Zip down to Thondayad Bypass in Kozhikode if you are on the look out for 'Good Food, Good Mood'. Mazza Dine Restaurant promises to deliver on both counts.
Quaint look
The restaurant stands out for two specialities, its food and its quaint architecture. Some call it the 'container restaurant' as the hotel is built out of containers. The whole set up is a magnificent sight by night when the lights awash the place in a golden glow. Motorists, drawn by its quaint appeal, often drive by just to have a look at.
Chai box
The uniqueness does not stop there. Up front, along the driveway is another container, aptly called 'Chai box', which is designed in vintage chayakkada (tea shop) style. Apart from tea, the shop serves homely bites, sandwiches, juices and shakes. The joint comes alive at 9 am and does brisk business till midnight.
The container coffee shop was the brainwave of five like-minded Farook-based young businessmen. C. Mirshad, A. K. Shamsheer, Shameer Shah, Rashnaz and A. K. Kamaal, are all newbies in the food trade, but bound together by their friendship.
Dubai’s Box Park inspired them to set up a restaurant in similar look and feel in Kozhikode. The first step was to acquire a plot of land on lease near Thondayad. Though the initial plan was restricted only to a coffee shop, it finally ballooned out into a full-fledged restaurant.
The structure rests on a normal foundation with metal pillars supporting the 'ducking sheets' or the walls made from metal sheets used in container manufacture. The frontage is covered with huge sheets of glass. The floors on each deck are of metal sheets. The metal staircase has plywood for steps.
The design elements were chosen for their eco-friendly features and their amenability to be easily dismantled and reset, said Mirshad.
Food specials
Mazza has an appetizingly long line of cuisine to cater to customer tastes. Everything from South Indian to North Indian, Chinese, Arabic and Tandoor are served here. Another feature is a delightful mix of salads, starters, soups and breads. Add to this a spread of veg, beef, chicken, rice and noodles. As for seafood, you have fish kanthari, fish cherulli, fish tawa fry and a host of others to dig into.
Arabic flavours like al faham, manthi and grilled fish grace the counters not far behind. Mazza is open from 12 noon to midnight. A 45-seat budget restaurant finds place down and the 75-seat AC dining hall is upstairs. The spacious and sprawling top floor will feature a party place and an Italian cafe.
Book in advance
Of its 5,600 sq ft, only about 3,500 sq ft of restaurant space is being used up at present. Hence, customers need to make bookings to host parties for up to 40 people. Plans are afoot to open a live sea food kitchen.
Home deliveries are offered for those living within a 7-km radius of the restaurant.
For more details: 0495 2351113.