Expanding city limits and a changing city skyline enable eateries to group themselves and offer wider variety to the discerning diner

Hi-tech city is growing. Is that news? No. The city is growing beyond hi-tech city. Is that news? No again? What could be news is the mushrooming of food clusters all over the other city. Every multi-storeyed commercial space immediately sports some eatery or the other within a kilometre of range. But now, quite suddenly a number of speciality eateries take position next to each other in the same commercial building, making it a food cluster with multiple options.

The first such cluster of eateries has to be the row just after the Gachibowli flyover, towards ISB from the Madhapur Police Commissionerate.

Weekends don’t start here on Fridays, but from Wednesday, which is now officially the day to begin the mid-week party. Choice of cuisine is not a matter of concern. Even the fussiest eater will find something of his/her choice. If it’s a dosa for the non-fussy eater, there are a couple of Chinese eateries to cater to Asian food lovers, Italian and Punjabi cuisine too find a spot. Of course there has to be a biryani joint too, because biryani never failed a Hyderabadi. The scene in the evenings here resembles that of a street food mela. When the clouds aren’t looming low, food lovers spill on into the open outside these eateries , transforming this place, without actually making an effort, a huge food court.

The cluster of eateries mushrooming rapidly in and around these multi-tower high-rise are patronised mostly by local residents. Most of them function as all-day food courts and keep their menu limited. A restaurateur explains that these are very popular with working persons who either live on their own or have to travel frequently; such residents avoid the hassle of running a full-fledged kitchen. “In such a situation these eateries come to the rescue. Most IT companies have an in-house dining facility which takes care of the lunch and evening snacks. All that these working people require is a decent dinner; and that’s where these clusters step in . They aren’t the fancy sit-down eateries, but are certainly more comfortable and relaxed than push carts.”

In such a situation restaurants in the line of coffee shops and all-day dining are best suited to giving the much needed break to the usual settlement sub dinners. On closer observation it is not just that one spot in Gachibowli area that boasts of this cluster of restaurants for the convenience of diners. There are many rows of commercial complexes that house such food clusters in other parts of the city too.

The trend is of at least four eateries at one stretch. Ramky Towers has a stretch of eateries right at the entrance of the main multi-storeyed, multi-tower living space. A little further ahead, another smaller complex at the entrance of a commercial complex houses a couple of eating options. “The options on offer range from coffee, snacks to a small meal. But there is nothing to can call it a dining place. These are more for leisure bites or for casual get-togethers. These kind of eateries do not come with the fine dining option,” elaborates Pavan Kumar a businessman.

These clusters also come with the aggressive home delivery troupe that facilitate dining at home. “Keeping the market demand and supply in mind, most of the eateries in this scale do not think of investing to expand seating capacity . Instead we offer food delivery options,” says Jayraj, manager of a coffee shop.

Clearly the dining options in the city are transforming to offer food with convenience.