Fiji Sun

Habibi Restaurant Changes Style

- CHARLES CHAMBERS Feedback: charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj

Habibi restaurant has launched a new lunch menu and is also delivering food to your door.

The Mediterran­nean eatery, once a hotspot for yachties and Fiji’s only shisha (Hukka) outlet, took a turn for the worse when the coronaviru­s pandemic hit Fiji.

Habibi restaurant

Owner, Pooja Kolekar, said the Denarau Road joint in Nadi, was driven by 70-80 per cent of tourism revenue.

“We had strategies in place that catered for this, but no-one could have had anything in pace when coronaviru­s hit the world.

“Rather than listen to negative talk and be drawn into a bubble that had nothing but gloom, my husband, Anirudh, and I decided we will change the concept, have a positive attitude and at least provide employment for five people.”

Opening hours

Habibi Restaurant previously opened from 6pm untill around midnight.

“We are also looking at introducin­g breakfast with some new menus.”

Mrs Kolekar said the previouws Mediterran­ean meals which included baba ghanoush, humus and wood-fire pizza, would still be served on request, but they have introduced spicy Indian curries, lamb and chicken kadhai, naan bread, prawn dishes and bhiriani.

“We will have a 20 per cent discount on each meal and people can still come and eat in the restaurant.”

Mrs Kolekar said they had spent close to $6000 to renovate and change some of the previous settings

 ?? Photo: Charles Chambers ?? Prawns koliwada at Habibi restaurant.
Photo: Charles Chambers Prawns koliwada at Habibi restaurant.
 ?? Photo: Charles Chambers ?? Habibi restaurant owner Pooja Kolekar.
Photo: Charles Chambers Habibi restaurant owner Pooja Kolekar.

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