The culinary act

What's on the menu? Food, drinks... and a whole lot of drama

- SHUBHANGI SHAH

It's 9:30pm. Velvet drapes shimmer under flashing ceiling projections. Greco-Roman statues and a pillared colonnade lead to the stage. The nightclub bass fades into slow jazz, and the mood shifts. Cabaret dancers in ruffled gowns, jewelled masks and elaborate peacock feathers step on to the stage. The sequence starts slow, almost teasing, before erupting into splits, cartwheels and aerial contortions. The performers then step off the stage and thread between tables, as if the diners are a part of the spectacle.

This is not an auditorium. This is Dramique, billed as India's first theatrical dining experience, newly opened at Delhi's The Grand Hotel. The food and drinks are designed to complement the spectacle. Think ‘Golden Affair’, a cocktail of turmeric infused gin, lime acid, honey and ginger beer, paired with mushroom dim sums or sushi rolls.

“The idea for Dramique was born from a desire to create something that goes beyond a restaurant or a show—a space where fine dining, storytelling, and performance merge seamlessly,” says Samir Sehgal, whose brainchild it is. “Our culinary and bar teams worked closely with the creative directors to ensure that every dish and cocktail fit into the larger narrative of the evening. It is about harmony—the visuals, flavours and music all come together to tell one cohesive story.”

Nearby, The Piano Man at the capital's buzzy Eldeco Centre staged a different kind of theatrical dining earlier this year. In collaboration with Sunset Cinema Club, the jazz club screened the quintessential millennial comfort film