Where to eat... this August

There’s always a brand-new bar, a hot new chef, a splashy new dining spot, a pop-up to reserve, a sauce to taste, or, even at your usual place, an exciting new menu to try. Check Please, our monthly rundown of food news, is just the kind of edit for those who may not eat out every night but love to be in the know.

Have you, like us, noticed that everything’s trending all at once? There is more Japanese, more Thai, more bar pop-ups, more collabs, more mind-bending cocktails, more gelato, more playful and posh vegetarian, and on the horizon, the flickers of a festive season. We’re not complaining, not at all, because it’s just means there’s plenty to be excited about.

We’ve sifted through hundreds of emails and eaten at dozens of places just so we can tell you that there is a croissant gelato in Mumbai, a meal from undivided Punjab in Bengaluru, black hummus and thecha duck gyoza in Delhi, and mahua chicken in Rishikesh. If you’re nearabouts any of these places in August, bring your appetite. 

OPENINGS

Banng, Mumbai

From Bangkok to Bandra via Gurugram—Banng is finally in Mumbai, across two sprawling, very fun, very red levels. Restaurateur Riyaaz Amlani and chef Garima Arora’s lively Thai bar and restaurant bring Siam’s flavours to 15th Road in the Mumbai suburb. As in Delhi-NCR, tiny ceramic elephants arrive on almost every table here as well; Banng’s tom kha pani puri is the most mischievous take on the fragrant coconutty soup yet. Other irreverent spins: avocado som tum, Banng’ing Thai omelet, lod chong bingsu, mala noodle hot pot, and the aromatic white curry (gaeng khao) with grilled tomatoes. Veggie lovers are telling us that the Morning Glory is unmissable, and everyone’s raving about the mango sticky rice.

Downstairs, a vibrant, lively grand bar is on the front burner, with cocktails by Attapon de-Silva (from Teens of Thailand, listed on Asia’s 50 Best Bars). His beverage programme is divided by mood: Fresh & Fizzy, Moody & Boozy, and Umami & Yummy. The White Lotus Martini has white turmeric and garlic brine; Yellow has rum, curry, and ginger flower nectar; The Andaman, referred to as the “sea in a glass”, is built with squid-infused vodka and guava. Also here, a range of bar bites, from Pattaya nachos and crab cakes to late-night Banng Cup Noodles and a street-style Ping Bar with skewers. More from us soon.

Gourmet Village, Mumbai

Nope, don’t call it a food court. With 1.2 lakh sqft of dining, and 25-plus restaurant brands, old and new, across two dedicated floors, Gourmet Village in Phoenix Palladium feels more like a whole mall dedicated to eating out. There are icons like Cream Centre and Fountain Sizzlers, more contemporary classics like Burma Burma and Foo, Delhi import Andrea’s Brasserie, which finally makes its way to Mumbai, and new nostalgic transport-themed diner Silver Train. Game Palacio, the nationwide gaming arcade brand, gets a luxe upgrade here that includes a cigar room and proper dining with dishes like Crabstick & Caviar and Palacio Caesar, accompanied by cocktails like the smoky Maracuya La Picante. Even Le Pain Quotidien’s here for a revival. Plenty of potted plants, wood, cane and natural textures make it look a bit forest-y, in the way parts of Changi Airport can feel like the outside has been brought inside.

Call Me Chunky, Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru

The creators of Call Me Chunky wanted to make ice cream “crackle, crunch, and charm”, and to that end they have added fun pops of texture and flavour through berries, popcorn, cheesecake, chocolate chunks, and marshmallows to their creamy, frozen treat. Of the six CMC flavours available on leading online food delivery platforms, and at supermarkets like Nature’s Basket and Foodsquare, we’re favouriting Fudgy Rocky Road (chocolate chips, crispy almonds, fluffy marshmallows), and Pop-Pop Caramel (chocolate-coated almonds, caramel, popcorn).

Gordon Ramsey Street Burger, Delhi

The chef who was once a pot-washer in an Indian restaurant where his sister was the waitress has opened his first Indian restaurant with his burger franchise at Delhi International Airport’s Terminal 1. Like most videshi burger brands, Gordon Ramsey Street Burger India has been made desi. A butternut bhaji burger and a tandoori paneer burger bolster Gordon’s Fried Chicken. There are also Hotter Than Hell Fries, sticky toffee pudding, milkshakes and cocktails, and, for a wee bit of balance, salads.

Uppu, Mumbai

There are a few good reasons to visit the ONGC lane behind Bandra’s Lilavati Hospital when we’re hungry. The latest is a south Indian spot by the Saltt Karjat team. Uppu means ‘salt’ in several South Indian languages, and indeed it serves medu wada, pongal, a variety of dosa and idli. But also here are fried jeegujje (breadfruit), manathakkali vathal kulambu (a tangy, spicy curry with black nightshade berries), and moong dal payasam. Consultant chef Naveen has worked at The Konkan Cafe, and that’s saying something. Also, last we checked, no benne.

