Geelong venue “Mavs” has been crowned the best in Victoria and Tasmania at the Restaurant Association Gala.
Owner and head chef, Milton Mavromoustakos, said keeping it simple has helped the family run restaurant succeed.
“We like to satisfy customers [and] to promote our culture, and we make everything in the restaurant nice and fresh.”
Mr Mavromoustakos said the award is a great honour given the challenges the venue has faced since opening.
“We decided to open in Christmas in Geelong about 5 years ago. It was really difficult in the beginning and very risky because previously many Greek restaurants didn’t succeed in Geelong.”
Mavs took its name from the Mavromoustakos family. It means ‘black moustache ‘ hence the restaurant’s distinctive logo.
Billing itself as Geelong’s only authentic Greek restaurant, the eatery is located at 73A Little Malop Street and offers gluten-free and vegetarian options.
The awards were presented during a function at Melbourne’s Federation Square.
Lorne’s Raas Leela was runner up to Moonee Ponds’ Banyan Tree in the Indian Restaurant category, while the Bellarine’s Jack Rabbit Vineyard Restaurant took out Best Restaurant in a Vineyard.
Sou’west Brewery at Torquay was named Best Tourism Restaurant, while the eatery’s Alexander McIntosh took home the award for Chef of the Year.
Higher Mark won Best Venue Caterer for its work at Kardinia Park and was also named Caterer of the year.
Image: Mavs Greek Restaurant FB page
