Megu, Not Nobu, Comes to India

Megu, New York.

Within the hospitality industry, it is common for rumours to fly around; while some don’t materialise, there usually isn’t smoke without some fire. At one point there were rumours that Nobu was slated to open at The Leela in 2009, which clearly didn’t happen.

What has been confirmed, both by the restaurant and The Leela hotel  group, is that they will be bringing down New York-based Japanese restaurant Megu, a more exclusive rival of Nobu that is part lounge and part restaurant. The restaurant’s website confirms their plans to open in New Delhi and Mumbai, as did their spokesperson who said: “We will be opening in both Mumbai and New Delhi, both in Leela Hotels. New Delhi, the end of this year and Mumbai, 2011. We are very excited.”

The Leela told us they “have an exclusive contract to bring Megu to India only at Leela properties.” However, they cannot commit to any dates other than those given above.

In recent years, a number of international restaurants and chefs have opened outposts in India. In 2004 the Taj opened Wasabi in a tie-up with Morimoto, the “Iron Chef” who was a protege of Nobu Matsuhisa. This year, Vineet Bhatia, who runs two one-starred Michelin restaurants in Europe, recently opened Azok in Juhu and is confirmed to open Ziya in place of Kandahar at the Oberoi, when it re-opens on April 24.