Wellington’s venerable Green Parrot for sale
Thursday, 21 September 2023
The storied old Wellington diner that has hosted movie stars and politicians is now up for sale.
Just three years shy of its 100-year milestone, the Sakoufakis family is selling The Green Parrot on the corner of Taranaki and Wakefield streets.
The restaurant’s patriarch Kosta Sakoufakis, who has been grilling their steaks and flounder for 50 years, says it’s time to retire.
His nephew and co-owner Chris Sakoufakis said they would be sad to let go of the establishment but the time had come.
“It’s been a home away from home, this business, and it’s been a lifestyle running it, so obviously it will leave a hole in our hearts.”
He said they were excited about giving new owners the chance to take it over and “put their energy into it”.
“Hopefully they can continue the legacy and move forward.
“A hundred years is just around the corner so it would be a good opportunity for someone.”
It’s been a favourite of politicians, actors, rugby fans and the late night dining crowd.
A fresco featuring the likenesses of many of famous Kiwis who have frequented the establishment over the generations covers the back wall.
Winston Peters was one of the restaurant’s most loyal customers, and Sakoufakis said they had Peters’ favourite dish, flounder, on the menu right now, if he was keen to stop by.
The Parrot was established in 1926 by Richard Alfred Leckner, making it likely the oldest restaurant of its kind in the country still in its original location.
“This was a hangout after the pubs would close early at six and everyone would flock here and people would have a massive feed,” Sakoufakis said
The mural on the back wall included characters such as Billy T James, Barry Crump, Norman Kirk, Sir Peter Jackson, Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir Peter Blake, Sir Paul Holmes, Sam Hunt, Michael J Fox, and Robert Muldoon.
The Parrot is famous for its big steaks with bread and butter on the side, and flounder when they can get it.