15 Years of Success in Inverness!

25th May 2022 

The Rendezvous Cafe is set to celebrate its 15th year in the Highland Capital. The popular venue in Church Street is one of the most well-known eateries in Inverness, occupying the site of the former Northern Meeting Ballroom which played host to The Silver Beatles on 21st of May 1960.

The cafe restaurant is adorned with photographs and pictures highlighting the building’s showbiz music and cinema heritage, with vintage slapstick cinema and the original wheels of the movie screeners of the old local La Scala and Play playhouse theatres. It attracts locals and tourists alike, as well as Beatles fans keen to walk in the footsteps of their heroes.

14a Church Street, is also home to The Dark Kitchen – the eclectic food experience for take out, which is operated by the same owner, Benny Karoci Hadar.

To mark the 15th anniversary and onwards, Benny is merging the two eatery brands, offerings and menus together to form one food hub, giving diners the chance to enjoy their favourite takeaway in the surroundings of the iconic restaurant.

From 1st June, the venue will operate as an all day and evening fusion restaurant.

In addition to The Rendezvous’ tried and tested popular menu, the restaurant will now be serving sharing platters of selective fromagerie & charcuterie from 3-6pm along side an eclectic wine, beer and booze collection to complement the food. From 6pm-10pm, The Dark Kitchen Diner menu will specialise in gourmet burgers, Dutch fries, wok fried umami noodles, ramen, fried rice bowls as well as designed Milkshakes and desserts.

The aim is to create a place not only for breakfast and lunch, but also a venue where groups of friends can meet for dinner and drinks ahead of a night out in a beautiful fusion eatery and with a casual atmosphere of great music and friendly service.

Benny explains:

“We decided to merge the two separate sister brands together as people tell me they love the takeaway food at The Dark Kitchen and it’s worth a proper sit in place. Now we’re giving them the chance to relax and enjoy their meals in the comfort of The Rendezvous.

“We are still keeping our popular Rendezvous menu from 8am as a Scottish day and lunchtime cafe too. The main passion is to give the experience of a cafe diner in the morning and lunchtime and in the late afternoon to give a more relaxed experience, with quality wines, booze and delicatessen platters with our famous eclectic twist. In the evenings, from 6pm, we move together with the diners to a relaxed, casual hospitality format of fusion food from the best of The Dark Kitchen.

“Inverness is growing and evolving, locals and visitors are developing a food culture with new requests and demands alongside both traditional and eclectic food. My team and I feel and watch this change and adapt ourselves to it.

“The first 15 years in Inverness have been really special and I would like to thank everyone who has visited us over the years. The past two years during the pandemic were probably the most difficult, but most creative as well when we decided to bring to the city The Dark Kitchen concept. It’s great to see people coming through the doors again.

“I’m always looking at ways to innovate and improve and I hope that merging the two sister  brands’ menus will help us to continue to grow. Here’s to the next 15 years!”