Entering Thane at Viviana Mall, Impresario Handmade Restaurants has recently launched its Social outpost in the city. The city’s historical relevance, hyperlocal food culture, active interest in the performing arts, and the people’s unique way of living a quiet life despite the commercialisation of their surroundings is something that makes the area standout. #ThanyacheSOCIAL pays homage to all that and more with each element intricately crafted to reflect its rich traditions alongside the evolution of dining out in the new normal of ‘SOCIAL, with distancing’.

Riyaaz Amlani, CEO & MD, Impresario Handmade Restaurants, said, “SOCIAL has a unique identity as a space where culture, creativity, and community collide, and we’re very excited to bring it to the metropolitan city of Thane. SOCIAL is everything that a hyper creative and entrepreneurial community needs – an all-day cafe with excellent and affordable food and drinks, a creatively charged workspace that’s primed for collaborations, and a high-energy bar post sundown. We love the fact that every hyperlocal community we are present in makes their neighbourhood SOCIAL their favourite adda, and we hope Thane will welcome us just as enthusiastically; they’ve been waiting patiently for over a year. Of course, given the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic presents, we’ve ensured best-in-class safety and hygiene practices for our staff and guests. We can’t wait for you to get social with us again, this time with distancing.”

Housed inside Viviana Mall, local homes and small businesses feature in the interiors in unique ways. Drawing inspiration from the makaan-dukaan concept, SOCIAL’s now iconic booths have been stacked on top of each other – made to look like a home above and a shop below – reminiscent of the busy streetscapes of Ram Maruti Road in Thane. The concept is also very much a part of SOCIAL’s new take on space design in the post COVID era of social distancing. The vivid decor transports you to the times browsing curiously through Jambli Naka Market or simply chilling by Masunda Lake, where communities were not just birthed but nurtured too.

A section of the outpost also recreates the iconic Gadkari Natya Griha, representing Thane’s deep engagement with the performing arts. Through furniture and light installments, the vibe takes you straight inside a quintessential Thane household. You also see a continuous bench seating along the walls, representing a typical katta where communities came together to spend quality time in each other’s company. The katta represents everything SOCIAL is to a community too: a space that encourages people to come together to #eat, #drnk, #work, #play and #collaborate with each other.

Sameer Balvally, Principal Architect, Studio Osmosis, who spearheaded the project, said, “Thane SOCIAL takes you back in time, immersing you in the everyday life of a Thanekar via the quintessential ‘neechey dukaan, upar makaan’ concept. We further showcase the social fabric that evolved around lake-side kattas via the seating. At the heart of it all is the theatre, where everyone can immerse themselves in the celebration of food, culture, and art. In a post COVID world, one can dine at a barber’s shop, a chai ki dukaan, or the neighbourhood tailor shop, all of which are intimate yet isolated pods represented inside the outpost. The katta seating has tables that can be rearranged while the open dining areas have flexible seating that can be separated – all initiatives that accomodate adequate social distancing.”

Over the years, SOCIAL has become synonymous with trailblazing experiences that have made it one of the most exciting F&B brands in the country. SOCIAL has been making waves with its quirky food menu right since inception, thanks to its “fun dining” fusion of Indian and Chinese dishes served up with a uniquely SOCIAL twist. Famous for putting an experimental spin on classic dishes, going through the SOCIAL menu is no less than going on a culinary adventure. Thane is all set to get a taste of the iconic Breakfast Trays, Death Wings, Awesamosas, Black Label Butter Chicken and our legendary Biryanis, along with cocktails like Trip on the Drip, Old Smoke, Thai Maalish, and more.

“SOCIAL is all about creating an engaging offline experience, and that thought is taken forward even in our food and drinks menu. Whether it’s our inventive cocktails of the legendary 1,000ml Longest Long Island Iced Tea (L.L.I.I.T), or our quirky dishes and even the newest addition like a smoky and delicious Tandoori Pizza, our offerings try to involve diners in an experience that’s more immersive. Thane SOCIAL is all set to become the neighbourhood’s go-to community space,” said, Mayank Bhatt, Business Head, SOCIAL.