Serving up smiles: Award-winning Bridge Takeaway welcomes new owner

This story is brought to you by Murray Bridge Self Storage, sponsors of the Murraylands Business Awards.

A smile is free to give, and being nice really isn’t that hard.

That's the philosophy by which former Bridge Takeaway owners Serg and Donna Grohs ran their shop.

It is ultimately why Bridge Takeaway was recently named the winner of the best customer service award at the 2025 Murraylands Business Awards.

Located at the Murray Bridge Green shopping centre, the Grohs had run Bridge Takeaway for three years while juggling their other business, Bridge Playcafe.

People were more than customers when they came through the doors, Mr Grohs said.

"It's more than fish and chips, it's more than a burger, I want these guys to come back," he said.

"I don't want to make a dollar tonight, I want to make sure they're here for the next five years."

Their busiest time is summer, when the line can be seen stretching out the door, but this is what Mr Grohs thrived on.

"You've got the phone on your shoulder, frying up things on the grill and trying to write down orders," he said.

But through it all he had always tried to treat each customer as a friend, remembering names and faces.

So why sell the takeaway, as they did recently?

"I needed to free my body and my mind," he said.

"It's about trying to find that work-life balance – I've got four young kids."

New owner Phani Dakoji said he looked up to Mr Grohs for the way he ran the business.

He first showed interest in the shop last year, but now that the timing is finally right, Mr Dakoji has just completed a four week trial with Bridge Takeaway.

He came with plenty of experience, having worked in the hospitality industry for the past 10 years.

"Serg has next-level customer service, he's perfect, so that's the only thing I'm nervous about ... I've got to keep that award," Mr Dakoji said.

"I'm really thankful to Serg, I've noticed how bright the business is ... I've got to know the community more closer in the trial period."

Mr Grohs said he believed fully in Mr Dakoji's skills and, although he would miss the shop, he was glad to leave it in capable hands.

• Contact Bridge Takeaway: Visit 3 Swanport Road, Murray Bridge from 4-8pm on Tuesday and Wednesday, 11am-8pm on Thursday and Friday, or 10.30am-8pm on weekends; call 7550 1422; or check out their Facebook page.
• Read more: Winners revealed at the 2025 Murraylands Business Awards