Great Greek to launch first Australian restaurant in Fortitude Valley

A US Greek food chain with almost 100 stores will open its first Australian restaurant in Brisbane, promising authentic third-generation family recipes.

The chain will open in Brisbane in February.

A US-based Greek food chain, which started a decade ago, will open its first Australian restaurant in Fortitude Valley promising to wow patrons with authentic third-generation recipes.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill was founded in Las Vegas and has almost 100 stores in the US. By mid to late February it will open a 100-seat fast-casual inspired restaurant in the TC Beirne building on the Brunswick Mall in Brisbane.

Surjit Salwan, who with business partner Chirayush Patel has an international area developer agreement with the restaurant's parent company, United Franchise Group, to bring the concept to Australia.

The US fast food giant is set to open in Fortitude Valley.

“Chirayush and I were exploring different business concepts and came across the master franchise opportunity for The Great Greek,” he said.

“We loved the idea of being able to build a network of restaurants across the region and build a brand. We’ll definitely be methodical with our expansion plans. We don’t want to go too big, too fast.

“We anticipate opening two or three restaurants in 2026 and then hit the accelerator after that. We envisage a vibrant network not just in South-East Queensland but all up and down the coast.”

It will be the chain’s first Australian store.

The menu is based on a Greek-Armenian family’s original Great Greek Mediterranean Grill which opened in Las Vegas in 2011.

Their traditional dishes were made with family recipes, passed down through generations in Greece before they were served to American customers.

Brisbane-based Mr Salwan said they are targeting health-conscious customers wanting healthy options like the Mediterranean diet. as well as people seeking an elevated but quick dining experience.

“All of our food is prepared fresh on site daily,” he said.

“We stay true to our authentic, third-generation Greek recipes that were handed down from the original location almost 15 years ago.

“Our fast-casual model focuses on hospitality and the customer experience.”

McGees’ Liam Ghietti, who found the vacant tenancy in the TC Beirne building for Mr Salwan and Mr Patel, said the restaurant will feature both internal and external seating.

“It was a long vacant site and is connected to both laneways on the ground floor,” he said.

“It was a significant win for the TC Beirne Building given the high vacancy it has experienced in recent years.”

Originally published as Great Greek to launch first Australian restaurant in Fortitude Valley