Nick’s Cafeteria

Had the chicken salad with lettuce and tomato on wheat. Super fresh and VERY reasonably priced. My sandwich elicited approving remarks from my fellow jury members and table mates and tasted great. Nick, the proprietor, was working the register and was very friendly and appreciative of our business. Definitely check it out.

Fantastic Greek cafeteria in the basement of the George Allen Courthouse. I’ve eaten here when I didn’t have any business at the courthouse. I usually get the grilled tilapia with two sides and a roll for about $ 6. I know lots of people who’ve eaten here, and they all love it. The judges often here during lunch. Nick has owned it for decades and is often manning the grill. Employees are friendly, and service is very quick.
If you have jury duty, go here. Inexpensive, high-​quality food.

Had jury duty today. On break went down to Nick’s and enjoyed the gyro, which was very tasty and under $ 5.00. I’ll definitely be back and have something to look forward to next jury duty. The cook told me he hand breads the chicken fried steak.

Great value and good food. Good way to start off your day in court.

Lunchtime at any courthouse cafeteria is usually a sad, disappointing experience. For me, anyway. Poor selection of offerings, poor quality of food, running out of food, nothing made by hand, legal professionals/​staff battling with jurors for limited table space … its much closer to a prison cafeteria experience than a nostalgia-​filled romp.
Except for Nick’s. Not only is this the ONLY courthouse cafeteria I don’t have an intense dislike of, but I would dine here if I didn’t have any business in court for that day. It’s worth the metal detector scan.
The quality of the food is outstanding for a cafeteria. Nick is Greek and like every great American eatery run by Greeks, you get large portions at a great deal and you get an enormous menu to order from. All your standard diner fare is listed above the grill: burgers, sandwiches, full breakfast, salads, etc.
Don’t waste your time with the menu, though. The two true gems of Nicks are
1. the gyro combo for $ 5, and
2. the daily lunch platter, also for $ 5.
Any great gyro needs two things to stand out. A ton of meat and a ton of cucumber sauce. You get both here. It gets paired with a greek salad that is immediately made as you wait for the gyro. For $ 5? A total steal.
The lunch platter — your choice of entrée, two sides and a roll or cornbread. Entrees range from grilled tilapia to handbreaded fried fish to greek lasagna to hand floured and fresh out of the fryer fried chicken to twice fried chicken fried steak. Served on a beige or baby blue plastic plate.
Cafeteria itself is very large, it takes up a large percentage of the basement floor. Clean. Plenty of booths. Also impressed with how I get good reception of the building’s wifi network from my booth. So its a good place to do any quick work or reading after your meal, no one hassles you to leave. It beats walking back to the office then coming back or mulling around in the attorney’s lounge.
A well deserved 5, the place gets.

Enjoy a visit this cafeteria in the basement of the George Allen Sr Courts Building if you happen to get jury duty, or if you just need a bite downtown. This place is operated by the same guy (Nick) of the historic Record Grill just a couple of blocks away, and he brings the same spirit of good food and low prices. I would have a meal here even without jury duty.