The red carpet was rolled out and the chilled champagne glasses were ready to clink in celebration of the opening of Mike’s Kitchen Park Square at Umhlanga Ridge recently.

The much-loved family focused restaurant with a long history has opened its doors to welcome you into their stylish yet warm and comfortable restaurant.

General manager Andrew Norton said while they remain a family friendly restaurant, being in Umhlanga Ridge, their focus will also be on business people in the area.

“We have a small and a large conference room which is ideal for board meetings, corporate events and smaller private discussions,” said Norton.

In celebration of their roots, the restaurant – which seats 132 diners indoors and 128 outdoors – has dedicated a large mural to their longstanding relationship with Nedbank.

“The original founder of Mike’s Kitchen, Mike Illion, got his first loan of R3000 from Nedbank back in 1972. Now that we are based in the Nedbank building, we have come full circle with our story.”

Mike’s Kitchen CEO Salim Shermohammed gave the staff a heartfelt pep talk to kickstart the first open evening.

“You have been training hard, you look awesome, you have light on your face and now the work begins. I hope you make careers out of this place – you have amazing leaders and if you follow their lead you will grow to become leaders yourselves. Remember, you serve with your hands, but first it comes from your heart,” said Shermohammed.

The restaurant boasts a safe state-of-the-art play area that houses an eco-friendly jungle gym, a spacious interior layout and an elegant bar.