Oor, Mumbai

And south of the Sea Link, in SoBo proper, even more idli, dosa, and vada. Oor (which means ‘village’ or ‘settlement’ in many parts of the Deccan) is in the 135-year-old neo-colonial Kitab Mahal, right by Ekaa, flanked by Blue Tokai and Hurrems on either side, in a wide, leafy lane in Fort surrounded by architecture worth looking up for. Here, on the homestyle menu, is Chennamma’s Benne Dosa and so much more—pineapple rasam, mosaru (south Indian dahi vada), chitranna and bile baathh, and walnut sheera on beaten steel plates lined with banana leaves.

The Colaba Canteen, Chandigarh

We’ve been hearing a lot lately about Colaba Canteen, a few-months-old sliver of Mumbai in Chandigarh’s Sector 9C. Here, 1930s Art Deco Bombay meets British colonial style meets Fort’s Parsi and Irani cafes via a gramophone, tasselled lampshades, old-school glass bottles bearing roses and baby’s breath, sepia-toned black and white framed photos, a grandfather’s clock, and a menu that puts this mood on a plate. There’s berry pulao and raspberry soda alongside Mohd Ali Road- and Bhendi Bazaar-style kebabs, vada pav, bel puri, and tawa pulao from the streets, a tiffin-dabba-inspired dhansak and kofta, and, in a proper throwback we’ve not encountered in a while, Bournvita in hot milk.

Harajuku, Mumbai

Kaitenzushi, but make it trippy. After five outlets in Delhi-NCR, Harajuku Cafe & Bar and Bakehouse has made its way to Jio World Drive in Mumbai. We love that on weekdays there is an all-you-can-eat lunch on the sushi conveyor belt, among other delights. Among the manga murals and neon lights, there are cocktails with kimchi, a goma salad that’s so fun it makes you forget that it’s healthy, wobbly pancakes, and baos that are loaded with texture and flavour. 

The Mezz by Muro, Bengaluru

Also called Muro Mezz, the cocktail-led floor above Muro Café has launched a new menu called Musings 2.0 featuring fun little Thai- and Cantonese-inspired bar bites paired with cocktails. There is mango sticky rice in boozy form, tequila infused with Doritos and salsa, a Blue Lagoon with nori, wakame, cherry blossom and blue spirulina, and highballs such as coffee pandan rum, and melon cream soda. To match these are small bites designed for drinky nights, like a single charcoal-grilled duck meatball, corn curd cubes, and a curry puff.

Scarlett House, Mumbai

Built around coffee, comestibles, and cocktails, and co-founded by Malaika Arora, her son Arhaan Khan, restaurateur Dhaval Udeshi, and Malaya Nagpal, Scarlett House’s second location is due to open this week in Bollywood’s OG suburb, Juhu. They’re also launching India’s first ‘hydration bar’, offering beverages made with botanicals and herbs that don’t involve hangovers. 

Kalpaney, Bengaluru

Vegetarian restaurants these days are exciting enough to draw even avowed carnivores. Bengaluru’s latest is a spot called Kalpaney, which aims to bring storytelling, technique, culture, community, and craft together through global flavours like a feta-inflected dahi bhalla, and a dal dhokli that gives the dough the tagliatelle treatment. The space in JP Nagar feels like a converted old family home filled with kalamkari, wooden textures, and swirling monochrome patterns on the floor. The zero-proof beverage menu has a drink that’s a take on the traditional Mohobbat ka Sharbat, and a smoky, spicy, shikanji spun with imli and khajur. 

Nova Artisan Gelato, Mumbai

More gelato in Bandra! Really? Yep indeed. This brand-new outlet of Nova Gelato has a flavour just for the neighbourhood—toasted croissant gelato. Other Bandra limited drops: bonbon affogato, matcha white chocolate gelato, and a scorched sundae. In this cosy coral and brushed-steel 200 sqft room with floating pipes and a “melting column” are 14 flavours like apple pie and brownie straciatella, all in small batches made fresh, as well as coffee by Nandan and savouries by Pastel. 

INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECIALS 

Independence Day Daawat at The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai

Every Independence Day for the last 10 years, The Bombay Canteen has been serving a community-style regional Indian feast on a banana leaf for a good cause. This year they’re working to “Make Bombay Green Again”, in partnership with NatureRe. On the frond this year is smoked chausa dal from Uttarakhand, black vatana misal from Maharashtra, kheema ghotala from Andhra Pradesh, purple cabbage pachadi from Karnataka (with a fun green apple and a bora chilli tempering), methi mathri from Madhya Pradesh, khasta kachori from Gujarat, patod ki chaat from Rajasthan, bael sharbat from Bihar, and more. First come, first served, and diners can pay as they like. 

Laapi Chokha and more at The Westin Resort & Spa Himalayas, Rishikesh

We want to go to the mountains for this one. On August 15, at The Westin in the Himalayas, a special menu will celebrate the forgotten foods and recipes of Mewar and Marwar in Rajasthan. Chef Sangeeta Dhar, who has studied the recipes of Rajasthan for 15 years, and chef Vimal Dhar, founder president of the Royal Rajasthan Chefs Society, have put together a menu with dishes like panchkoota, mahua chicken, palak bhujia, and dudhiya makai ka jhajhariya. On August 16, the menu moves to Punjab, Awadh, and the Himalayan foothills, with sangri lilwe ki shami, lemongrass masoor shorba, chicken bootha, and dhungaar kaachar bater.

