Bistro Forty Six on Brentwood Avenue has opened a new sister takeaway company, Meat Sauce Fries while the original restaurant is temporarily closed.

With cafes and restaurants closed for dining-in, the takeaway industry has boomed. Max Gott, owner of Bistro Forty Six, launched a separate takeaway business to maximise on current national restrictions.

Gott spoke to JesmondLocal about how change was necessary for Bistro Forty Six to survive.

Meat Sauce Fries attracts a lot of the same customers as Bistro Forty Six, who like the idea of supporting local businesses and that the same high-end ingredients are used so it doesn’t feel like they are having the “naughtiness” of a takeaway.

Gott also said, “We’re lucky we still have the same following. A lot of the students haven’t come back yet we are busier than ever. So it’s a sign that it’s not just them.”

He also believes that the pandemic has created a bigger and much more competitive market for the takeaway industry.

Gott also told JesmondLocal that after the worst of the pandemic “there will be an influx in people who want to dine out. But I do believe there will be people who are still unsure. If they’re not vaccinated then it could be a long time before we return to normality.”

Gott highlighted how valuable social media has been in helping to promote and grow the business. Meat Sauce Fries almost has the same number of followers on Instagram as Bistro Forty Six (which is five years old), yet the former is less than six months old.

Photo credit: Meat Sauce Fried. Gott also stresses how staying open is so important as shutting the venue and taking government grants would still mean you are losing money. 

Meat Sauce Fries is open Friday – Sunday 5pm – 9pm on Brentwood Avenue