In 1979 bell bottoms and shiny satin shirts were in fashion, the Sony Walkman was launched and YMCA was a hit for the Village People .It was also the year Stavros Abougelis opened the doors to his Albert Park beachside restaurant Stavros Tavern and introduced Melbourne to his authentic Greek food.

He had spent a year travelling in Europe, having taken leave from his management position at Monash University and became so frustrated with the way Greek food was being served in Melbourne he decided to create a place to enjoy authentic Greek food in a friendly environment, just like the traditional taverns in Greece.

His dream became a reality and for 30 years Stavros Tavern has been synonymous with the succulent flavours of tempting and authentic Greek food. During that time he has seen many restaurants and restaurateurs come and go, but the popular tavern has stood the test of time-a feat Stavros attributes to the food, his hospitality and the relaxed, friendly environment.

Always a strong advocate of the Melbourne restaurant industry, Stavros has been an active participant in numerous food events and festivals and has served many years on boards of the Restaurant and Catering Association and the Australian Institute of Hospitality Management.

Stavros and his business partners also operate a very successful event catering subsidiary at most major events in Melbourne and Adelaide.