It feels like Greek week in Sydney, with hatted Potts Point restaurant The Apollo announcing a spin-off eatery, Olympus due to open in late 2024 at Wunderlich Lane at Surry Hills Village.
Olympus will be setting up shop in the bustling new Surry Hills development on the corner of Cleveland and Baptist streets, also home to future projects by culinary heavyweights like LuMi’s Federico Zanellato and House Made Hospitality.
The Apollo in Potts Point also boasts a successful sibling in Tokyo but co-owner Jonathan Barthelmess emphasizes that Olympus at Surry Hills Village will be forging its own path. “The food at Olympus will be more traditional and regional, inspired by recent trips around inland Greece,” he explains. Diners can expect hearty fare that captures the “food of the mountains with a touch of Athenian attitude added to the mix.”
Sydney is in the midst of a get-me-to-the-Greek food trend with new Greek influenced restaurants opening all around the city. But what’s driving the current push? Sydney has a long and steady history with the cuisine and also Greek food of the faster variety.
Peter Conistis, a true pioneer of modern Greek cuisine, is excited by this culinary movement. He opens Ammos, a new waterfront restaurant at Brighton-le-Sands this week but it isn't his first Greek launch. The chef, who recently left Alpha, has run a string of venues going back to Cosmos restaurant in east Sydney in 1993. “Cosmos was the first hatted Greek restaurant in the Good Food Guide,” says Conistis, a pioneer of modern Greek cuisine who put dishes such as moussaka of scallop and eggplant on the map.
Kostas Tomaras, co-owner of the iconic Marrickville institution The Yeeros Shop, attributes this trend to the rising popularity of travel to Greece. He’s observed a marked shift in customer pronunciation of “yeeros”, indicating a growing familiarity with authentic Greek flavors. “The cuisine itself is so diverse, and this is why we think it’s currently booming,” Tomaras explains. “Not only is it delicious, but the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest alternatives out there: high in protein, filled with vegetables, and there is an option for everyone from vegans and vegetarians to meat eaters.”
With its promise of traditional flavors and a trendy location, Olympus is poised to become a major player in Sydney’s dynamic Greek food scene. Olympus will open in late 2024 at Wunderlich Lane, part of the massive Surry Hills development on the corner of Cleveland and Baptist streets. With world-class restaurants, bars and shopping around every corner, Wunderlich Lane is set to be a must-visit destination for premium dining and retail.
If you want to learn more about the exciting new development at Surry Hills Village - contact Emma Chappell today to book a tour of the completed apartments MOVE IN READY.
