The Invitation Story

Invitation Restaurant was started in the Summer 2005 by Patricia Bairagee.

One of Patricia’s passion, is that of empowering women, particularly Asian women. Growing up in her native Bangladesh, Patricia developed a keen sense of compassion for women with less education and restricted choices than herself. As an experienced educationalist, she taught at the local Christ Church Primary School in Brick Lane for 14 years. She has tirelessly worked in the local community to assist her neighbours and families from the school where she taught. She has also been actively involved in the local community, in schools, management of the Baishaki Mela. Her contributions to the community were recognised in June 2005, when she was awarded a Tower Hamlets Civic Award for ‘outstanding work in the community’.

Invitation Restaurant is the fulfilment of a long held ambition – that of getting Bangladeshi women recognition of their cooking talents and an opportunity to earn a living from their skills. The majority of staff and Management at Invitation are female, working both front of house and behind the scenes. A third of the menu is Patricia’s own creation, from recipes she has created and refined. Her dishes are made using traditional Bengali herbs and finest ingredients. Fish is the national dish of the Bengal region, so it is no wonder that Patricia’s fish dishes are exceptional and integral to the Invitation theme.