Meltemi

A few words from Meltemi

The swirling flavours of the Mediterranean coastline have been brought together under one roof at new Gold Coast restaurant Meltemi Mediterrania, with a hatted chef leading the kitchen at Broadbeach.
Named after the warm winds that blow across the Aegean each summer, the 100-seat restaurant is the latest for restaurateurs Dino and Kate Georgakopoulos, who own the popular Greek restaurant group, Xenia Grill, at Main Beach and Coolangatta.
Meltemi Mediterrania expands beyond the borders of its sister venues to shine a light on the customs and dishes of lesser-known regions that traverse the waters of the Mediterranean, from Spain to Sardinia, Lebanon and Turkey, while also incorporating family recipes from the Greek island of Kastellorizo.
Dino, who was an engineer before he retrained as a chef to pursue his passion for hospitality, says the restaurant will take diners on a journey from downtown Broadbeach to Europe.
"We want people to feel like they're sitting overlooking the Mediterranean, as a gentle breeze blows over them," he says.
Thoughtful, curved fixtures by Space Cubed Design Studio pay homage to the movement of the wind, from the layered roof, polished concrete wraparound bar and cut-out wall arches, to smaller design elements like flowing floor-to-ceiling curtains and rounded light fittings.
There are three distinct spaces to choose from, each offering their own unique dining experience.
The main dining area features a breathtaking wall-sized mural of a coastal Greek town, while a seat at the bar is the perfect spot for gazing at the golden-hued copper mirror designed to resemble a Mediterranean sunset.
The expansive alfresco area, punctuated by an elevated olive tree and other greenery including rosemary, citrus and guava trees, is covered year-round by a frosted, UV-protected roof.
But the refined yet relaxed spaces are only part of Meltemi's story, with Dino describing the ancient Greek philosophy of filoxenia - or love of the stranger - and the menu combining to create an otherworldly experience.
"Each of the cultures we've brought together all have something in common: connection through food," he says.
"By having the flavours of these countries on the table at the same time, we're redefining share-style dining and showing that they can all be enjoyed side-by-side."
Meltemi Mediterrania's kitchen is being headed up by hatted chef Tapos Singha (ex-Miss Moneypenny's, est, Gowings Bar & Grill), who has created a flavour-rich menu headlined by a mouth-watering rotisserie section.
Meats are slow-turned on the traditional Cypriot grill, with guests able to watch on from their table through the custom-designed window.
Dino, who has two spits in his backyard at home and who started the Groovy Souvi food truck with his brother, says rotisseries and celebrations go hand-in-hand in Greek and other Mediterranean cultures.
"They play such a special role and we want to expand people's minds - and tastebuds - to show how many variations there are," he says, adding the team has spent a lot of time developing dishes that are complimentary, no matter where along the Mediterranean coast they originate from.
Each section of the menu, from the aperitivo to the breads, dips and cheeses, mezze, larger plates, include a dish from a different country.
Popular favourites like saganaki cheese and hummus sit alongside lesser-known regional plates like the Sardinian coral trout crudo, pulpo alla gallega of grilled octopus skewers or the showstopping half Murray cod, that's filled with blistered tomato, capers, saffron, sherry vinegar and green olive salsa.
Singha, who has worked with hospitality legends Peter Doyle and the late Bill Granger, has also brought back the hanger steak shawarma, a cult-like dish from his previous Sydney venue, Bang.
"We couldn't take it off the menu as people would come in especially, so it's great to be able to share it once more," he says.
The drinks list features a selection of signature cocktails, including the rosemary-infused Negroni Scalas and the Nick the Greek, which is made with ouzo and star anise, as well as a Mediterranean-inspired wine list.
Meltemi welcomes groups of all sizes for any kind of celebration. Bringing you the filoxenia, and sharing the love of the Mediterranean.