Mumbai’s Bandra West welcomes The Alter Ego, a new duplex dining concept opening on 24 September 2026 that brings together familiar flavours and unexpected ideas across two distinct spaces, Blanco and Noir.

The concept explores the space between comfort and curiosity, bringing global dishes, techniques and ingredients through an Indian lens. While both spaces are part of the same restaurant, they offer different dining experiences. Blanco, on the ground floor, is built around Classics, Comfort and Community, while Noir, on the first floor, focuses on Elevate, Express and Explore.

Downstairs, Blanco is designed as an easy-going neighbourhood space where guests can drop in for a casual meal, coffee or a longer gathering. A community table creates an open setting for guests, while a library wall adds to the relaxed atmosphere. The bar sits to one side of the space, offering cocktails throughout the day.

The menu at Blanco follows the same familiar-yet-unexpected approach. The Truffle Edamame Upma gives a Mumbai staple a contemporary twist, while the Borough Breakfast combines a crispy potato waffle with eggs. The Bombay Poach brings confit garlic achar into a different setting, while the Grilled Cheese draws on an Indo-Ethiopian spice blend. The Sea Bass and Broadway Bowl continue the menu’s combination of comfort and global influences.

Upstairs, Noir takes a more expressive approach. A central island bar anchors the space, with seating arranged around it and ceiling-to-floor windows offering views of the city. Here, global techniques and flavours meet Indian references to create dishes that move across different culinary influences.

The Sol Kadhi Ceviche reimagines Mumbai’s kokum-based classic as a ceviche, while the Tuk Tuk combines French technique with flavours inspired by Sindhi kadhi. The Bombay Wellington places a Bombay-style curry inside the format of classic English pastry. Keema Under Cover offers another interpretation of a familiar Indian flavour, while the vegetarian Scallion Pancake Taco follows the same experimental approach. A Sticky Toffee Pudding completes the dessert offering.

The concept also includes Eclipse, a ten-seat private room that brings the two identities together. Guests can order from both the Blanco and Noir menus, creating a dining experience that combines the restaurant’s two distinct personalities at one table.

The idea was created by founder Krish Shah, whose own career journey reflects the concept’s dual identity. Originally expected to join his family’s agro-chemical business, Shah trained at Le Cordon Bleu while also working at PwC and gaining experience at The Bombay Canteen.

Speaking about the concept, Krish Shah, Founder, The Alter Ego, said, "I've always believed people don't have just one way of dining. Sometimes you're looking for something familiar and comforting, and other times you're in the mood to discover something unexpected. The Alter Ego was born from that idea. I never saw comfort and creativity as opposites - they're simply different ways of creating memorable experiences. So instead of asking guests to choose between them, we built a place where both can co-exist side by side, each with its own identity but united by the same intention: to make every meal feel worth coming back for."

• Address: The Alter Ego, Unit No. 1, The Presidential, Plot No. 286, Swami Vivekanand Road, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050, next to the Toyota Showroom.