Vishal Singh vishal. singh@ mid- day. com While Mumbaiu2019s round- theclock party started from midnight of January 27u2014 allowing restaurants and bars in select areas to stay open 24x7u2014 a check by mid- day on the intervening night of January 31 and February 1 between 2.30 am and 4.30 am, showed that the new policy had found few takers. Restaurants hope that more awareness about the new hours translate into greater footfalls.
VERDICT: McD open at 3 am with customers VERDICT: Tepid, but partygoers find food VERDICT: Satisfied late night craving VERDICT: Empty, shuttered. pic/ BIPIN KOKATE On Saturday at 2.30 am, the midday team reached High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel, where few people were seen. At McDonaldu2019s, the number was higher at around 12 diners. At the eatery, Devans Mehta, 20, said: u201c It is good that the restaurant is open at night and food is being servedu201d. But, Farzi Cafe didnu2019t have customers. Staffer Pritesh Palav, 35, said itu2019s possible that not everyone was aware of the extended hours.
The mid- day team went to YOUnion restobar which had four diners, all students of Juhuu2019s Mithibai College.
Kush Aggarwal, 19, said, u201c We had a night out and, with the restaurant open at midnight, dropped here to get some food.u201d Chirag Chaudhary, 23, marketing head of YOUnion Restaurant, said, u201c It has been a few days since the 24x7 hours have been implemented and right now the crowd is less, but in the coming weeks, footfalls will increase. Not everyone is aware.u201d Most restaurants here were shut. While Starbucks was open, there were no customers.
The South Bombay Bar restaurant on the fourth floor of Atria Mall was open and had four diners grabbing a late- night meal.
Manish Devalan, 24, said, u201c If you get good and your favourite food late at night, then the joy is something else.u201d Mani Raj, 35, the manager of South Bombay Bar, said, u201c If thereu2019s publicity, customers will increase. We hope this will prove to be a good decision.u201d Another staffer, Chandan Kumar Jha, 26, said, u201c Earlier, work was done in one shift.
Now, because we need two shifts, the staff strength has been increased.u201d After this, the mid- day team reached Todi Mill and Mathuradas Mill Compound at 3.25 am. All the restaurants here had shuttered. Watchman Chandan Chavan, 39, said the restaurants closed at 1.30 am.
High Street Phoenix u2014 2.30am Kamla Mill Compound u2014 3 am Atria Mall u2014 3.45 am Todi Mill and Mathuradas Mill Compound u2014 3.25 am TODI MILLS MATHURADAS MILLS If thereu2019s publicity, customers will increase.
We hope this will prove to be a good decision Mani Raj
