What it is
Ela is a modern Greek restaurant at 17 The Esplanade, on Torquay's waterfront strip. It opened in January 2026. The food is built for sharing: house-made pita and dips, rotisserie and chargrilled meats, seafood, and a stack of sides you'll end up ordering too many of.
The name means "welcome" in Greek, and the owners talk a lot about old-school hospitality. Broadsheet's first look described the fit-out as terracotta tones, handmade ceramics from Greece and rope installations by local artist Adam Stanley. The restaurant itself promises waterfront views.
It's a big room by Torquay standards. Broadsheet reported 90 seats, run at around 80 so tables aren't squeezed in. That makes it one of the easier places in town for a group dinner.
Who's behind it
Ela is run by Jason Gugliotti, who also owns Pollo Rotisserie in Torquay and Geelong, with his uncle Gino Gugliotti. In the kitchen is Ricardo "Ricky" Galindo, who moved to Torquay for the job after time at Tonka in Melbourne, Ipsos in Lorne and Kritamos Hellenic Cuisine.
"I wanted to bring back what I refer to as old-school dining, which has been lost," Jason told Broadsheet in February 2026. The Surf Coast Times quoted him calling it premium, but casual enough for a midweek meal. That's a fair description of how it pitches itself: a step up from a quick feed, without being a big occasion.
What's on the menu
The examples and prices below are from Ela's August 2026 menu. Menus and prices change, so treat them as a guide.
Dips and pita
This is where most tables start. House-made pita ($8), then spicy feta and goats curd, a "broken down" tzatziki with smashed baby cucumbers, and tarama with bottarga crumb ($13 to $16 each). Can't choose? There's a trio of dips with pita for $28.
Small plates
Saganaki with honey butter, prawn and blue grenadier croquettes, kingfish crudo, pork belly skewers and crispy calamari with muhammara (as an entrée or a main).
Mains
Rotisserie lamb with garlic, oregano and rosemary ($38), chargrilled octopus with smoked almond skordalia ($32), a whole boneless chargrilled chicken maryland, grilled baby barramundi, and wagyu skewers at the top of the range ($55). For vegetarians there's iman bayildi, a baked eggplant dish with stracciatella ($31).
Sides and dessert
Crispy potatoes with lemon jam and oregano ($14), a Greek salad with whipped feta cream, and a pearl barley salad. Desserts are made to share: chocolate dough loukoumades and a baked burnt feta cheesecake.
Drinks
The wine list mixes imported Greek bottles with local producers. The drinks menu has Greek-themed cocktails, spritzes, margaritas and G&Ts, plus beers from Greece and closer to home, including Barwon Heads and Blackmans Torquay.
A few handy details from the menu: lots of dishes are marked gluten free, the seafood is labelled Australian or mixed origin, and there's a 15% surcharge on public holidays.
Hours and bookings
When it's open
The official site lists Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30pm to 11pm, and Friday to Sunday from 12pm to 11pm. That's dinner only midweek and lunch through dinner at the weekend. It opened with fewer nights, so hours do change. Check the website before you go.
Booking a table
Book online through SevenRooms (the "Book Now" button on elatorquay.com) or call 03 4224 9333. For a group or a summer weekend, book ahead.
Kids and dogs
There's no kids' menu on the current menu and no dog policy on the website. Share plates do tend to work well for families, but ask when you book if you need anything specific.
Getting there from Holyday House
The Esplanade is about five minutes' drive from the house in north Torquay. Park on the street or in the foreshore car parks. In summer, give yourself a few extra minutes to find a spot.
On a nice day, walk. It's about 25 minutes' walk along the foreshore into town (Whites Beach is 400m from the house). For a long Greek lunch with a bottle of wine, that's a good trade. Heading home after dinner, a taxi or a lift is the easier option.
Nearby
Ela's on the same waterfront strip as Surf Hotel, The Kyn and Fisho's. If you like the share-plates idea but want Middle Eastern flavours instead of Greek, The Kyn's the one to compare it with.
After a weekend lunch, walk it off along the foreshore towards Fishermans Beach, or take the kids to the playground on the foreshore lawns. For a bigger occasion, Samesyn on Bell Street is the town's hatted restaurant.
Ela FAQ
What kind of food does Ela serve?
Modern Greek, mostly share-style: pita and dips, small plates, rotisserie and chargrilled meats, seafood, sides and desserts.
When did Ela open?
January 2026. The Surf Coast Times reported a launch on Thursday 8 January.
Is Ela open for lunch?
Friday to Sunday, from 12pm on the current official hours. Wednesday and Thursday are dinner only, from 5:30pm. Check the website before you go.
Can Ela take a big group?
It's one of the larger rooms in town (Broadsheet reported around 80 to 90 seats), and the menu is built for sharing. Book ahead through the website or on 03 4224 9333.
Are there gluten-free and vegetarian options?
Yes. Many dishes on the August 2026 menu are marked gluten free, and there are vegetarian dips, sides and an eggplant main. Mention any allergies when you book.
This is an independent guide; menus, prices and hours change, so check Ela's website before you go. For the full picture, see our Torquay restaurants guide. Bringing the family? The family holiday guide has ideas for the rest of the day, and the wineries guide covers the local wine. Want a big house for the group to come back to? Check dates and send us an enquiry.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 14 October 2026. Opening hours, patrols, rules and closures change — check with the source before you go.
- Ela Torquay | Modern Greek — Ela
- Ela menu, August 2026 (PDF) — Ela
- Ela drinks menu, May 2026 (PDF) — Ela
- First Look: Torquay's New Greek Restaurant Ela Is Built for Locals — Broadsheet
- Ela brings premium Mediterranean dining to Torquay — Surf Coast Times