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Jonathans of Oakville celebrates 30th anniversaryBy Heather RolloI always knew wed get to this point, saidMETROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUPJonathan. I never doubted it for a minute. But we didnt get here on our own; the town was of As you approach the building on the cornergreat help in our early years, and we owe a lot of of Thomas and Church streets in downtownthanks to the people that have been dining hereOakville, the ?irst thing you might notice is that for these past 30 years and supporting us.it doesnt look like a restaurant at all.After watching his father develop his vision,Well, it is but Jonathans of Oakville reachesJason Alikakos stepped into his fathers shoesbeyond just a place to eat.in 1994 to become the owner of Jonathans of After 30 years in the downtown core,Oakville.Jonathans of Oakville has evolved into muchHes been doing a great job, Jonathanmore than a great place to enjoy a gourmet says of his son. Its a family business throughmeal. Its become a ?ixture, an institution, aand through and even though I taught himfavourite of the locals, as well as guests of everything he knows, I still learn from him.the town and an iconic piece of history inOne piece of knowledge that Jonathandowntown Oakville.instilled in his son was that a restaurant that Jonathan Alikakos, the restaurants namesake,doesnt evolve, doesnt survive.opened the restaurant on Feb. 28, 1981. AfterYou cant last 30 years in the restaurant seven years of operating a restaurant in Torontobusiness without changing, trying to achieveand three years spent searching for the perfect high standards and evolving with thelocation, Jonathan settled on an original homedemographics, says Jason. We wouldnt havebuilt in the mid-1800s on the corner of Thomassurvived this long if we kept everything theKAREN NEWMAN / OAKVILLE BEAVERand Church Streets and began work on makingsame.FAMILY BUSINESS:Jason and Jonathan Alikakos in one of the seven dining rooms athis dream a reality.A perfect example of the restaurantsJonathans.Thirty years in the restaurant industry is aevolution is the seating capacity. Originally of Oakville has grown to a capacity of 234 featuring French methods of cooking suchmilestone.built to accommodate 112 guests, Jonathansguests inside, spread throughout seven rooms as charcuterie, souf?land terrines, but (including three private rooms on the upper Mediterranean elements inspired by Jasons level, providing an intimate setting for special travelling experience (including ?ish and lambcelebrations) and an additional 27 on the patio dishes) have been introduced over the courseTURN YOUR VISION that lines Church Street, which replaced the of the menu updates. original patio that ?irst opened in 1991.Just as peoples tastes in food change, soINTO REALITYMy dad and I, on our hands and knees along do their tastes in wine. All those years ago,Church Street, laid every stone of that patio by Jonathans of Oakville began with a selectionourselves, says Jason.of French wines that paired best with theirCALL TODAYIn 1998, the areas demographic was Parisian cuisine, but Jason has expanded For Your FREEchanging and downtown Oakville was the collection to include wines that he has Design beginning to see a younger clientele looking discovered around the world. for a casual place to meet for drinks. It was that We have French wines, Californian wines,LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR Consultation M Est. 1993 ember ofLandscape Ontarioevolution, which led Jason to open Jonathans Italian wines we gear our wine list to featureSeafood & Souf?le Bar four years after taking what we know people want, Jason says. Forthe helm (and 17 years to the day Jonathans of the past few years, weve been working with a31 DUNDAS ST. E. (HWY 5), WATERDOWN, ON L9H 7H8Oakville opened). winery in Niagara to create our own VintnersNow known as J-Bistro, it offered the young Quality Alliance house wines, including aShowroom905.689.1880professional crowd a place to enjoy a great chardonnay, a sauvignon blanc and a pinot www.oasisgardendesign.combistro experience, and continues to do the grigio, which has been gaining popularity. Wesame for all types of patrons today.strive to stay ahead of the trends, rather thanThe roots of Jonathans menus are French, play catch-up to them.Safe Drivers Save MoreConservativeDollar for Dollar, No One Protects You Like AllstateGet a quote for a chance to win $10,000 in travelgift certificates from Air Canada Vacations. *5(++#uJim FlahertyTerence YoungccCu .13'u #15(!#u "eu EJoin us for the Jim FlahertyEcDiCdDiCCccuSAFE DRIVERS: *. *5(++#i ++23 3#e! 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Inclusive of all other discounts as applied to Allstates base rates. Terms and conditions apply and may vary by region. Rates and discounts subject to change. Trademark owned by Allstate Insurance Company used under licence by Allstate Insurance Company of Canada. 2011 Allstate Insurance Company of Canada.www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, April 7, 2011 12