“We are Greek, and Greeks feed people,” says Harry Arsi, one of the new owners of the Station Restaurant in Fishers.
Arsi, along with Peter Simeon and Ernest Tamaras—all seasoned restaurateurs—opened the restaurant on 116th Street near the Fishers train depot.
All three have spent most of their lives in the restaurant business. Peter and Ernest worked together in New York and Florida. Harry hails from North Carolina. This is their first joint enterprise.
“Each of us brings something different to the new partnership,” Harry said.
The Station is on the site of the original Archer’s Grocery, which housed Papa’s Restaurant until recently. The Station’s menu is among the most extensive in the area, describing food prepared of the highest, freshest quality (and always delicious). Greek and Italian dish selections are included but by no means dominant. You’re just as likely to order a four-egg omelet for dinner as the Cowboy Steak Salad, Chicken Marsala or Baked Cannelloni.
Ernest Tamaras is baker and pastries chef extraordinaire. His daily creations are as beautiful as they are delectable. There is usually a baker’s rack in the vestibule of the restaurant, filled with fresh-from-the-oven delicacies to help you decide that, no matter what you choose for your entrée, you are going to have a dessert! Ernest’s specialties are not listed on the menu but include Napoleons, Double Fudge Cake, White Chocolate Cake, flan, Walnut White Raspberry Chocolate Cake, various cheesecakes, at least three other cakes (like Coconut Cake—WOW!), assorted meringue pies, plus three or four individual pastries, including Baklava. Oh My!
Peter, Harry and Ernest did their homework, and demographic studies convince them their style and dedication will prove to be the right fit for the location. As community hosts, they know that being in the restaurant every day and evening, greeting guests and seeing to customer satisfaction are essential to their success. But, of course, an abundance of personal attention and “hosting” would never carry the day without food that makes patrons look forward to the next opportunity to try another menu item (if not to have a favorite over and over again).
After a complete two months in renovation — gutting the kitchen, installing new food preparation equipment and all new décor—the Station opened the first of March and is already experiencing repeat customers.
“The biggest obstacle,” says Harry, “is convincing the public passing by that there is no connection to previous ownership and any negative experience.”
The Station is located at at 8657 E. 116th Street and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Two to three different daily specials are featured, as well as two daily soups. Full bar service of wine and mixed drinks is available. An attractive, ample private meeting room offered by reservation at no charge has already proven to be a popular feature and has been scheduled by several churches and organizations.
The atmosphere at the Station is warm and family oriented. Seating capacity is 250; dining al fresco is planned for the summer. A safe prediction might well be that long before summer, the Station will enjoy a wait list for seating on Friday and Saturday nights. So visit Harry, Peter and Ernest for some really good food and their own brand of TLC.
