Greek heavyweights to open 1821 in Sydney CBD

A 130-seat Greek gastro-temple fronted by a triumvirate of local Hellenic heavyweights will open in the CBD mid-year.

Faster than you can say spanakopita, a rash of souvlaki venues has opened in Sydney from Drummoyne to Kingsgrove.

The Greek CBD restaurant is poised to be one of the most anticipated of the year. Named 1821, after the first year of the Greek War of Independence, the restaurant's all-star Greek-Australian owners include Bill Drakopoulos, who has a string of restaurants, including Aqua Dining, Ripples and LuMi, and Civic Hotel owner Jim Kospetas, who masterminded the opening of Alpha for the Hellenic Club, also in the city, but is no longer involved.

Drakopoulos confirmed 1821 will open mid year near Martin Place, and former Perama and Xanthi chef David Tsirekas has signed on as chef.

"David's a gun," Drakopoulos says. The chef wants to pick up where "Perama left off".

"There'll be accessible dishes, but Bill and Jim are backing me to do dishes I've never had the courage to put on a menu," Tsirekas says.

Northern Greek pasta dumplings filled with foie gras and served with sage burnt butter and truffle infused yoghurt will be one of them.