Let me preface this review by telling you that I haven't eaten at a Cafeteria type restaurant since I was a kid, about 10 years old, and even at 10 I didn't like it. So I kept my expectations open here for Niki's. I'm going to bring to light how incredibly convenient and great it is for the restaurant to have a parking area for truckers. As a trucker every day we're losing good sit down restaurants with hot food, and it's being replaced by unhealthy unappealing fast food. So Niki's having Parking for America's truckers is so incredible!

Immediately upon leaving my truck the grounds of the restaurant are well kept, and the restaurant has clean windows, and fresh looking paint, very inviting. Open the door and I'm immediately greeted by folks on the serving line. The restaurant is SPOTLESS! The Serving area is Also completely spotless, not a pea or kernel of corn out of place. Brightly lit so the customer can easily view the deliciousness that awaits them. It didn't take me five steps in to realize that this most definitely wasn't anything like the restaurant I ate in many years ago When I was 10. I looked at the main entrees of the day, and the decision was difficult, everything looked great, I did however settle on the Grecian fish with Spinach, squash with onions, okra, and shredded cabbage for the sides. Immediately after making my choice a friendly face rang out my delectable decisions and another smiling friendly face guided me to my seat. I want to take a moment again before talking About the food to bring up the cleanliness of the dining area as well as the absolute unison of dress attire of EVERYONE there. Clean black or red button shirts and white spotless aprons. For a moment in time you forget where you are.. You get the feel that you're a celebrity dining in a Five star restaurant enjoying some of the best Birmingham has to offer.

Now the meal, my waitress was epic, I ordered an unsweet tea which was very fresh and tasty. She made sure my glass never went dry, and also brought extra napkins and kept up with me to make sure I needed nothing. Her smile was pleasant, and it was nice to see someone enjoy what they do. Immediately after cutting my deliciously flaky And juicy Grecian fish, I knew right away I was in for a treat. Topped with tomatoes scallions and celery, plenty of aromatic oregano, served in an absolutely perfect lemon sauce, I savored every bite. It paired well with the fresh whole leaf sautéed spinach, and even better with the squash and onions. I wanted to pause a moment with the squash, all too often restaurants will absolutely overdue the squash and cook it so long that it becomes a mushy squash purée. Not here, they were perfect, slight crunch accompanied by the onions, and a very smooth buttery taste for the finish. Okra was also very delicious cooked in a red sauce and completed with tasty onions. Shredded cabbage was also good, topped with what tasted like a slightly sweet light Buffalo sauce, but at that point I had eaten enough and couldn't finish it. This meal was above and beyond anything I had expected. I will for sure return many times in the future for the exemplary service and food that SETS THE BAR! Thank you for a delicious lunch!