Dinner in Mozart box - Belgrade's restaurant Little Bay with unique concept in the world

Sounds of opera arias, heavy red draperies, painted portraits of classical music artists and golden ornaments are only a part of the interior of restaurant Little Bay. The theater boxes are the light theme of the restaurant's interior and they are named after some of the world's most famous composers: Mokranjac, Strauss, Mozart, Bach, Handl, Bizet, Beethoven, Chopin and Czaikowski. The tables surrounded by boxes create the atmosphere of a theater, but there is one small difference - you can enjoy the dishes of modern European cuisine in this "small theater".

Little Bay restaurant is situated in Dositejeva Street in Belgrade, only few steps behind the National Theater.

- We searched for the location for almost a year because we wanted it to be as near to a theater as possible since the lovers of theater are mainly our guests - Dejan Bogdanović, the restaurant's Manager and designer, starts the story for eKapija.

- Baroque interior is unique in the world. Foreign tourists are delighted, they are coming here to take photos and ask about the idea and the concept, while our people usually say that the restaurant in Belgrade is, most certainly, a copy of one of the London-based namesake restaurants. But it isn't. Restaurant chain Little Bay comprises four facilities in London, while the restaurant in Belgrade is the first and only one founded outside Great Britain. The owner is the same – Peter Ilić, who was born in Kraljevo and who lives and works in London for over 40 years.

Not burdened with the need for quick financial success, he wished to create a place in Belgrade where guests can listen to classical music and eat top-quality food. He only had the idea to make the facility with galleries in order to use the space better. But the restaurant manager, who is also a designer, thought that it would be good to create interior similar to a real opera house.

Although the bureaucratic procedures prevented them from fully implementing the idea, Bogdanović proudly points out that everything you can see in the restaurant is made by the people from Serbia. Twelve young artists, advised by Italian set designer Fabio Fioretti (who worked on movies Gangs of New York, Hidalgo, Caravaggio, Pinocchio...), designed this space for about 100 guests by themselves.

Equipping, decoration and securing of the restaurant cost about 300,000 EUR.

London-Belgrade connection

Although their interiors are different, the restaurants in London and Belgrade have the same menus, service and price-quality relationship. The menu was made by a British chef who was born in our country - Tom Ilić. However, portions in Serbia are up to 50% larger because our people don't have the same culture of feeding as the British who always order starter and dessert in addition to the main course.

- Our people mainly eat main course only and we were not able to change that habit even during the campaigns when we offered complete meal at the price that is approximately the same as the price of the main course.

There are plans for the "opera atmosphere" of Belgrade's Little Bay to be soon introduced in London since the people there are interested in construction of identical restaurant. In that case, Bogdanović's initial idea would be realized to the end and every box would have a door and the view of the central stage of the restaurant where musicians would stand.

The plan is that spiral stairs, in the back, lead to three-floor galleries.

Music

"How dare you ask us to play in a restaurant?", this was the answer of some eminent classical musicians when asked to play in Little Bay. That was shortly after the restaurant was opened, in 2006. Today it is a matter of prestige because musicans such as Miša Krstić, Predrag Krstić-Kokan or Slobodan Ramjanac do not get much opportunity to play in Serbia.

- We are fortunate enough to have some of the most talented young musicians playing in Little Bay. Our guests can listen to classical music played live every night from 9 PM, while Monday and Wednesday are reserved for jazz. On Sunday, musicians are playing at lunch time as well - says Bogdanović and adds that bookings should be made for both dinners and lunches.

Pay as much as you think you should

Just like its "sister" restaurants in London, Little Bay had the campaign between October 1st and the end of the last year that invited the guests to pay their meals on Monday as much as they think they should. Unlike in London where the profit was increased by 20-30% in spite of the crisis, people in Belgrade were paying their meals as much as they did before the campaign.

- Although the campaign was much less advertised in media in Belgrade than in London, we are satisfied with its results – Bogdanović told eKapija.

Cooperation with Ana and Vlade Divac's Fund

Little Bay cooperates for a long time with humanitarian Fund Ana and Vlade Divac - HOD. They organized two donor dinners and collected 6,000 EUR and 8,000 EUR for refugees. The third donor dinner will be organized soon and, as Bogdanović points out, the restaurant will always help the Fund. According to him, it is a real pleasure that this space, its food and selection of drinks can assist the Fund in collecting the money for those who need it the most.

J.Đ.