Victoria Police have deemed a fire that broke out earlier today at the well-known Greek restaurant Eleni’s Kitchen and Bar in Yarraville as “suspicious”.
According to police, the perpetrators drove a vehicle into the rear of the restaurant on Anderson Street around 4:30am on Monday and set it on fire. The blaze caused extensive damage, forcing the restaurant to close for days—or possibly weeks.
What raises further concern is that this is the second suspicious fire to strike Eleni’s Kitchen in less than a year. The restaurant had only reopened last November following a previous fire in June 2024, which also caused significant damage and was investigated as arson.
“I’m very upset, I’m angry—but I’m also determined,” Eleftheria Amanatidis told Neos Kosmos. Together with her sister Anastasia, she runs the beloved Greek eatery, which recently hosted the launch of her debut cookbook Ela na Fáme! (Come and Eat!) just days before the latest incident.
“Before I had the chance to properly celebrate the book’s success and the amazing feedback it received, this happened—right at Easter,” she said.
“It’s devastating to be facing what appears to be a second arson attack – less than a year after a previous fire, on 28 June 2024, forced us to close Eleni’s Kitchen + Bar for four and a half months and completely rebuild. But resilience is in my blood. Our family has been running businesses in Yarraville since 1971, and that 54-year history gives us the determination to face whatever challenges come our way,” she added.
Police confirmed that no one was inside the building at the time of the fire. A fire investigator specialising in arson was sent to examine the site.
“We are incredibly grateful to the emergency services for their swift and professional response. Thankfully, no one was in the restaurant at the time and no injuries have been reported,” Elefteria explined.
“At this stage, it appears the fire was contained to our outdoor garden seating area. The main dining room and kitchen of Eleni’s Kitchen + Bar, along with Jimmy’s Deli next door, have not been damaged.”
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) reported that 18 firefighters responded to the blaze and brought it under control within approximately 20 minutes. FRV Commander Callum Donoghue praised their swift response, which prevented the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties. However, he confirmed there was substantial damage to a section of the restaurant on the lower floor and said access to the venue has been compromised.
“We are working closely with the City of Maribyrnong to ensure the premises are safe and ready to reopen as soon as possible. At this stage, we are hoping to reopen Jimmy’s Deli on Thursday, and Eleni’s Kitchen + Bar to follow shortly thereafter. All customers with bookings this week have been contacted, and we will continue to provide updates as the situation evolves. We are also cooperating fully with police as they investigate the incident. The circumstances strongly indicate that this was an arson attack,” she said.
“Just last week, we were celebrating the launch of my debut book, Ela na Fáme! (“Come and Eat”), a collection of traditional Greek recipes, personal stories and family photographs honouring the three strong Greek women who raised me. Today, I’m drawing on their strength more than ever. On behalf of my co-owner – my sister Natalie – and our entire family and team, I want to sincerely thank everyone who has reached out today with kind words and offers of help. Your love and support means everything to us. We’ll be back soon.”
Victoria Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident or may have relevant CCTV footage to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
