Petinos is Greek for Rooster.

 

Roosters are commonly known as the symbol for early rising, grandeur, and reliability. One could always depend on the morning crow of the Rooster to get your day started.

 

Petinos is exactly that, somewhere reliable where you can be sure to have a great start no matter what time you decide to begin or what project might lie ahead.

 

Established in 2001 by those who know them best as the two “Louie’s”, Petinos opened their doors with the express intent to provide Montrealers’ with quality dishes, fast and friendly service in a welcoming atmosphere. The goal was to provide patrons with a feeling of having a great meal in their own home, with, a dash of Mediterranean flare.

 

Elias Gorgas is of Greek decent, Macedonian to be precise and grew up in Montreal and started his career in the restaurant world literally as soon as he could walk. He was encouraged to help out at his Uncles restaurant whenever he wanted and so, from the tender age of 3 young Elias would help unpack and stock soda, wash dishes and bus tables, always enchanting the patrons. He had a natural flare for customer service!

 

Very quickly he realized that this was the life for him and so at 13 he decided to lie about his age and start his professional career. Claiming to be 16 he applied and obtained his first official job outside the family as meat cutter.

 

Elias quickly rose up the ranks as he learned his craft, working at some of Montréal’s best known establishments in the process. Eagar to learn as much as possible and happy to try any new challenges put before him, Elias succeeded beyond anyone’s expectations. He was a natural.

 

However it was a chance meeting with another very ambitious Greek entrepreneur which would turn out to be quite a significant moment in his professional career.

 

Ilias Vouras was born in Sparta, Greece. That should tell you quite a bit about him. Driven, confident and most of all, dedicated. At the age of 17 he made the journey with his father from Greece to Canada and two days after his arrival, knowing no one, found his first job and caught the restaurant bug. It was love at first sight.

 

Ilias armed with a strong work ethic and a desire for success climbed the proverbial ladder and set out to learn as much about the restaurant business as he could. At ease in the kitchen, behind the counter or on the dining room floor his talents and love for his chosen profession were obvious and appreciated by all the regulars at every one of the many restaurants he cut his teeth with.

 

Ilias also goes by the name “Louie” and perhaps that is how he and Elias initially connected, we may never know, but what we do know is that the two men did connect and shared a similar vision of becoming owners of a great restaurant.

 

In 1996 Elias and Ilias partnered with a third party toyed with a fresh new concept for a restaurant, a breakfast specialty restaurant. They opened Resto Coco in St-Eustache well before there were popular chains where patrons could to enjoy a leisure brunch or breakfast on a daily basis.  For the next 5 years the three men enjoyed great success seeing this “novelty” idea take flight but for the Louie’s it wasn’t enough. They wanted just a bit more. They sold their portions of the business and embarked on a new venture.

 

In 2001 Petinos was born and set up shop in Terrebonne. The new concept, a breakfast restaurant that also offered late risers lunch options as well! A year later a second location was opened in Vallyfield and then 8 months later a third in Vaudreuil.

 

Now the Louie’s are getting ready to set off on their next adventure, please stay tuned and make sure to bring your appetite!