Hotel Café Royal Unveils Barbounia: A Culinary Marvel in the Heart of London

Hotel Café Royal Unveils Barbounia: A Culinary Marvel in the Heart of London

By Author

Published on February 1, 2024

Hotel Café Royal proudly introduces its newest dining jewel, Barbounia, situated in the heart of London's Regent Street. Overlooking the mesmerizing 700-pound Murano glass chandelier and reception designed by Piero Lissoni, Barbounia brings an authentic blend of Italian and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine to the luxury hotel.

Crafted by Chef Alessandro Verdenelli, the menu seamlessly combines traditional cooking techniques with a modern touch, emphasizing top-tier ingredients locally and seasonally sourced. Barbounia, translating to red mullet in Greek, presents a comprehensive all-day dining menu with classic Mediterranean flavors, featuring fresh seafood, meat dishes, handmade pasta, and delightful pizzettas. Whether for a casual dinner with loved ones or a formal business lunch, guests can choose from an array of small plates, sharing platters, main dishes, salads, sides, and desserts.

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The appetizers and small plates include the Raw Counter, offering the Royal Platter for two, oysters, beef carpaccio, caviar, red tuna tartare with avocado and rocket, grilled octopus, and black truffle arancini with Parmesan cream. Main courses feature artisanal pasta creations like Lobster Tortelli with cherry tomatoes, bisque, and micro parsley, as well as Veal Milanese and fresh fish options such as Red Mullet with lemon and Provençal sauce.

Barbounia introduces its unique twist on the traditional ‘Aperitivo Hour’ with the ‘House Selection’—a shared platter of oysters, red prawns, langoustines with olives, Parmigiano, and truffle arancini, accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine or wine for £40 per person. This special offering is available from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Additionally, in line with the hotel’s family-friendly ethos, children under 12 years old are invited to dine on a complimentary basis.

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Barbounia is a delightful addition to the diverse culinary offerings at Hotel Café Royal, joining the likes of the two-Michelin starred restaurant Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal, Cakes & Bubbles by Albert Adrià, the renowned Afternoon Tea at The Grill Room, and the Green Bar with its recently introduced menu centered around absinthe. Experience culinary excellence in the heart of London with Barbounia at Hotel Café Royal.


Encalm Launches Encalm Eats, Debuts IndiSip Café at Delhi Airport

Encalm Launches Encalm Eats, Debuts IndiSip Café at Delhi Airport

By Hariharan U

Published on June 25, 2026

Encalm has announced the launch of Encalm Eats, a dedicated food and beverage vertical that marks the company's entry into the creation and management of hospitality-led dining concepts. The new venture aims to develop distinctive culinary brands while expanding Encalm's integrated hospitality ecosystem across airports and other high-footfall destinations.

As its first in-house brand concept, Encalm Eats has introduced IndiSip Café at Delhi Airport. Designed around the idea of bringing India's flavours to travellers one sip at a time, the café celebrates the country's rich beverage heritage while offering a contemporary café experience.

The launch represents a natural extension of Encalm's hospitality portfolio, which already spans airport lounges, meet-and-assist services, wellness offerings, and in-flight catering. Through Encalm Eats, the company plans to build a portfolio of original food and beverage concepts alongside select partner brands, focusing on authentic flavours, operational excellence, and evolving consumer preferences.

At IndiSip Café, guests can choose from a wide selection of beverages inspired by India's tea culture, including Ginger Cardamom Chai, Kesar Chai, Gulab Chai, and Kashmiri Kahwa. The menu also features handcrafted coffees, iced lattes, espressos, and indulgent shakes designed to cater to both traditional and modern tastes.

Complementing the beverage selection is a food menu that blends regional favourites with café classics. Offerings include Masala Samosa, Khopara Patties, Irani Bun Maska, Achari Paneer Tikka Wraps, and Achari Chicken Tikka Wraps, alongside croissants, muffins, cookies, and other grab-and-go options suited to today's travellers.

Commenting on the launch, Vikas Sharma, Group Chief Executive Officer, Encalm, said the introduction of Encalm Eats marks the next phase of the company's vision to create a comprehensive hospitality ecosystem. He noted that food and beverage experiences remain one of hospitality's most important touchpoints and that IndiSip reflects the company's commitment to enhancing every stage of the guest journey.

Deepak Bhatia, Business Head, Encalm Eats, added that the company intends to build a portfolio of concepts rooted in authentic flavours, consumer insight, and consistent quality. He described IndiSip as the first step in a larger strategy to create memorable dining experiences through thoughtfully designed food and beverage brands.

The launch of IndiSip Café signals the beginning of Encalm Eats' broader expansion plans, with the company aiming to introduce innovative dining concepts across multiple formats and locations. As consumer expectations continue to evolve, Encalm Eats plans to focus on creating culinary experiences that combine authenticity, convenience, and quality.


Chef Avinash Martins Brings Janot to Bengaluru with a Menu Inspired by Stories and Ingredients

Chef Avinash Martins Brings Janot to Bengaluru with a Menu Inspired by Stories and Ingredients

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 25, 2026

Chef Avinash Martins has brought his acclaimed restaurant Janot to Bengaluru, marking a new chapter for the brand that first gained popularity in Goa. Located at 1 MG-Lido Mall, the restaurant combines thoughtful food, warm hospitality and a menu inspired by stories, ingredients and travel experiences.

Spread across 5,500 sq. ft. with seating for 70 guests, Janot has been designed as a neighbourhood restaurant where diners can enjoy leisurely meals, creative cocktails and meaningful conversations in a relaxed setting.

