About Us

As was originally opened in 2006 as one of the reputable premises of Sarlas Investments. Euro Bar & Grill was owned and operated by the acclaimed restaurateur Paul Sarlas. Having owned King Street Wharfs fine dining restaurant Essence Restaurant and Cafe/Bar/Restaurant Velvet Slide, Milsons restaurant, Jaspers restaurant plus many more.

In June 2008 it has been taken over by Oke & Oke P/L (brothers Laurie & Peter)who are committed to continuing to strive for excellence in CASUAL DINING with a Professional Management team that now includes HEAD CHEF Harrison Lusitche and Apprentice Chefs Sarah McDonald, Jessica Beatty and Monique Niquet with the assistance of a team of dedicated waitresses and bar staff the strive for QUALITY, SERVICE and CLEANLINESS.

 

STAFF PROFILES

Harrison Lusitche – HEAD CHEF (Chef De Cuisine)

Born in Kenya and only migrated to Australia early Decmember 2008 with his wife and two adorable children. He has had extensive experience in a vast range of cuisines and in November 2008 finished a 3 year contract in Dubai at a 5 star restaurant. He speaks a number of languages that include Kiswahili, English and French and may soon learn some bad English! He completed his diploma in the 90's with 'distinctions' at the Escoffier Hotel School and admits that he still has a genuine passion for cooking and thouroughly enjoys every moment. He has very high standard in all areas of the kitchen and enjoys teaching others the 'art'. His food presentation surpasses the average restaurant.

He is a great asset to the team at the Euro Bar & Grill and all the staff are delighted to be on shift with him because of his infectious demeanor and smile.

Farida Abassi – Kitchen Hand/Cook

Farida was born in France and spent a lot of her youth in Algeria, the other side of the African continent to Harrison's home of Kenya. Farida's husband is Mauritian and they have one child that lives with them. Prior to coming to Australia she worked as a travel agent but admits that owing to the strong French influences that she's had since she was little, being a passion for food, decided to leave the past behind her to settle in Australia to study Commercial Cookery at the Carrick Institute in the hope of becoming what she says modestly is 'a very good Chef'.

Farida currently works on a part time basis in order to balance her studies and her family life and still shows dedication to her kitchen duties whether she is doing food preparation or cleaning the pots and pans. She is another asset to the Euro Bar & Grill team.

Monique Niquet– Apprentice Chef

Monique started as an apprentice at the Euro Bar & Grill around the middle of 2008 and although she doesn't say much is fast becoming very efficient in the kitchen and admits enjoying her chosen vocation. She is another asset to the Euro Bar & Grill team.

Jessica Beatty – Apprentice Chef

Jess is the youngest apprentices in the kitchen. She started at the Euro Bar & Grill in the middle of 2008 as a first year apprentice. ... more information to come about Jess as she is very shy and even doesn't like her photo being taken and it's taken this long for her to approve this much. She is another asset to the Euro Bar & Grill team.

Sarah McDonald – Apprentice Chef

Started at the Euro Bar & Grill in February 2009 and is approaching her second year status and studying at a Ryde TAFE(Catering College). She is a local girl who is not unlike other members of the kitchen staff buy having a genuine passion for cooking. This Sarah says, started when she was first able to stand and help her mum in the kitchen. Even when she was in high school she was president of the school cooking club.

She displays dedication to the art of cooking and is constantly striving to be better than her peers in her chosen vocation and admits that Matt Moran and Gordon Ramsay are two of her main inspirations.

Sam Karaitiana - ASSISTANT MANAGER (Full Time)

Sam hails from New Zealand and has only been living in Australia since late 2008. He has only started at the Euro Bar & Grill in June 2009 and is slowly showing his efficiency and charm to his position. He has worked in N.Z. as a Glassy, Kitchen Hand, Barista, Security/Bouncer/Doorman, DJ and Maître D at numerous venues and has work in Australia as a barman in early 2009. He now calls Australia home and says that he enjoys working in the hospitality industry.

Some of the music that you may hear in the Euro Bar & Grill may be that of Sam’s extensive range of music on his ipod, depending on the time of day. He is about to undertake formal management training with a local RTO be enable himself to advance his career in the Hospitality Industry.

Marcus Bastiaanse... not Neil(x The Young Ones)... - SHIFT SUPERVISOR (Casual)

Starting off at his local pub some 7 years ago, Marcus has made his way up the hospitality ranks. From humble dish washer to kitchen hand, waiter,supervisor, acting assistant manager and even acting manager, he has developed an important insight into all aspects of working and running a busy restaurant. Specialising in “getting things off high places” and “having the nicest hair in the Whole restaurant”, Marcus hopes to one day run his own establishment.

Marcus is also somewhat of a stalwart at Euro Bar & Grill as he's the longest serving employee with over 3 years service. He is qualified in graphic design and has valued input into some of the advertising posters that Euro Bar & Grill use.

Colette Finnegan - ASSISTANT MANAGER (Part-Time)

Colette now lives in the Macarthur area after immigrating from the UK several years ago. She is the newest member of the management team at the Euro Bar & Grill and hopes to further he experience in the Hospitality Industry like Sam by also doing a course by a local RTO in the area of management.

Colette has worked in the UK as a barmaid and waitress to support her attending college and did the same on arriving here in Australia in 2006 working at Raby Tavern until the birth of her child early this year. So of course she is a proud mother of one, at the stage and values family life by only working as a permanent part-time manager to enable her to spend quality time with her family.

 

GROUP PHOTOS OF THE STAFF (new & old)

Lauren & Giselle		Latest Group picture		Jaisley

Group shot at Bar		Trying to scare the guests		The Three Stooges/Musketeers! At least they're smiling

Euro xmas reindeer		Combined Staff pic		The Two Harry's .. the infectious smile!

Waitresses		Front of House Group Pic		Marcus & Tom

Dishwashing can be fun		Kitchen Hands always smile		Are they thinking? or posing?

Both these kitchen-hands above are multi-talented as they also waitress with their smiles

Ex Euro Bar & Grill staff member TIM WARD

Tim ..... we used to call him Tim the TOOL .. MAN... - was ASSISTANT MANAGER

Some Euro Bar & Grill patrons and staff would remember Tim as he had a very likeable personality and worked at the restaurant for some time. He resigned for personal reasons and unfortuneately not long thereafter had a bad car accident on the Appin Road around the end of 2008.

He is now regrettably an almost full quadraplegic. He is living back in New Zealand near his parents in the South Island and is undergoing rehabilition.

For those that know Tim, he was a very active, sporty type person and this had changed his life dramatically. All of us at the Euro Bar & Grill that knows him wish him the very best to overcome the lifetime of challenges that are ahead.

Tim has written a book about coming to grips with his disability called "A Different Life" in order to help him survive both financially and mentally AND he has his own website. I commend both of these to you.

http://tetratim.org