Smith Street Restaurant promises to bring ‘a little piece of the Mediterranean to the heart of Warwick’
Eric Anderson and Valentina Sulajn welcome Warwick diners(Image: provided)
A couple have opened a new restaurant in Warwick – years after first visiting the historic town as tourists.
Husband and wife Eric Anderson and Valentina Sulaj, originally from Albania, have opened Smith Street Restaurant and are hoping to bring authentic Mediterranean flavours to diners.
The pair fell in love with Warwick and decided to make it home ten years ago. They are realising a dream of opening a restaurant in their adopted town.
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The venture, which replaces the former Aubergine Turkish restaurant, promises a new chapter of food ‘made with love.’ It’s not unfamiliar territory to the couple, who ran their own eatery four months of the year with Eric’s parents in Greece before making the move.
With their son Sean heading up front of house, Eric has kept the tradition of keeping it in the family going.
He said: “My grandparents had Mediterranean restaurants. My grandfather was a fisherman in Albania and loved cooking all sorts of fish. My father also followed in his footsteps and opened a restaurant.
(Image: provided)
“We wanted to open a Mediterranean restaurant because there are so many different dishes you can make. The food in that part of the world is beautiful and very healthy, not heavy and everything is homemade.
“We make sure everything is fresh and we’d rather make less profit than cut corners on the quality of the food we’re offering. We’re not greedy people. This is a family business and our heart and soul goes into every mouthful.”
He added: “I’m so happy to finally have my own restaurant in the UK. I just love the people and the culture over here and I am looking forward to getting to know our customers and being part of the community.”
Carefully overseeing the menu with Valentina, is Chef Sam O’Neill, from Dudley, who has 25 years of culinary experience in the Midlands.
(Image: provided)
Every dish is prepared fresh, using mainly locally sourced ingredients and using techniques rooted in Mediterranean tradition, from Greek, Spanish and Italian influences to Albanian and Turkish, plus traditional English favourites.
It will also be adjusted seasonally, with ‘Valentina Specials’ regularly crafted to introduce something different to diners.
Sam said: “Working at Smith Street Restaurant has given me the opportunity to reignite my passion for cooking by way of having creative freedom.
“The menu was developed in a way that would offer a snapshot journey around the Mediterranean with something for everyone to enjoy.
“In the heart of this historic town we aim for our customers to take the time to sit, relax and enjoy the experience of what an independent restaurant has to offer – a more personalised service from people that love what they do.”
This is seen throughout the restaurant including a bar handbuilt by Eric – who has also spent a period in the furniture trade – and framed cross stitch artworks lovingly made by Valentina adorning the walls.
Valentina Sulajn with one of her cross stitch artworks in the restaurant(Image: provided)
Eric said: “We’re a family who believes food should bring people closer, not be rushed between bookings. When the opportunity came to take over Smith Street, we saw more than a restaurant. We saw potential. A beautiful space in the heart of Warwick that deserved proper flavours, warmer service, and evenings that people would remember.
“For us it’s about making people feel they are being welcomed into our own home and eating something delicious and comforting. We’re giving them a little piece of the Mediterranean in the heart of Warwick.”
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Dining and Cooking