What: Jungle Safari
Where: Fourth floor, Mani Square mall
Timings: 12.30pm to 11pm
Meal for two: Rs 1,150-plus 

Walls and ceiling covered in thick foliage and tree trunks, figures of wild animals placed in the corners, a constant flow of animal sounds and the gurgle of falling water — a trip to the animal kingdom is what you sign up for once you set foot inside Jungle Safari. The new eatery from Speciality Restaurants in Mani Square takes the forest theme of Machan — that used to occupy the same space — a step forward.

“While Machan had a bit of a forest look, Jungle Safari has fully transformed into an animal kingdom — from the background sounds to the animals. And a live waterfall inside the restaurant enhances the forest feel. A safari jeep provides a photo op. The ambient animal soundtrack has been created by Biswadeep Chatterjee, one of the leading sound engineers in Bollywood. Being from the advertising industry, I understand very clearly that to create an impact you have to give both audio and visual; without the proper sounds, the visual will never have the desired impact,” Speciality chief Anjan Chatterjee told t2.

Not just the sounds and sights, the lights are low for a dark effect and even the temperature inside the restaurant is four degrees lower than what the other restaurants from the group maintain, to give the forest feel. 

“We are targeting families with children, so we have expanded the menu from just Indian to global food. We have included pizzas and pastas that are comfort food for children. It will be an absolutely exciting and overwhelming experience for children. Also, we all have a child in us and we all love watching the animal kingdom; even I love watching the wildlife channels on TV… so I think people will love this simulated animal kingdom,” he added.

Jungle Safari is the group’s only foray into the theme restaurant space and Chatterjee believes that the concept of theme eateries has its pros and cons. “A lot of people advised me against it, saying a sense of fatigue sets in with theme restaurants. They are right; it is a risk. So the only way to do it is to keep revitalising the theme from time to time. When people go to eat out, nobody goes only for the food now. If you want only food, you have Swiggy. When people eat out they want an experience, they want to de-stress, it’s important to give them a different experience. Each experience should be different. Differentiate or die is the mantra in the F&B industry,” he signed off.

Text: Smita Roy Chowdhury
Pictures: Rashbehari Das