Australian Greek in Japan, say what? Jonathan Barthelmess​ and Sam Christie's Potts Point Hellenic gastro temple, The Apollo, is opening an offshoot in Tokyo's Ginza district.

The 180-seat restaurant will slide into a near completed building in the upmarket Tokyo shopping precinct, with an opening date of late March 2016.

"We were approached by Transit, the restaurant and cafe group involved with Bill Granger in Japan, to do something together after they ate at Apollo," Christie says.

Sydney interior architect George Livissianis​ designed the space, and while the menu will carry Apollo classics, it will add a few dishes pitched at local palates.

"We'll showcase Australian beef," Barthelmess says.

Apollo chef and co-owner Barthelmess will relocate temporarily to Tokyo for the launch, etching his slow-cooked lamb, split pea dip and avgolemono pie on to the local food vernacular.

It's quite a coup for Japan, Christie fielding countless approaches over the years to open one of his stable of restaurants – which include Longrain and Cho Cho San – overseas.

"It's truly one of the great cities of the world, and not a resort," Christie says of the decision to open in Tokyo.