Strength in community
Neighborhood sports bar, Niko’s Bar & Gyros, is serving up authentic dishes, delicious gyros and craft beer.
The Niko Burger is a towering half-pound Black Angus patty topped with gyro meat and feta atop a fresh brioche bun. (Photography: Adrienne Rose)
For Niko Moulagianis, owner of Niko’s Bar & Gyros in North Royalton, the recipe for success is refreshingly simple: serve great food made from scratch, pour an ice-cold local craft beer, cheer on Cleveland sports teams and treat customers like family.
With 35 years in the restaurant business, Niko knows a thing or two about creating a place where people feel welcome.
“I’ve been blessed to do something I love and have the community support us along the way,” he says.
His entrepreneurial journey began in Parma in 1992, eventually leading to North Royalton. Today the business also includes satellite To-Go locations in Broadview Heights, Brunswick and North Ridgeville.
Keeping Things Real
At the heart of the menu are signature gyros, prepared with quality ingredients, generous portions and a spark of creativity.
“We still cook our gyro meat the traditional way, on a vertical spit and slice it fresh until it melts in your mouth,” Niko says.
While the signature style is popular, you can order other varieties like smoked corned beef, salmon, chicken, grouper and BLT.
But there’s more to the menu than gyros. Other fan favorites include wings, pizzas, sandwiches, burgers and hearty salads. If you’re really, really hungry, don’t miss the Niko Burger, a towering half-pound Black Angus patty topped with gyro meat and feta atop a fresh brioche bun.
Another standout is the homemade hummus in traditional, roasted red pepper, buffalo, garlic and spicy feta, served with warm pita and veggies.
“People ask me our secret ingredient to the silky-smooth Tzatziki sauce, and I answer, ‘my father!’” he says, laughing. “At 80 years old, he still comes in twice a week to make it. He uses loads of fresh garlic.”
Pair all this with an impressive selection of local craft beers, and it’s easy to see why this eatery has succeeded over the years.
Here We Go Brownies
Of course, Cleveland sports are equally important to the Niko’s experience.
The rustic, wood-beamed walls showcase an impressive collection of Cleveland sports memorabilia, while endless rows of flatscreens keep fans connected to the action. Browns Sundays are particularly lively, bringing together generations of fans who share an unwavering, only-in-Cleveland loyalty.
In fact, in 2019, the bar and restaurant was recognized as the #1 Browns Backers bar in the world, an honor Niko treasures.
Your Next Watch Party Starts Here
With at-home Browns watch parties in full swing, and the holidays nearly here, Niko says they have been busy offering MVP-level catering.
“For the ultimate game day spread, we offer packages of mini gyros, wings and meat-by-the-pound,” he says. “We can also stock the ‘sideline’ with sides of our house-made hummus and salads.”
Another catering niche he says has become popular is serving mini gyros as the late-night bite at wedding receptions.
“There’s no comfort food like a gyro to refuel wedding guests and get them back on the dance floor,” he adds.
Other Niko’s To-Go satellite locations are in Broadview Heights, Brunswick and North Ridgeville.
Niko’s Bar & Gyros
12766 Royalton Road, North Royalton
Giving Big when Giving Back
When it comes to community service, Niko Moulagianis and his team at Niko’s Bar & Gyros have always believed it is simply the right thing to do.
“We feel that local, family-owned businesses have a responsibility to support the neighborhoods that support them,” he says. “We’re a very active part of this community and give back whenever and wherever we see the most need.”
He notes that one of the restaurant’s proudest longstanding traditions is its scholarship program run through the Niko’s Browns Backers organization.
Each year, graduating North Royalton High School seniors are invited to submit essays for consideration. An independent board reviews around 100 submissions and selects four recipients pursuing college or skilled trade schools.
“We don’t just hand out $1,000 scholarships,” he explains. “We have the students tell us their story through their essays.”
Over the past decade, the program has awarded about $41,000 in scholarships.
And back in July, when North Royalton Building Commissioner David Smerek was tragically shot and killed inside the North Royalton Service Center, Niko knew he had to do something.
“We organized a fundraiser that runs throughout the football season, selling raffle tickets and collecting donations for the family, culminating in a final drawing on Super Bowl Sunday,” he says.
Each year the team selects one main charity to be its annual beneficiary. This year it was a $6,000 donation to Empowered Sports, an organization supporting recreational opportunities for children with disabilities.
The popular eatery has also welcomed many Ukrainian workers over the past several years, providing employment opportunities for them to rebuild their lives.
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