Ela brings premium Mediterranean dining to Torquay

TORQUAY’S dining scene is set for a summer boost, with new Mediterranean restaurant, Ela, preparing to open its doors on The Esplanade this week.

The Greek-inspired venue will launch this Thursday (January 8), led by experienced restaurateurs Jason and Gino Gugliotti, who say the restaurant aims to deliver a premium yet approachable dining experience.

Ela – which translates to “welcome” in Greek – has been designed around generosity, shared plates and attentive hospitality.

Jason said the pair identified a gap in Torquay’s dining market for an authentic, high-end Greek offering.

“Mediterranean and this coastal area is just a perfect fit. Ela will be a classy ilk. It’s premium alongside somewhere like The Kyn that is nice to go on an occasion, but casual enough for a mid-week bite,” he said.

“It’ll be fresh and sexy to give it that wow factor. Perfect to impress someone, but then if you just want good honest quality food where you don’t leave hungry, this is the place to be.

 

“It’s all about generosity and family. It goes hand-in-hand with the food that will be on the plate, but also how we are going to run the place with our staff and hospitality.

“We want to bring it back to old school values and everything we do will be with the customer in mind.”

Ela has secured the services of one of Melbourne’s top chefs, with Ricardo Galindo, formerly of celebrated modern Indian restaurant Tonka, set to lead the team.

Trained in authentic Greek cuisine, “Chef Ricky” has made a name for himself in the Melbourne food scene for being an innovator and creator.

“Specialising in modern Mediterranean food, Ricky and his team will reimagine Mediterranean food like you haven’t had before, creating something unique for Torquay, in this iconic waterfront location,” Jason said.

“What you will see on the plate won’t be on other tables; that’s a given.

 

“We are so serious about what we want to create here, and we know the calibre of what we want to be and we know Ricky can deliver.”

The menu will focus on share-style dining, featuring rotisserie and chargrill meats, seafood platters, seasonal sides and desserts, with dishes scaled to suit different group sizes.

“It’s going to be fresh and healthy and all about variety and sharing,” Jason said.

“You might choose four or five little items that are creative, and then the crux of the menu will be on the rotisserie and chargrill. These will be unique to Ela.

“These items won’t be fixed. If there’s two people you’ll get enough for two, and if there’s three of you, there’ll be enough for that many.

“The staff will be trained in matching these mains with the sides. It’s all about building your own feast.”

 

Ela will also showcase a curated drinks list highlighting local wines and beers alongside select international offerings, complemented by a signature cocktail menu.

“You won’t be able to go to Dan Murphy’s to find the sort of wines that we will be stocking,” Gino said.

“Our signature cocktails are sure to please, and we will also do the classics too.”

The restaurant will operate on a walk-in only basis for its first few weeks.

The team also plans to host dedicated locals’ nights in the new year.

For more information, visit @elatorquay on Instagram.