
