Today we’d like to introduce you to Dimitri Syros.
Hi Dimitri, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Breakfast Company is a family-driven breakfast and lunch concept rooted in a love for hospitality, community, and tradition. Its story begins in 2020, when Terri Syros-King and her son Dimitri Syros opened the first location in Twelve Oaks Plaza in Bradenton, Florida.
Their vision was simple: serve fresh, made-from-scratch bakery items, quality breakfast and lunch fare, and warm, thoughtful service in a setting where guests felt like part of the family.
The Syros family built on their roots in the local restaurant community — they previously operated El Greco Café on Main Street in downtown Sarasota — and drew on Greek cultural influences, both in hospitality and menu flavors.
As the first location gained strong local support, The Breakfast Company expanded. In 2022, they announced a second location in Sarasota’s The Landings center. By 2023, they had opened in University Park and further solidified presence in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
A key distinguishing principle of The Breakfast Company is philoxenia — the Greek concept of extending warmth, generosity, and genuine friendship to every guest. That idea is baked into every aspect of the brand: the greeting, the décor, the menu, and how the staff treats each person who walks through the door.
Today, the brand continues to grow. In April 2025, they opened a location in Sarasota’s Rosemary District at 411 N. Orange Ave., and plans are underway to open in Venice in early 2026.
Looking ahead, Spring 2026 will bring new openings in both Venice and the Palmetto/Parrish area, marking the next stage of growth. Beyond these openings, The Breakfast Company is preparing to expand through franchising across the greater Tampa Bay region later in 2026, extending its unique blend of family tradition, fresh flavors, and heartfelt hospitality to even more communities.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Challenges on the Journey
Opening during uncertain times (2020): Launching your first location in the midst of the COVID-19 era meant navigating shutdowns, staffing shortages, and rapidly changing guest expectations. That timing alone tested resilience and adaptability.
Labor shortages & training: Like most in the restaurant industry, finding and keeping strong team members has been a consistent struggle. That’s one reason you’ve invested so much in detailed training systems and clear career pathways.
Rising costs: Supply chain disruptions and inflation — especially with eggs, dairy, and proteins — put pressure on margins. Balancing quality, portion sizes, and pricing has been a constant puzzle.
Scaling without losing soul: Expanding from a single café to multiple units brought operational growing pains — ensuring consistency in food quality, service, and brand culture across locations is far harder than running just one neighborhood restaurant.
Weather & community challenges: Living and operating in Florida brings the reality of hurricanes and storms. For example, one of your most loyal servers, Shannon, even lost her home in a storm, showing how intertwined your business is with the lives of your people.
Balancing perfection vs. progress: One lesson you’ve emphasized in your story is not overvaluing perfection. In the early years, there was pressure to get every little detail right, but the real breakthrough came in embracing progress and momentum over waiting for “perfect.”
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Breakfast Company is a locally owned breakfast and lunch restaurant group with multiple locations in Sarasota and Manatee County. We focus on serving high-quality, freshly prepared breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes alongside scratch-made bakery items and specialty coffee and cocktails.
We specialize in delivering a full experience — not just great food, but warm, attentive hospitality. We’re known for our signature bakery program, seasonal drink menus, and a fun, energetic atmosphere that makes us a go-to spot for families, professionals, and weekend brunch crowds alike.
What sets us apart is our culture. We live by the Greek principle of philoxenia — showing genuine warmth and generosity to everyone who walks through our doors. It’s why our team is trained not only in food and service, but in creating a welcoming environment where guests feel like part of our extended family.
Brand-wise, we’re most proud of how we’ve grown while keeping our standards high. From opening our first location in 2020 to becoming a multi-location brand, we’ve never compromised on quality or hospitality.
For readers, the most important thing to know is that The Breakfast Company is your community’s breakfast table — whether you’re stopping in for coffee and a pastry, sitting down for a full brunch, or grabbing lunch to-go. With new locations opening in Venice and Palmetto/Parrish in Spring 2026 — and plans to expand through franchising into the Tampa Bay area later in the year — our goal is to bring this unique blend of fresh food and heartfelt hospitality to even more neighborhoods across Florida.
How do you define success?
At The Breakfast Company, success isn’t just measured in sales or the number of restaurants we open, though growth is part of our vision. For us, true success is defined by three pillars:
Guest Experience: Every guest should leave feeling happier than when they arrived. If people consistently say they feel cared for, welcomed, and well-fed, we’ve succeeded.
Team Development: Success means building careers, not just jobs. We measure it in how many of our team members grow their skills, take on leadership roles, and feel proud to be part of The Breakfast Company family.
Community Impact: We believe restaurants should strengthen the communities they serve. Success means being recognized as a local gathering place, a supporter of neighborhood causes, and a positive presence in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, and beyond.
Of course, we track traditional business metrics, guest counts, profitability, and growth into new markets. But what sets us apart is that those numbers are the result, not the definition, of our success. For us, success will always be measured by people: happy guests, proud employees, and thriving communities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thebreakfastcompanyfl.com
- Instagram: @thebreakfastcompanyfl
- Facebook: @thebreakfastcompanyfl
- Yelp: @thebreakfastcompanyfl