Rather than focusing on a single cuisine, Janot follows an ingredient-first philosophy. Each dish begins with an ingredient, flavour or memory that inspires Chef Avinash, whether discovered during his travels, rooted in regional traditions or connected to personal experiences. This approach creates a menu that feels both contemporary and familiar while remaining approachable.

Sharing the vision behind the restaurant, Chef Avinash Martins said, "Some of the best dishes come from simple ideas. A meal you remember from a small town, an ingredient you discover while travelling, or a recipe that's been passed down through generations. Janot is a collection of those experiences. We wanted to create food that people connect with, not just admire."

The restaurant takes its name from a Portuguese expression often used affectionately by Chef Avinash's grandmother. That sense of warmth and nostalgia is reflected throughout both the dining experience and the hospitality.

The Bengaluru menu showcases a range of dishes inspired by Chef Avinash's culinary journey. Signature offerings include Udaipuri Laal Maas Galouti served with khooba roti, Gallina Cafreal featuring pulled chicken cafreal on a potato rosti with quail egg, and Military Lamb with herb-crusted lamb chops paired with donne pulao and sherva gravy.

Seafood dishes such as Patte Wali Macchi, a banana leaf-wrapped seabass served with fish stew and turmeric curry leaf cauda, and Odiya Crab Kassa with kasundi hollandaise and caviar beignets add further variety to the menu.

For vegetarian diners, dishes like Udaipuri Kathal Galouti, Makhan Phal Kofte and Rumani Baingan Chokha highlight familiar ingredients and regional flavours through a modern presentation while staying true to the restaurant's ingredient-led philosophy.

The beverage programme complements the food menu with cocktails inspired by regional ingredients, seasonal produce and Indian drinking traditions. Signature creations include Patoi, inspired by Goa's traditional patoleo dessert, Marmalade, Kokum & Curry Leaf G&T and Feni Colada, offering guests a distinctive and flavourful drinking experience.

Janot also caters to a wide range of dietary preferences with dedicated vegetarian, Jain, vegan and gluten-free options, ensuring an inclusive dining experience for all guests.

Speaking about bringing the concept to Bengaluru, Thejus Shivarama, Partner, Janot Bengaluru, said, "Chef Avinash has a very honest way of looking at food. Every dish has a reason to exist and every ingredient has a purpose. That's what drew me to Janot. Bengaluru's dining scene has evolved tremendously over the last few years. People are well travelled, curious and open to trying new things, but they also value sincerity. We felt Janot would resonate because it's not trying to be anything other than itself."

With its arrival in Bengaluru, Janot introduces a dining experience that combines comfort, creativity and storytelling, offering guests food that celebrates ingredients while staying rooted in genuine hospitality.


Fountain Sizzlers Brings Its Iconic Sizzling Experience to Borivali

Fountain Sizzlers Brings Its Iconic Sizzling Experience to Borivali

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 25, 2026

One of Mumbai's most loved dining brands, Fountain Sizzlers, has expanded its presence with the launch of a new outlet at Sky City Mall in Borivali, bringing a piece of the city's culinary history to the western suburbs.

Long before food delivery apps and social media-driven dining trends, Fountain Sizzlers built its reputation around the unmistakable experience of a sizzling cast-iron platter arriving at the table. Since opening its first restaurant in Fort over three decades ago, the brand has become a familiar part of countless celebrations, family outings, birthday dinners and weekend meals for generations of Mumbaikars.

The new Borivali outlet marks more than just another restaurant opening. It represents the arrival of a brand that helped shape Mumbai's dining culture and introduced many diners to the theatre of restaurant dining through its signature sizzling platters.

Many of the restaurant's most popular dishes continue to remain favourites among loyal customers. Signature offerings such as the Sizzling Chicken Pepper Garlic Sauce, Cottage Cheese Shashlik, Golden Patty Cottage Cheese Sizzler and the iconic Sizzling Brownie continue to attract diners who have grown up with the brand. These classics are now joined by an extensive menu featuring grills, BBQ favourites, premium proteins, vegetarian specialties and hearty platters.

Located within Oberoi Realty's Sky City Mall, the new outlet has been designed as a dedicated Sizzler House, celebrating the format that made Fountain Sizzlers a household name across Mumbai.

Speaking about the brand's enduring appeal, Ayush Arora, Founder of Fountain Sizzlers, said, “Fountain Sizzlers has evolved into what we like to call India's own BBQ and grill house. Sizzlers is its own cuisine in itself satisfying not only the meat eating non vegetarians but also perfectly filling the lack of options vegetarians specifically have in terms of their continental cravings, with our wide variety in vegetarian sizzlers.

The sizzler's enduring popularity comes from a simple truth: Indians love food that is ‘Garam Garam’ (piping hot) and ‘Pavlovian’ (food that makes your mouth water). That connection has made sizzlers not just a dish, but a lasting part of our dining culture."

The interiors of the Borivali restaurant have been designed by Sarah Sham of Essajees Atelier. Drawing inspiration from the original Flora Fountain outlet and the city itself, the space showcases curated artwork that reflects Mumbai's journey from old Bombay to modern-day Mumbai while paying tribute to Goddess Flora, whose legacy remains closely linked to the neighbourhood where the brand first began.

Over the years, Fountain Sizzlers has welcomed everyone from office-goers and professionals to families and groups of friends. Its ability to remain relevant across generations while staying true to its core dining experience has helped the brand maintain a loyal following.

With its arrival in Borivali, Fountain Sizzlers is bringing its signature combination of nostalgia, flavour and restaurant theatre to a new audience, proving that some dining experiences never go out of style.

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