Sydneysiders, prepare your tastebuds.
Alpha, the much loved and popular Greek restaurant located on Castlereagh Street in the CBD, is reopening soon… very soon!
“I’ve taken the old and the loved and brought it to a new level,” executive chef Peter Conistis exclusively told GCT.
Inside the new Alpha is a decent-sized kitchen, a woodfired oven, a bar and of course tables and chairs diners are waiting to sit on.
“Being allowed now to have the opportunity to utilise the kitchen we’ve always wanted, with fantastic equipment, we can actually take it to the next level. Big drama becomes a big part of it now," Conistis added.
The new kitchen is “a dream come true."
As for the first thing Conistis and head chef James Roberts want to cook in it, it will be the suckling lamb.
“It's exciting because it is allowing us all to play with toys and chefs love playing with new toys so it's great.”
“We are bringing Alpha to the point where it’s always needed to be.”
Now, let's talk about the woodfired oven. Conistis' believes this has always been the missing piece in the kitchen to get that true unique Greek flavour.
To fire the oven, Alpha has also sourced amazing wood which will tantalise the tastebuds with the true Greek roasted flavour.
"A yiayia’s 'fourno' (φούρνο; oven) on steroids," the renowned chef stated.
As for the menu, it will continue to focus on shared plates. “There are elements of Alpha we never want to remove. The shared is a big part."
Now, are you ready to hear (read) about this. It will make your mouth water.
Soon, diners will be able to try Alpha’s lamb kleftiko that has been wrapped in clay, and buried into the coals, to be slow cooked for 11 hours. When it comes to your table, it will make a dramatic entrance. The clay will be cracked, the steam will rush out and the smell of the perfectly cooked lamb will hit your nose. Then it's the delicious part... eating it.
And let’s not forget the fancy bar, where patrons can sit and chill, have a cocktail and enjoy the special meze menu.
Without giving away too much, Conistis mentioned that Alpha is the only restaurant in Sydney that will be serving ossetra caviar imported from Greece.
Other dishes that will be included on the meze menu are the Greek style ‘pigs in a blanket’ (loukanika wrapped in tsoureki), taramokeftedes and skordalia.
One stone wall inside Alpha is decorated with Greek writing, while the rest of the room is modern and sleek.
“We are going all out.”
I know I write on behalf of the foodies of Sydney, but we absolutely cannot wait for the return of Alpha!
