Eateries cash-in on nostalgia

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Aug 17 2016 | 10:57 AM IST
Eateries are going strong on nostalgia with themed restaurants cropping up in different cities, all capitalizing on favourite TV shows from the years gone by.
Batman and Wonderwoman, the Addams family and F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Themed restaurants have opened during the recent months.
"I am an 80s kid and when I grew up in India there were only a few cartoons like 'Donald Duck,' 'Scooby Doo' and 'Addams' Family,'" says Karan Parvesh Singh who co-owns The Addams' House eatery in Gurgaon.
"Addams' Family for me was not just a haunted house. It was haunted in a sense that I felt they are my friends. So I wanted to relive that moment," he says.
Inspired by the popular fictional series - 'The Addams Family' by American cartoonist Charles Addams, the place is the latest addition to the town's breweries.
The interiors resemble gothic architecture, with a tone of Victorian opulence and signature elements from the series. There is a wall size display of all members of the Addams' family complemented with anecdotes, a crooked staircase to the terrace, cobwebbed backrests for the bar stools etc.
"If you remember the Addams' family movies, then you must have seen that they played very well with the gothic architecture. We took the inspiration and tried and incorporated the gothic elements from it," says Singh.
The menu, which is a mixture of American and Indian cuisines, only vindicates Karan's fandom even more, with items like Grandma's favorite fish n chips, Bloody Chicken Wings, The Butcher Shop among others.
"As it was an American series, we wanted to bring the international flavour so that it justifies the inspiration. So we kept a classical American menu. We have also incorporated an inverted American flavour where we have fused classic Indian and American elements to get out a better dish," he says.
Some of these dishes include 'Rajma Chawal Balls' and 'Beet Root Burger.'
'What a Comic Show' in SDA market in Delhi is a brainchild of a Manipuri couple, Bhopen Chingtham and Pooja Moirangthem, who have combined their passions for food and comics and transformed it into a cozy corner where comic buffs can relive their childhood while munching from their continental and oriental food menu.
Situated on second floor, the stairs leading up to the
restaurant are adorned with posters of plethora of comics ranging from 'Marvel' and 'Super Mario' to 'Chacha Choudhary' and 'G I Joe'.
The colour scheme is appropriate, with blues, reds and yellows popping from every nook and corner. The place is also equipped with a comic gallery loaded with piles of reading material.
"When we started off, we began with our own comic collections and then began to source from other places and add to the comic gallery here," he says.
The couple has named the cocktails after superheroes like The Flash, Ironman's Electromagnet, Poison Ivy and Hammer of Thor etc.
To take the comic craze a notch higher, the restaurant also hosts parties on Halloween besides costume parties where customers come dressed up as their favourite super heroes.
Kolkata recently saw the opening of a much awaited cafe themed after the iconic American television sitcom, 'Friends'.
It recreated elements from the sitcom like the purple door of Monica's apartment, Pat-the dog, Pheobe's pink bicycle and the orange couch from Central perk.
The walls have the pictures all the six friends with their most popular quotes.
The food too, is a reminder if the characters' favourites like Joey's Mac and Cheese macaroni, Rachel and Chandler's Cheesecake from Mama's Bakery and Ross's Moist Maker Sandwich that comes with his 'Knock Knock' note.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Aug 17 2016 | 10:57 AM IST

Next Story