Celebrity chef George Calombaris returns to Melbourne with pop-up venture
George Calombaris is making his return to Melbourne's hospitality landscape with his first new restaurant concept in three years, launching a month-long pop-up in South Yarra.
The venture, dubbed Auto Greek at Bar Yarra, will take over the former Lona Misa space at Ovolo Melbourne's South Yarra Hotel, with doors opening February 27.
The high-profile chef, who relocated to Sydney in 2024 for a creative director position at Alpha Greek under Public Hospitality, addressed speculation about leaving his home state.
"People are saying to me, 'oh you've left us'. I haven't left, my heart is in Victoria," he told the Herald Sun.
"It's given me so much and I've been waiting for the right time and right opportunity to do a Greek restaurant again and showcase my view on all things Hellenic."
"For me, this is a great way to re-enter Melbourne. I felt so safe in the suburbs (in Highett) but now I can play with the big boys in the hot suburbs of Melbourne," he said.
The announcement follows the recent sale of The Hellenic House Project in Highett, which Calombaris operated alongside I'm a Celebrity… star and business partner Phil Hatzikourtis since 2023. The suburban venue marked his return to professional kitchens after a six-year break stemming from the Made Establishment wages controversy.
While currently engaged in Sydney-based projects, the MasterChef alumnus affirmed his ties to Victoria.
"I want to be back full-time, but I'll go where the wind takes me," he said.
His Sydney move followed the conclusion of his contractor culinary director tenure at Hotel Sorrento, coinciding with the Alpha Greek opportunity.
"I loved my time (at Hotel Sorrento) and the Pitt family, and in all honesty, my kids didn't want to be living on the Peninsula. They wanted to see friends… so we asked ourselves whether we would move to Melbourne or Sydney and (when the Alpha Greek gig came up) we went to Sydney."
Calombaris clarified his relationship with Public Hospitality, which accumulated an estimated $1.8 billion in debt under Jon Adgemis's leadership, stating he operated solely as a contractor for Alpha Greek at the invitation of the Greek community.
He currently serves as creative director for Harbour Hospitality and Lifestyle, which acquired the Kurrajong Hotel in Erskenville from the collapsed group last September.
"I am excited for my second chapter, or whatever people want to call it," he said.
"This has been a gift that has been given to me and I did think twice about it."
The chef expressed enthusiasm about launching during Greek cuisine's current popularity surge in Melbourne.
"Auto Greek is a fun, all-day diner with delicious neoclassic Greek food. You won't see the norm of what you'd expect from Greek dishes — and we're keeping everything under $30," he said.
Following a month-long Athens research trip, Calombaris plans an all-day menu featuring contemporary Greek offerings, including signature tuna gyros with yoghurt and white onion, avgolemono with devilled eggs and crispy chicken skin, kangaroo tail pastitsio, paidakia, and polítiki featuring raisins, olives, garlic and vinegar dressing.
A permanent Melbourne establishment remains possible, with his hospitality group reportedly exploring opportunities in Victoria.
Christos Pavlidis, Ovolo Melbourne South Yarra general manager, said: "We are thrilled to have our long-time friend George Calombaris at Bar Yarra for its first residency.
"With the excitement for Greek food in Australia ever-growing, we couldn't think of a better fit than both the Auto Greek concept, and George himself, for this first residency, as one of the first chefs who spearheaded Greek cuisine in this country."
Jonathan Jackson, 17th February 206
