Among many other things, one of the biggest casualties of this pandemic were restaurants. Not just that, for those who loved that weekend dine out, this was a huge downer. Take-outs have been the norm for a while now. But perhaps things have slowly started to look up, with restaurants gradually opening for casual and fine dining, with strict safety protocols. In fact, quite a few restaurants have come up with ingenious ways to lure customers, like Le Meridian for instance recently opened Car-go Bites. As the name suggests, it’s food on wheels, but with a smart twist.

Car-GO Bites for inspired dining

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The brainwave isn’t exactly original as this concept is immensely popular in the West. It all started when someone spotted empty cargo containers and came up with the idea of sprucing the interiors with five-star deco and a well-equipped kitchen and stationed it in front of the hotel near the National Highway. The food wagon stood in the midst of a sprawling grassland, surrounded by bright neon lamps and comfortable chairs. The city’s first fast-dining drive-in restaurant was ready to roll.

A brand-new concept for Kochiites

The perks of this new drive in restaurant are many. The travellers can hop in for a bite besides being safe and hygienic. Or even better it’s ideal for a quiet evening with family and friends. Not only are the seating arrangements made according to the physical distancing protocols, but you also have the option of being served inside your car. And the menu can be scanned and ordered through a QR code generator and bills can be paid online. It’s the perfect solution for those who are dying to dine out but are worried about safety.

Cool menu and cooler pricing

The menu, though not extensive, is solid. There are the usual fries, burgers (Jamaican chicken burger and double beef burgers are recommended) and nachos, pizzas (there is a basic margarita but do try their Kanthari tenderloin roast pizza) and pastas (Penne Arabiatta, Penne meatball). The short eats are interesting (Chemmeen Bruschetta, Kuttanad Dutch egg roast, Caribbean chicken drumsticks) so are the sandwiches, and wraps (Trivandrum fried chicken wrap and Nadan konchu wrap were nice additions). Surprisingly, they offer two kinds of biryani as well. You can finish it off with some seasonal fruit cheesecake, Vattayappam or their in-house special home made kulfi. A meal for two will cost you anywhere between 800 to 1000.

Car-go bites is open in the evenings (Sun to Thu it's open from 4 pm to 11 pm and Fri and Sundays it stays open till midnight). Live music is another highpoint and with the nights getting cooler, the combination of a drive-in restaurant with live music sounds lethal.  

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