A Hot Dinners exclusive
There are all kinds of reasons that make folk want to have a go at the hospitality industry. But for Bukuria Bajrami and her husband Armando, the owners of upcoming bar and restaurant GiaGia in Battersea, having all kinds of family members with experience in running pubs and restaurants definitely made the difference.
"It's always been our dream to open a restaurant," Bukuria told Hot Dinners, explaining that not only does her husband and business partner run security for restaurants and bars across London, but her father used to run the Naked Turtle wine bar in Sheen, while her uncle runs La Fiamma in Hampton Court.
A mix of Albanian, Greek and Palestinian family members means that there are a lot of influences going into the food at this all-day spot on St John's Hill, where The Schoolhouse used to be. So you'll find calamari alongside Albanian Dolma Japrak (stuffed vine leaves) and Middle-Eastern stuffed mini courgettes. They're also promising a proper brunch menu too.
For drinks, there's going to be a large bar with a cocktail list alongside a reasonably priced selection of wines. It's a decent-sized place - with room for around 75 customers and in the conservatory at the back, they're planning a large communal table for family-style dining.
"Everyone kept saying that getting into restaurants was a risky business," says Bukuria, "but we've always wanted to do it and this was the perfect location for us."
More about GiaGia
Where is it? 137 St John's Hill, London SW11 1TD
When? August 2023
Find out more: Follow them on Instagram @giagia.sw11
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