Inside The Hood By Olive: Where Kyoto Meets Beirut Meets Bologna On Your Night Out

We mourned a bit when Toast & Tonic closed its doors. And when we heard through the grapevine that something was coming soon in its place, we were excited. Well, something has arrived, and it goes by the name The Hood by Olive. On preview night, we dropped by to check out what the scene is like, and our hosts for the night, AD Singh, the founder and Managing Director of Olive Group of Restaurants, and Chef Dhruv Oberoi, the Culinary Director for The Hood, Olive Bar & Kitchen Delhi and Goa, and The Grammar Room, ensured we had a fun time. 

A lot has changed in terms of the space, designed by Sabina Singh, the Design Director at Olive Group of Restaurants. The layout feels more lived in and not overtly casual. Booth seating for groups has been introduced, and the bar has become more central, so the socialising feels more natural. We spotted yellow nooks for couples for those mid-week date nights or on weekends when they want a bit more privacy. Our favourite section starts from the library that leads to the indoor courtyard with step seating, giving it a more casual neighbourhood feel — the way bars in Italy spill over into the streets, with people gathering around benches and the like.

There’s also a balcony above the kitchen pass, which gives the DJ a view of what’s happening below and ensures the party is always hitting strong. Kooky factor is big when it comes to the decor elements, and we love the built-in piano at the table counter and the vintage posters.

Chef Dhruv walked us through the menu on how he wanted to bring popular neighbourhoods of the world under one roof or, in this case, one hood. For the opening months, the focus is on plates from Japan, Lebanon, and Italy, with hoods including Gion in Kyoto, Mar Mikhail in Beirut, and San Lorenzo in Florence.

This idea also carries into the cocktail programme, with six drinks in total: two each inspired by the three regions.

While Chef left to send the food out, we were joined by Steve, who runs the coffee programme. He had us try an espresso with coconut cream foam and a matcha latte, explaining that here, drinks are meant to come with a bit of ritual. On a quiet evening, you might see the barista whisk matcha tableside, or be served small bites alongside your order — a madeleine with your Café au Lait or banana chips with your filter coffee.

Just as the first round of food arrived, so did our drinks — the Midnight At An Osaka Pickle Bar cocktail and the zero-proof Passion on the Pacific. Despite its minimal appearance, it could easily be mistaken for a glass of water; the Osaka Pickle Bar revealed surprising depth on the first sip. Notes of apple shone alongside a distinct pickle-forward gin, with spiced edamame on the side, encouraging you to keep sipping. The zero-proof option, meanwhile, was quietly, refreshingly tropical.

Drinks aside, the opening spread was already asking for our attention — Bone Marrow from the Lebanese section and Toro Temaki and Arare Shrimp from the Japanese. The bone marrow is torched in front of you, releasing that rich, buttery aroma you scoop up with nigella-seed kuboos. The temaki, served in a plate shaped like a hand, is perfect finger food for easy conversation. The star of the night, however, was the extremely crunchy shrimp — we might have wolfed down one too many. It’s the kind of indulgence that makes you reach for another sip of your cocktail, and then another bite.

Two kinds of plancha — Squid and Artichoke — and Vitello Tonnato from the Italian section were also passed around, with the tonnato leaving a strong impression.

While mains in the form of pappardelle and udon were on offer, we decided to save those and dessert for another visit. The night was still young, but with early submissions the next day, we headed back to our respective hoods.

You come for the food, you stay for the mood, and return for the changing hoods. In short, The Hood by Olive is a worthy successor to Toast & Tonic.

Timings: 12 noon to 1 AM

Cost For Two: INR 2,000

Rating: Newly opened

Instagram: @thehood_india