Collegian

When you wake up in the morning (or early afternoon) and you do not feel like cooking yourself breakfast after cramming for finals all night, the answer is located a quick 10-minute drive from Lorain County Community College's campus.

Nick's Family Restaurant in Elyria is a great local, small business that deserves support.

This down-home, country restaurant has been an institution in Elyria for 17 years.  When you dine at Nick's, it feels as though you are dining at home.  It is a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of place.  You expect to see your grandmother walk out of the kitchen at any moment.

"We offer home cooked meals at an affordable price," said Nicholas Patouhas, owner and operator of Nick's Family Restaurant.  "We like to cater to young families."

The menu offers a variety of good, home-cooked food.  Breakfast and lunch are available all day at Nick's.  For breakfast you can choose from the staples: Steak and eggs, omlettes, pancakes and grits.  Many different sandwiches, hot and cold, are available on the lunch menu.  Gyros, Reubens, burgers and good, old-fashioned chicken salads are all options.  You can also choose from three different salads.  With the highest priced item at $5.85, a meal at Nick's will fit into anyone's budget.   "We try to offer fast food prices for sit down meals," said Patouhas.  Senior citizen discounts are also available.     The service at Nick's is the kind of service you expect from a good, family owned and operated business. 

"We try to offer fast, courteous service," says Patouhas. The waitresses are attentive without being overbearing.  In the smoking section ashtrays are already placed on the tables when you are seated.  Refills appear just as needed.

The food is cooked to perfection.  The difficult-to-cook eggs over easy are no challenge to the kitchen at Nick's and the home fries are hot and crisp as they are supposed to be.   The cheeseburgers will fill you up, but not overfill.  You can also get a good sized serving of thick, crispy French fries.

Overall, Nick's Family Restaurant offers a comfortable, friendly dining experience.  You can visit yourself Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.  It is located at 1005 East broad St., Elyria.  They can be contacted at (440) 365-2009. 

While you are there, ask for Nick and tell him what you think or just have a chat.

Christina Ruth also contributed to this story.

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