A popular South Carolina restaurant has opened a new location in Charlotte
Nick’s Gyros & Seafood, a Columbia, SC, staple known for its hand-breaded fish fingers, friendly service and late hours, has expanded to Charlotte.
Owner Khalif Muhammad had been eyeing the West Boulevard location since 2014, but it wasn’t in the cards until the former Jack in the Box spot became available again until last summer. He had been commuting daily from Charlotte to Columbia, where his cousin Khalil Bahij founded the company in 2008, and was looking to set up shop closer to home.
“I’ve been wanting to bring Nick’s to Charlotte for a while,” Muhammad told CharlotteFive. “We knew it would do well here, and the steady stream of customers proves that there’s a desire for this type of delicious food at a great price.”
The news of its opening was first reported by QCity Metro.
Within a month of opening, Nick’s already has a loyal customer base, some who come in four times a day and others who fist bump Muhammad and call him “unc,” “like I’m their uncle,” he said.
“I’ve been in the restaurant business for over 30 years, but the customers here are the best I’ve ever seen. They came to us with open arms, and I’m very overwhelmed and grateful,” he said.
“It helps that our service is the best. I tell employees, we’re going to smile when customers walk in, treat them like family while they’re here, and then smile when they walk out.”
‘You just can’t find food like ours’
Nick’s has an expansive menu with more than 50 items to choose from, including its top seller and Muhammad’s personal favorite – fish fingers. They’re swai fish cut into strips, hand-breaded and served with the restaurant’s signature boom boom sauce, made from a secret family recipe. Other seafood selections include crab legs, tilapia, whiting, flounder, basa, calamari rings, oysters, scallops and shrimp.
The chicken selections are just as popular.
“We can barely keep chicken liver and chicken gizzards in the store,” Muhammad said. “All of our chicken is marinated overnight and hand breaded. You just can’t find food like ours. We prepare our food fresh and put a little love into it.”
The menu also includes gyros, burgers, sub sandwiches, wings, pasta and a variety of sides like fries, onion rings, fried okra, fried mushrooms and mozzarella sticks —“a little something for everyone,” Muhammad said, noting that everything is kosher, made from scratch and without chemicals. Customized orders are welcome.
Nick’s is open from 10-2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10-4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday to catch the late-night scene.
Nick’s Gyros & Seafood
Location: 1600 West Boulevard, Charlotte, NC, 28208
Cuisine: American, seafood
Instagram: @nicksgyrosandseafood
