Adelaide restaurant Fire and Vine closes its doors

An eastern suburbs steak and seafood restaurant has shuttered – less than a year after opening and amid what its owner has described as “bad publicity”.

Table settings inside Fire and Vine in Glenunga. Picture: Matt Loxton

Steak and seafood restaurant Fire and Vine, in Glenunga, has closed after nine months in business.

Owner George Melissourgos confirmed it had been closed since Saturday when it was the venue for a wedding.

“Everyone had a fantastic time and we ended things on a high,” Mr Melissourgos said.

Fire and Vine opened in September but Mr Melissourgos said it was now closing because of “bad publicity”, which had included a review in SA Weekend magazine by food writer Simon Wilkinson.

Fire and Vine owner George Melissourgos. Picture: Matt Loxton

The restaurant was known as a steakhouse. Picture: Supplied

In an interview earlier this month following the review’s publication, Mr Melissourgos told The Advertiser staff recruitment was an “ongoing” issue for the venue.

“We are trying to find good, reliable, consistent staff that we can rely on and have on-call if we need them,” he said at the time.

“That’s the biggest thing. We are actively recruiting right now.”

The restaurant described its atmosphere as “old world charm with a modern twist”. Picture: Matt Loxton

Mr Melissourgos also talked about the night of the review when there were lengthy service delays because two staff members had called in sick about 30 minutes before Fire and Vine opened.

Their shifts were unable to be filled, leaving just the chef and Mr Melissourgos to look after about 30 guests.

That evening a group of eight diners walked out without paying after completing their entrees and two bottles of wine.

“They didn’t settle the bill, but it’s not their fault. We understand their point of view,” Mr Melissourgos said, adding that the group had their entrees served within 30 minutes of ordering.

He admitted it was the venue’s “single worst night of service” but said it was a “once-off”.

Confirming Fire and Vine had closed, Mr Melissourgos said The Advertiser’s article had given his business a temporary boost, but he now had no choice but to close.

“We have had cancellations and no shows,” he said.