For Victor Prineas, running a restaurant and leaving customers with smiles and full bellies has been his lifelong passion and reality for more than 50 years.
From the age of seven, the Greek Australian cook developed his love for the kitchen, following in the footsteps of his family members who worked in several businesses throughout his life.
“My parents were always in hospitality. I saw how hard they were working every day, and they really inspired me. I wanted to help them, “Victor told The Greek Herald.
The beginning of Victor’s culinary career
Born in Sydney’s Camperdown Hospital in 1962, Victor’s early years began in Braidwood, before moving into Canberra, and then back to Queanbeyan, New South Wales.
“I remember working at the Braidwood Royal Cafe when I was about seven years old, where I would throw wood under the grill so my father could cook breakfast,” Victor said.
“A few years later, when I was about 12 years old, my father bought a pizza place in the city in Canberra called Sorrento’s, and I was working there every afternoon after school and on weekends.
“Basically, from day one, everything I’ve learnt is from my parents and I’ve loved being in the kitchen ever since.”
Victor said his family owned Sorrento’s from 1977 to 1987. Over the years, they moved around to different businesses and restaurants across NSW and the ACT, with their next chapter being at Central Café in Queanbeyan from 1987 to 2007.
Victor then took over Central Café in Gungahlin, Canberra, from 2007-2017, and then moved on to the Queanbeyan Golf Club from 2017 to 2024 – where he became the face of the Golf Club and was known for his delicious food and generous portions.
Greek influence
As his father, Peter, was from Kastoria, and his mother, Paula, was from Lesvos, Victor’s cooking became heavily influenced by his Greek heritage. Many of the recipes he learnt were passed down from his mother and different women in his life growing up.
“There’s nothing better than Greek food,” Victor said.
“We have always tried to do a little bit of Greek here and there on our menus too.
“We’re known for our Greek salads, and every now and then we add a Greek twist to the menu – that includes things like lamb dishes and traditional Greek gyros.”
Secrets to success
Victor said what he loves most about cooking is the joy it brings to others.
“The best part about cooking is watching the surprise on the customers’ faces when they see the plate that I serve,” Victor said.
He added that commitment to quality and fair pricing is what keeps people coming back.
“It’s about making people happy and not ripping them off. I’m fair,” Victor said.
“I’d rather have 300 or 400 customers a day, than 50 customers a day. It’s about making a little bit, but also getting the people in and keeping them satisfied.”
New beginnings
This year, Victor took on his most recent role as head cook at his son’s newly opened business – Victor’s.
Located at the Queanbeyan RSL Memorial Bowling Club, Victor’s opened on June 11 and is already a hit amongst the community with 300-400 patrons dining in daily.
“The first Friday night I was here, I left the kitchen while the place was chock-a-block and I started dancing on the floor,” Victor said.
“I just love the community here in Queanbeyan, and they love me. They’ve been so supportive since we opened, and it’s been such an incredible journey so far.”
The face behind Victor’s
Peter Prineas, the son of Victor and Phillepena Prineas, said he wanted to carry on his dad’s legacy and open Victor’s.
“My dad has made a great name for himself, and he’s worked really hard all of his life, but he can’t go on forever, so I thought, why not keep his name going and create a new space for people to enjoy,” Peter told The Greek Herald.
“Every time someone would go to eat where my dad worked, they’d say ‘I’m going to Victor’s’, so I decided to name the business after him and continue his legacy as he’s so well-known and loved by everyone.”
Peter said after growing up seeing how hard his dad and granddad worked to run a business, he wanted to follow in their footsteps.
“My family has always been in business and it’s just something that’s inside of us,” he said. “Our goal is to continue giving the people what they want, and we hope they enjoy it.”Although working with family can be challenging and involve a lot of sacrifice, Peter said it’s a rewarding experience and he looks forward to the future of Victor’s and continuing to serve the community what they know and love.
