Colourful Nick Constantin gets a thumbs-up in Kings Cross

With Kings Cross on the nose with expansive restaurateurs (following a spate of bad publicity and tougher government regulations), it is evidently up to the area’s colourful local identities to fill the breach.

Local ‘‘security man’’ Nick Constantin proudly told The Sydney Morning Herald he has reformed after an assault conviction years ago. Indeed, a search on Constantin shows he now not only helps patrol Kings Cross streets to keep them safe, but is a volunteer fireman in his spare time.

But his biggest challenge now is taking on the old Bayswater Diner space on Bayswater Road, a site that has swallowed restaurants faster than Elvis put away peanut butter and banana fried sandwiches.

Constantin has opened a Lebanese restaurant, Shahrazad, at the site, and our food moles give it the thumbs-up. With Balmain’s Kazbah also moving in, the Bayswater strip is getting a distinctly Middle Eastern and North African flavour.

Constantin says he opened the restaurant with Kings Cross locals in mind. “It has a family atmosphere,” he says.