Inside Coolum’s new Greek restaurant Yiani’s

Yianis Kotrotsios said he was told he was mad to open a restaurant in winter and straight after a lockdown scare, but he had other ideas and it paid off.

The husband-and-wife team behind a newly opened Greek restaurant at Coolum say they’ve been blown away by its ‘full house’ trading.

Yianis Kotrotsios was told he was crazy to open a restaurant in the middle of winter when tourism numbers tend to drop.

He was also told he was crazy open amid the uncertainty generated from Covid-19 and lockdowns.

A month after opening he said the gamble had paid off.

Mr Kotrotsios and his wife Candice opened Yiani’s Greek Restaurant Coolum along Beach Road on July 28 to raving success.

Yianis Kotrotsios has opened up his new Yiani’s Greek Restaurant along Beach Road, Coolum. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“We have had a full house every Friday and Saturday nights, I didn’t expect that,” Mr Kotrotsios said.

“July in Coolum is normally very quiet, and with the Brisbane lockdown, they said we would struggle to survive.

“But we have been crazy busy.”

Mr Kotrotsios hails from northern Greece and learnt his craft from his family of chefs, having grown up in kitchens.

Yianis Kotrotsios said simplicity and authenticity were key to his new restaurant. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He said his restaurant was all about simplicity and authenticity at an affordable price.

“We’ve lived in Peregian for five years now and we have always loved Coolum,” he said.

“We thought Coolum needed something different, something European, like a beautiful Greek restaurant.

“When you think of Greek food, it’s very simple, fresh materials, authentic and made with passion.”

Mr Kotrotsios said the restaurant open for lunch as well as dinner in coming weeks.