Restaurant India News: Speciality Restaurants Launches SICILIANA, a Sicily-Inspired Italian Dining Concept in Mumbai

Speciality Restaurants Limited has expanded its portfolio with the launch of SICILIANA at The Gourmet Village, Palladium Mall, Mumbai. The new restaurant marks the group’s focused move toward experiential, region-specific dining concepts, drawing inspiration from Sicily’s traditional food culture and community-led dining approach.

Positioned as a casual yet experience-driven Italian restaurant, SICILIANA is designed around the concept of slow dining and shared meals. The brand focuses on creating an environment that encourages longer table times, social interaction, and simple food rooted in tradition rather than fast-paced service formats. This aligns with the evolving preferences of urban consumers who increasingly value experiential dining alongside food quality.

Anjan Chatterjee, Chairman & Managing Director, Speciality Restaurants Limited, said, “With SICILIANA, we wanted to go beyond serving great Italian food; our goal was to craft an experience that truly transports guests. The idea came from a deep appreciation for how Sicilians live: the sense of community, the leisurely meals, the connection between people and produce. Mumbai’s diners today are seeking experience and emotion behind their dining choices, and SICILIANA is our answer to that. It’s a space where every detail, from the menu to the ambience, reflects warmth, togetherness, and a celebration of simple, soulful flavours.”

The restaurant interiors are influenced by Mediterranean design elements, combining earthy tones, Sicilian tile patterns, and contemporary finishes. The space has been created to appeal to consumers visiting one of Mumbai’s premium retail and lifestyle destinations, offering a relaxed dining environment within a high-footfall mall setting. The concept aims to balance comfort with visual appeal while supporting longer guest stays.

The culinary direction is led by Chef Saby, a Presidential Award-winning chef, who has developed a menu centred on traditional Italian techniques and ingredient-led cooking. The menu focuses on simplicity, with dishes intended for sharing and built around slow cooking, light sautéing, olive oil, and fresh herbs. Speaking about the menu, Chef Saby said, “Curating SICILIANA’s menu has been a journey fueled by a love for vibrant colours and textures that bring each dish to life. The menu celebrates fresh ingredients and hearty plates designed for sharing. We wanted to create not just meals but experiences that invite laughter, spark conversation, and build connections around the table. SICILIANA is a place where every detail reflects the warmth and joy of meaningful gatherings.”

The food offering highlights Sicilian classics such as Arancini, Supplì, Aubergine Caponata, and Sfincione, along with a strong emphasis on coastal seafood dishes including Frutti di Mare and grilled fish preparations. Ingredients like heirloom tomatoes, capers, zucca, extra virgin olive oil, pecorino, ricotta, bocconcini, basil, and oregano form the backbone of the menu. Desserts feature traditional options such as Pistachio Cannoli, reflecting the region’s culinary heritage.

SICILIANA’s beverage program has been developed to complement the food menu, with Italian-inspired cocktails including Mediterranean Sgroppino, Tiramisu Martini, and Siciliana Mimosa. The wine list includes a selection of white, red, and sparkling wines curated to pair with Mediterranean flavours and seafood-forward dishes.

With this launch, Speciality Restaurants continues to strengthen its presence in the premium casual dining segment, focusing on region-led storytelling, operational consistency, and evolving consumer demand for immersive dining formats. SICILIANA is positioned as a long-format dining experience that prioritises food quality, ambience, and social engagement within Mumbai’s competitive hospitality landscape.