While offering super health-conscious food is a rising trend for many inner city cafes and restaurants, it’s nothing new for Argo on the Parade - one of South Australia’s most popular and successful cafes.
A family-owned business, Argo on the Parade is managed by Daniel Milky, together with his parents and seven siblings. And the Milky family’s vision is very clear: to make healthy food accessible and delicious.
Despite catering for a wide range of food intolerances and preferences - from low fructose diets to gluten intolerance, veganism and vegetarianism, Argo on the Parade offers a very diverse, mouth-watering selection of contemporary, fresh cuisine that’s attracting customers in droves.
In a former life, Argo on the Parade was a bustling continental deli - and operated as such for 59 years. Daniel’s family - of Lebanese heritage - were some of the original owners. The shop temporarily closed in the early 2000s, a few years later Daniel and his family resurrected the site and gave it a very fresh and contemporary makeover.
“I was only 23 at the time we opened Argo on the Parade, back in 2010”, says Daniel. “It’s been five years of absolute craziness since then.”
Daniel describes the café as having a very eclectic appeal. “We don’t just attract one narrow group of customers. We want everyone to feel welcomed and comfortable here. I am a celiac, and my sisters are vegans, so we wanted to create a place where you can come with your friends and not have to worry about anyone feeling excluded because they have an intolerance or because they are choosing a more ethical lifestyle. “It’s a very community focused, family focused shop. It’s also probably the busiest in Adelaide.”
Recently, Daniel made the decision to install one of Moffat’s Wexiodisk WD-153 ICS+ conveyor dishwashers - which he says has made a huge impact in terms of productivity.
“Previously, we had three guys at the front doing dishes, and one at the back. Now, since installing the Wexiodisk conveyor dishwasher, we have reduced this to just one person, and on weekends and at our busiest, perhaps two,” he says.
A family-owned business, Argo on the Parade is managed by Daniel Milky, together with his parents and seven siblings. And the Milky family’s vision is very clear: to make healthy food accessible and delicious.
Despite catering for a wide range of food intolerances and preferences - from low fructose diets to gluten intolerance, veganism and vegetarianism, Argo on the Parade offers a very diverse, mouth-watering selection of contemporary, fresh cuisine that’s attracting customers in droves.
In a former life, Argo on the Parade was a bustling continental deli - and operated as such for 59 years. Daniel’s family - of Lebanese heritage - were some of the original owners. The shop temporarily closed in the early 2000s, a few years later Daniel and his family resurrected the site and gave it a very fresh and contemporary makeover.
“I was only 23 at the time we opened Argo on the Parade, back in 2010”, says Daniel. “It’s been five years of absolute craziness since then.”
Daniel describes the café as having a very eclectic appeal. “We don’t just attract one narrow group of customers. We want everyone to feel welcomed and comfortable here. I am a celiac, and my sisters are vegans, so we wanted to create a place where you can come with your friends and not have to worry about anyone feeling excluded because they have an intolerance or because they are choosing a more ethical lifestyle. “It’s a very community focused, family focused shop. It’s also probably the busiest in Adelaide.”
Recently, Daniel made the decision to install one of Moffat’s Wexiodisk WD-153 ICS+ conveyor dishwashers - which he says has made a huge impact in terms of productivity.
“Previously, we had three guys at the front doing dishes, and one at the back. Now, since installing the Wexiodisk conveyor dishwasher, we have reduced this to just one person, and on weekends and at our busiest, perhaps two,” he says.
To assist with the quantity of dishes to be washed and coordinated in this busy café, Argo on the Parade has also installed Moffat’s Wexiodisk PRM-90 corner pre-rinse machine, a chain drive and a Wexiodisk sorting station. All making the café’s productivity much more effective, saving time and labour. As well as seating 110 people, the café also offers a large amount of takeaway food and coffee - meaning demand on the kitchen is considerable. Typically, there are up to 25 staff working in the restaurant at any time, including three baristas.
As well as a focus on healthy food, Daniel says it’s their commitment to providing fast and efficient service that keeps customers coming back.
“Even if there’s a line out the door, you can still expect to get your coffee in less than four minutes”, he says.
Daniel describes that since installing the Sota speed cook ovens, they have been able to reduce toasting time on menu items such as sandwiches, from five to seven minutes, now to around one and a half minutes. This means customers can get in and out quickly - which is very important in terms of turnover, and keeping customers happy.
Unlike so many health-oriented cafes, Argo on the Parade also has a very accessible, warm feel, and there’s no judgement or food snobbery.
“We don’t judge people for what they eat and what they choose to eat”, says Daniel. “We want to support people and enable them to make healthier choices - but of course, what they end up eating is up to them.
As well as a focus on healthy food, Daniel says it’s their commitment to providing fast and efficient service that keeps customers coming back.
“Even if there’s a line out the door, you can still expect to get your coffee in less than four minutes”, he says.
Daniel describes that since installing the Sota speed cook ovens, they have been able to reduce toasting time on menu items such as sandwiches, from five to seven minutes, now to around one and a half minutes. This means customers can get in and out quickly - which is very important in terms of turnover, and keeping customers happy.
Unlike so many health-oriented cafes, Argo on the Parade also has a very accessible, warm feel, and there’s no judgement or food snobbery.
“We don’t judge people for what they eat and what they choose to eat”, says Daniel. “We want to support people and enable them to make healthier choices - but of course, what they end up eating is up to them.
