A plate full of sky

Candlelights, soft music, romance in the air, a cool midsummer evening and dinner under the stars.
No, we aren���t exactly quoting a scene from a Hollywood flick. The new spate of rooftop restaurants in the city, which have taken the dining experience to a new ���high���, have become a hot favourite with those who look for more than food. While some are fine dining spots, some are designed to impart a more relaxed, loungy feel.But, one thing remains the same: the amazing view from the top and the luxury of the cool, breezy open-air environment.
Sanjay Vazirani, owner of rooftop restaurant, The Foodlink Court, says, ���I was inspired by the global concept of rooftop restaurants, which I have seen doing so well in places like New York or London. Obviously, when I thought of bringing the concept home, I wanted to open it in Pune, as it is a relatively new concept here unlike Mumbai or Delhi. And, people absolutely love the view from up there.���
It is not just about the perfect view, the popularity of the rooftop restaurants has a lot to do with the climate. Sudhir Jena, Senior General Manager at the The Royal Orchid Central, which has a rooftop restaurant, The Tiger Trail, tells us, ���The reason why rooftop restaurants are perfect for Pune is largely because of Pune���s wonderful climate. No matter how warm it is in the daytime, by evening it becomes so pleasant that it is a great idea to have a rooftop restaurant. Besides, most people prefer to sit in open-air places in summers. And also, live performances or concerts sound much better in an open-air venue. All in all, it makes for a very soothing and romantic atmosphere.���
And, there is no dispute about the fact that the rooftop restaurant offers romantic moments unlike the closed air-conditioned restos. T K Gangadhar Panikker, manager at Chingari, the terrace-top restaurant at Le Meridien, informs, ���I think people are bored of enclosed spaces. Terrace-top restaurants provide the adequate ambience and are a treat to the eyes because of the view from above. Also, you can experiment a lot with the themes and make it as exotic as possible.���
Pragya and and his fianc�� Shushant, both IT professionals, are just one of the many couples who are sold out on the idea of rooftop restaurants. They tell us why they love it, ���It is a great idea to just sit under the open sky and have candlelit dinner, serenaded by music and soaking in the romantic ambience. It feels nice as you have a feeling of privacy in a place like this that you don���t get in closed restaurants. So, it is my favourite pick not just for romantic dinners, but also for light brunches with friends on Sundays.��� And, who wouldn���t want to dine in the company of the stars?