Italian resto-lounge opens in Colaba, Mumbai this week

It all started with a simple grouse. “I’m a complete foodie, I love going out and having a good all-rounded meal,” says 25-year-old Kajal Fabiani. “But when my friends and I would go out at night, we always had a problem choosing a fun restaurant - either the place was too boring, packed with kids or the music was some weird Oriental stuff. The vibe was just not right! And everywhere you go in the world - whether it’s Madrid, New York, London or Rome - you find fun, trendy restaurants that are not necessarily stuffy.”

So Kajal, armed with a Bachelors Degree in Business Management from King’s College, London, and a postgraduate Hospitality Diploma from Les Roches, Marbella, decided to take ‘platters’ into her own hands. “I wanted to do something really different; have fine dining in a fun atmosphere - you know, where there’s loungey music, the waiters are fun, the cocktails are flowing…like what you see in Cipriani’s or Signor Sassi’s,” says Kajal of her spanking Italian resto-lounge that opens in Colaba this week. “It has a very St Tropez feel about it - everything is fresh and white, very villa-esque, very Roman-esque looking.”
 

While originally hip-hop star P Diddy was supposed to come down for the launch scheduled in December, Kajal rues, “Little did we know how things actually work in India. We thought we could open a place in two-and-a-half months. But there was too much to fix, the architect was changed, and we had a zillion other issues.”

Having grown up in Madrid, investment czar Kamal Fabiani’s daughter jet-setted across the globe and has been a regular fixture on Mumbai’s social circuit. Ask her about her guilty pleasures, and she squeals, “Chocolates and rose champagne. But it’s really fattening!”

That apart, Kajal enjoys a passion for retail therapy. “In India, JJ Valaya is my absolute favourite designer - he’ll definitely make my wedding outfit,” she laughs. “Also, Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla and Sherina Dalamal, who I grew up with in London. She has some really chilled dresses. In Europe, it’s definitely Chanel for handbags, Hermes for their accessories, a lot of DVF (Diane Von Furstenberg) and Marc Jacobs. I like a lot of wearable clothes that you can just dress up and dress down. So yes, Dolce (and Gabbana) for sure, I love Dolce…and Miu Miu for shoes.”

With plans of setting up a branch in Bandra next and Bangalore soon, ask her lastly if she’s a good cook herself? “Oh God, I’m really bad - I can barely cook eggs without shells in them,” laughs Kajal.