Tag: dining out

Impresario Handmade Restaurants, owner of SOCIAL, contemplates future IPO

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Impresario Handmade Restaurants was one of the businesses affected by COVID but Founder and Managing Director Riyaaz Amlani says it was the support of his staff that helped the institution stay afloat then. Today, as he looks to expand to newer cities, he believes COVID has a role to play in this.

Speaking to CNBC-TV18, Amlani said, “One of the benefits of COVID is that there was some reverse migration that has happened. People have taken back the same aspiration levels and the same attitude towards dining out as they had when they resided in metros, which was not the case earlier.”

Culturally, there was a taboo when it came to dining out in non-metros, but that is changing, added Amlani. He stated, “People living in non-metros today have a high disposable income because the cost of living is lower compared to metros. And a lot of that income is directed towards food services. So it’s a really good time to be in those non-metro cities now.”

Impresario Handmade Restaurants is a chain of over 60 restaurants operating in more than 20 cities. It is keen on growing its brand ‘SOCIAL’, he revealed. It also owns brands like antiSOCIAL and Smoke House Deli, among others.

In FY24, the chain will be closing just below ₹700 crore, and from there, the company expects to grow at a pace of 20–25% year-on-year, Amlani added. While the company is well-funded to support its expansion plan, it does have plans to go public, and as and when the market moves along, it may look at different funding options.

He is well aware that competition has increased in the casual dining space and chances are that it will pose a challenge. But he believes his two decades of experience will help him overcome the hurdles. “So the mortality rate in the restaurant space is very high—about 90% of restaurants shut down in the first five years of operations. We’ve been in this business now for about 22 years and are aware of the pitfalls to watch out for. While competition will make us more determined to do better, I think as a customer, that’s going to be a win-win situation.”

Impresario Handmade Restaurants is also preparing to meet the rising demand in the premiumisation segment.

Further, he added, “India has already entered its golden decade. In India, there is a lot of headroom for growth. But there can be a little challenge when it comes to contraction in disposable income, especially when a lot of people in the middle of the pyramid are tightening their belt when it comes to disposable income.”

He believes the casual dining segment and premium dining segment are poised to be among the fastest-growing segments, at about 18%. Despite being a fragmented market, he believes this growth momentum will continue.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Eating ‘out’ takes on a new dimension as Chennai’s al fresco restaurants see a boom in business

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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It’s a dining trend that is hard to explain: in the heat and humidity of Chennai, al fresco dining is thriving. Now, this isn’t a claim that’s made lightly, for the numbers bear testament to this fast emerging trend. A quick survey reveals that 18 of the 25 restaurants that opened or re-launched in the city last year have half their covers in outdoor spaces.

If you didn’t know, you may have guessed it by now — the term ‘al fresco’ refers to the outdoors in general, and usually in the context of dining. For Chennai, the trend is significant given that the city’s outdoor establishments have been plagued with limiting factors like heat and humidity. This has, in fact, has left the F&B scene in these parts lagging behind equivalents in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, two cities with decent weather, picturesque restaurants and pleasantly designed outdoor spaces. That is changing.

Fine-dining restaurants and casual café-restaurants alike — this includes names such as The Mayflower, Double Roti, Sage and Lavender Bistro, Flip Flops Beach Shack, Asvah 24, the re-launched Above Sea Level — have prided themselves on their al fresco design. Some of these establishments are claiming that more of their patrons are choosing to dine outdoor now than before.

“It’s a trend we’ve been observing ever since the pandemic, when there were restrictions on air-conditioning and patrons preferred dining outdoors,” says Suresh Anthony, Director at Ceebros Hotels, which owns well-known grill-specialty restaurant Above Sea Level at its St Mary’s Road property. “While it is no doubt humid, the sea breeze in the evening tends to negate the humidity and we see footfalls go up,” he adds.

Such has been the demand that Above Sea Level is one of a handful of al fresco restaurants that have begun hosting their dinner service in slots. While the average number of covers is about 80 on a weeknight, weekends see over a 100 diners visiting. It’s the same story down the road at Koox, another al fresco restaurant not too far off, located atop the Novotel Chennai on Chamiers Road.

