As the fourth generation family member to own and operate Luigi’s, Penelope Ballas-Stewart has a life-long connection to the restaurant and its legacy. Penelope’s great-grandfather Nick Ballas, an immigrant from Greece, originally settled in Massachusetts but eventually found his way to Augusta. Once settled, friends encouraged him to buy a local restaurant and in 1949, Nick opened Luigi’s in downtown Augusta. “Downtown was very vibrant during that time,” shares Penelope. “It was the center of everything.”
Although his Greek roots ran deep, Nick opened Luigi’s as an Italian restaurant and over the years, the family introduced Greek food, making the menu Mediterranean-focused. “It was very difficult in that time to market Greek food, and it was very hard to get lamb and the spices here,” explains Penelope. “Even Italian food was somewhat unknown down here. We introduced pizza to Augusta. People would order it as a dessert because it was listed as pizza pie on the menu. So, they would order it and be surprised when another meal came out.”
Luigi’s, known for its Greek chicken, lasagna, and pizzas, welcomes guests with Old World ambiance, family-style hospitality, and personal touches that speak to the heritage of the family who has poured so much love into one of the oldest buildings in Augusta. Diners enjoy the reminiscent and soothing voices of 1940’s classics like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. In addition to welcoming thousands of guests each year, the restaurant has also seen its share of famous faces, including Elvis and numerous golf legends.
Growing up around the restaurant and surrounded by family provided fun times and great memories for Penelope. “The restaurant is so much a part of who I am. I remember being a child, when my grandparents owned the restaurant, and my sisters and I would sit crammed in a booth with our cousins and Papou (that’s grandfather in Greek) would bring us a bowl of spaghetti and we would all sit and eat our bowl of spaghetti together,” she shares. “Now the youngest of our family who aren’t old enough to work sit at the family table and eat together.”
Later, when Penelope’s parents ran the restaurant, she remembers her grandparents and other family staying involved and being close by. “Once my grandparents retired, my grandfather would come out of retirement every year for tournament week and he would sit outside and be the host for the week,” she says. “I would get to work with him that week and those are memories I think about every year.”
As the fourth generation at the helm, Penelope now shepherds the fifth generation as they begin to take a more active role in the restaurant. She hopes they will feel the same connection to the family’s legacy as she does and will carry on that legacy for years to come. “We are so thankful for the support of those who come downtown to dine with us,” she says. “Our goal is to continue serving Augusta for another 70-plus years and to stay in this building where there is so much history.”
Stop in and experience Luigi’s at 590 Broad Street in downtown Augusta. For more information, visit luigisinc.com and follow Luigi’s Augusta on Instagram and Facebook. Reservations are encouraged for parties of five or more. To make a reservation, email reservations@luigisaugusta.com or call 706-722-4056.
Our goal is to continue serving Augusta for another 70-plus years and to stay in this building where there is so much history.