Will use its latest design – the T10 – in a 3,500 sq. ft., 150-cover floor plan at the Forum Mall.
The popular casual dining restaurant chain will foray into eastern India with its maiden outlet at Forum Mall. Spread over 3,500 sq ft, the 150-cover restaurant will be located on the second floor. The mall management relocated two stores to accommodate the restaurant.
“TGIF is a huge brand and we did what was needed to ensure that it came to Forum. We do have Cafe Mizuna, Matsuri, Spaghetti Kitchen, Oh! Calcutta and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. But TGIF is special because it is an iconic American hangout place that was missing in Kolkata,” said Ujjal, the mall’s general manager.
Industry sources said TGI Friday’s had initially begun negotiations with the Apeejay group a store in Park Mansion that earlier housed T3. But the deal didn’t go through and subsequently Pizza Hut moved in. Talks with Forum mall was initiated around three months ago and the deal was sealed last month.
TGI Friday’s India chief executive officer Rohan Jetley said the outlet in Kolkata would serve a heady concoction of food, drinks and music in an ambience that is contemporary yet cool and encourage guests to let their hair down and party.
“It will be a lot more upscale in terms of decor than the outlets in Mumbai, Delhi or many other cities across the world. The store will feature the new T10 design. There will be three focus areas: seating, bar and kitchen. The seats will be a larger and more comfortable. The bar will be central to the restaurant. The kitchen will be an open one with its energy radiating into the restaurant,” said Jetley.
Currently, work on the store’s interiors is underway and the restaurant is expected to open in September. Though TGIF has applied for the bar license as well, it is expected to be granted only around the year end or early next year.
On the menu will be signature items like the magnum size Ultimate Jack Daniel’s Burger, Spicy Chicken Wings prepared in a hot-tangy sauce, Pork Ribs with liquid smoke, Spicy Chicken Nachos, vegetarian and non-vegetarian Fajitas.
