What’s in a name, you wonder? Probably a lot more than you have imagined. Or so believe the pub and foodie hoppers in the city, who seem to be giving a nod to joints with wackier titles! With a sizable increase in the number of check-ins at chuckle-worthy joints, it is quite safe to surmise how the burgeoning trend is the flavour of the hour, hands down.
And is anybody complaining? Well, seems far from it. Be it joints like Hoppipola, Three dots and a Dash, The Lost Caravan, Horn OK Please, 3rd Innings or Sotally Tober, the trend of eateries with hatke names is seeing an upswing like none other! We speak to restaurateurs and fellow foodies who take a note of the trend and tell us more.
“When we were looking for a title, we realised the need for an offbeat name. And I decided to start out with a morse code for the letter V, which stands for victory. It is the name inspired from a drink and one of the greatest Tiki cocktail creators, ‘Don the Beachcomber’ as a tribute to the American soldiers after the world war. Interestingly, the name garnered a lot of buzz,” states Vamsi Mareddy, one of the restaurateurs behind the eatery, Three Dots and A Dash.
Speaking about how the trend is catching up like wild fire, he says, “The city’s crowd is an energetic and free-spirited bunch. So, the need to send the right message to the right audience through a standout title is essential.”
Adding to how the idea is also connected to the chirpy feel good vibes post a meal done right, Ashish Singh, a restaurateur says, “My start-up has a title which is taken from the word Hungry. The idea was to bring in elements of fun and a twist to the idea. After all, isn’t eating out directly related to having great fun?”
Interestingly, while the city’s foodies are quite in favour of the burgeoning trend, there is also a clear emphasis on how the takers are looking for something beyond the frame of a name.
“Look around, how many food bloggers and posts on foods do you see? With the increase in the number of cafes and resto bars, hatke names are eye catching, and instantly garner more attention. It’s the best way to attract the younger crowd that now has an increased spending power,” opines Paschim Prasad, a food blogger.
But that’s not all, beyond the craze for the wackier title lies the prime focus: The food. A hatke name will give you the initial edge of attention. But again, if the food is not great, it all falls flat after a point.
I would definitely check in, but then that would be it. I hope in the pursuit of getting a few likes and a hefty flow of initial check-ins, people don’t forget the essence of why people choose to eat out — to eat good food. But yes, a well-thought out name is certainly a battle half won!”
