Food Scoops

Last month, we told you that New York sushi restaurant Megu was planning on opening in the city. This week, we hear that the plot a few doors down from Indigo Deli in Colaba (on the corner of the street) is being converted into an Italian bistro slated to open later this summer. We also got wind that Delhi-based Smoke House Deli (which serves deli staples like cold cuts, cheese, sandwiches and bagels) is planning a Mumbai branch. Belgian bakery chain Le Pain Quotidien, known for its in-house spreads, breads and selection of pastries, is in talks to open an outpost somewhere in Colaba, while Starbucks, which has been planning to make a foray into the country for a couple of years now, says that it will launch sometime in the “near future,” refusing to confirm a rumoured tie-up with Jubilant Foodworks (the folks who brought Dominos Pizza to India).

Meanwhile, Michelin-starred chef Vineet Bhatia, who recently opened Azok in Juhu, is in town to oversee the opening of Ziya, the restaurant that will replace Kandahar at the Oberoi (look out for our interview next week); and Chicago-based chain Taco Fresco, which prides itself on serving “authentic” Mexican food, will open in Bandra next week.