Companies are bringing their clients back to the dining table as business lunches start to return to pre-COVID levels, according to an award-winning Derby restaurant.
Derby restaurant The Dining Room at 121, in Friar Gate, says it has experienced an upswing in bookings from firms since the start of the year for midday bookings from the corporate market.
The business trade has been slow to recover following COVID, as remote working meant meetings continued to be held online, but the gradual return to the workplace has meant lunches are back on the menu.
The post-COVID return to restaurants is known as revenge dining, but tastes have changed, the Dining Room at 121 says, because although the business audience are still looking for a fine dining experience, they want shorter waiting times and à la carte food served as tapas-style small plates.
Claire Bates, who operates The Dining Room with her husband – and the restaurant’s head chef – Simon, says they have responded with a small plates service all day Thursdays and on Friday and Saturday lunchtimes for the leisure crowd.
Designed to be served within minutes of customers placing their orders, the menu features 18 different dishes including yakitori chicken skewers, seared scallops and cauliflower hot wings.
Claire said: “Over the last four years we have built up a loyal business clientele, but we have definitely noticed an increase in corporate bookings over the past few weeks and more interest overall.
“Dining preferences have definitely changed since the pandemic. Businesses want smaller portions like they’d get at a street food stall and are looking for faster service, with their whole meal lasting around an hour or so.
“We brought in our new small plates option three weeks ago and it’s going down really well. As it happens, it’s the same style of food that we served when we had to switch to a takeaway service during the COVID lockdown, so it’s almost come full circle.”
Kilburn-born Simon was formerly the chef at Blacksmith’s Loft and The Wonky Table, both in Sadler Gate, before setting up The Dining Room with Claire in premises which were home for many years to the Friar Tuck Inn Steakhouse, opposite St Werburgh’s Church.
Since then, it has built a strong reputation with city diners, thanks to the quality of its menu – which is virtually all gluten-free – and the close attention to detail, courtesy of the restaurant being styled as an intimate 24-seater venue.
To find out more visit www.thediningroom121.co.uk
