Restaurants are leading the post-lockdown economic recovery, with many boasting booked out dining rooms since restrictions lifted.
1908 at Cronulla is among those celebrating a renewed love of dining out, with customers flocking to make bookings via a leading app.
Restaurant-booking app The Fork released data recently that showed Cronulla was in the top 10 suburbs for restaurant bookings in both NSW and Greater Sydney in the days leading up to lockdown ending.
Cronulla came in at number nine in NSW for most booked restaurants and number six in Greater Sydney, only behind Sydney, Paddington, Darlinghurst, Mosman and Narellan.
Statistics provided to the Leader by The Fork showed that in the days immediately after lockdown ended, 1908 Restaurant and Cronulla Caringbah Hotel Bistro each racked up 11 per cent of all restaurant bookings on the app, placing them in equal third place.
Summer Salt Restaurant was close behind in fourth place with 10 per cent of all restaurant bookings.
"As exciting as the re-opening after lockdown has been, it has also been extremely overwhelming leading into the summer months with groups wanting to celebrate their return coupled with corporate events and unfortunately a shortage of staff," managing director and licensee of 1908, Nicholas Platon, said.
"Lockdown was challenging for a large number of employees as they needed to source employment elsewhere with so much uncertainty as to how long lockdown would go on for. The shortage of international students and travellers is another key factor.
"We are very grateful and thankful to our loyal return supporters for their ongoing love and patronage."
