The new Greek restaurant is more than just a great backdrop for Sydneysiders' profile pics. The food and service deserves as much attention as the show stopping interiors.
Review
Olympus Dining
2 Baptist St, Redfern
Rating: ★★★★☆
Olympus Dining has had a huge presence on many Sydneysiders Instagram feeds lately, especially the hallway lined with white stone arches where women pose as if they’re on holiday in Santorini. So I wanted to find out whether the Greek restaurant’s popularity was driven more by its Instagram potential rather than the food itself.
The first thing to catch my eye is the large olive tree rooted in the centre of the space. The restaurant is surprisingly open with a circular layout, and most of the seating is placed outdoors around the tree, while the bar and kitchen are tucked into the roofed outer ring.
It creates a courtyard-like atmosphere that feels summery and relaxed, the kind of place where you can imagine dining after a day at the beach.
The staff are warm and attentive, checking in often without interrupting the flow of conversation, and the atmosphere is relaxed and nature-inspired.
Olympus Dining offers à la carte and set menu options. The à la carte option leans toward smaller, share-style plates, which encourages sampling a range of dishes; the kind of menu that works best when dining with a group. This may be why it’s so popular on TikTok, with people describing it as "perfect for girls’ night or date night.
For a more structured experience, there are set menus that guide diners through a curated progression of dishes.
These banquets showcase the chef’s strengths in balancing freshness and rich flavours, and would suit diners who want a more elevated experience.
After we ordered, the psomi or village bread ($8) arrived almost immediately, warm and soft. Paired with the taramosalata ($18), it became even better. The dip was creamy, tangy and citrusy, similar to a thick Greek yoghurt spread rather than something briny.
The crowd favourite kefalotyri saganaki ($26) – fried cheese drizzled with honey and lemon – emerged next. I was sceptical about this dish at first, expecting it to be a greasy combination, but the contrast of sweet and salty was well-balanced. I found it richest when paired with the bread to lighten it, and it was one of the standout dishes of our meal.
The souvlakia kotopoulo skewers ($36) were also delicious. The chicken was tender and dripping with flavour, and the sesame yoghurt brought an acidic, buttery note.
Everyone has been raving about the arnaki or roasted lamb shoulder (from $58) and I wish I’d tried it. I should also have tried one of their desserts. I was interested in their rice pudding ($14) and filo chocolate cake ($16), although their frozen yogurt ($14) with its unusual drizzle of olive oil is interesting too.
The restaurant has a curated wine selection and a cocktail selection that looks like a Greek spin on classic cocktails, such as the Santorini Martini or Magalo Mai Tai.
However we opted to stick to food, as we thought it would be worth spending on one extra dish rather than a drink.
The prices are on the more expensive side, but not outrageous. Some of the small plates were cheaper than I expected, but the portions weren’t that big, so it made sense. It’s not fine dining per se, but for a nicer semi-formal restaurant, it’s on par compared to similar restaurants in this area or category. Overall, it’s a solid restaurant in a beautiful space and worth a try.
