The city is expanding and so is its gastrono- mic demand.

In the past few years, fast food outlets have mushroomed across the city as more and more residents are eating out, often late in the night. Cashing in on this trend are home-grown businesses. Tasting success with their first outlets, the owners of several restaurants are branching out.

The owner of Roti Restaurant, Rishi Mishra, said: “Till 2005, the business was nothing to write about. Very few people would turn up for dinner after 6pm. With the change in the government and noticeable crime control, business took off a year later. Soon, families began flooding our restaurant. We would also get a large number of home delivery calls from the Bailey Road and the Ashiana areas. To serve customers directly and provide a dining space closer to home, we came up with another outlet. Now we find people coming to enjoy their dinner at the restaurant even after 11pm.”

One of the early faces on Patna’s fast food scene was, however, Sweet Home.

“The high demand for cakes, pastries and sweets encouraged us to open one more shop at the Boring Road crossing in 1988. Our chicken on toast and paneer on toast are also in high demand among customers,” said Sweet Home’s 52-year-old owner Ashok Mankani.

Daljeet Khanna, a 49-year-old resident of Rajendra Nagar, said: “My father introduced me to Sweet Home when I was 15. Since then, I visit the Boring Road outlet every weekend. I love the pizzas, burgers and pastries they serve and now my son and grandson, too, have taken to visiting Sweet Home regularly.”

A new face on the food circuit is Kent’s Fast Food Restaurant. One of its key attractions is the shawarma, an Arabian delicacy, which the restaurant introduced to residents at a very reasonable price.

Pratyush, the owner, said: “It was difficult for us to manage the rush at the shop. Finally, I decided to come up with one more outlet on Boring Road.”

A clear hit, Kent’s serves burgers, pizzas and rolls. Pratyush, who left his New Delhi job in the food sector in 2011, said: “We focus on hygiene and quality as foodies in the city are particular about that. Weekends are the most hectic for us. Orders for home delivery go up to 60, almost three times more than on weekdays.”

Bangs, a food joint popular for its fried chicken, is another favourite.

“Many customers faced problems commuting to our first outlet at P&M Mall. So, to take the restaurant closer, we came up with our second outlet on Boring Road,” said Nishant Gupta, the manager of the shop.

Old or new, demand has been the local restaurants’ pot of gold.

Prakriti, a self-confessed foodie, said: “We need more such food chains. Many areas, including Kadamkuan, Kankerbagh, Ashiana Nagar and Rajendra Nagar still do not have good restaurants. But I am happy that we have options for eating out and spending time with friends.”