Hey Old Man! This belly is needing some pancakes! Note that Marek has been so upset with the performance of the Bucs that he’s started rooting for the Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart team. He thinks he’s so cool with his Euro-football shirt.

We had to drive through downtown. For our northern readers, please note the ridiculously beautiful day we’re having this fine Christmas eve.

We visited the Grecian Island at 223 E Davis Blvd on 24 December 2009. This is on Davis Island, which is also home to the Pink Flamingo and Jeter’s new house.

On our way in, we had a crazy little dose of Christmas kisses. In case you were wondering, Marek is my hairdresser.

Inside we found a cozy little cafe about half-full of local folks. I got the impression that most of the clientele were people who live on the island.

Marek got right into the menu. I’m hungry, long-chops!

So you, dear reader, are wondering by now. Is this really a Greek place, or is it just a fun name on a boring old breakfast place? I’m here to tell you, with fonts like these on the menu, it’s gotta be Greek! I believe this is the same font Nikos Kazantzakis used.

And every table comes with a jug of olive oil. A vial of oil would be a few ounces. A decanter would be maybe a half-pint. This looks like a liter jug of oil, just in case.

We jumped right into some coffee. I don’t think this is Greek coffee. I think it was Folgers. But despite the cultural coffee discord, it was delicious. And I never saw the bottom of the cup, which is the way we like it! They’ve got the same kind of advertisement-cups that we find at the Three Coins and Mamas on Florida.

While we waited we discussed the relative merits of the book Zorba the Greek, and how the movie role defined Anthony Quinn’s career such that he kept playing the same role over and over for years, regardless of the movie. And we talked about the pantheon of Greek gods and how I used to work for a company named after the Greek god Ares. And we played cars.

Then we had breakfast. Pancakes. Check. Eggs. Check. Bacon. Check. The pancakes were OK. I think they were buttermilk pancakes, which aren’t my favorite. Marek liked them, though. The bacon was very crisp, in a Steve-Standard way. The eggs were just fine. Not a breakfast I’d make any complaints about. A fine, filling, frugal fare, furnished from friendly fraulein.

When we were done, Marek paid the bill.

He really got off easy today, as we were sitting in front of the register. I really enjoy when he has to work for it.

When we finished up we gave kisses all around and said our goodbyes. We picked up a couple papers and sat at the picnic table outside, just enjoying the lovely island air.

We had a very nice time at the Grecian Island. The food was fine, the price was good, the people were nice, and the location was great. All in all, a very nice little Tampa Bay Breakfast. We’re pleased to give The Grecian Island a Tampa Bay Breakfast rating of three and a half stars.

We first officially visited Nicko’s back in April 2009. It was good. Shake, rattle, and roll good. Elvis, as we know, ate there in 1956. I wonder. Do you wonder? I wonder, was it as good back then as it is today? Let’s find out. Marek, take my hand. We’ll go back in time and have breakfast the way Elvis woulda done.

The women are surely beautiful back in 1956! Maybe when this pretty girl is done at the sock hop, she’ll join us for breakfast!

These new-fangled diner cars sure make a nice place to have a meal. I wonder what this will look like 50 years from now?

No fish in the percolator here. This coffee makes me wanna doo-wop! It’s nice to see that even in 1956, another father and son are having breakfast together. They’re in the Elvis booth, which is our favorite place to sit. Obviously we’re visiting Nicko’s later in the year, just AFTER Elvis visited and they put up the pictures of him.

Everyone knows that Marek’s not going to let the coffee get cold! He drinks coffee like a Mickey Spillane character.

Here comes breakfast! They added whipped cream because Marek was so very cute. And because he’s from the future.

Our guest reviewer had the French Toast. She said hey big daddy, this is some groovy breakfast! It’s just like what grandma used to make!

Marek and I had the old standard, pancakes, eggs, bacon. I’d like to tell you about the flaws, but it’s all just good cookin’. Classic slingin’ hash, you need some more coffee hun, greasy spoon, good chow.

The best part about having breakfast in the Elvis Years is the price. The three of us got hit with a $12 tab. That’s small change for a big experience like this! Marek said, don’t worry daddio, I’ll take it from here.

He knew right where to go and made some friends along the way. Can you believe that all these nice girls came up to him to say how cute he was? He gets that all the time.

Never happens to me.

So we traveled back in time. We had good diner coffee. We had a great breakfast. We paid the bill. We talked about Elvis and how this diner car came from New Jersey in the 40s. Just a great ole time here at Nicko’s.

Let’s go home.

OH NO!

We’re 50 years in the PAST! There’s no cell phone service!

What do we DO?

HOW will we get home?

Oh, panic! Panic!

Professor Marek, can you perform the necessary calculations to bring us back to our own time?

Don’t worry, pops. I’ll get us home. Genius IS in my job description, after all. MMMMmmmmmmm…… POOF!

We’re back. All in a day’s work.

Great food. Great people. Great history. Great coffee. And it’s been great for 50 years — we checked! Go there in 2009 or 1956 and tell ’em Marek and Andy sent ya!

We’re pleased to re-affirm Nicko’s Tampa Bay Breakfast rating of four and a half pancakes.