If one has never been to Souvla, the fast-fine Greek restaurant with six locations scattered about the Bay Area, they should run to one right now.
And one should definitely order the Greek fries, if nothing else. Lucky for those of us across the bridge, the most recent location opened at the Marin Country Mart in Larkspur, being the first Souvla to launch outside of San Francisco city proper.
Founder and CEO, Charles Bililies, moved to California in 2006 and started Souvla more as a passion project to honor his Greek-American heritage. The idea speedily evolved into the highly regarded brand that it is today. Bililies has become an authority on the intersection of food and tech and the innovation behind the casual-meets-high quality combo he has created at Souvla, often speaking on panels and in the press about all of it. He spends his down time at home in Sonoma County.
Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?
Charles Bililies: I’ve been on a long and windy road with restaurants and hospitality for more than half my life now. From delis, to line cooking in chain restaurants, hotels to 3-Michelin Star restaurants, from the fry station to dining rooms and the back office, to owning and operating Souvla for the last 11 years.
Did you ever have an “aha” moment with a certain beverage? If so, tell us about it.
I proposed to my wife over a 16-year-old bottle of Assyrtiko from Hatzidakis while perched on our balcony in Oia, on the caldera of Santorini, while the sun set over the Mediterranean Sea. The wine was unlike anything I’d had previously, and the moment was simply perfect.
What is your favorite thing to drink at home?
It should come as no surprise we drink a fair amount of Assyrtiko, the mineral-driven, crisp white wine native to Santorini but now grown throughout Greece. We planted a small vineyard of Assyrtiko in our Sonoma backyard. To our knowledge, it’s the only planting of the varietal in all of Sonoma County. We’ll let you know how it is in about three-four years.
Where do you like to go out for a drink?
We’re big fans of Buc’s in Sonoma. Either a negroni or a bottle of Malvasia with some wings or a slice.
If you were stuck on a desert island, what would you want to be drinking (besides fresh water)?
Sigalas Assyrtiko from Santorini. No doubt.
Souvla at Marin Country Mart, 1805 Larkspur Landing Cir., Suite 14, Larkspur, 415.660.9500. souvla.com/location/marin-country-mart.
