Nick Leisos credits his customers for keeping him in business these past 35 years, commemorating the feat Tuesday by busying himself in the kitchen and keeping the orders coming out.

Leisos came to the United States on a merchant ship from Greece 43 years ago, starting as a chef at an Italian restaurant on the East Coast, eventually settling in Bellevue, where he opened Villa Capri. He later changed the name to Nick’s Greek and Italian Cuisine due to the fact most people simply described the trek to the restaurant on 140th Avenue Northeast as “going to Nick’s.”

“I have two things in my life — hard work and dedication,” Leisos said during Tuesday’s 35th anniversary celebration. “I treat my customers with respect; I never trick or mislead my customers.”

“He’s got to live on the repeat customers, because he doesn’t do any advertising,” said Joe Hesketh, who has been coming to Nick’s with his wife, Helen, since it opened back in 1980.

Leisos relies on little help in the kitchen, whipping together Greek and Italian meals from scratch. His wife, Pam, takes care of the customers up front, occasionally calling her husband out to chat up loyal customers. Helen Hesketh said Leisos is always tinkering with recipes, so it’s interesting to see what he might do with a menu item next.

“He does everything from scratch,” said Pam Leisos. “He’s just back there putting things together.”

The owner of Nick’s Greek and Italian Cuisine is very proud of his cheesecake’s selection as best dessert at the Bite of Seattle food festival, first earning the award in 1994. He received the award two more times, in 1995 and 2002.

“I’m trying to satisfy the people who know how to eat,” Leisos said. “The people who don’t know how to eat, I don’t want them to come here.”

Nick’s Greek and Italian Cuisine is located at 2285 140th Ave. N.E.