MINERVA'S RESTAURANT

A Kerrisdale Landmark Since 1975

Talk about a glowing testimony that undoubtedly makes Minerva’s owners Nonda and John Pavlakis feel extremely proud; actor Ryan Reynolds says the Kerrisdale restaurant is his favourite in the world.

Minerva’s story begins with Nonda, who is originally from Nafpaktos, Greece. The youngest of eight children, he left the scenic portside town in 1967 to join two of his siblings who had settled in Vancouver. Nonda worked for a short stint as a bus boy, a tailor, and at the Greek Copacabana nightclub in East Vancouver.

His diverse career path was interrupted when a friend approached him to become a business partner and purchase a restaurant called Minerva’s. They embarked on the adventure together, although his friend was only associated with the business for a short time.

Minerva’s is known for its menu that marries traditional Greek cuisine with a fusion of flavours from other parts of the Mediterranean.

John says, “Every customer has their favourite dish. Our traditional Greek dishes are always popular, although many customers come for our charbroiled steaks and BBQ rib dishes. Our hand-pressed pizzas and hearty pasta dishes are always a great choice for comfort food.”

Nonda’s father-in-law invented the barbecue sauce recipe, and it has become one of their best-kept secrets. John mentions, “To this day, we are still using our original family recipes.”

The love of their trade fuels this father and son partnership. The family restaurant is all John has ever known; he was born into the business. He worked at Minerva’s during high school bussing tables and then signed on full time after graduating.

“My dad told me that I had to try at least one other job in the real world before committing to the business, so I worked in a salmon cannery for a summer. I was happy to come back to the restaurant. My passion has always been food and beverage and customer service,” says John.

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Both Nonda and John make their role as restaurateurs look effortless. As a result, their loyal clients, and there are many of them, feel right at home.

John notes how hard his family has worked to keep the tradition going. Nonda has a vision that his son will carry on the legacy for the next forty years, and with the success of their two Kerrisdale restaurants (Barra 41 is adjacent to Minerva’s), this seems highly possible.

In recent years their small empire has spread across the city; they opened Loula’s Taverna on Commercial Drive with partners. As well, the Pavlakis are affiliated with Sopra Sotto on Commercial and in Burnaby. John says, “We are also renovating another location on The Drive. Stay tuned!”

Desi Vasiliadis, Nonda Pavlakis, John Pavlakis

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John is the day-to-day operator of both Minerva’s and Barra 41 with the assistance of general manager Desi Vasiliadis. John comments, “I love coming to work and seeing our regular customers.”

John’s aunt Susan works at the restaurant most evenings. Many customers remember seeing his mother working behind the bar making drinks; now, she can be found most nights enjoying a drink at the restaurant. Nonda comes in every morning to do paperwork and catches up with friends over a coffee. He is also in the restaurant for dinner service and enjoys partaking in a glass of wine.

The pandemic caused many businesses to pivot their business model. John remarks, “Thankfully, we were able to adapt quite quickly during the dine-in closures by offering takeout and delivery service. We tried our best to make our customers feel safe whether they were coming to pick up at our takeout window or by offering contactless delivery. Things are feeling back to normal now. It’s been nice to see a lot of our regular customers return.”

Many loyal customers have dined at Minerva’s for years, and some of them continue to come daily.

“We are truly a neighbourhood restaurant that consistently provides quality meals for any occasion. We’ve been so fortunate to see generations of families come and enjoy meals with us over the years. It’s rewarding to hear that we provide customers with a great experience. It’s wonderful to meet new people and build new relationships. Also, it’s always nice to hear stories from customers who remember coming to Minerva’s as a young kid, and now they bring their kids,” says John.

Nonda concludes, “Looking back, it’s hard to imagine after 47 years that we’re still here and operating at the same location. Of course, none of this would be possible without the continuous support from all our amazing

customers and our loyal staff. Many of them have been with us for decades.”

Minerva’s

2411 W 41st Avenue

Vancouver, BC V6M 2A5

Phone 604-263-1774

www.minervas.ca

Barra 41

2407 W 41st Avenue

Vancouver, BC, V6M 2A5

Phone 604-267-7475

www.barra41.com