“We have been doing 10 to 15 percent better business when compared to 2019,” says Supreet Roy, the hotel’s general manager. “We were suffering in the early evenings a few months ago but overcame them once the weather improved in July,” Roy added. While the restaurant was hosting around 75 guests on Mondays and Tuesdays, its covers typically increased to 200 on weekends, with numbers notching up beyond the 110-mark from Wednesday onwards.

Also Read: Study finds cocoa helps reduce blood pressure, arterial stiffness — A look at its other benefits

The question, however, remains — post-COVID concerns aside, what draws diners to al fresco restaurants in not-so-ideal weather? For one, the food. Most al fresco restaurants in Chennai go beyond basic offerings, with novelty cuisine on offer. From North-West Frontier cuisine, Grilled Atlantic Salmon, a range of kebabs, sushi, sashimi and Robata grills, the range is quite unlimited. In a not-so-adventurous F&B market like Chennai, they also make for a gastronomic goldmine.

Smaller al fresco establishments have also done well to cater to less-elaborate tastes — many outdoor café-restaurants dish out some classics such as loaded fries, coffee and a bagel, even as the humble pizza continues to remain a favourite. Then there are vegan offerings too. The Sante Spa Cuisine, located on a prominently located in Besant Nagar, just a stone’s throw away from the beach, serves up a decent Wild Mushroom Foie Gras, Pan-Grilled Cauliflower Steak and Tofu Sui Mai. A premium on food (for Chennai) coupled with fuss-free décor and fewer overheads has also meant that al fresco restaurant menus rake in decent margins.

Several al fresco restaurants do — as one restaurant manager describes it — “killer” business, especially on weeknights. That isn’t entirely surprising given that almost all establishments adopt premium pricing on their menus, fully aware of the local market’s appetite for fine-dining at good-looking restaurants, prices notwithstanding.

It also helps that the local F&B market has been starved of a premium to super-premium F&B establishments for a while. Given that micro-breweries are not permitted to operate in Chennai and that resto-pubs are still few and far between, good food and nice ambience has always been a draw for the Chennai diner.

So, it comes as no surprise that dinner for two at a borderline premium al fresco rooftop would end up with a bill of about Rs 4,000 to Rs 4,500, while a smaller standalone establishment sees average dinner bills of about Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000. “Weekend business easily exceeds Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh, especially given that weekends drive a lot of the business,” says a manager at a well-known standalone al fresco establishment in the city.

With brief winter months approaching, there’s every indication that al fresco could become even more of a go-to as far as experience-driven dining goes, with several restaurants expected to launch special and festive menus and capitalize on the craze.

Also Read: The influence of pop culture on the evolving food and dessert scene in Mumbai

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

COVID-19: As food lovers return to old haunts, ‘revenge dining’ eases hospitality sector worries

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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As restrictions on travelling and dining out are lifted in most parts of the country, the buzz is back everywhere, from mountains to malls. The traveller has returned with a vengeance. Gluttony isn’t a sin anymore. It’s revenge time.

Indians are intent on compensating for the months spent at home during COVID-19 lockdowns. From driving to the hills, soaking up the sun in Goa to trip stacking i.e. booking multiple vacations for the same time period to cover for unexpected cancellations, or shopping and thronging restaurants and pubs, they are at it.

According to a report by Dineout, one of India’s largest dining out and restaurant tech solutions platforms, restaurants in several cities are operating at twice the capacity they did compared to February 2021, before COVID-19 cases exploded in the country, forcing another round of long lockdowns.

Ankit Mehrotra, Dineout Co-founder and CEO, said, “Most food lovers across the country have been sitting on the fence for over a year and a half about going back to their favourite restaurants in town. It’s understandable why millions are now thronging to their favourite eating joints as the COVID-19 health advisory is lifted, and that they can finally step out, and into their favourite restaurants and not be forced to have their meals on their couch.”

Maximum recovery

The cities that have shown the strongest recoveries include Delhi and Kolkata, where restaurants are seeing 2x business compared to earlier in the year.

