A taste of France could be touching down in Carnoustie with plans to transform an empty pub into a restaurant and wine bar.
Former airline pilot Ali DennisKhorramshahi and his wife,Ann-Christine, have applied forplanning permission through local agent Brunton Design.
His family has owned and run the French restaurant Savoir Faire on New Oxford Street in London since 1995, which has received five-star reviews online.
‘A Dash of French’ could open as early as April or May in the former Golf Inn on Park Avenue, which has been lying empty since closing its doors in 2011.
Mr Khorramshahi was born in Dundee and flew Boeing 747s across the world before joining his parents in the restaurant business four years ago.
The 47-year-old related to theGilfeather boxing family from Dundee will also be bringing his head chef up from London for six months once the restaurant opens.
He said the restaurant would offer gourmet food at reasonable prices in a relaxed setting with an adjacent wine bar which could serve things like tapas.
Mr Khorramshahi said: “My father retired as an airline pilot 21 years ago and opened Savoir Faire in London which has been a great success.
“He spent his working life in hotels across the world and he developed quite a good knack of finding the best places to eat wherever he went.
“I followed him and was an airline pilot flying 747s until four years ago when I joined the family business.
“The restaurant was originally to be called Maxibell’s but it will now be ‘A Dash of French’ although that could still change.
“I want it to be a place where people can go and enjoy a glass of wine or a meal in a relaxed atmosphere at reasonable prices.”
His family has kept a home inCarnoustie and Mr Khorramshahi said he’s looking forward to bringing a new dining experience to the town.
He said staff would be hired locally and he thinks it is a very good location that will be popular with diners.
The application was for a change of use at the Golf Inn from a pub to arestaurant and tapas bar includinginternal and external alterations.