The Belmont is the cream of the crop

WHILE staff at the Belmont were busy serving dinner to those gathered at the Leader’s Business Awards, little did they know that the Leader’s readers had already chosen them as winners of this year’s Good Food Category A award.

Good food is always guaranteed at the Belmont Hotel and head chef Frank Lennon knows a thing or two about how to prepare it, having worked as a chef at the hotel for 27 years. The hotel was nominated in the Good Food category of the Leader Business Awards in 2010 and this year enjoyed a win.

Chef Frank expressed his delight at having secured this important seal of approval from both customers and readers. “Good, fresh, locally sourced food has been the key to our success and I am delighted that we have been nominated for this award,” said Frank. “I have been buying meat for the restaurant from the same butcher for 15 years, so quality is consistent and customers enjoy a varied menu, with all meals very reasonably priced.”

Hotel owner Robert Bonar said the family atmosphere is the key to the business’s long-standing success.

“I’m amazed at this award and just so glad for the staff,” he said. “We all work here as a team and a family unit, and we all have done for almost 30 years. It’s great to give them the credit that they deserve.

“We all work here as a family - it’s years of dedicated attention to detail and continuously striving to impress the customer which is, at the end of the day, what we’re all here for. We’re here for our customers.”

Robert said the customers are always telling the owners what they think of the business and any changes they make.

“We get constant feedback,” he said. “We just have to paint a wall in here and customers notice it,” he laughed. “We love our cutomers. It’s a real pleasure and will be greatly appreciated.”