While metros are leading the pack, tier 2 and tier 3 cities like Jaipur, Ludhiana and Agra have also shown a remarkable recovery in the food business. The restaurants in the three cities are operating at 2.5x compared to earlier in the year. Smaller cities are often showing higher growth than some metros as well.

Higher order values

People aren’t thinking twice about spending on food now. The average order value at restaurants (ATV) has increased by over 20 percent across India, compared to February. Smaller cities like Agra, Ludhiana and Indore are leading over the metros with ATV growth of 24 percent, 35 percent, and 29 percent, respectively.

Smaller cities like Agra and Ludhiana have posted the largest ATVs across various cities, with average orders of Rs 2,509 and Rs 2,766, respectively. The increase in spending is thought to be a result of the growing popularity and growth of luxury and fine dining locations in smaller cities. While larger metros have traditionally been associated with fine and luxury dining, the higher disposable incomes among many of the salaried professionals working from home have catalysed higher spends on more expensive food.

Lunchtime rush

Among other side-effects of the pandemic, perhaps one surprising outcome is the shift in the dining out timings. While eating out was traditionally a dinner time activity in India, restrictions have meant early closing of restaurants and shopping centres. As a result, more individuals are eating out for lunch.

Hyderabad and Chennai-based restaurants saw the maximum business during lunchtime, while cities like Bangalore, Mumbai and Lucknow saw a growth in lunchtime bookings compared to February.

The hospitality industry was one of the worst affected by the two lockdowns. With the enthusiasm for travelling and eating out returning as vaccination rates continue to rise, the boost in demand and growth is a welcome change.

Also read: COVID-19 vaccination picks pace in India; these states have outdone several nations

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Dineout launches takeaway services with over 5,000 restaurants in India

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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With the global pandemic altering lifestyle and eating out habits, dining out and restaurant tech solutions platform Dineout has launched contactless ‘Takeaway’ on their app.

This will enable users to pre-order food and choose for safe self-pick-up from their favourite restaurants. With an initial launch featuring more than 5,000 restaurants across Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Indore, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Nagpur and Vadodara, these services will be available in over 10,000 restaurants by September this year, the company said in a statement today.

The startup also claims that 80 percent of top delivery brands have signed up for contactless takeaway services from Dineout, creating a new revenue channel for restaurants and an opportunity to grow and sustain during this transition.

With this contactless takeaway services, food lovers get access to popular restaurants like Mamagoto, Farzi cafe, Cafe Delhi Heights, QLA, Havmor, The Deli, Byg Brewski Brewing Company, China Gate, Urban Tadka, Pop Tates, Empire Restaurant, among others.

Diners can also pick-up their food at specially created drive-thru windows or curbside at partner restaurants and malls for a safer contactless experience. These drive-thrus are available to experience at DLF shopping malls in NCR region.

To further ease availing of offers at restaurants, Dineout users can now enjoy instant discounts of up to 25 percent of the total bill on payments using Dineout Pay.

Premium restaurants at ITC Maurya, Roseate House, Le Meridien, Four Seasons Bangalore, Andaz Hotel, Intercontinental Chennai, JW Marriott, Holiday Inn Chennai & Leela Palace Bangalore & more are offering special 15 percent off on takeaways and home delivery exclusively to Gourmet Passport members, a premiere membership of Dineout.

Ankit Mehrotra, co-founder & CEO, Dineout, said, “In the last 4 months, we at Dineout have focused on increasing our offerings for both our diners and restaurant partners keeping their safety and growth at the centre of everything we do. We are urging our users to keep distance from people, but not with food!”

“With the introduction of contactless Takeaway services, our users can now enjoy food from their favourite restaurants in the safest way possible and also help our restaurant partners increase their offerings on the Dineout app to stay relevant in these challenging times. Our goal is to make Dineout the go-to app for all dining occasions.”

Ankit Chona, founder of Havmor, said, “With Dineout as our partner, we are working to improve the end to end customer experience with Takeaways because a lot of diners still are not very comfortable dining out. We are laying more focus towards food that travels well, that is value for money, fresh and delicious.”

