Settlers Restaurant

With all his friends from Le Roy asking John Spyropoulous when he would open a restaurant in Le Roy so they wouldn't need to drive so often to Settlers in Batavia, along with the increasing number of people coming to him looking for work, Spyropoulous decided to take the hint and open a new eatery in the former L.B. Grand location on Main Street.

"You know, I've got that place (Settlers Restaurant) running so good now, and my employees are so great, they don't even need me there. They kick me out," Spyropoulous said in an exclusive interview with The Batavian. "So, I said I'd give it a shot. I need a new challenge."

Settlers Select officially opens on Monday.

Starting a new restaurant in Le Roy is a sort of homecoming for Spyropoulous.

When Spyropoulous family first moved to Genesee County more than five decades ago, they rented an apartment in Le Roy.  John's father, Steve Spyropoulous, immigrated to the U.S. from Greece as a young man with just a suitcase. He started his restaurant career washing dishes in a restaurant in Rochester that members of his family owned. He saved his money and opened a restaurant in Fairport.

That was going pretty well until he learned the drawbridge over the canal was going to be closed for restoration work. So he sold the restaurant where he could and brought the family to Le Roy, looking for his next opportunity. 

Steve looked at a location in Le Roy -- the space that was most recently Moony's on Lake Street -- and another location in Attica, but neither deal worked out, so he turned his attention to the former Red Barn location in Batavia. 

Settler's opened in 1985, and Steve ran the restaurant until his death in 2018 at age 66.

"My father took it over and made it a gem," John said. "You know, it's a staple now. He did good for himself. He worked hard."

The new restaurant, Settlers Select, at 37-39 Main Street, Le Roy, is more of a bistro than a classic American diner.

The breakfast menu remains the same.

"Breakfast is breakfast," John said.

On the lunch and dinner menu are items such as roasted cauliflower with a spicy aioli, pitas, and hot pepper dip, a French onion burger, and breaded pork cutlets served with mashed potatoes and braised cabbage.

John's wife Miranda leads the kitchen, preparing sauces and entrees. 

Settlers Select also has a full bar -- completely refurbished from the L.B. Grand days. Settlers in Batavia doesn't serve alcohol.

Spyropoulous expects customers to find the same friendly atmosphere at Settlers Select as they do at Settlers Restaurant. 

"All my staff in Batavia, all the waitresses I have, are very talkative with customers," Spyropoulous said. "Everybody enjoys themselves when they come in. I get so many good reviews about how good my staff is, how good everybody treats customers there. I just want the same thing here, you know, and a bunch of the new people that I've hired, I think we're gonna be all right."

John Spyropoulos, co-owner of Settler's Restaurant on West Main Street, was a little taken aback yesterday to learn that the insurance company for the owner of a car that took out his 28-year-old business sign Oct. 10 won't help pay for its replacement.

State Farm said, according to Spyropoulos, that since the alleged driver, Martin F. Jones, 41, of 120 Jackson St., Batavia, wasn't authorized to drive the vehicle, the owner's policy doesn't cover the damage.

"I thought that was what uninsured motorist was for," Spyropoulos said.

It will cost $12,000 to replace the sign and the insurance Spyropoulos has on the building will pay only for $5,000 of it.

To get his money, Spyropoulos may need to file a claim for restitution through the courts. He could file a claim for the entire $12,000 expense.

If Jones is convicted, Jones could be ordered to pay for the sign at his sentencing.

Spyropoulos said he will look into that option.

Jones was charged with felony DWI, refusal to take breath test, two counts of leaving the scene of a property damage accident, unsafe backing, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, avoiding an intersection, speed not reasonable and prudent and driving on the sidewalk.

Before going out for a early evening drive, I stopped by Billy Goats where a birthday party for Steve Spyropoulos was just getting started.

Steve, who turned 60 today, and his son, John, own Settler's Restaurant and Billy Goats.

Steve was proudly serving up BBQ chicken and ribs and I got there just in time for a couple of slices of gyros -- the best gyros you've ever had. And if you've never had gyros, I suggest stopping into Settlers and asking for it. It's not always available and never on the menu, but according to John there will be some gyros specials coming up soon.

Even though it was Steve's birthday, he said the extra food spread was his way of thanking customers for their support.