Anticipated Fish-Focused Greek Restaurant Finally Gets an Opening Date

A new high-end Greek restaurant — Simi Estiatorio — is finally opening in downtown Austin next month. It’ll debut at 601 Congress Avenue starting on Friday, May 7, for dine-in service.

Simi’s Greek menu leans heavily on seafood; in fact, fish is being flown into Austin directly from the Mediterranean weekly, ranging from fangri (red porgy) to Lavraki branzino. The raw bar serves oysters and platters with whole lobster and crab meat. For appetizers, there are scallops with black lentils, octopus paired with Santorini fava puree, and swordfish souvlaki.

Non-seafood items include spreads such as tirokafteri (a feta dip) to melitzanosalata (eggplant) to hummus; salads; steaks; and a spicy pork chop. Scope out the full dinner menu below. As for the wine, there will be 13 Greek bottles, along with cocktails and bottled beers.

Executive chef Diego Sanchez, who was born and raised in Lima, Peru, had most recently worked as the head chef of Baha Mar, a luxury resort on the island of Nassau in the Bahamas. Simi’s managing partner George Theodosiou has spent the past 25 years working in the restaurant industry, including for New York places such as Peter Luger Steak House, The Old Homestead, and Avra Estiatorio.

Simi is found in the Littlefield Building, taking over the address that previously housed pizza restaurant Due Forni, which closed in 2016. The space features indoor seating currently; the outdoor patio will make its debut in mid-May.

Theodosiou announced the restaurant back in December 2019, but the opening kept getting delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Initially, Simi will open for dine-in dinner service only, with lunch/brunch hours and takeout service added later. Reservations can be made over the phone or online.

• Simi Estiatorio [Official
• All Coverage of Simi Estiatorio [EATX]