Rahul Khanna, director, Azure Hospitality, said, “Takeaways are picking up but we do not think it is a permanent trend. Having said that, in a covid scenario, it’s a viable alternative. Through Takeaways on Dineout, we are finding means to engage with our guests providing them with ways to enjoy our food as the market evolves.”

Devesh Rawat, GM, Marriott Hotel Indore, said, “Takeaway has become a significant part of our F&B portfolio in times like this when dine-in services are completely shut. It is a new revenue stream that contributes 25 to 30% of our overall revenue and with Dineout partnership we expect it to go up further.”

Founded in 2012, Dineout claims to have processed more than 100 million diners and $900 million worth of transactions for its partner restaurants. With a network of 50,000 restaurants in 20 cities, the venture also claims to provide collective savings of more than $100 million on restaurant bills annually.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

How risky is dining out during the COVID-19 pandemic?

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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There is some risk, but health officials say there are precautions you can take to minimize the chances you’ll be exposed to the virus.

Ordering takeout or delivery is still the safest option for getting restaurant food, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you decide to eat at a restaurant, it’s best to opt for outdoor seating where tables are at least 6 feet apart, the agency says. Dining inside a restaurant that hasn’t reduced its capacity or safely distanced tables poses the most risk, it says.

The coronavirus spreads through droplets that are emitted when people talk, laugh, sing, cough or sneeze. Indoor spaces are more risky than outdoor spaces because it might be harder to keep people apart and there’s less ventilation, the CDC says.

Diners should assess what other safety steps the restaurant is taking.

For example, servers should be wearing masks and the restaurant should have a process to ensure people are not congregating too closely while waiting for a table, says Dr. Susan Casey Bleasdale, an infectious disease expert at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Digital or disposable menus and throwaway utensils are also preferable, according to the CDC. The agency says touchless payment options, like those available on your mobile device, are optimal. Otherwise, restaurants should have procedures for avoiding hand-to-hand contact with cash and credit cards.

If you are gathering at a restaurant with a group, Bleasdale suggests only dining with people you know, and checking if they have been feeling sick or experiencing any symptoms.

People more vulnerable to severe illness from the virus, such as the elderly, might want to avoid eating out at restaurants altogether.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

From shops to dining out, NYC reopening hits ‘biggest piece’

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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From Macy’s “Miracle on 34th Street” store to the World Trade Center’s office towers, New York City hits a key point Monday in trying to rebound from the nation’s deadliest coronavirus outbreak.

For the first time in three months, New Yorkers will be able to dine out, though only at outdoor tables. Shoppers can once again browse in the city’s destination stores. Shaggy heads can get haircuts. Cooped-up kids can finally climb playground monkey bars instead of apartment walls. Office workers can return to their desks, though many won’t yet.Larry Silverstein, for one, can’t wait.

The 89-year-old World Trade Center developer is going to work at his office there Monday, along with up to a third of Silverstein Properties’ staff. The firm is staggering schedules so employees can keep their distance and they’ll have to wear masks in the 7 World Trade Center lobby. Footprints mark where to stand in elevators now limited to about a quarter their usual capacity.

To Silverstein, returning to office life and in-person teamwork brings “a joy, a fulfillment, such a sense of being able to function.” He doesn’t buy into arguments that the pandemic doesn’t bode well for office work or New York City.

“I went through 9/11. I remember people telling me we were never going to be able to get people to come back to lower Manhattan,” said Silverstein, who leased the twin towers six weeks before the 2001 terror attacks destroyed them. “Never bet against New York, because New York always comes back, bigger and better than ever before.”

But some New Yorkers are apprehensive.

Alex Michaels may return soon to a retail job. He agrees it’s important to revive the economy, but he worries about potential coronavirus exposure from working with the public, even with new safety measures.

“Something’s got to give. I get that,” said Michaels, 30, but there could be “a high price to pay.”

Eve Gonzalez, a food industry worker whose job hasn’t yet resumed, feels it’s too soon to relax restrictions.

“I’m dying to go out, but people’s health is more important,” said Gonzalez, 27.

