Two Classy Eateries Open In Nadi

The growing number of res­taurants that are opening around the country is indica­tive of investor confidence, as the economy recovers from the COV­ID-19 pandemic.

Two classy restaurants opened in Nadi in recent months.

Bates Café,at Namaka Lane, opened on February 7.

Director Karishma Bates and her husband invested $100, 000 on the café.

“I had started a small café a few years ago at the Garden Water, Namaka Park, ‘’ Mrs Bates said.

“It was something to do on the side, on weekends.

“It took two months to sort out the inside renovation.

“I am trying to do something that is not too expensive.

“But I always wanted the taste and things like that.

“The furniture and things look very classy.”

Homely

Mrs Bates said: “I love to go plac­es, but I don’t like crowded places, or anything but to feel homely.”

The café employs six people, in­cluding a full-time manager, a pas­try chef, two chefs, and an in-house trained barrister.

“To ensure everyone was on the same page, we had one week of full in-house training, before we opened the business,” she said.

Mrs Bates’ parents ran a dairy shop in Lautoka in her younger days.

For the last 12 years, she has been a chief finance officer at Sunflower Aviation, Nadi.

“My bosses also helped me with this,” Mrs Bates said.

The café’s opening hours are 8am to 7pm on weekdays, and 10am to 7pm on Sundays.

Sails@Denarau director Jason Raj, Natalie Raj and Tui Nadi, with Ratu Vuniyani Navuniuci, (third from left) during the opening of Sails@Denarau restaurant, at Port Denarau Marina, Nadi. Photo: Waisea Nasokia.

Sails@Denarau

Port Denarau Marina’s latest craze aims to maintain the fresh­ness of its menu without the use of imported items.

“There is not a single piece of im­ported seafood on our menu,” said director food and beverages, Nata­lia Raj, said.

And Tui Nadi, Ratu Vuniyani Navuniuci, during the opening of Sails@Denarau restaurant said: “They could have opened the res­taurant in Sydney, close to their residence, with less hassle.

“But they opened for Fiji, for this spot – the best possible location.”

Fish farm

A company director, Jason Raj, said two 34- foot boats and a group of fishermen have been engaged in a fishing venture, run by the com­pany.

This, as Sails@Denarau works to establish its own 12-acre farm in Tunalia, outside Nadi town.

Local farmers and suppliers that have engaged in the project are only happy to support the compa­ny’s consistency in the fresh pro­duce.

Feedback: waisean@fijisun.com.fj