New restaurants opening in Mumbai

As part of its ‘Unlock 5.0’ the state government of Maharashtra permitted restaurants, cafes, and bars to start-up in the first week of October 2020. This was timed for establishments to make the most of the Diwali holidays. The first two months following ‘Unlock 5.0’, most restaurant owners were simply trying to get their restaurants up and running. But by December, several new properties began opening up too.

Bastian and Woodside Inn opened their new outposts in Worli and Bandra respectively. As did Social which crossed the creek and went over into Thane for the first time. Business in Powai, which had seen some half a dozen launches in the second half of 2019 before the lockdown killed the buzz, is slowly picking up again with restaurants such as Foo and Sesami going so far as to throw open their doors to diners on the same weekend! The two were among these seven restaurants in Mumbai racing to launch just in time for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Even more, have been added to that list since.

Tori, Khar

The bright young thing that’s opened up at the same location where Sancho’s once stood is a big leg up on its predecessor. Helmed by Thomas Pongsak Catley, a former Nobu chef who’d never been to India till he was hired to launch it, Tori brings together the distinct flavors of Asian and Latin American cuisines. From tunas and sushis to beef burgers and hearty chicken dishes, Chef Tom manages to create a flavor that’s distinct but also familiar.