India, Nov. 6 -- Are pop-ups here to stay in Bengaluru? Until the early 2000s, the word "pop-up" was used mostly for retail shops. Google Trends reports that pop-up restaurants gained ground only around 2014. Today, restaurant pop-ups are common all over the world. In New Delhi, diners are willing to pay close to Rs.1 lakh for the fleeting privilege of tasting a visiting Michelin-starred chefs foam and truffle dishes. In Mumbai, the figure is a bit lower for this particular social cachet but not by much.

Bangalore too has restaurant pop-ups; and yes, we too import celebrity chefs. But our heart lies elsewhere. More and more, Bangalore restaurants are championing the local over the global.

The Oberoi Bengaluru is an example. They focus o...