Calombaris out as new Alpha operator changes direction
A change in Alpha operators will see George Calombaris depart the popular restaurant.
The former MasterChef judge was appointed as creative partner at the Sydney Greek restaurant by former operators Public Hospitality.
The appointment was just five months ago, however Alpha has changed operators after Public Hospitality lost its latest tender.
Alpha’s new operator is Con Dedes who will roll out a new menu in the coming weeks.
“I had conversations with George [about staying on after the change in operator] but we agreed mutually not to join forces. To George’s credit, he lightened up the menu, which is the direction we’re taking,” Dedes told Good Food.
Calombaris said the new situation “just didn’t match”.
“I love Sydney, and I loved my time at Alpha,” Calombaris told the Herald . “But I feel like I’ve been teased. I wouldn’t say I was upset, I was saddened [that the Alpha stint was brief]. But it did open up other opportunities. Sydney is definitely on my agenda.”
Calombaris didn’t rule out being involved at another venue in the Public portfolio, which recently decreased after Maybe Group split from the Jon Adgemis-owned Public.
Maybe Group operates Sydney CBD cocktail bar Maybe Sammy, Paddington tequila bar El Primo Sanchez and Randwick pizzeria Maybe Frank.
The split from maybe comes just months after Public split from the Love Tilly Group, which operates venues including Fabbricaand Ragazzi.
Former Calombaris protégé Alessandro Mandelli, who also worked under another former Alpha creative director Peter Consitis will chart the restaurants new direction while keeping one eye on Greek classics and another on modern dishes and plenty of seafood.
Meanwhile, Consitis has just opened waterfront restaurant Ammos.
“It was the perfect time for me to move on,” Consitis said of his 11-year tenure at Alpha.
The three level Brighton-le-Sands site will not ionly include Ammosm but will soon include a bistro, which is Consitis take on a taverna and there are plans for a whiskey room, with a food menu of Greek caviar and lobster rolls.
Ammos is 160-seat restaurant with its own saganaki station.
Jonathan Jackson, 16th July 2024
