Niko's 'Madness': 320 Greek Chicken Meals Sold In Hours

JOLIET, IL — Since the pandemic, Niko's Pizzeria in Joliet has become a sensation on the Joliet Facebook restaurant page run by Brian Bessler. The Facebook group now tops 15,000 people. And one of the regulars to show off his food is Niko. On Tuesday, Niko hinted that Wednesday would be a hectic day for his take-out restaurant at 20 Ohio St. on the far northern edge of downtown Joliet.

It was a special day and a special meal, he wanted everyone to know.

"Good morning my friends. Today's special is Greek Chicken with Greek Potatoes and Greek Rice Dinner for only $6.99. We have lots of orders already please call the pizzeria to place your order," Niko announced on Facebook around 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Shortly after 2 p.m., he posted on Facebook, "I only have 20 orders left out of 300 ... we'll sell out real fast."

Sure enough, he was sold out of his special Greek chicken recipe by mid-afternoon.

Joliet Patch caught up with Niko moments before he ran out of the chicken. His kitchen crew looked like they had put in a grueling, but fulfilling day. There were about 10 people working nonstop in his kitchen. Niko looked proud.

After all, he oversold, selling a staggering total of 320 Greek chicken dinners. He also posted on his Facebook that Wednesday's feat of 320 Greek chicken meals was his all-time record for a single day.

Niko told Joliet Patch he is offering the Greek chicken meal for $6.99 one day every month. It's a secret recipe that comes from the islands of Greece, he said.

He said that Wednesday's carryout orders included people who drove in from Romeoville, Bolingbrook, New Lenox and Shorewood.

Your Joliet Patch editor paid the $7 for the Greek chicken meal to try it myself.

My reaction? I can't believe the amount of food - including the size of the chickens - for $6.99.

The chicken was juicy, very juicy. The sign on his restaurant building may read Niko's Pizzeria, but this guy knows his chicken, that's for sure.

As many people around Joliet know, Niko makes a number of generous donations to help out the community. Niko's is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The phone number for carryout is 815-722-8800.

He also has one of the best restaurant slogans around the entire Joliet area.

"Stay hungry my friends," Niko always reminds his Facebook followers.