Affordable Gourmet

A website dedicated to fine dining deals across Mumbai adds to the excitement of eating out.

The luxury of walking into a restaurant for a meal that's not on the menu — prepared keeping the guests' taste and preference in mind — isn't something diners in Mumbai are used to. A new website called 'Gourmet It Up' has tied up with popular fine dining restaurants in Mumbai to change that, and offer "exclusive experiences" with course meals, master classes and cocktail workshops.

One can now book a three-course meal at The Table, Colaba, and have chef Alex Sanchez prepare dishes that don't feature on the menu. Those confused about which cocktails to pair with their meal can sign up for a special dinner at Lower Parel's Café Zoe. Bonobo has signed up to teach patrons the art of bartending, and pairing the right drinks with their food. "We have a few restaurants opening across the city, but the demand is still higher than supply," said Kunal Jain, a digital media professional, who started the website with his wife and partner Deepa.

The website is simple and easy to navigate. All the deals available are put up on one page with extensive details, special menus, terms and conditions. After selecting a deal, the visitor needs to call the website's concierge service to make a booking.

Gourmet It Up currently has 50 restaurants on board — though not all of them offer deals and discounts on a regular basis — and around 30 are still in the pipeline. These experiences can cost Rs 2,300 per person for The Table's three-course meal and Rs 1,300 per couple for a six-course set meal at Busaba. The Jains, however, believe they offer value considering the experience on offer.

While established restaurants like Busaba use this service to add to the experiences — brunches, regular night parties — that they already offer, new entrants such as Bandra's Poco Loco hope to reach the right target audience. "The clientele that has already signed on to the website are not just chasing deals. They are looking for good dining options," says Sonal Bhandarkar, owner of Poco Loco, which offers a three-course set meal with a glass of Sangria for Rs 958.

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