TikTok foodie opening his own Montreal restaurant
Posted January 23, 2023 10:18 pm.
Last Updated January 24, 2023 12:01 am.
He ate 50 poutines in one week, now he’s opening his own Greek restaurant in Montreal.
Niko Atsaidis is a well-known foodie who posts food reviews to his socials.
“I was always so passionate about food,” he explained. “Then I started posting on TikTok.”
“I kept posting and my following just grew.”
More poutine for Atsaidis! Eating one alongside CityNew’s Pamela Pagano at Billy K’s in Montreal’s Saint Leonard (Credit: Pamela Pagano/CityNews)
With nearly 50 thousand followers on TikTok, his poutine journey was a viral hit.
It took place the week leading up to Quebec’s Saint Jean Baptiste in June 2022.
After eating 50 from across the province, he even shared a list of his top favourites.
“I wanted to learn more about poutine,” he said. “I wanted to travel across Quebec.”
The locations he tried, based off the suggestions people would post in the comments of his videos.
“People brought me to all kinds of great places,” he said. “I ended up in a farm half an hour north of Trois-Rivières, and that ended up winning the first place.”
(Credit: Niko Atsaidis/TikTok)
After digesting, what’s his next big thing?
“I’m actually opening up my very own restaurant,” Atsaidis explained.
Minos Souvlaki Gyro, coming soon in Montreal’s Villeray.
An idea born from TikTok, a follower reached out, asking if he wanted to make this dream happen together.
They will be serving authentic Greek food. Also on the menu though: poutine, with a twist.
“I’m excited to have a Greek poutine,” he said. “The traditional Quebecois poutine, but make a Greek style with a Greek sauce, a Greek feta cheese.”
(Credit: Niko Atsaidis/TikTok)
And for a foodie whose tried it all, what is his favorite dish?
“Pizza, of course, hamburgers, steaks,” he said. “But, you know, if I’m going to choose one as a Montrealer, I’m going to go with poutine.”
The food-pro, even serving some advice when it comes to choosing a spot to eat.
“Step outside your boundary,” said Atsaidis. “Try cuisine that you’ve never tried before.”
But if you still need help choosing your next dining venture, you can follow his reviews on TikTok.
“I love food because food is culture,” he explained. “I could learn so much.”
“I just feel like it brings me closer to whoever I’m experiencing that meal with.”
