Yarraville Restaurant Eleni’s Kitchen & Bar Set Alight – Again

Eleftheria Amanatidis’s family has been running restaurants in Yarraville since 1971, including the suburb’s first Greek eatery. She and sister Natalie Amanatidis carried on that legacy in 2018, when they opened Eleni’s Kitchen & Bar on Anderson Street.

In June last year the Greek restaurant was damaged by an arson attack and closed for more than four months to be rebuilt. Police charged a 35-year-old man, who is still due to appear in court.

Now the business has been targeted again. At about 4.30am on Easter Monday, a white Toyota SUV rammed into the back of the restaurant. The attackers set the car alight and fled. Firefighters arrived on the scene and controlled the blaze within 20 minutes, preventing damage to adjacent businesses. No one was injured.

“At this stage, it appears the fire was contained to our outdoor garden seating area,” Eleftheria wrote in a statement issued to Broadsheet. “The main dining room and kitchen of Eleni’s Kitchen & Bar, along with Jimmy’s Deli next door [which the family also owns], have not been damaged.

“It’s devastating to be facing what appears to be a second arson attack … But resilience is in my blood. Our family has been running businesses in Yarraville since 1971, and that 54-year history gives us the determination to face whatever challenges come our way.”

The family will reopen Jimmy’s Deli and Eleni’s on Wednesday April 23. Last week the restaurant hosted a celebration for Eleftheria’s debut cookbook, Ela na Fáme! (“Come and Eat”), a collection of Greek recipes intertwined with family history and photographs.

Eleni’s Kitchen & Bar
28 Anderson Street, Yarraville
0467 508 991

eleniskitchen.com.au