A restaurant in Elm Park that "knows everyone's name" welcomed guests to a two year anniversary celebration this week.
Station Parade Lounge celebrated two years of business on Wednesday (September 16) when it welcomed customers in from 3pm until 8pm with a buffet and drinks as a means of saying thank you for their support.
Restaurant owner Petrit Malaj and head chef Lee Harrison spoke to the Recorder before customers poured in on Wednesday and both claimed the past two years would not have been possible without their regular guests.
“It was hard at first and we have had to work and make this place different to other places but soon enough the community were coming here and supporting us a lot and that’s why we’re here today," Petrit said.
"Today is a thank you for the support of our guests.
“We’ve worked hard to reach these days and I think it has paid off.
“We’re not family-run but we call ourselves a family here and food wise, Lee is the one taking this place forward – everyone likes his food – and that’s why people love coming here."
Petrit gave credit to Lee, who has worked at the restaurant in Station Parade since it opened, and believes that Lee's approach to the freshness of his ingredients as well as his meticulous attention to feedback are core reasons for the business' success.
"We try to listen to our customers to keep them coming back and what makes us really different is that we cook everything fresh and everything is locally sourced," Lee said.
“Our meat is from Hornchurch, we get fresh vegetables delivered whenever we want so we have no freezers, no microwaves – everything is freshly prepared on the day and I believe that makes us stand out.
"If a plate comes back with food on it makes me anxious - I’ll always come out to make sure everything’s okay because you want five star quality.
"We operate on a nice, family vibe with British food but with some modern Mediterranean food where we try and be a little bit different to everyone else around here.
“This place is vibrant and buzzing and people always want to come back."
The chicken burger, steak dishes and breakfast featuring a 150 gram bacon chop are some of the restaurant's best sellers, according to Lee.
The duo agreed that Station Parade Lounge has become more than just a restaurant - it is now a "community space".
“We’re doing some themed nights and quiz nights to bring people together here and we love to watch them have fun," Petrit said.
Lee added: “The place could be packed and we know everyone’s name – it’s a really nice feel."
Lee recalled various times where Petrit has called taxis for women at the end of a night to ensure they get home safely and on occasions, he has even walked them home himself.
Petrit added: “I’ve been told by girls in particular that they love coming here because they feel safe and we take care of them.
“I can say the food is spot on but looking after our guests and making them feel at home and safe plays a big part in our success."
The past two years have not been without challenges but both Petrit and Lee have "navigated them effectively".
“The hospitality game has taken a hit over the last few years - food prices have gone up and people are careful with how they spend their money - it is a struggle but Petrit makes it work," Lee said.
“I think if you try hard and do things the right way, you can succeed," Petrit added.
“There have been ups and downs but from the time we started to now, I can see the business has grown up and the food, the service and the area is moving up for good.
“The business is doing better than what I thought it might be at this point."
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