Local News - September 2003

Father, son open ‘Safari Miles’

Food from the jungle

By AMY WADSWORTH, Staff Writer

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DENVER — A trip to the safari is just around the corner at the new Safari Miles Bar and Grille.

“The safari is usually miles away, but we wanted to bring it here,” said Mike Fotinos, co-owner. “We wanted to make it an adventure in dining.”

The restaurant is covered in a “safari” theme, including giraffes, elephants and elk.

At the official opening of the restaurant last Tuesday on N.C. 16, members of the community gathered to celebrate the new attraction.

Even though the restaurant opened on June 9, Fotinos said he and his father, Nick, wanted to wait to have the grand opening when they had everything in place.

“We wanted to make sure we had all of our staff,” he said. “We wanted to get it right for the grand opening.”

The Fotinos own two other restaurants in the area, Nick’s Grill in Charlotte and Captain Nick’s Seafood in Lenoir.

Mike Fotinos said he has always wanted to open another restaurant.

“It has always been my dream to open up a nice sturdy restaurant,” he said. “One that people would know.”

Safari Miles’ menu is intended to represent all walks of life with steaks, seafood and pasta, he said.

Nick Fotinos has owned the property where Safari Miles is located since the late 1980’s.

He said he thought now was a good time to build.

“I saw it as a good opportunity to do it now,” he said. “The area is growing so much.”

The construction for the restaurant started in July 2002.

Nick Fotinos said he hopes the customers will come in and feel at home.

 “My goal is to serve the customers the best way I can and make them happy,” he said. “When they come here I want them to feel like it is their house.”

 Nick Fotinos is a native of Greece and used to own Denver Restaurant, which is now Stacy’s Restaurant in Denver.

The hours of the restaurant are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday. The Fotinos have announced that there may be plans to have brunch on Sundays in the near future.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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