Food is one step closer

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Traffic. Hectic deadlines. No time to relax. These are just some of the many reasons that have led to Bengalureans increasingly ordering food in, over time. With app options burgeoning by the day, there seems to be no excuse to not be a food delivery buff. While there are applications for those who like to have home-style food delivered to them, there are also options for those who want a bite in the middle of the night.

For those who stay up late working or partying and want a bite at night, there is an option. Shalin Mishra, co-founder of Latenight.in wanted to give Bengalureans the opportunity to eat whenever they wished to. “This is where one can choose from multiple options we offer in Indian, Chinese, ‘Biryani’ and desserts, from 7 pm to 4 am. The application now also includes a customised meal delivery for office-goers during daytime called ‘Meal Square’, “ he says.

With much variety, the application doesn’t want the late-night food lovers to suffer. “Convenience has made food applications a popular choice among youngsters. Our customer base is from 18 to 35-year-olds,” he says. A strict policy of keeping time has also worked in favour of them, he adds.

Bengalurueans include many who do not have family or a cook to prepare home-style food for them. This is where ‘Tiffin by MasalaBox’ steps in. Vidyasagar Rai, operations manager with the application, says, “Most food applications work with restaurants or a centralised kitchen and despite their claims, their food can never be like home food. We work with home chefs who prepare food they would serve to their own family.” With a subscription format, this application makes it easier for a customer to opt for healthy and homely food at a specific time, while they can specify their dietary preferences. Spread across options like ‘Classic’, ‘Treat’ and ‘Indulge’, Bengalureans can also save according to their budget, he adds.

Remember that scrumptious taco you wanted to have but couldn’t because there were no reservations available? There are apps for those who want a premium dining experience at the comforts of their own home too. Karan Virwani, who was a restaurateur earlier and is co-founder with ‘Entree’, wants to give citizens the option to order from places which might not have been a possibility earlier.

“People often crave to be at good restaurants but can’t for whatsoever reasons. With our system, we wanted people to be at ease, experience a good time where the delivery person is like the waiter and where our packaging makes the food an enjoyable ride,” he says. Stressing on the app’s popularity, Karan adds that Bengalureans like to indulge in quality products. “From meals to desserts, we try to understand the nuances of high-quality cuisine and hospitality and deliver that at your doorstep,” he says.

Marketing executive and food blogger Nikhilesh Murthy associates the surge of food applications to Bengaluru’s fast-paced lifestyle and bad infrastructure. “With most folks working in IT, they travel way too much and they would just prefer getting food delivered at home. Look at any possible area like Koramangala, Whitefield or the CBD areas and there are enough choices of restaurants to choose from, which makes these aggregators a great platform to connect to the food one wants,” he details.

Dining out is restricted to special days like a birthday or an anniversary, while regular days include conference calls and fast-approaching deadlines, which make ordering in a better workable option, Nikhilesh adds.