OPEN FOR DINE IN, TAKE-OUT, & DELIVERY | CALL 519-352-5281 TO ORDER
Satellite Family Restaurant
Home of the Hawaiian Pizza Since 1962
Our History
Thank you Chatham-Kent for letting us serve you breakfast, lunch & dinner for over 55 years, making us Chatham's oldest restaurant! The Satellite has an extensive menu in which it has constantly changed to stay current with the times. In 1962 the original owner of The Satellite invented Hawaiian Pizza. Today the restaurant remains family owned, and the Hawaiian Pizza, along with other favourites like our Beef Dip, Roast Beef Dinner & George's Salad remain on the menu. Stop in today and eat at a place proud to be apart of Canadian & Chatham History.
Our family style restaurant prides itself in homestyle cooking with great prices and fast service. Enjoy a view of the Thames River on our balcony, or have a gathering/meeting in our banquet room that can hold up to 80 people. There is lots of parking around the building, and we are wheelchair accessible
The story of Hawaiian pizza begins at Satellite Restaurant in downtown Chatham, Ontario; A local restaurant that became the birthplace of one of the world's most debated pizza toppings.
In 1962, the restaurant was owned by Greek immigrant Sam Panopoulos and his brothers. At the time, pizza was still relatively new in Canada, and toppings were typically limited to mushrooms, bacon, or pepperoni. Looking to experiment, Panopoulos was inspired by the sweet-and-savoury flavour combinations he had seen in Chinese cuisine. He decided to open a can of pineapple and add it to a pizza with ham.
The name "Hawaiian" didn't come from the state of Hawaii. It came from the brand of canned pineapple they used at the restaurant; the "Hawaiian Pineapple Company."
Panopoulos is pictured in the Satellite, a restaurant he owned with his brothers in Chatham, Ont. (Panopoulos family)
The combination was unusual for its time, and many people were skeptical. Panopoulos later recalled that customers initially thought the idea was strange. But as more people tried it, the balance of sweet pineapple and salty ham caught on.
What started as an experiment in Chatham eventually spread across Canada and around the world, becoming one of the most recognizable pizza varieties ever created.
Today, the Satellite Restaurant proudly celebrates its place in culinary history.
The Satellite has served Chatham-Kent since 1962 and we continue to feature our famous Hawaiian pizza on the menu. More than 60 years later, the Hawaiian pizza continues to spark friendly debates around the world... but no matter which side you're on, its story began in our family restaurant on King Street in downtown Chatham.
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