Nikolaou Restaurant Equipment
629 Queen Street West
416-504-6411

It’s easy to walk past Nikolaou at Queen and Bathurst and not give it a second glance. The sign is faded, the door is filthy, and the windows imply that the store is filled with dusty, run-of-the-mill pepper grinders. However, that’s just Nikolaou’s humble facade. Inside this restaurant supply store are thousands of kitchen gems waiting to be dusted-off.

This store is clearly geared toward caterers and restaurateurs. Impressing the everyday consumers with well-organized stock and pretty displays is not their market. This may make any home cook feel intimidated or overwhelmed, but those feelings fade quickly when greeted by the friendly staff behind the front desk. They are happy to help customers track-down down specific items, but they’re also well aware that a slow and peaceful wander of discover through the aisles is necessary for many, and will leave their visitors with plenty of time and space.

One walk around the store and the level of dust on the products will quickly reveal what Nikolaou’s primary sales include. The sheer amount of cake decorating supplies is unreal. There are piping bags ranging from hand-sized to super-sized and perhaps the widest range of accompanying icing tips found under one roof. There are wooden spoons small enough to be used with one finger and large enough to paddle a small boat. There are pots and colanders, storage containers and rasps, in every size and shape imaginable. Clearly Nikolaou’s is an ideal place to purchase professional grade kitchen knives, as they have a well-stocked collection and also offer 1-day sharpening services for when the edges need professional fine-tuning.

A domestic ‘foodie’ could easily get caught-up in the moment and start to feel like more of a professional chef than they are. And, why not? Divulge this feeling and pick-up some professional chef’s clothing. There are plenty of hats, aprons and tunics, mainly found in classic and crisp white as well as the more adventurous black and white stripes.

With one stroll through the aisles it becomes clear that Nikolaou’s products are best suited for ‘behind the scenes’ activities. Their specialty is function, not design. Most of the products Nikolaou carries that are intended for serving, like glasses, plates and teapots, are dated in their design and full of dust. They’ve likely been sitting on the shelves for years, and that’s where they should stay.

Anyone with a passion for home cooking will find a trip to Nikolaou’s an experience in and of itself. And a trip is necessary, for a web site does not exist and wouldn’t suit this store anyway. Brave the uninviting exterior, grab some dust-allergy medication, and discover Toronto’s professional chefs’ secret kitchen weapons.