Estia restaurant to expand at Henley Square and Melt pizzeria to join beachside suburb restaurant scene

JUST 15 months ago locals were lamenting the closure of the second prominent restaurant in as many months — now several others, including a proven favourite, have got the nod to expand, or move in.

Estia owner Nick Mavridis in front of his Henley Square restaurant which he plans to expand. Picture: Tom Huntley

• After almost a year, $8.4m Henley Square revamp is ready
• One of Adelaide’s best known pizza restaurants primed to set up shop at Henley Square
• Estia restaurant function centre likely to be thwarted by a lack of parking

TWO major developments are set to further transform Henley Square across the next year and a half.

Estia Restaurant will be expanding its dining to a second floor, almost doubling the capacity by adding 120 more seats.

And Melt pizzeria, plus a fish-and-chip shop and other specialty shops, are expected to open later this year at the former Evida cafe site after last month gaining development approval.

Popular Greek restaurant Estia’s proposal was approved by Charles Sturt Council’s Development Assessment Panel last Wednesday and is expected to cost $150,000.

Melt is set to open a new store at Henley Square.

Estia owner Nick Mavridis said he was happy to finally see the expansion — from a maximum capacity of 145 to 265 — approved after an almost three-year wait.

He said the expansion was likely to be completed next year.

“The view is great but the building needs a lot of work,” Mr Mavridis said.

He said Henley Beach was “going great guns” but it would take time to work out how best to approach the development.

A bar, kitchen, lounge area, toilets and a dry store/cold room were also included in the proposal.

The rooms above the restaurant were currently being used as an apartment.

The restaurant had a similar application knocked back by the council in 2014 because no new parking spaces would be available for the added customers.

The former Evida restaurant at Henley Beach.

Meanwhile, Adelaide’s third Melt pizzeria will replace the former Evida restaurant on Seaview Rd at the northern end of the square.

Property owner Richard Antunes won approval last month to divide the building into a two-storey restaurant and two two-storey shops.

Melt will take up the top storey of the restaurant area, facing the sea, with a fish-and-chip shop — also owned by Melt — on the ground floor.

Melt partner Justin Brooks expected to open the pizzeria by “mid to late 2017”.

Melt already has outlets in the city and on King William Rd, Hyde Park.

“I think, just going by the popularity and the relationships we’ve been able to build at Hyde Park, away from the CBD location, Henley would be a perfect spot for that,” Mr Brooks said.

The developments come on the back of an $8.4m upgrade of the square completed in January last year.

Sandwich bar Hermanos Cubanos and wine bar Malobo opened at the former Zootz site following that revamp.

The Ramsgate Hotel ­also almost tripled the size of its outdoor-seating area mid last year.