Keen Mustard Ventures has launched Heyou, a new restaurant on Bengaluru's MG Road, replacing its four-year-old brand Daysie as the company looks to align with changing consumer preferences in the city's evolving food and beverage market.
The new outlet marks the eighth opening for the hospitality group led by Anirudh Kheny. Speaking ahead of the launch, Kheny said the decision to replace Daysie was driven by the rapid evolution of Bengaluru's dining landscape, where smaller chef-led and cocktail-focused concepts have gained prominence over the past 18 months. "We've always wanted to be ahead of the curve," Kheny said, noting that the company had similarly repositioned its portfolio by replacing 1Q1 with Suzy Q following the pandemic.
The restaurant has been designed as two distinct experiences within the same property. The ground floor, branded as Heyou Bar, is positioned as a drinks-led social destination with a seating capacity of around 120 to 130 guests, while the independently accessible upper level, Heyou Dining, focuses on food and family dining. Both floors share the same menu, which has been completely redesigned based on learnings from the company's existing brands, including Serious Slice, Daysie and Quarter House. Around 60 to 70 percent of the offerings comprise Asian cuisine, alongside Indian and European dishes, with small plates, tapas, bar snacks and New York-style pizzas forming the core of the menu. The beverage programme also includes peg, quarter and bottle pricing for premium imported spirits.
According to Kheny, customer insights from the company's Serious Slice outlet in RR Nagar influenced the decision to create separate spaces for different dining occasions. The primary target audience for Heyou is customers between 21 and 40 years of age. Reflecting on Daysie, he said the previous concept lacked a clear identity as it attempted to cater to multiple occasions at once. Heyou has therefore been positioned as a relaxed, drinks-forward social destination where guests can enjoy food and beverages in a more defined setting.
The expansion has also increased the workforce from around 70 to nearly 95 employees. Looking ahead, Kheny confirmed that Keen Mustard Ventures is preparing to open its third Serious Slice outlet in Indiranagar while also working on a smaller chef-driven restaurant concept in Bengaluru's central business district.