New owners of Souvlaki Grill and Chill eager to serve up the best in Darwin

The new owners of Souvlaki Grill and Chill are eager to serve up some of the best takeaway in Darwin. Learn more about them here.

A FAVOURITE Darwin takeaway is back in business after a brief closure with new owners and attitude.

The Souvlaki Grill and Chill closed in November after its previous owners waged a bitter battle against the government to overturn mandatory workplace vaccinations.

It formally reopened under its management two weeks ago.

New owners Michael and Sylvia Ninnis and their three children have stepped into the business, which has been widely recognised over a number of years for the quality of its food, and intend to further build and grow its dinging reputation.

“People know the shop, it’s been there a long time and we want them to come back and continue to come back,” Mr Ninnis said.

They intend to build on that reputation with a few secret tweaks to the souvlaki and other recipes to invigorate the takeaway experience.

The family have extensive experience in the business, having worked in and owned souvlaki shops in Darwin and Greece.

They plan to use their history to guide their approach to operating the Grill and Chill.

Mr Ninnis was also confident there was still plenty of demand for a souvlaki grill in Nightcliff.

Eleana Ninnis and Theofanis Ninnis and their family are the new owners of the Souvlaki Grill and Chill. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“We have a strong base in the northern suburbs and we want to bring that clientele back to us and bring new customers,” Mr Ninnis said.

“We’re bringing in a whole new management.

“We’ll try to do the best we can to satisfy the customers, improve the quality of the food as well as the quantity and we will make all of them happy.”

By way of quantity, Mr Ninnis promised to stuff more meat into the souvlaki at no additional cost to ratchet up the value to the customer as well as the taste.

“The souvlakis are bigger and better than before and there’ll be more bang for your buck when you buy a souvlaki at the Grill,” he said.

Mr and Mrs Ninnis are looking forward to the challenge of rebuilding the business and developing a new customer base as well as restoring faith with existing customers.

“Sometimes bad advertising is good advertising,” he joked.

“We are totally new owners and the shop is a different place. We have cleaned from top to bottom and we’ll follow the rules and health advice around Covid.”

The family is thankful to the long-term customers who have returned to the Souvlaki Grill and Chill since it reopened.

Located along Dick Ward Dr in the Nightcliff Woolworths complex, the Grill and Chill is sandwiched between Subway and the old Aussie Pizza store, which is currently not trading.

“We are putting in a lot of hard work but we’re a family business and we’re a team and the team is working really hard and it has been fantastic,” Mrs Ninnis said.

“We’re used to working hard and we know our souvlakis and food is the best so we’re happy.”

Souvlaki Grill and Chill is open 10am-9pm seven days a week.

EARLIER: NIGHTCLIFF’S Souvlaki Grill and Chill is back in business with new owners and a brand new attitude.

The souvla shop closed in November after its previous owners waged a bitter battle against the government to overturn mandatory workplace vaccinations.

It formally reopened on Monday.

New owner Mikael Ninnis said the new team is all double-vaccinated and looking forward to rebuilding the client base lost during the sometimes fierce anti-vaxxer battles.

The family has previously operated souvlaki stores in Darwin and Greece and Mikael says he’s confident there’s still plenty of demand for a souvlaki grill in Nightcliff.

“We’ve cleaned the shop from top to bottom and we’re bringing in a whole new management,” Mikael said.

“We’ll try to do the best we can to satisfy the customers, improve the quality of the food as well as the quantity and we will make all of them happy.”

Previously owned by a convicted drug dealer then run by the anti-vaxxers, Mikael was optimistic about turning around the takeaway’s reputation.

“Sometimes bad advertising is good advertising, but we are totally new owners and the shop is a different place.”

Souvlaki Grill and Chill will be open 10am-9pm seven days a week.