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Souvla Founder/CEO Charles Billies I knew opening a Greek restaurant in San Francisco wasn’t going to be easy. But the restaurateur also knew that he had something special to offer with his “fast fine restaurant”.
What sets Souvla apart is its unique concept: a “fast and fine” dining experience that combines the accessibility of fast-casual restaurants with the elevated flavors of fine Greek cuisine. This is representative of founder Charles Bililies’ journey to realize his culinary vision through determination and innovation.
“My position is that we kind of created the fast fine format,” Charles Bililies tells Shawn Walchef of CaliBBQ Media. “This sort of elevated version of the fast casual space, which not only allows people to enjoy food and wine in the restaurant, but also take it out, have it delivered, order it online.”
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Souvla.
When Charles Bililies first revealed his plans to start a Greek restaurant in San Francisco, his parents – both entrepreneurs themselves – were surprised, but ultimately supportive. They had already witnessed their son’s unconventional decisions when he wanted to leave his traditional university and attend culinary school.
As Souvla began to grow, Bililies recognized the need to seamlessly integrate technology into its operations. He views Souvla as a technology-driven restaurant and knew he needed to revamp his tech stack to grow.
Bililies sought out the best specialists to optimize efficiency, but faced the challenge of ensuring these systems could communicate effectively with each other.
It was then that Bililies discovered Grill — the complete point of sale and restaurant management platform which allowed it to integrate external partners and streamline operations. With Toast as its center, Souvla’s technology ecosystem could work harmoniously, ensuring a smooth and consistent experience for customers and staff.
Grill is also a sponsor of Restaurant influencers series.
With the “fast fine” concept, Charles Bililies not only reinvigorated Greek cuisine, but also transformed the dining experience itself. Through innovative technology integration, Souvla continues to deliver authentic flavors while meeting the evolving technology preferences of its customers.
Souvla’s success story serves as an inspiration to budding entrepreneurs and is a testament to the possibilities that arise when authenticity, innovation and a love of food converge.
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