The new breed of restaurants focuses on interiors as much as on the menu, says Sonal Ved. Our photo essay documents the impressive insides of some Mumbai and Delhi favourites
Depot 29, Delhi
From their website to walls, everything about Depot 29 is visually stimulating. The five-month-old restaurant aims to bring together music, performing arts and food under one roof. This explains their acoustically-treated venue designed by Harshad Prabhakar Mehendale and helmed by interior designer Anica Kochhar. Divided into two floors, a quirky display of vintage cassettes will greet you as you walk inside. The restaurant lights up with wide glass windows that look out to lush green trees during day while brass lamps brighten the evening.
To eat: Classic waffles, coffee-marinated mutton chops
Me So Happi, Khar, Mumbai
When you get a former production professional to design a restaurant, the result ought to be dramatic. And it is. Me So Happi's interior is Rhea Naidu's debut venture. The restaurant aims to get your happiness hormones kicking with everything from their food to décor. Gray walls glide through the restaurant that has been peppered with lights made
of fish bowls, milk cans and bird cages. On one end stands the fire exit that has been morphed into an old telephone booth, a mock doll kitchen uses up another corner. The best feature is the art wall that gets artists every three months to paint a picture of what makes them happy.
To eat: Spicy shroomy burger, California smoothie
Sassy Spoon, Mumbai
From Nariman Point to Bandra, Sassy Spoon carries its core essence when it comes to interiors. Designed by Zita Goenka (co-owner Rachel's mother), the restaurant has breezy decor divided into an inside and an outside. Just like its first outlet, this one too has a trademark wall, but instead of trunks are vintage bread boxes filling up
an entire wall. It also has hand-painted spoons pasted on the walls and pop-colour upholstered chairs with chalky white tables in the dining room.
To eat: Pumpkin, goat cheese and kale tart, basil icecream
The Nutcracker, Mumbai
One look at the wall at The Nutcracker and you think you have entered Alice's wonderland. Topsy-turvy yellow stools hang upside down in one corner. The rest of the restaurant uses its small space wisely, packing it with slim tables and chairs. The walls are unfinished mill-like and are painted in factory silver. Though the restaurant has ample sunlight, the metal focus lights add an industry touch to the decor. Hats off to designer Tejal Mathurfor creating something chic out of 650 square feet. To eat: The fruit, root and nut salad, breakfast in a bottle
SodaBottleOpenerWala, Delhi
Giving Irani cafes a new dimension, SodaBottleOperWala is a tribute to the classic Parsi-speciality eatery. Designed in accordance by architect Clement and fashion and interior designer Sabina Singh , the restaurant has an old-world charm mixed with a new-age menu. Dome lights from Chor Bazaar, antique cameras, cuckoo clocks, slim wooden
chairs and tables fill the space of this mosaic-tiled restaurant. For effect, the restaurant also have a sign board that lists out things like 'no picking nose', 'no childish tantrums', 'no talking to cashier' plonked on the wall. We love it for its Bombay Irani café feel, complete with barni glasses filled with nankhathais.
To eat: Prawn patio, lagan nu custard
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