The virus has been blamed for over 22,000 New York City deaths. The death toll has been in single digits in recent days. Infections are down, but between 200 and 400 people have still been testing positive for the virus each day over the past two weeks, according to city data.

The city estimates 150,000 to 300,000 additional workers will return to their jobs Monday, two weeks after reopening began with construction, curbside-pickup retail, wholesaling and manufacturing.

Monday marks just the second of four reopening phases, but Mayor Bill de Blasio sees it as “the single biggest piece of our economy,” particularly for a restaurant industry he called “quintessential to New York City.”

After three months of struggling to get by on takeout and delivery, Melba Wilson is exuberant about introducing appropriately spaced sidewalk tables outside Melba’s, her Harlem restaurant.

“This is definitely the infusion that we so greatly needed. … It’s been very grim,” and not just financially, said Wilson, president of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, an industry group. “We talk about being physically distant, which is important, but being socially active is important, as well.”

Retailers also hope for a boost once customers can wander aisles and try on clothes, with new virus-safety measures.

At Macy’s famous flagship store, makeup testing is temporarily banned. Clothes left in fitting rooms won’t go back on the rack for 24 hours. Workers will undergo temperature checks. Mask-wearing shoppers will find plastic dividers at cash registers.

“We want both customers and colleagues to be comfortable and to feel that their safety and health is our top priority,” said division Vice President Kathy Hilt.

Saks Fifth Avenue plans to reopen Wednesday, with 100 new hand-sanitizer stations and escalator handrails newly outfitted with ultraviolet-light disinfection, among other changes.

Shuttered offices also can reopen Monday, with various new rules. But some of the city’s biggest corporate employers are sticking with largely remote work for now.

Only about 5 percetb of Citi’s 13,300 New York City employees are expected back at the bank’s offices on July 1. JPMorgan Chase hasn’t set a date yet for returning to its New York offices; Wells Fargo’s time frame is July 31 or later. Pharmaceutical company Pfizer is extending remote working at least until the as-yet-undetermined date for city’s next reopening phase.

With work-from-home arrangements now established and employees concerned about offices, public-transit commutes and child care, many white-collar companies are “moving with caution and safety,” says Bhushan Sethi, a PwC partner specializing in workplace strategies. The consulting and accounting firm plans to reopen its own New York offices in September.

As New York reopens, retail worker William Rodgers is figuring out his next steps.

The last three months have not been easy, but “a lot of us have gotten time to reflect on our own lives,” said Rodgers, 29. “That’s one blessing.”

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Uber-Ipsos report: Click and eat economy surpasses dining out

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The millennial generation gives emphasis on convenience. In a report titled “Food Moods of India”, Uber Eats in partnership with Ipsos, has found out that as many as 48 percent Indians like/prefer to dine-in, surpassing the 34 percent that prefers dining out.

A further breakdown of this data reveals that ordering in via delivery (48%) is almost equivalent to dine-out (34%) and take-away (18%) put together.

The report claims that the top reasons why people order include convenience (28%), to break the monotony (28%), celebrate a special occasion (16%) and catch up with friends/family/colleagues (10%).

The report also shows that comfort is paramount in the ever-expanding click-and-eat economy as out-of-home food is more a function of convenience than a means of celebration.

According to the report, 51 percent of the food ordered in are combo meals with 35 percent of the time consumers eating straight from the box.

Another interesting confirmation coming out of the report is that human beings are creatures of habit. Despite consuming out-of-home food often, restaurant experimentation is limited. 82 percent of consumers stick to a maximum of 5 restaurants in their repertoire.

A sizeable chunk of the food order-in population does it because it gives them some “me time”. 19 percent of respondents have said that they order food delivery to give themselves a chance to unwind.

Amongst women who order-in, 38 percent of home delivery food orders are made to enjoy simply a different taste or cheer them up.

Coming to cuisine preferences, north Indian food and biryani score big among adults. Chinese and pizza are favourites among children.

With the economy facing a slowdown, the report also says that ordering in is more economical. As many as 43 percent of the respondents say ordering food is a more economical choice than hiring a cook which can be both expensive and tedious.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow