MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (KRON) – A Thanksgiving meal isn’t the simplest factor for everybody to come back by. Funds typically get in the best way of with the ability to participate within the vacation. That’s why one restaurant proprietor within the South Bay has been offering free meals for greater than three a long time.
Mountain View restaurant Ristorante Don Giovanni supplied Thanksgiving meals without spending a dime on Thursday and it’s one thing the proprietor has been doing for 35 years.
One after one other, John Akkaya welcomed friends into Ristorante Don Giovanni Thursday, wishing them a cheerful Thanksgiving after which providing them a seat on the restaurant. There have been no menus at hand out, as a result of for 35 years the Thanksgiving meal has been pre-planned and served without spending a dime.
“It’s a gorgeous feeling, an exquisite feeling,” Akkaya stated. “You’ve got lots of people, they want a spot to go they want a meal. Numerous my mates, my common clients, they got here to see me. It’s a really special occasion for us.”
Turkey, mashed potato, gravy, yams, peas, corn and cranberry sauce hit each desk sizzling and able to eat.
Akkaya says he was impressed to supply the free meals when he was working at a restaurant in Chicago 42 years in the past.
“They have been serving free Thanksgiving and I volunteered to serve, and I pledged to myself if at some point I personal my very own restaurant I’ll do the identical factor,” he stated.
He’s saved true to that promise and there was nothing however gratitude from those that benefited. Rick Guerra has identified Akkaya for so long as he’s supplied the free meals, however this was the primary Thanksgiving he bought an opportunity to see it in motion.
“Occasions are robust for lots of people and simply to see it even in good occasions or unhealthy occasions, the truth that he’s been doing this so lengthy out of the goodness of his coronary heart, it simply blows me away. It’s superb,” he stated.
Akkaya says everybody he encounters reveals appreciation for the free meal on their method out. In line with the proprietor, round 1,500 folks got here to the restaurant Thursday.
