Sonio's Cafe will rise again from 2003 fire

It's got an updated look. It's got an updated logo. But owner Yiorgo Aretos says the menu at Sonio's Cafe will still have all the old favorites when he reopens the eatery.

Sonio's is expected to be back in business in August.

Known for its health-conscious dishes and friendly service, the restaurant enjoyed a solid following. It wasn't unusual to see patrons lined up at the doors waiting for the place to open.

The restaurant, at 3900 W. Charleston Blvd., burned it to the ground Sept. 12. Faulty wiring in the building's attic was to blame.

Aretos originally planned to reopen within six months of the blaze. Fate and red tape delayed those plans. But now things are back on track and rebuilding the 2,400-square foot café began in earnest the last week of April.

Even before the ashes were cool, Aretos vowed to bring Sonio's back. That was never in question. What was in question, at least to loyal patrons, was whether the menu would take a 180 degree turn.

"The first thing out of everyone's mouth is, "Is everything going to be the same?' " he said with a chuckle. "I tell them, 'Everything we had on the menu before, we'll have again.' My chefs and I, we've been practicing, making the recipes to make sure we don't forget how to do them."

Actually, Aretos will add a few dishes to the menu, a couple of salads and a secret-recipe pasta dish which, from its description, is sure cause mass salivation.

Barbara Keefe, associate publisher of Maturity Today and Senior Living Guide, dined at Sonio's at least once a week, often bringing clients. Her favorites were the spicy Mexican chicken salad and chicken Caesar salad.

"The food was very health-conscious and the chicken really fresh. It didn't taste like what you find at chain stores," she said, naming a national fast-food franchise. "Theirs don't even come close (to Sonio's)."

She said she'd be the first at the door when Aretos opens the restaurant again.

About the only big difference patrons will see is the décor, which will give the place a sense of Tuscany.

The 80-seat café also will see a fun addition, a small raised stage with an open microphone policy.

"Anyone can get up there and do whatever they want, sing, tell jokes," Aretos said. "It should be fun. People can do anything up there, well, not anything -- we won't allow vulgarity."

Something patrons won't see, but will appreciate, are the operational changes the new kitchen will allow. The rebuild translates to faster service, a must for the lunch break crowd. It also allows Aretos to expand the catering arm of the business to accommodate functions with up to 3,000 people.

People might think opening a restaurant would take up all his time and energy. But those people don't know Aretos.

The restaurateur wrote and produced an independent film and is busy getting it to international release. He pulled together a cookbook of recipes perfected at his family's various restaurants. He taught a cooking class at Creative Cooking School.

He began a record company that uses only local talent. A new CD of graduated house music is about to hit the stores and will be featured at Sonio's.

He also had a part in Steve Martin's play "Picasso At The Lapin Agile" put on by the Las Vegas Little Theatre. He said he wanted the experience of what it was like to act so he could be a better film producer. Aretos is working on a second film project.

If that's not enough, he's negotiating to open a second Sonio's in the Peccole Ranch area. The deal is still not signed so details could not be divulged.

The many facets of Aretos' life are all the more admirable considering he is only 28.

"Never lose sight of your goals," Aretos said. "So often we get caught up in the daily grind, sometimes you lose focus of what you're doing it for. By putting the mic into the café or putting out a CD -- if I can get people to stop for a second, if I can put a smile on their face, that's my goal."


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