Across India's bustling metros, from Delhi's chill to Mumbai's crowded streets, the festive spirit is unmistakably on the plate. Indians are enthusiastically celebrating the final days of the year, leading to an unprecedented rush at restaurants. Advance reservations have soared, with many popular eateries reporting complete sell-outs for both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
Restaurants Report Record Bookings and Sold-Out Signs
After a relatively quiet start to December, the hospitality sector is witnessing a powerful year-end rebound. Zorawar Kalra, founder of Massive Restaurants (which operates Farzi Cafe and Pa Pa Ya), confirmed the overwhelming demand. "We are sold out for Christmas across all cities and formats. For December 31st, we are also totally sold out everywhere," he stated. To manage the surge in customers, his company has hired additional temporary staff.
The trend is consistent nationwide. In Mumbai, Gauri Devidayal, co-founder of Food Matters Group (which runs The Table in Colaba), is inundated with last-minute reservation requests. She noted that business this December is definitely performing better than last year. Similarly, Kolkata-based chain Chowman is anticipating double-digit growth this season, fueled by higher average order values and recent expansion. Their Managing Director, Debaditya Chaudhury, reported strong advance bookings in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, with dine-in tables getting reserved five to seven days in advance.
Dine-In Celebrations and Delivery Dominance
The October-December quarter, packed with festivals, is traditionally the peak season for restaurants as discretionary spending rises. Divya Aggarwal, Chief Growth Officer at Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality (behind Social and Smoke House Deli), shared specific data: "For Christmas eve, we saw an 18%-20% increase in footfalls compared to last year." She attributed this to people choosing to go out and celebrate together and expects overall stronger business this festive season.
Anurag Katriar, founder of Indigo Hospitality (Indigo Delicatessen), forecasts a modest revenue increase, supported by solid advance bookings and good Christmas Eve business. He also highlighted a surge in special festive deliveries, like turkey orders.
The growth of food delivery apps has significantly helped restaurants capitalize on late-night cravings and house parties, creating a robust 'order-in' culture. Some establishments have even built their own delivery fleets. As Debaditya Chaudhury of Chowman explained, "The festive season has clearly blurred the line—celebration now happens both at the table and on the couch. While dine-ins are strong, delivery continues to dominate in absolute numbers." However, companies like Massive Restaurants still see the bulk of sales originating from their physical stores.
A Robust Finish to the Year
The collective sentiment from restaurant owners and executives points to a healthy and vibrant end to the calendar year. The convergence of strong dine-in demand, especially for key celebration nights, with the ever-growing delivery segment, paints a picture of an industry successfully catering to evolving consumer habits. Whether stepping out for a special meal or hosting a gathering at home, Indians are driving a festive boom that is setting a positive tone for the hospitality sector as it heads into the new year.
