FNB News - “After research, we came up with idea of serving food by toy train”

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INTERVIEW

“After research, we came up with idea of serving food by toy train”

Monday, 22 July, 2024, 08 : 00 AM [IST]

Launched in November 2019, Platform 65 is a multi-cuisine restaurant with quirky rail theme interiors. In accordance with the theme, a toy train chugs in bringing your food onto your table. Sadgun Patha, managing director and founder, Platform 65, talks about the restaurant’s innovative theme of locomotive dining, its venture into catering business and other investment plans in an email interaction with Harcha Bhaskar. Excerpts:

What influenced you to open a locomotive-themed restaurant?
We thought of bringing a themed restaurant to attract and give people a unique dining experience. Our inspiration came from the nostalgia and charm of trains, which we wanted to infuse into our restaurant. Our goal was to provide not just great food, but also a memorable journey for our patrons. We maintain consistency in our theme throughout all aspects of the restaurant, including uniforms, music, and overall atmosphere, to create an immersive experience for our guests. By bringing this concept to the F&B industry, we wanted to surprise customers with a new and different experience, ambience, and food. After conducting extensive research, we came up with the idea of serving food by a toy train, which has become a new and unique trend in the food industry.

What are your expansion and investment plans?

Our restaurant chain is committed to providing an exceptional dining experience to its customers. To achieve this, we have a growth strategy that includes expanding into new locations, investing in unique decor and infrastructure, and maintaining our commitment to quality and service.
Our chain currently has 11 branches located in Telangana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, and we are looking forward to our upcoming new branches in Hyderabad, Bangalore, Tirupati, Chennai, Rajahmundry and so on. Each branch will feature the same theme, which incorporates our restaurant’s signature style and atmosphere.

Recently, we have also ventured into catering services and inaugurated a banquet hall in Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad, to cater to larger gatherings and events, further extending our exceptional hospitality experiences. We are constantly exploring opportunities to bring our unique dining experience to more customers who appreciate high-quality food and service.

What type of cuisine is served in the restaurant and which one is in demand?
We offer a wide variety of cuisines, including South Indian, North Indian, Chinese, and Tandoori dishes, as well as delectable desserts and refreshing mocktails. Also, our menu is much more focused on regional specialities, ensuring that, there is something for everyone. Although we take pride in our Indian flavours, our customers often have a high demand for our Chinese and South Indian dishes.

What all things were kept in mind while making menu?
When crafting our menu, we focus on a selection of dishes that showcase the rich culinary heritage of various regions. Each dish is prepared with the finest ingredients and authentic recipes, ensuring a delightful dining experience for our guests. Our chefs are committed to designing a menu that is diverse and innovative. Our restaurant values and appreciates the feedback of our patrons, and uses it to continuously improve and update menu to keep it relevant. At our restaurant, we are committed to offering a diverse range of traditional flavours to our customers. We also design menus that are relevant to festival specials and seasons, so that our guests can truly experience the flavours of the season. Whether we're creating new culinary masterpieces or putting a fresh spin on classic favourites, our menu reflects our passion for culinary excellence and our commitment to providing an unforgettable dining experience for all of our guests.

How many trains are there in the restaurant? How big is the railway track in the restaurant?
Our restaurant features a network of railway tracks that connect each table, creating a dynamic and immersive atmosphere. Depending on the size of the restaurant and the layout of the tables, we typically have a minimum of 8 trains and a maximum of 15 trains in operation at any given time to serve our customers. These trains are strategically deployed across different tracks, each covering approximately 4-6 tables per journey. The railway track dimensions are carefully designed to seamlessly integrate into our space, ensuring a smooth and delightful dining experience for all our guests. Whether you're enjoying a meal with friends or family, our trains add an element of excitement to your dining experience.

6. How much is the seating capacity of the restaurant?

The seating capacity is carefully planned to ensure a perfect balance between comfort and efficiency, accommodating up to 200 guests at once. While our minimum capacity is noted as 150 and the maximum as 300, our focus remains on optimising space utilisation to ensure a pleasant dining atmosphere for all our patrons. This capacity allows us to cater to various group sizes and occasions, providing a memorable culinary experience for everyone who visits us.