Is this the new dining trend in India?

We are seeing a rapid growth in curbside dining thanks to these restaurants

It is undeniable that the Covid crisis has had an impact on most of our lifestyles. The new normal is here to stay and we have no choice but to adapt. Something as simple as grabbing a meal with some friends has now become a cause of worry. The pandemic has hit the food-service industry hard, but like every other crisis, the human spirit has found a way to persevere. Restaurants have been quick to adapt to the changing requirements. Home deliveries and curbside dining have become the new norm. But is this really as new as it seems?

All of us have, at some point in our lives, parked our cars in a crummy little corner of a narrow alleyway to eat at a famous little food stall. We've all sat in the car (or on the bonnet) with the windows down and doors open, ordering platefuls of greasy Chinese food or buttery pav-bhajis.

Curbside dining started in 1921 in the United States when the first car-hop drive-in appeared. Today, it is popular in most parts of the world.

In Mumbai, eateries like Sukh Sagar, Bachelor's, and Bademiyan have pioneered the concept of curb-side dining long before it became the norm. For locals, a trip to Girgaum Chowpatty invariably means stopping by Bachelor's and having one of their signature rolls and strawberry cream. From celebrities to students, every Mumbaikar has stopped their cars to feast on succulent kebabs and baida roti from Bademiyan. In Delhi, places like "Rajinder da dhaba" in SDA, "Aapki ki khaatir" in Hauz Khas, and "Colonel Kababz" in the Defence colony have become the go-to places for curbside eating.

The last few months have made the restaurant industry realise the permanence of the "new normal". The popular table-booking platform, Dineout, launched takeaway services with more than 5000 leading restaurants including 5-star dining giants like ITC Maurya, JW Marriott, Four Seasons Bangalore, and more, across India. An early adopter of the curbside dining model due to Covid, Timbre in the outskirts of Bangalore uses a contactless dining product suite to let diners experience an open-air theatre.

Here are 5 restaurants that have introduced a curbside dining experience for their customers:

1) Masque Restaurant, Mumbai

The popular fine-dine restaurant in Lower Parel introduced what they call the "Masque Tailgate Party." Customers are welcome to drive in, order food and hang around their car, tailgating, or grab their takeaway and head out.

Contact: + 91 224973743132 | 98190 69222

Website: https://www.masquerestaurant.com/

2) Qualia, Mumbai

Another fine dining restaurant that hopped on to the curbside dining train was Qualia. They introduced the "Qualia Curbside Crusher" and set up an alfresco seating area to serve their guests.

Contact: 073045 86862

Website: https://thrivenow.in/qualia-lower-parel

3) La Macario Cafe, Kolkata

The popular airy cafe on Theatre Road in Kolkata opened its venue for guests to drive in and eat in the comfort of their cars a little over a week ago.

Contact: 7439093294

4) Misu, Banglore

Banglore's chic Pan-Asian restaurant has introduced what they call #ExperienceMisu, an outdoor dining option at a few locations in the city. Misu in Indiranagar and Prestige Trader tower has started curbside dining as an option.

5) The Vivaan Resort, Karnal Haryana

This luxury resort on the NH-1 has been providing the service and option of car-dine along with the live screening of IPL throughout this time period.

Contact: +91 98960 10000

Website: https://thevivaan.com/

While we wait for the restaurant industry to go back to what we knew it to be, curbside dining is not a bad alternative. Especially when eateries make outdoor dining look this good.

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