A dozen customers queueing for their first taste of Norwich's newest restaurant were hoping its waffles and burgers would reach celestial heights of culinary excellence.
The 7 Heaven Burger and Waffle Company opened its doors at 5pm yesterday in a site on Exchange Street in Norwich previously occupied by Bella Italia. The restaurant is fitted out with a stripped-back urban and industrial interior, complete with chip-wood, metal pipes providing wall lighting, and kitchen rolls on table tops instead of napkins.
Owner Marcus Pearcey said: 'The whole point of the restaurant is not to offer too much. The name comes from seven great burgers and seven great waffles, that's where it comes from. We wanted to keep it very tight.'
He said the sparse design of the restaurant is because 'it should be about the food', which should not be overwhelmed by the venue.
Elly Montgomery, managing director of Mr Pearcey, said the interior reflected the restaurant's relaxed approach, and added: 'We want it to be relaxed, informal, fun and family oriented.
'We thought it would be quite unique to have a number, and everything for us is linked to 'seven'. 'Seven' rhymes with heaven. We have based our menus all around seven.'
The menu has seven types of burgers, seven savoury waffles, seven sweet waffles, and seven minis for the children's menu. The restaurant will be open seven days a week, from breakfast to dinner.
Asked about the unusual combination of burgers and waffles providing the focus of a restaurant, she said: 'Everyone loves a burger and everyone loves a waffle, so we put them together. It works.'
The first customers for the restaurant were queueing up well before the official opening time, while staff, in their red T-shirts with the number seven emblazoned on their backs, were having a last-minute briefing from Mr Pearcey.
First in the queue were Mark Surridge, 29, and Mark McCarthy, 27, both from Norwich, and Jenna Saunders, 30, from Diss, who work at Mint in the Forum, and have watched with curiosity as the site developed as they walked past every day, and had read more about it on Facebook.
Mr Surridge said: 'It looks like a great concept. We have heard about similar concepts in London.'
What do you think? Write (giving your full contact details) to: The Letters Editor, Norwich Evening News, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE or email eveningnewsletters@archant.co.uk
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