Restaurant India News: American Casual Dining Brand TGIF Returns to India With 50-Outlet Vision

American casual dining brand Thank God It’s Friday (TGIF) has officially relaunched in India with a renewed market strategy focused on food, beverage-led social dining and scalable expansion. The brand is positioning itself to cater to India’s young, urban, and occasion-driven consumer base, with an emphasis on consistent formats and high-energy dining environments.

The North India relaunch is being led by -Feastary Hospitality, founded by Suraj Mahant and Lakshay Lohia, in partnership with USR Hospitality. Under the agreement, the group holds exclusive development rights across nine North Indian states. The strategy targets both metro markets and select Tier-2 cities, reflecting a broader industry shift toward regional growth beyond primary urban centres.

The rollout begins with four flagship outlets across Delhi NCR and Lucknow. Ludhiana is scheduled to open next, with additional locations planned over the next year. The operators have outlined a phased expansion plan aimed at building brand visibility and operational stability before accelerating growth.

Suraj Mahant, Co-Founder, Feastary Hospitality LLP, said, “India is ready for a dining culture that blends international flavor with genuine energy. TGIF has a legacy built on celebration, warmth, and connection, and our goal is to translate that into a contemporary Indian context. We want people to walk in and instantly feel like the day just got better.”

Lakshay Lohia, Co-Founder, Feastary Hospitality, added, “This launch is about more than opening restaurants, it’s about shaping an experience. TGIF’s global strength lies in big flavours, iconic cocktails, and an atmosphere that feels effortlessly joyful. With our operational backbone and USR Hospitality’s leadership, we are committed to delivering that consistency across every outlet.”

TGIF’s India menu remains aligned with its global positioning, featuring American comfort food staples such as flame-grilled burgers, whiskey-glaze ribs, chicken wings, potato skins, Tex-Mex offerings, and desserts including the Brownie Obsession. Beverage continues to be a core revenue driver, with the brand’s bar program centred on Long Island Iced Teas, margaritas, frozen cocktails, and large-format shared serves.

From a design and operations standpoint, Indian outlets follow a standardised format focused on high footfall and group dining. Layouts prioritise bar visibility, social seating, warm lighting, and music-led ambience to support longer dwell times and repeat visits. The brand’s service model is supported by global kitchen protocols and centralised operating systems aimed at maintaining consistency across locations.

TGIF’s long-term roadmap includes opening 8 outlets by 2026, expanding to 20 outlets by 2027, and scaling to approximately 50 locations nationwide. The relaunch signals TGIF’s intent to re-establish itself as a scalable casual dining chain in India, at a time when the organised restaurant sector is increasingly driven by experience-led formats, beverage-led revenues, and regional expansion strategies.