From new eateries to delivery kitchens, restaurateurs are giving it their best shot in 2022, after reeling from two years of lockdowns
Vicky Ratnani
Of burgers and bakes
Coming in: TBA
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By delivering Asian burgers, banh mis, and shokupans, chef duo Seefah Ketchaiyo (in pic) and Karan Bane have already tickled the taste buds of city diners. In 2022, they plan to open a small café for their brands Asian Burgers and Seefah Bakery, subject to how the COVID-19 scenario plays out. “It will serve at least 20 covers but we’re keeping an eye on the restrictions,” assures Ketchaiyo.
Pod power
Coming in: TBA
For a couple of months now, chef Vicky Ratnani has been wowing Mumbaikars with his gourmet burgers. In 2022, he aims to franchise Speak Burgers, first across Mumbai and Maharashtra, and then in other states; these outposts will be called Pod. “There’ll be one central kitchen and Pods everywhere. These spaces will offer delivery, takeaway and a small dining-in area. I can see this model growing in future, with a signature burger and cocktail bar taking shape,” he adds.
Europe calling
Coming in: January
Ranbir Nagpal, Atul Chopra and Gurmeet Arora, the folks behind European-Mediterranean restaurant Juliet that will open its doors in Andheri. Pic/Anurag Ahire
For a couple of years now, Yazu - Pan Asian Supper Club has been serving up a slice of the continent. Now, owners Ranbir Nagpal, Atul Chopra and Gurmeet Arora are working on opening a brand new venture called Juliet, also in Andheri, that will offer diners a taste of European-Mediterranean fare. Nagpal shares that the idea is to complement what they’re doing next door at Yazu. “We wanted to move on to a new cuisine that promised scope for growth, and has a story of its own. We felt there was a gap in the European-Mediterranean cuisine market in Mumbai. We have a chef who has worked for a decade in Canada.” Juliet, he adds, will be a pretty, all-day space that will witness a menu-change post evening, with cocktails and good music coming into the picture.
Delivery on his mind
Coming in: TBA
The past two years have underlined that delivery can’t just play second fiddle. Armed with this belief, Zorawar Kalra, founder and MD of Massive Restaurants, is looking to open five new delivery brands across Mumbai that will cater to popular cuisines. He also promises to bring to town Bo Tai, a modern Thai bar and grill concept, along with a new outpost of Farzi Cafe.
Vocal for local
Coming in: All year
To give local, lesser-known regional chefs and home chefs a leg-up, Colaba’s Magazine Street Kitchen is joining hands with experiences curators The Soul Company to create The Soul Kitchen. Co-founder Gauri Devidayal shares that the idea stemmed from the renewed interest in local culinary cultures in the past year: “There will be a programming of chefs from different regional cuisines across the year.” They’re also working on launching a consolidated retail line. “Be it the oil from Mag St Toppings, or the hot sauce from The Table, many of our offerings have become popular. This year, we plan to create a consolidated umbrella under which all our retail products across brands will come together, hopefully by the end of the first quarter,” she adds.
Of burgers and bakes
Coming in: TBA
By delivering Asian burgers, bánh mìs, and shokupans, chef duo Seefah Ketchaiyo (in pic) and Karan Bane have already tickled the taste buds of city diners. In 2022, they plan to open a small café for their brands Asian Burgers and Seefah Bakery, subject to how the COVID-19 scenario plays out. “It will serve at least 20 covers but we’re keeping an eye on the restrictions,” assures Ketchaiyo.
Keeping it casual
Coming in: January
There’s only one way to go in 2022 — upwards, remarks Anurag Katriar, founder of Indigo Hospitality Pvt Ltd. The restaurateur, who recently launched a delivery venture called Platform 7 by Indigo, hopes to open a dozen outposts across the city, along with a few outlets of Indigo Deli. “We’re also developing an affordable casual-dining model — like a coffee shop outside hotels. We plan to open one in January in South Bombay. Based on how that shapes up, we may take it to other Indian cities,” he reveals. These cafes will offer an unpretentious atmosphere, hearty food and a space for conversations.
Art meets gastronomy
Coming in: February-end
Restaurateur Abhayraj Singh Kohli prefers a bullish approach to 2022 with multiple projects in the pipeline. First up is a space where art meets gastronomy. Spread across a century-old 13,000-sqft-ice factory, Native at Ice Factory, Ballard Estate, will host artists, galleries, sculptors, designers and architects from across the world. “We are trying to create an art-culture centre, similar to international biennales. The cuisine will be focused on native Indian flavours; it will also have a speakeasy bar. The ice factory also houses one of the oldest banyan trees in the area, under which there will be a health food-driven café,” shares Kohli who runs Grandmama’s Cafe, MRP, Pritam Da Dhaba and Tori, among other places. Also in the works are delivery brands that will offer pizzas, burgers and wings, and wholesome indie bowls. “In a few months, Pritam Da Dhaba, too, will crop up across new neighbourhoods,” he promises.
Health matters
Coming in: First quarter of 2022
In its 2.0 version, The Pantry Cafe will be known as Healthy Pantry, which will deliver home freshly made fare using local and seasonal produce sourced directly, and made as per various dietary preferences. Sumit Gambhir, director and co-founder at Neighbourhood Hospitality Pvt Ltd, which runs the venture, shares that Healthy Pantry, like its original avatar, will be committed to clean eating. “The definitions of health have been evolving over time, and for us as a brand that has always had a menu catering to various dietary choices like vegan, gluten-free or ketogenic, taking this route seemed natural.” The focus is on making conventionally unhealthy food healthier. Expect cauliflower-based pizzas, comfort bowls with artisanal cheese, multigrain/gluten-free wraps, and guiltless desserts, including keto-based ones. Also on the cards is Woodside Burger Shop, a delivery-only outlet that marks their entry into the QSR market. “It carries Woodside Inn’s 15-year-long legacy of serving the city’s best burgers. We will open outlets in Worli and Marine Lines,” Gambhir informs.
Watch out for
That’s a wrap
Acme Hospitality founder Sameer Uttamsingh, along with partner and chef Karishma Sakhrani, will whip up quirky new wraps and rolls under a new delivery brand that seeks inspiration from regional and international flavours. “Besides regular rolls on the menu such as tikkas, makhani and kebabs, 40 per cent of them will be inspired by regional fare. Think xacuti, thecha, ghee roast, moilee, lal maas and more,” he says.
Touch of sass
Rachel Goenka, founder and CEO of The Chocolate Spoon Company, is looking to open The Sassy Cafe at Jio World, “a deli concept, with a touch of sass”. Look out for innovative bowls, ‘sassywiches’, small plates and desserts. “We’ll continue to aggressively expand our Sassy Teaspoon delivery footprint with five new cloud kitchens across Mumbai and Pune.”
Hola, bella
Restaurateurs Dhaval Udeshi and Pawan Shahri of London Taxi and Butterfly High are coming up with an Indian ingredient-focused restaurant in Juhu, Bella, which will offer all-day comfort food and craft cocktails.
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