The owners of a restaurant specialising in Middle Eastern food have closed its doors after nearly six years but said it had been an "absolute pleasure". The owners of Ana Bedouin, in Sherwood, wished all their customers a "wholehearted farewell" but said it had been a struggle during the pandemic - and still continues to be tough.
The restaurant, in Haydn Road, opened in November 2016 serving Lebanese delights such as baba ghanoush, falafels and an array of lamb dishes such as kebabs, meshwi, chops and shawarma.
In 2019 the meze, tagines, shawarma and kebabs secured Ana Bedouin, in Haydn Road, Sherwood, the prize for Best World Cuisine in the Midlands at Food Awards England. And the same year it was named the best Lebanese restaurant in the Midlands at the Restaurant Awards.
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Announcing the closure on Ana Bedouin's Facebook page they said: "We as a family have decided to move on from Ana Bedouin. It has been a very difficult decision to make but something that would allow us to spend more valuable time together as our children grow.
"It has been an absolute pleasure to run this family business and to grow as a member of the local businesses within the Sherwood community. The last few years have been a great struggle to say the least but we’ve soldiered on through the tough times but anyone in this industry would understand the trying times that are still being suffered across the board.
"I have been a chef and in this industry for nearly 12 years now and have decided to make a change as it’s something that I feel I need to keep myself and my family happy. We have always had excellent staff over the years and owe a lot of our success to each and every one of them. We will miss all our customers who have supported us throughout and given us the means to keep on going."
Customers described the restaurant as a "little hidden gem" which served delicious and authentic food, with first class service. The meat sharing platter for two was often singled out for praise.
Locals were saddened by the news. "You will definitely be missed but you have to do what's right for you and your family," said one. Another fan said: "So sorry to hear that - we loved your food and friendliness. the lockdown has made us all stop and think. All the very best to you and your family."
