The Town Restaurant

Armand Gregorian, Owner & Sona Gregorian, Chef/Owner

18608½ Ventura Blvd. in Tarzana  |  818-578-6331 |  thetownrestaurant.com

Husband-and-wife team Armand and Sona Gregorian first met while working in the jewelry manufacturing business. Sona had a passion for cooking, and they both loved entertaining. So they decided to change fields and opened Jumpin’ Java Kitchen in Studio City in 1995. Last August they opened a new restaurant in Tarzana called The Town—a relaxed, welcoming, casual-yet-elegant restaurant featuring a European style and Mediterranean fare. Sona traveled to Barcelona and fell in love with the culture, cooking and style of the place; she has incorporated those flavors into The Town’s menu. All foods are made to order with the freshest, highest-quality ingredients. Chef Sona is happy to meet customers’ dietary needs or restrictions while making their meals very enjoyable. In addition, she loves greeting guests at their tables.

What would you like potential clients to know about you?

“We serve the highest quality, and we always keep our products fresh. We have unique dishes. Customers will always be surprised with our specials.”

Does it take a special set of skills to operate a successful business with family members?

“A passion for what you’re doing and an understanding of and communication with each other.”

What’s your best advice for keeping family issues and business issues separate when running a family-owned firm?

“When we lock the doors of the restaurant, we lock all of the issues in the restaurant. When we go home, we just enjoy each other and our family.”

What’s most rewarding about your work?

“When I’m called out to a table and a customer wants me to tell them how to make their favorite dish or says a dish reminds them of a happy memory. I love it when a customers’ face lights up when they taste our food or when they ask for me or my staff by name.”

What is one word that you most want associated with your business?

“Quality.”

How do you give back to your community?

“We always give back. We help out with fundraisers by donating gift certificates or anything we can do to offer our expertise to local schools, churches, synagogues, charities and community events. We volunteer a lot at our children’s school. We want to be part of our community; that’s where we feel our success is.”