All In the Family at Saro's
Posted: Tuesday, May 8th 2012
The Saro’s story is about two great things: delicious food and family. John Giannioudis purchased this downtown fixture from his parents Sarantos and Annastasia about four years ago, “They owned it since day one,” said John. That was back in 1978, when the family was encouraged by an uncle to come to Red Deer in an oil boom, “My parents came to Canada with one suitcase and two hundred bucks.”
With humble beginnings and no prior knowledge of the famously difficult restaurant industry, they made a great business that everyone in Red Deer knows. Their downtown location at 4914 52 Street has been going strong since 1997. Saro’s also runs what was formerly Pegasus Pizza. John’s 78 year old dad still comes in everyday. His mom is not far behind him, and still an active participant in the lifeblood of the restaurant as well.
The hours are incredible. Saro’s is open for business Monday thru Wednesday 11am-10pm and Thursday, Friday 11am-11pm, Saturdays 4-11pm and Sundays 4-9pm. Mondays are pasta nights, Pizza on Tuesdays, and they also cater group events.
Saro’s is a place where you watch kids grow, where people go for anniversaries, where workers from the courthouse and the provincial building go to escape the toils of daily work. The food, service and family are why.