Chef Tikka Singh returns to Shangri-La, Bengaluru

Why only celebrate Independence Day when you can celebrate Independence Week? Especially when it features big, hearty, soul-satisfying food from undivided Punjab in the heart of Bengaluru. Chef Tikka Manpreet Singh is bringing to the city dishes from Majha, Malwa, and Daoba. We’re slavering over Amritsari wadi stuffed aloo tikki, Lawrence Road de mutton tikka, Karachi walla dal meat, chulley walla taridar murgh, harra moog te palak bathua da saag, khajoor walli kalakand, and gound kateera flooda kulfi. 

Malabar Thali pop-up at Dakshin Canteen, Delhi

The Amar Colony spot known for its menu of seasonal and nostalgic cooking from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Mangalore is pairing up with RED FM’s South Side Story for a Malabar Thali pop-up to celebrate India’s 78th year of Independence. In the veg meal are dishes like mushroom pepper fry, Angamaly manga curry, parippuvada, ulli theeyal, beans thoran, mathanga erissery, and mor curry. The meatier version has thenga neymeen fry (seer fish fried in coconut masala) and varutharacha chicken curry. Everyone gets pink paal payasam and pazham halwa, pineapple rasam, pappadam thoran, and mango pickle.

POP-UPS, LIMITED MENUS, and EVENTS 

Ladurée French Toast Festival, Kolkata, Gurgaon, Mumbai, Delhi and Pune

For a few weeks now, French pastry brand Ladurée has been celebrating custard-soaked, shallow-fried brioche with a French Toast Festival. The blueberry has fresh blueberries, blueberry jam, whipped heavy cream, pecan nuts, and maple syrup; crème brûlée has vanilla custard cream and caramelised sugar. Tiramisu’s coffee-infused brioche is layered with mascarpone cream, coffee sauce, and a dusting of cocoa. Dessert, meet breakfast. Just don’t tell The Glucose Goddess.

New menu at Addoni’s, Delhi

Chefs Megha Kohli, Noah Barnes, and Rithick Sanyal have gone on a little adventure with their latest menu at Addoni’s. The result is dishes like black hummus, thecha duck gyoza, and sol kadhi ceviche, and a Kerala Don that is “donburi, but make it coastal”. 

The Curry Shop at Nara Thai, Mumbai

Until August 31, Nara Thai, inspired by the gaeng shops of Bangkok, brings a curry-centred menu to brighten up the dull season with spice and heat. Each bowl starts with a curry paste built with simmered broth and layered with aromatics. A taste of what to expect: tom yum seafood curry bowl (fiery and filled with crab meat, prawns, and fish balls), massaman pulled lamb (braised lamb in a rich, fragrant curry jus, served with Thai roti), spicy mock meat curry bowl (yellow bean paste, shiitake stems, chilli, served with Thai roti), and northern Thailand Chiang Mai garden curry bowl (lotus stem, yam bean, and chilli oil in a sweet-spicy broth). For an even more potent take on curry, The Thai Green Curry Cocktail is a creamy rum-based drink with green curry reduction and fresh chilli, while The Tom Yum Twist has vodka, kaffir lime, and house-made tom yum broth. 

Chef Manish Mehrotra & Chef Raymond Wong at Hakkasan, Mumbai

Earlier this month, chef Manish Mehrotra went back to the cuisine with which he started his career—south-east Asian food. He teamed up with chef Raymond Wong of Hakkasan to create a tasting menu for a short pop-up. To prevent FOMO, four of the dishes from their collab will continue on Hakkasan’s menu until the end of August. If dishes like emerald spiced wontons with wild mushrooms and green chilli, or shrimp mousse with eggplant and spicy mustard are calling your name, head over. 

Dej Kewkacha does Masque’s festive boxes

Last year, celebrated Bangkok-based Thai patissier Dej Kewkacha satisfied our sweet cravings and won us over with his palm-sized dessert. This year, Kewkacha, now also the winner of Asia's Best Pastry Chef Award 2025,  collaborates with the multi-award-winning restaurant again to create Masque’s festive collection is called Rangoli. In colourful boxes inspired by the traditional Indian art form you will find mithais in flavours such as tamarind chilli, raspberry rose, passionfruit dark chocolate, and more. 

Bombay Daak Anniversary

To celebrate its first birthday, chef Niyati Rao and restaurateur Sagar Neve’s daaru-chakna-themed bar will throw a ’90s-themed birthday party all through this month. On the cards are some major bar pop-ups: Drinking & Healing from Vietnam shows up on August 16, Conversation Room from Kolkata will be there on the 22nd, and Muro from Bengaluru comes around on the 30th. Do as we do and order the Spam and the Hot Gram while you are there. 

Look out for our Onasadya recommendations here next week!

Watch this space for more food updates in August.