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Wake up to a feast

A number of restaurants are warming up the concept of economical breakfast buffets

GOOD MORNING Many have turned to restaurants for their breakfasts Photo: S. Siva Saravanan

What does it take to make your restaurant a much-frequented place? Much more than just great food and service, for sure. To draw in patrons at off-peak hours, read anytime other than dinner hours, restaurants are discovering that it pays to offer more at lesser prices. So, first came the lavish lunch buffets at prices between Rs. 100 and Rs. 200 and then the executive pre-plated lunches from Rs. 50 to Rs. 150. Foodies, of course, gave a thumbs-up to the concept.

Taking a cue, a number of restaurants have come up with breakfast buffets. The prices mostly range between Rs. 45 and 75, and at a few restaurants go up to Rs. 140. Ohri's Jiva, R.V. Restaurant at the Celebrity Boutique Hotel, and Cocos are some of the places serving up power breakfasts.

A regular menu includes a mix of South Indian, North Indian and continental dishes. Pick your favourites from idli, dosa, sambar, upma, appam, aloo parata, waffles with honey or maple syrup, cornflakes, wheat flakes, pancakes, sandwiches, cut fruits, beverages and some desserts. Unlike the high-end restaurants, these buffets do not target those who are looking to cut business deals over breakfast. It's for the younger professionals on the go. "Eating out was mostly associated with lunch and dinner hours. But with the buffet system catching on, people are dropping in for a quick breakfast before reaching office. Apart from a number of professionals working in the vicinity of Raj Bhavan Road, we even get families who come after their morning walk," explains M. Hari, manager at Ohri's Jiva. Affirms R. Janardhan Rao, assistant manager at R.V, "The restaurant is packed during weekends. On weekdays the turn out is around 70 per cent, which is a positive. Restaurateurs only need to remember not to compromise on quality just because the buffets are economically priced."

The next time you don't feel like preparing a hurried breakfast in the morning, try out a buffet.

SANGEETHA DEVI. K

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