Santorini Island Grill

Santorini Island is one of the thirty-nine (39) most beautiful Cycladic Islands in the southern part of Greece. It is a land of lasting impressions, sexy beaches, cliff hanging villages, and the contrasting colors of the sky and the vast Aegean blue sea. It is an island where every view is glorious, from sunny volcanic vineyards and olive tree groves to whitewashed houses, and one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.
When vacationing in this Greek island, Takis and Eleni Vartelas discovered a number of small family restaurants serving grilled items marinated and cooked in a way that was practically unknown to the Greek mainland. The food was cooked fresh, served fast, tasted great and was reasonably priced. The creamy Feta cheese, Kalamata olives and fresh oregano that topped the various Greek Village salads and the variety of Greek red and white wines completed their unforgettable daily culinary experience.

These are the images that have inspired the dream of the Vartelas Family, who planned to adapt Greek Island cuisine and lifestyle to American tastes. In 1999 they established Santorini Island Grill in the upscale community of Scripps Ranch, just a few miles north of San Diego, California. Within the next ten (10) months they built a total of three (3) Santorini Island Grill locations in San Diego County. A fourth was opened in 2002.

The essential ingredients, classic island dishes and the unmatched hospitality that Santorini Island Grill offers leads one to experience an exciting food concept in an unexpected merging of the oldest with the newest. Santorini's recipes contain the saltines of the Aegean Sea, smells of oregano, fresh tastes from the Cycladic Islands and the nostalgia of the Mediterranean. Giving our customers a unique experience that prompts them to return again and again.


Our Philosophy

Unlike other companies, we are NOT focused on the competition but on our customers. Our menu is NOT targeted to a single demographic but has something for everyone. Our culture is based on our guests as our priority. Today, through a proven franchise system and a controlled growth plan, we want to provide the freedom and satisfaction of ownership to ambitious entrepreneurs by offering them low initial investment, exceptional support and comprehensive training.

Founder's Biography



Founder, President and CEO: Takis P. Vartelas
Takis Vartelas founded Santorini Island Grill in 1999. Mr. Vartelas has an established track record as a seasoned business development professional. His education includes a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Aeronautical Engineering, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International & Intercultural Studies and a Master of Science degree (MS) in Management and Organizational Development.

For over 25 years Mr. Vartelas has managed and directed special projects and has entered successfully into domestic and international contract negotiations. He has helped with the development of multi-million dollar companies, such as Alamo Rent-A-Car, Thrifty Car Rental in San Diego, Superset LTD, The Lirac Corporation and Greka International. For four years he worked closely with the Las Vegas Convention Authority in the fields of domestic marketing and development. He is also responsible for developing five different fast casual food concepts in California, including Santorini Island Grill, Papa C's Fresh Mexican Food, PastaMania Italian Bistro, The Macaroni Bowl, Greek Bites. Back in the late 80's he co-started Greek-To-Go which later became a major Greek restaurant.


Community Involvement

Being in business means giving back to the community. Since its inception, Santorini Island Grill has been actively involved in various projects in the communities it is doing business in. Various civic associations and schools have been the recipients of Santorini's generosity. A few of those establishments are:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association, Nationwide
Center for Neurological Study, La Jolla, CA
The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
Ellen Browning Scripps Elementary School, San Diego, CA
Creekside Educational Foundation. Poway, CA
Scripps Ranch High School, San Diego, CA
Carrilo Elementary School, Carlsbad, CA
Cub Scout Pack 613, San Diego, CA
Scripps Ranch Women's Club, San Diego, CA
US Navy, Point Loma, CA
Squadron VMGR-352, Miramar Marine Corp Base, CA
Penasquitos Christian Preschool, San Diego, CA
Project Mexico, San Diego, CA
San Diego City Schools, San Diego, CA
Scripps / Mesa Bible Church, san Diego, CA
St. Spyridon's Greek Orthodox Church, San Diego, CA
Dingeman Elementary School, San Diego, CA