When The Fatty Bao made its way to Delhi last month, foodies were in for some serious visual drama. Forget the run-off-the-mill lanterns and pleated fans that creep up in every Chinese restaurant. Think more Shinjuku meets Soho. Perched on the second floor, overlooking a canopy of trees, The Fatty Bao breaks new ground with inventive food, vibrant décor and a fresh treatment of casual Asian dining. The 3,000 sq ft space is conceptualised by fashion designer Anshu Arora, who was also responsible for the interior architecture of the 90-cover restaurant. Ayeshe Sadr and Ishaan Dasgupta of 211 Studio brought the walls alive with art. The boat-shaped space is inspired by elements of a submarine—from round windows to a semi-enclosed dining space and an indoor and outdoor bar.
The new Fatty Bao in Delhi retains some elements of its Mumbai and Bangalore cousins, yet brings a refreshing chic vibe to the new location. The cozy interior dining space is flanked by a glass wall on one side, overlooked by surreal murals, each with its own storyline. Playful pandas mark the walls, while grasshoppers spill out of suspended lights and oversized soup bowls. The graphic wave pattern that borders the two walls artfully blends itself into the colourful elements of the space.
Artists Sadr and Dasgupta explore a whimsical and surreal dreamscape on the walls through their paintings. The first painted work is an abstraction of a food map where the viewer takes a journey through the magical East, tracing the journey and the evolution of the humble Bao. There is also focus on the beautiful ceramics and various elements of a funky kitchen scattered all over the space. Large glass windows offer views of surrounding greenery, while arches frame almost all private dining spaces, creating cozy nooks, yet maintaining a visual connect with the main space.
The delightful local version of the Kokeshi dolls placed on the tables have been handcrafted by Kartik Vaidyanathan of Varnam, in Channapatna, a small heritage town in Karnataka, famous for its toys made with lacquered wood. Lighting fixtures play upon many elements, from oversized ramen bowls, to a multitude of praying mantis and butterflies in one piece, lamps strung together, or circular overhanging lights, marked by little bulbs. Cats watch the world go by from photo frames, pillars come alive with giant figurines, inspired by a sketch in a corner, dainty teapots adorn walls, and pandas are never out of sight.
The terrace—with crisscross beams running overhead—is a pristine white space that is brought alive with brightly coloured chairs. Perfect space to watch the day turn to a dreamy dusk.