JOLIET, IL — A small takeout restaurant on Joliet’s east side made a giant name for itself in 2021 by selling 1,300 Greek chicken dinners in a single day. But with a new year here, the owner of Niko’s Pizzeria is introducing a unique special recipe that comes all the way from Greece.
This Wednesday, Jan. 12, Niko’s Pizzeria intends to sell 300 to 400 orders of Mrs. Vaso’s Greek lasagna — known in Greece as pastitsio. The meal comes with garlic bread for $9.99, owner Niko Lippas told Joliet Patch on Friday.
In 2021, Niko’s became locally famous for his family’s secret Greek chicken recipe. Now, he’s hoping to embark on a new record quest in 2022 with Mrs. Vaso’s Greek pastitsio.
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Can Niko’s sell 400 meals during the cold of winter in the middle of January?
He’s about to find out.
Find out what’s happening in Joliet with free, real-time updates from Patch.
“When I was in Greece last summer, at one of our family dinners, Mrs. Vaso made the Greek pastitsio and I eat it, and it was one of the best dishes I ever had,” Lippas told Patch. “I told her most definitely, you have to tell me the recipe, and soon enough, she did.
“Now, we’re starting to go big with the authentic Greek pastitsio.”
Niko’s Pizzeria will be open Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The takeout and delivery restaurant will also be selling other menu items that day.
However, Lippas urging his loyal customer base to take a break from their routine to try Mrs. Vaso’s Greek pastitsio.
Pastitsio is a Greek -baked dish made of ground meat layered with pasta topped with layers of cheese and a white sauce.
“I would love all my loyal customers to try it,” Lippas remarked Friday. “Hopefully, the customers like it and it’s going the route like the Greek chicken, so popular.”
People can start placing their carryout orders ahead of time by calling Niko’s at 815-722-8800.
One more thing:
Niko’s has introduced several products imported from Greece that are also available for purchase inside the lobby of the downtown Joliet restaurant at 20 Ohio St.
By popular demand, he’s selling more of his family’s “Extra, Extra, Extra Virgin Olive Oil” that comes from his family’s olive trees in Kalamata, Greece. A half-gallon bottle is $19.99.
He is also selling containers of his family’s Kalamata Greek olives for $7.99.
Third, Niko’s Pizzeria is now selling Baklaba, a layered pastry dessert from Greece, for $4.49.
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