In the heart of the CBD, a new Greek restaurant, Thanks To Theo, officially opens its doors, bringing the flavours of Greece to South Australia.
At the helm of Thanks To Theo are Alessandra and her partner Andrew, with the support of their business partner, former South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon. Alessandra shares the heartfelt inspiration behind the restaurant’s name and its deep connection with Nick.
“Nick and I are family friends and have been close for a long time. He has a deep love for Greek food, with his mother being from Greece and his father from Cyprus,” she says. “We’ve decided to open up a restaurant as a dedication to his father, Theo, who recently passed away. Theo adored good company, Greek cuisine, and the joy of sharing a meal with loved ones.”
Nick shared that sentiment in a speech at a private opening for Thanks to Theo on Thursday night, saying “eight weeks ago my dear dad Theo passed away, we thought what better tribute than to celebrate what he loved best, getting people together to enjoy food and family.”
Nick has been asked, what’s more difficult – politics or running a restaurant? He didn’t hesitate to admit to the latter (but said it comes with great reward).
“In politics there’s imaginary knifes, but here we have real knifes so we can make beautiful food,” he said.
Nick ended the speech with a quote by Hippocrates around 400 BC, “Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food.”
When patrons step into Thanks to Theo, they can expect a menu specially curated for sharing, embracing the European tradition of dining together.
The restaurant, located in the former Karen’s Diner space, has been transformed into an inviting environment reminiscent of the Greek Islands, featuring white-washed walls, a striking logo, a beautiful mural adorning one wall, and white paper tablecloths.
“We want to convey that Thanks to Theo offers high-end food in a relaxed, chilled-out setting. We want to cater to everyone, including families,” Alessandra explains.
Head chef Andrew brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for Greek cuisine to the kitchen. “Andrew has always had a love for Mediterranean food, as he’s half Greek. We’re from Adelaide, we both have roots here, and a strong connection to the local hospitality scene,” Alessandra notes.
Andrew shared at the opening that he’s always wanted to own his own restaurant, and bring that love and authenticity of Greek food to Adelaide.
Thanks to Theo offers a mouthwatering menu that includes appetisers and mains meant for sharing. A standout dish is the slow-cooked lamb shoulder, a testament to their dedication to delivering authentic Greek flavours.
Other Greek delights on the menu include chicken souvlaki, snapper, SA calamari with whipped tyrokafteri, and zucchini flower prawn dolmades with whipped sesame and smoked psarosoupa. The sides feature triple-cooked hand-cut chips prepared authentically, without the use of machines.
The inspiration behind Thanks to Theo lies in their desire to provide high-quality Greek cuisine in a relaxed and welcoming environment with “home-style” cooking.
Thanks to Theo Taverna
Where: 6 East Terrace, Adelaide
Opening hours: (will vary in busy months aka. Fringe)
Monday 5:30pm – 10pm
Tuesday CLOSED
Wednesday CLOSED
Friday 5:30pm – 10pm
Saturday 5:30pm 11pm
Sunday 12:30pm – 2:30pm / 5:30pm – 9:30pm
Grand opening: December 1st
More info: @thanks.to.theo
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