Melbourne food lovers can now enjoy SAADI as a permanent dining destination at the former Sunda site. After twelve pop-ups and three years since relocating to Melbourne, the restaurant officially opened its doors on 4th September 2025.

SAADI’s menu draws inspiration from family recipes and seasonal ingredients. Starters include idli topped with Dutch spring carrots and crackers with pickled celeriac based on Saavni’s grandmother’s recipe. Mid-course dishes feature Kadhi Pakora, a yogurt-based sauce with vegetable fritters, and lamb kebab using Loddon Valley lamb brisket paired with bitter greens and fermented citrus dressing.

For mains, the restaurant serves BBQ fish with Pulikachal (simmered tamarind sauce) and a spiced curry leaf condiment, alongside thoughtfully paired sides. Desserts showcase SAADI’s take on traditional barfi, combining almond barfi with apple curd and buttermilk sorbet. An exclusive bar snack menu, changing regularly, complements the dining experience.

SAADI will serve dinner Wednesday to Saturday (5:30 pm – 10:00 pm) and lunch Friday and Saturday (12:00 pm – 2:00 pm). Wednesday and Thursday feature an set menu alongside an a la carte option. Friday and Saturday offer the set menu, while lunch is a set menu. The bar remains open for walk-ins throughout the week. 

About SAADI

SAADI was founded during the COVID lockdown as a way to cook and document cherished recipes. After relocating to Melbourne in 2022, the team hosted their first pop-up at Etta, gaining valuable insights and building brand awareness.

Now permanent, SAADI celebrates Indian heritage through traditional methods like fermentation, pickling, and open-fire cooking, combined with nearly 12 years of professional culinary expertise in Australia. The menu emphasizes seasonal produce, respecting the time and craft it takes to grow vegetables. Menus will evolve quarterly with the seasons.

Founders Saavni & Aditya emphasize work-life balance as a key principle, shaping a healthy and supportive team culture while bringing the rich flavours of their childhood to Melbourne diners.

For reservations and more details, visit: www.saadimelbourne.com

Pune has welcomed a new hotspot with the launch of The Third Place, a space that goes beyond being just a wine bar or café. Positioned as Pune’s first dedicated wine bar, it introduces a community-focused approach to unwinding, where soulful food, craft wines, and coffee come together with fashion, décor, and art.

What sets The Third Place apart is its pioneering status as India’s first full-fledged concept store, a destination where everything from food and wine to design and lifestyle finds a home under one roof. The idea draws inspiration from the Western model of “community spaces,” now reimagined for Indian audiences.

The brainchild of Kunal Mhaske, Managing Director of Grandeur Hotels Pvt. Ltd. and founder of The Third Place, the venue is designed to be more than just another café or bar. With over 14 years of experience in hospitality, Mhaske envisions the property as a platform to bring people together, share experiences, and build meaningful connections.

“Our aim with The Third Place is not just to serve great food and wine, but to create a space where people can meet, exchange ideas, and form a community,” Mhaske shared.

With pizza, coffee, wine, art, and lifestyle all in one, The Third Place is set to redefine how Pune experiences dining and leisure — offering both locals and visitors a refreshing new way to connect

OZEN LIFE MAADHOO has raised the bar for luxury dining in the Maldives with the launch of its new barefoot bistro at Hudhu Bay. The open-air concept blends fine dining with a relaxed, toes-in-the-sand setting, inviting guests on a global culinary journey inspired by Sri Lankan mud crab.

Anupam Banjeree, Vice President of Food & Beverage, explained, “Located in a prime beach setting, we wanted everything about HUDHU BAY to reflect sustainability, from the design to the dishes. The idea was to bring fine dining to the beach, where guests could enjoy exquisite meals barefoot, surrounded by nature.”

The dining experience begins with tropical cocktails crafted by in-house mixologists and crab-inspired amuse-bouche, before guests are seated to explore an extensive mud crab menu. Dishes spotlight flavours from around the world, from À la Provençale Crab with its herb-infused French flair, to Hong Kong Butter Garlic Crab showcasing wok-hei Cantonese cooking.

Other highlights include the iconic Singaporean Chilli Crab, balancing sweet, spicy, and savoury notes, and the fiery Jaffna Spiced Crab, a tribute to Sri Lanka’s Tamil culinary traditions. Guests can also savour Sri Lankan Scampi, rooted in time-honoured coastal recipes.

After dinner, the barefoot journey continues under the stars, with coffee and liqueurs served on the beach in a relaxed après-feast ritual.

OZEN LIFE MAADHOO has placed sustainability at the heart of the concept. From sourcing traceable seafood to eco-friendly décor choices, every detail reflects a commitment to marine conservation and responsible gastronomy.

This philosophy aligns with THE OZEN COLLECTION’s broader approach to redefining luxury dining across its properties from underwater fine dining at M6m to Maldivian heritage cuisine at LONU and authentic Asian flavours at TRADITION PEKING.

Guests can enhance their experience with the resort’s signature INDULGENCE™ Plan, which includes unlimited access to premium beverages, curated wines, and crafted cocktails. With its innovative concept, international flavours, and focus on sustainability, the barefoot bistro at Hudhu Bay is set to become one of the Maldives’ most memorable dining experiences — adding yet another jewel to OZEN LIFE MAADHOO’s world-class culinary portfolio.