About Us
Mäksē Restaurant in Downtown Vacaville opened on October 1, 2021. The building had been vacant for a few years, and required a significant investment to renovate and restore the property. Jason Diavatis and Speros Pavlatos set out to bring new life to Downtown Vacaville with a multi-facetted restaurant concept. Steakhouse, Dueling Pianos Club, and a much needed Ice Cream Shop to serve the downtown community.
Mäksē Restaurant offers a diverse menu, primarily Steaks, Pasta, and Seafood. With a few great vegetarian options as well. Our steaks are all Certified Angus Beef. Our Beef Wellington is one of our most popular dinner items, and is made from scratch in-house. Our Halibut is brought in whole and fresh, we break it down in-house. Mäksē Restaurant is a family-friendly restaurant. Weather you are on a rare date-night, coming to celebrate with a large group of friends, or looking for a great meal any night of the week, our staff is here to serve and make you feel welcome!
An often asked question is "What does Mäksē mean? and How do you say it?" Mäksē is the phonetic spelling from the dictionary of MOXIE, as in "I like you kid, you've got moxie." (Said with a Chicago Gangster Style Accent). We knew there would be confusion, but we are happy to clear it up for you! Mäksē means 'Force of Character, Determination, or Nerve'. Perfectly encapsulating what it takes to open a restaurant.
Meet some of our team! Mäksē Restaurant is still a relatively new(ish) restaurant, so we have seasoned staff, and always have new staff in training. Here are a few of the players that have been around a little longer.
Jason Diavatis
GM / Managing Partner
Jason Diavatis, Managing Partner and General Manager of Makse Restaurant in downtown Vacaville is passionate about hospitality and creating the best possible restaurant experience for his guests. Being a proud first generation Greek-American, hospitality is part of his DNA.
Jason is an active member of Visit Vacaville (Vacaville Tourism Bureau) Board of Directors, and enjoys being an active member of the Vacaville community, and especially enjoys being an active honorary commander for the 21st Airlift Squadron at Travis Air Force Base.
Jason’s prior experience as an Event Designer led him to start his first restaurant in 2012, The Loft Wine Bar & Restaurant in Benicia. In 2021 Jason was encouraged to look at the long-vacant location in Vacaville and fell in love with the location and the community.
With the help and support of Jason’s life-long best friend, Speros Pavlatos, the two decided to risk it all and invest all they had into restoring the vacant building, which needed a significant amount of repairs and renovation. The end result is a fantastic restaurant focused on quality food serving the Downtown Vacaville community with a Steakhouse on the Main Street level, and (1.) Dueling Pianos Club and (2.) Ice Cream Shop featuring local Fentons Ice cream on the Creek Level (downstairs).
Speros Pavlatos
Partner
Speros Pavlatos comes from the Tech world, with a degree in Business Management from UOP. While Speros is not part of the day-to-day operation, his support and involvement are crucial to our restaurant operation and we couldn't do it without him.
Anner Chavez
Head Chef / Kitchen Manager
Anner Chavez, born in El Salvador, discovered his love for cooking. His culinary journey began when he moved to San Francisco in 2011, seeking new opportunities and a chance to share his passion with the world. Straight out of high school, Anner joined the Marriott Hotel's bustling kitchen. In 2014, Anner embarked on a new adventure as a chef. His journey led him to various establishments such as Texas Roadhouse and Merchant and Main, each contributing to his growth. He has been at Mäkse Restaurant for the past 2 and a half years experimenting with global flavors, blending traditional techniques with modern twists.
Francesca Mulas
Front of House Captain
Francesca has a spent most of her adult live in the hospitality business, and it shows. She has a true love of Vacaville, Makse, her Staff, and especially our wonderful guests!
