Tashas to expand offering

Restaurant group Tashas plans to grow its presence by opening six new locations between South Africa, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Kingdom, with the rollout set to begin during the last quarter of this year.

The group’s different restaurant formats, including original format Tashas, Le Parc, Flamingo Room by tashas, and new concepts Bungalo34 and Nala, will form part of the expansion.

The South African family owned business says the timing could not have been better.

“Since buying back the group from Famous Brands in 2019, we have been moving forward locally and on the international hospitality scene. We are now able to make significant strides in our expansion plans,” says Tashas founder and managing director Natasha Sideris.

Tashas currently has 15 locations in South Africa and nine in the UAE.

Expansion calendar

First on the list is the opening of Flamingo Room by tashas in Saudi Arabia in Q4 2022, and in Abu Dhabi in Q1 2023.

“Flamingo Room is the ultimate expression of my SA roots and the epitome of old-school dining with a contemporary twist,” says Sideris. “After its major success in Dubai, it is time to widen our horizons across the region and hopefully globally.”

Tashas will be opening in Lynnwood Bridge in Pretoria before the end of the year.

Luxury quick-service concept Nala will open in Al Serkal in Dubai in early 2023, and is intended to be rolled out to major metropolitan markets internationally, while new concept Bungalo34 will open in Q4 2023, at the Pearl Jumeirah in Dubai.

The group is in discussions to open food and retail emporium Le Parc by tashas in the UAE, after the first store opened in Johannesburg’s Hyde Park Corner in 2021, and is “close to finalising details” on its first location for tashas in London.

“Key to our expansion has been ensuring that the heart and soul of South Africa is taken to the world and for this, our people are intrinsic.

“Not only are we using the SA artists and artisans who have worked with us in SA to build our global stores, but also our own staff,” says Sideris.