Meltemi Mediterrania

If you're craving a Mediterranean escape,you’ll want to book a table at Meltemi Mediterrania, Broadbeach’s new dining destination from the team behind the much-loved Xenia Grill.

Opening Friday 25 October, Meltemi Mediterrania is the latest venture from husband-and-wife duo Dino and Kate Georgakopoulos, who’ve already earned local love with their relaxed, authentic Greek eateries at Main Beach and Coolangatta. 

At Meltemi Mediterrania they’re celebrating the Mediterranean’s lesser-known culinary traditions; tracing the coastlines and hidden gems of the region to bring together flavours from Spain, Morocco, Sardinia, Lebanon, Turkey, and of course, Greece. 

At the helm of the kitchen is hatted chef Tapos Singha (ex-Miss Moneypenny’s, est, Gowings Bar & Grill) who has crafted a vibrant, share-style menu headlined by a mouth-watering rotisserie section.

Expect a mix of raw dishes, breads and dips, mezze (small plates), share-style plates, and the star of the show—rotisserie meats slow-cooked on a traditional Cypriot grill. Our favourite dishes, you ask? Okay, we’ll share. You can’t go wrong with the Sardinian coral trout crudo served on a bed of dry ice to start or mezze plates like the Greek-style grilled king prawns (garides sti skara) and Italian-style fried cuttlefish (fritto misto). 

Other heroes include the yellow belly flounder stuffed with blistered tomato and the aromatic Moroccan goat tagine with dried fruits.

Of course, the rotisserie section is where the main action happens—expect dishes like Turkish Wagyu kofte with chilli gremolata, Spanish-style whole Queensland lobster with garlic butter and spiced Lebanese chicken, all cooked over open flames on a traditional Cypriot grill visible from the dining room.

Inside, the restaurant is just as transportive as the food. Designed by Space Cubed Design Studio, Meltemi’s interiors are inspired by the movement of the wind it’s named after—the meltemi, those warm Aegean breezes that signal summer’s arrival. 

The 120-seat venue flows across three distinct spaces: a main dining room framed by a mural of a European coastal town, a curved wraparound bar and a breezy alfresco area shaded by a frosted UV-protected roof, complete with an olive tree and citrus greenery.

We love that the menu is underpinned by the Greek concept of filoxenia (a deep-rooted love of welcoming others), something you’ll feel from the first pour to the final bite. 

“Each of the cultures we’ve brought together all have something in common: connection through food,” says co-owner Dino. “By having the flavours of these countries on the table at the same time, we’re redefining share-style dining and showing that they can all be enjoyed side by side.”

As for drinks, the list carries the same Mediterranean soul— rosemary-infused Negronis, the ouzo-and-star-anise Nick the Greek, and a wine selection that’ll have you dreaming of long lunches by the sea.

Image Credit: Dan Peled Photography