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Every visit to The Barrel ‘feels like coming home’


The Barrel Restaurant’s menu includes, clockwise from top left, pepperoni pizza, chicken souvlaki, spinach and artichoke dip, lasagna, arancini, house salad and much more. 


What’s for Dinner Norfolk County

By Ian Milmine


The Barrel Restaurant is one of the best go-to restaurants in Simcoe. Whether you’re celebrating a grandparents’ birthday with the whole family, corporate parties, family dinners, date nights, or just don’t want to cook. The Barrel restaurant is a top tier choice no matter what the occasion. 

George and Sandra Daikos along with Tom and Nia Daikos are the original founding members of The Barrel. The brothers met their wives in Greece and, together, moved to Canada in the early 1970s to pursue new opportunities. Inspired by their shared passion for their country’s food they quickly got into the restaurant business.

Living in Toronto, they embraced the growing trend of Italian and Greek food, opening the first Barrel Pizza and Spaghetti House in the mid 1970s with locations in Aurora, Orangeville and Richmond Hill. Then in the early 1980s they moved to Fort Erie opening another location and closing the GTA locations. In search of a quieter lifestyle in the mid-1980s, the founders turned their attention to Simcoe, starting construction on their next restaurant in 1986 and officially opening its doors in 1987 at 131 Queensway West, where it still exists today.

In its 37 years of operation, The Barrel has become an incredibly popular place. It remains as popular today as it was when it first opened. Although the Toronto locations closed after the founders moved to Fort Erie, the Fort Erie and Simcoe locations continue to thrive today.

The next generation of the family, led by Nick Kokkoros and Nick Zographos, continues the legacy of its founders. Combining the timeless values ​​and traditions instilled by the original founders with their own education and experience, they ensure that The Barrel stays true to its roots and continues to delight customers with a dining experience that began in 1987.

The founders of Barrel Restaurant took a unique and highly personalized approach to staffing, fostering a family-like atmosphere that has resulted in exceptional staff retention. Many team members have been with the organization for 10 to 20 years, some with more than two decades of dedicated service. Notable among this longtime staff are Malia McArdle (front kitchen), Svitlana Yefimtsev (back kitchen), Arthur Marontate (dishwasher), Rose Mills (server) and Kelly Hader (server). Acknowledging their invaluable contributions to the success of the Barrel Restaurant, “We appreciate the loyalty and unwavering hard work of all employees, for which we express deep appreciation,” said Nick.The founding owners quicky rooted themselves into the community. They joined the Norfolk County Fair in 1988, purchasing their first and only food trailer that has only ever gone to the Norfolk County Fair and has been in the same spot ever since. Barrel Restaurant sponsors several sports teams, donates to community events and fundraisers, as well as monthly free pizza giveaways in partnership with myFM 98.9 celebrating other local businesses bringing recognition to others’ contributions to the community as well.

Serving food made with love, original recipes brought over with the founders and quality that stands above all else for the ultimate Italian dining experience. The traditionally made recipes have never changed. In-house made sauces and dressing, olive oil made and imported from Greece and chefs trained to make it the same way without fail. Service that is as consistent as a Michelin Star restaurant and the consistency of a very well oiled and maintained machine. The Barrel Restaurant and its staff are unwavering in their commitments to their work.

If you follow What’s For Dinner Norfolk County on Facebook, you will know that The Barrel Restaurant is one of the places I frequent several times a month. I love supporting them knowing that not only am I supporting a local small business, I am also helping fund one of the many places that has woven themselves into the DNA of the community.

Some of the dishes I personally enjoy are their pizza, wings, lasagna, arancini, in-house made large mozzarella sticks, house and Caesar salad, Italian melt sandwich and more. You will find a little some thing for everyone there, even if you have a picky eater or someone that must eat a modified diet. No one is left out.

In conclusion, The Barrel Restaurant is far more than just a dining establishment - they’re a cornerstone of the Simcoe community. From its humble beginnings rooted in family tradition and passion for authentic cuisine, to its steadfast commitment to quality, consistency, and community involvement, The Barrel continues to thrive as a beloved gathering place for all occasions. Whether you’re savouring a classic dish steeped in tradition or celebrating a special moment with loved ones, every visit to The Barrel feels like coming home. It's a testament to the dedication of its founders, staff, and the next generation carrying on its legacy - a true gem that will undoubtedly remain a local favorite for years to come.

Ian Milmine is the Facebook administrator for What’s For Dinner Norfolk County. To share your feedback on his monthly column - or ask him questions – email Ian at imilmine@hotmail.com

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