Diethnes - Bringing customers six decades of Greek goodness

The Ventouris family are behind one of Australia’s longest running Greek restaurants and they say the main ingredient to their success is sticking to tradition.

The Ventouris family has been of Australia's oldest Greek restaurants for over 60 years. Source: Supplied

The Ventouris family has been bringing home-style Greek food to the streets of Sydney for over six decades.

Diethnes, located in the heart of the Sydney CBD is owned by John Ventouris and his wife Hellan and was passed on to the couple by John’s father, Philip Ventouris.

“The food is traditional more like a pezze style Greek cuisine, home-style cooking, it’s just comfort food,” says John.

Source: Supplied

Despite having other career ambitions, John learnt a lot about running a restaurant and Greek food from an early age.

“My ultimate dream was to be a panel beater, I love to do cars but as the only son in the family, you need to help (dad) out.”

“It just grew on me, if you have the passion for food, everything comes out.”

“I learnt all my Greek through this restaurant and the way the chefs spoke I was so enticed, the magic they did in the kitchen.”

Through the decades, the Ventouris family have noticed changing tastes in their customer base.  

“Back in the 50s and 60s, it was more of the immigrants that had arrived into Sydney and then there were the uni students that would come by.”

“Now, it’s predominantly a more Asian audience.”

Despite John purchasing the restaurant from his father in the 2000's, Philip still remains very involved.

“My father, he’s a type of person that if he stops working he doesn’t know anything else,” says John

“So he comes in the mornings - 5.30 or 6.00 am and helps to prepare the kitchen.”

Source: Supplied

Helen and John have made minimal changes since taking over the restaurant, preferring to keep things mostly the same.

“When customers came down to the restaurant since the late 70s, they say don’t change anything, they say keep everything the same.”

“We’ve tried to keep things the same, the décor in the restaurant, for example, is all very 70s, and 80s and people like it.

And in an ever-changing restaurant market, the Ventouris’ family’s passion for hearty Greek cuisine remains as they hope to serve generations to come.

“Into the future, hopefully, we are in the same location,” says Hellan.  

“There is talk that the property has sold and we may need to look for a different home but we are not sure yet.

“We will ride the wave and see how far we can go.”