The manager of an Indian restaurant evacuated after fire ripped through the building’s kitchen says he hopes to reopen “very soon”.
Customers were sitting down to dinner when fire moved through the extraction unit at Mint Tapas Bar and Restaurant in Perth Road on Friday night.
Around 25 diners managed to get out safely after staff raised the alarm when the ground-floor kitchen caught fire.
Staff and customers watched in horror from the pavement as flames quickly broke through the roof and thick smoke swept across the road.
Mint manager Mohammed Naeem had gone out to pick up milk when the blaze began.
He hopes to reopen the restaurant as soon as possible, but admits assessing the damage caused by the fire is still at an early stage.
Mr Naeem said: “We got the key back on Saturday, but we still don’t know the damage right now.There would appear to be some water damage, but it is very hard to assess. We will definitely be open in due course though.
“On Facebook some people are saying things that are not appropriate, but the Fire Brigade would not hand us back the key if they were not satisfied, they would have other people here.
“We have phoned most people who had a booking to let them know we have had a fire and will be fully refunding people who bought gift vouchers.”
The restaurant was fully booked when the blaze began.
A party of 150 at Dundee University were also due to be catered for on Saturday.
While he is frustrated not to be able to open for business, Mr Naeem insists the fact no one was injured as a result of the fire is the most important thing.
“Everybody was safe, that is the most important thing,” said Mr Naeem.
“The Fire Brigade did a very good job.
“When I came back from Tesco I could see there was smoke, so I went into the kitchen and saw the fire. I then ran up the stairs and hit the fire alarm and told everyone to get outside.
“Some people’s meals had just arrived, but I said to them they had to get out.
“We apologise to customers, but no one could open in these circumstances.”
The restaurant, formerly known as Spice, went up in flames previously back in 2012.
