The last week of April saw food lovers across India rejoice, as the latest edition of Restaurant Week India (RWI) came back for its 13th round. RWI is a spin-off from the original Restaurant Week which started at New York City in 1992. Chef-turned entrepreneurs Magan Dalal and Nachiket Shetye bought it to Indian shores in 2005 when they launched the very first RWI at Mumbai.
The basic premise remains to make fine dining more approachable and accessible by offering a table d’hôte at a fraction of the prices you would pay otherwise. Now organized under the umbrella of Cellar Door Hospitality (which also runs Chefs Table Week and Dinefest) RWI is as bi-annual, 10-day gastronomic fest across more than a hundred restaurants in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. The three course prix-fixe menu is priced between Rs.750 to Rs.1350 per diner, depending on the timeslot and city.
What’s new?
There were some noticeable changes in this edition of Restaurant Week India with the most obvious one being the change in title sponsors from Citibank to Ola Prime. Perks included free OLA Prime rides (up to Rs. 150) to and from the restaurants.
The other big change was the shift to a pre-paid platform for booking the reservations. Now diners have to pay for the reservation, applicable taxes and fees in advance before the meal. The only thing that remains payable at the restaurant is the additional charge applicable while opting for the signature RWI dishes, Rs.100 onwards.
Insider Tips
After countless viands at hotel and standalone eateries across different cities, I have picked some pro tips to get the best out of this culinary celebration. Here are my insider tips which you should keep in mind to elevate your RWI experience.
1. Get the preview Invite
Three days before reservations go live for everyone, customers of the title sponsor are given a special code to book the meals. This ‘cheat’ code can make a world of difference as the popular tables are snapped up within hours! Whilst earlier invites were reserved for Citibank customers, it is a lot easier to get onboard with Ola. Sign up on their app and take a free ride to get your hands on that elusive preview invite.
2. Pro-rate payment for the number of diners
The default options for choosing the number of diners on the booking page comes in a minimum of two, leaving solo-diners wondering if they should just quietly eat a gluttonous meal for their inconspicuous companion (been there, done that). However, you can also claim a refund for the non-existed diner by emailing restaurantweek@cellardoor.in
3. Avoid busy hours for the best experience
Even the fanciest restaurants falter under the chaos of packed Sunday brunches; it makes sense to avoid busy hours such as weekend brunches or Friday night dinners to get the most perceptive and personalised service that the restaurant can offer.
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Written By
A self proclaimed food geek and coffee nerd, Amit Patnaik enjoys his time in the kitchen as much as he loves dining out. He runs the food blog Pursuit of Yummyness and contributes to The Hindu in Chennai.
