Friends Bistro opens in Cromer North Lodge Park, Norfolk

Friends Bistro, in the Seaview building at Cromer's North Lodge Park, opened its doors to customers for the first time on Thursday evening.

The licensed bistro, run by local charity About With Friends, will serve locally-sourced food and drink and employ adults with learning disabilities.

The menu features fresh Cromer crab, seared seabass and a catch of the day, as well as handmade burgers, steaks and pasta dishes. 

Friends Bistro in Cromer's North Lodge Park (Image: Denise Bradley)

Inside Friends Bistro (Image: Denise Bradley)

Head chef Reis Khalil's signature thick-cut sandwiches, ciabattas and salad bowls are on the lunch menu, alongside bar snacks such as olives, gastro chips, truffle and parmesan fries and toasted focaccia served throughout the day. 

The bistro will be staffed by qualified chefs and caterers, who will teach members of the charity with learning disabilities culinary and hospitality skills to help them achieve qualifications of their own.

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Inside Friends Bistro (Image: Denise Bradley)

Inside Friends Bistro (Image: Denise Bradley)

Jamie Moses, the operations director at About with Friends, said: "Our first member trainee is a young man called Tony Edwards and he will spend his time between helping in the kitchen alongside our head chef Reis Khalil, who had a fantastic career at The Grove in Cromer before taking up this new challenge.

"The rest of Tony’s time will be spent learning all the different areas of a restaurant. From front of house to taking bookings and serving tables.

"We want to be able to train, teach and equip our members with as many practical skills as possible to enable them to move on into future paid employment."

READ MORE: Café to close after 'loo-dicrous' row with council for not having a customer toilet

Lauren Colk and Harry Jeckell at Friends Bistro (Image: Denise Bradley)

Friends Bistro's head chef Reis Khalil, who previously worked at the award-winning The Grove in Cromer (Image: Denise Bradley)

Friends Bistro in Cromer's North Lodge Park (Image: Denise Bradley)

The bistro's regular opening times will be 12pm to 2pm and then 5pm to 10pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. 

It will also be open for Sunday lunch every other week, starting from this week (Sunday, June 2).