After an extremely difficult first 6 months, it's great to hear that Thaiger has been able to overcome the challenges and are now hitting their stride.
Paul and Pim tell us, “We opened at probably the worst possible time during the 2022 Covid wave that brought with it chronic staff shortages, supply issues, inflation and shipping delays.
Nevertheless, we persevered and focused on solutions to the many challenges, mostly because we had no choice - it was either deal with it or give up and that was something we could not contemplate.”
Paul and Pim were also able to move past the initial stages of relying on family, friends and even neighbours, to help out with waiting tables, washing dishes and cleaning.
They were able to do this by becoming employer accredited under the recent New Zealand immigration work visa program and brought in five staff from Thailand - two chefs with 5-star hotel experience, and three excellent front-of-house staff.
This meant that Paul and Pim could move from a simple, easy to execute menu to one that is inline with what they intended and that is creating beautiful 5 star quality dishes. This has resulted in a substantial uptick in customers in recent months and especially pleasing is that most of the returning customers are local.
“Support from the local community has been overwhelming and humbling. We are so grateful to be a part of the Grey Lynn community and we are delighted to be building a strong relationship with the local community and able to deliver a high-quality dining experience with great customer service,” says Paul.
That’s why he and Pim are always thinking of ways to improve the restaurant.
They are working with an interior designer who has worked with several successful Ponsonby restaurants and are adding more layers to the décor, creating a more inviting and memorable space that combines comfort along with a nostalgic aesthetic that showcases Thai culture.
Paul and Pim have proven, that with dedication, hard work and creativity, you can build a strong foundation for continued growth and success. Come on in and experience all the delights of Thai cuisine at Thaiger!
Best of luck to the team at Thaiger restaurant.
THAIGER, 2 Surrey Crescent, T: 09 360 0695, www.thaiger.co.nz
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