By Corey Everitt
Shanikas continues to put the South East on the map when it comes to dining, with their quality cuisine and hospitality awarding them the title of best Italian restaurant in the state.
On Monday 18 September, the Restaurant & Catering Association held its 2023 Awards for Excellence celebrating the achievements of dining establishments across Victoria and Tasmania.
Berwick’s staple of dining, Shanikas, took the category for best Italian restaurant.
Shanikas was the only nominee to be located more than 5 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, up against big names such as the iconic Brunetti’s in Carlton and South Yarra’s Thirty Eight Chairs.
Co-owner Damian Krylov went to the ceremony on Monday and was excited simply to be nominated alongside so many big names.
“It’s interesting being the sort of little guy from the South East, you’re in the city, nice suit, in there with all the big restaurants from Vic and Tassie, it was really cool to be there,” Damian said.
“It was nice to actually get there and get some recognition for actually being as good as those kind of guys because you always think that the South East there is not much sort of out this way.”
From serving Berwick for over three decades and Pakenham for almost two, Shanikas have known for a while that they can rub shoulders with the best.
“Even though we are all the way out in the South East, we’re definitely a destination restaurant where a lot of customers tell us we’re up there with the best,” Damian said.
“We’ve always known we are up to the standards of the big city restaurants.”
When the winner was announced, it was significant vindication.
“When they read our name out, I think we all just lost it, the next half an hour was just a nice, energetic, happy blur,” Damian said.
“A bit emotional, it’s all the hard work all the whole team puts in, we have two restaurants, heaps of staff, a lot of people that work hard for us, it was nice to almost bring it home for them to show that the work you guys do is benefiting the team and what we are trying to do in the future.”
Having won the state-level award, Shanikas has a chance to take the top spot in the country for 2023, being nominated for the national awards, to be held in November.
Once the celebrations for the latest achievement have settled, Damian will organise the trip up to Sydney where the national ceremony will be held.
Regardless of potential accolades in the future, for Shanikas this award demonstrates the commitment they have to providing good service and even better food to anyone that walks through the door.
“It doesn’t matter whether you come in for a first date or you been coming in for 30 years we’re trying to make sure that every experience, especially in today’s day in age where money is a bit tight, even if you are just coming out because you wanna treat yourself because you have been working hard, we here to make sure you have the best you can.”
