Saratoga News

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Brothers George (left) and Spiro Tsaboukos serve up a couple of hefty omelettes that are a specialty of the house at Lou's.

Close-knit family operates two Los Gatos restaurants

By Suzanne Cristallo

Two Los Gatos restaurants--Lou's on Los Gatos Boulevard and The Diner of Los Gatos on Los Gatos-Saratoga Road--are owned and operated by two generations of the tightly knit Tsaboukos family, which has made its living in the restaurant business for more than 40 years.

The brothers Tsaboukos came to California in two waves. The first three to leave their village of Zevgolatio, Greece, in the mid-1950s were Jimmy, just 18 at the time, and the older Paul and Tommy. They immediately went to work in restaurants, where they washed dishes and bused tables.

They saved their money, and eventually Tommy bought his own restaurant in San Jose, a 24-hour cafe called Around the Clock. The cafe provided employment for brothers Tasso and Frank when they arrived from Greece about 10 years later.

While Jimmy continued to buy and operate a series of restaurants, including his still-operating Westside Billiards and eatery on San Carlos Street in San Jose, Tasso worked his way from dishwasher to cook at a number of restaurants, including Original Joe's in San Jose, until 1979 when he bought Lou's. Along the way, he fell in love with Angela, who came from his same village in Greece. They married in a Greek Orthodox ceremony in San Jose's St. Nicholas Church.

Their sons, George and Spiro, graduates of Leigh and Branham high schools, respectively, followed in the family tradition by beginning work as teenage dishwashers at Lou's. In 1994, Tasso bought The Diner, which had been operating for 10 years.

"We think we know what we're doing," says Spiro, 25, who has been helping brother George, 24, cook and run the place since their father's death a year ago. Their Uncle Jimmy acts as overseer of both restaurants, keeping the books and purchasing in order. Their mother, Angela, helps with accounting and in the creation of special soups. Uncle Paul creates the menu and special desserts at The Diner, and Uncle Tommy cooks.

"Lou's is best known as a breakfast house and for big servings," Spiro says, adding that omelettes are their specialty. Lou's has a cafe setting with chummy tables and a U-shaped counter where strangers and old acquaintances meet and gab. The Diner is outfitted in the 1950s style, with stainless steel stools at the counter and mini-jukeboxes at each booth.

Both restaurants offer a $2.99 breakfast special of two eggs, two strips of bacon or sausage, hash browns, two pieces of toast and orange juice. Lunch choices include Greek salads and homemade soups.

At The Diner, Uncle Paul whips up early-bird specials starting at $5.99. These include honey-glazed chicken and liver with bacon, served with soup or salad and a bread, rice or tapioca pudding for dessert. The specials include a glass of wine.

"We're an all-around diner--from grilled cheese to seafood linguine," Spiro says.

Paul also prides himself on his new glass showcase filled with fruit pies and huge chocolate, carrot and mocha cakes.

Lou's Restaurant, 15691 Los Gatos Blvd., and The Diner, 235 Los Gatos- Saratoga Rd., both located in Los Gatos. Lou's is open for breakfast and lunch daily 6 a.m-3 p.m. 356-8383. The Diner is open daily 6 a.m.-10 p.m. 354-4886.

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