On Wednesday, August 26, three Indian restaurants will turn the usual rules of dining on their head. For the evening, there will be no fixed prices on their food menus. Guests can order from the regular menu and pay whatever they can afford. The initiative, ‘Pay What You Can’, is part of the Global Day of Hospitality, which will see more than 100 restaurants across 14 countries open their doors under a more accessible model. Scroll down to know more about the initiative.
What Is Pay What You Can?
The idea behind the Pay What You Can initiative is simple: for one night, food, hospitality and a seat at the table should not be decided solely by a guest’s ability to pay. Reservations will also be off the table, allowing diners to walk in and participate. The concept traces back to 2020, when restaurateurs Norma Listman and Saqib Keval began offering their full menu without prices at their Mexico City restaurant, Masala y Maíz. The restaurant, which combines Mexican and South Asian influences, went on to earn a Michelin star. What began as an informal pay-what-you-can initiative eventually expanded into a citywide event, with more than 20 restaurants in Mexico City participating last year.
This August, the idea is going international, bringing together more than 100 restaurants across 14 countries. While participating establishments will follow a common framework, each restaurant will adapt the initiative to suit its own community and operations.
Which Indian Restaurants Will Participate?
In India, the initiative will be observed by Americano in Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda, Mezcalita in Bandra and Bengaluru and Mai Mai in Bengaluru’s Indiranagar. The three restaurants may have different culinary identities, but they will follow the same basic format for the evening: no reservations, the full food menu, and a pay-what-you-can model for food. Drinks, however, will continue to be available at their regular menu prices.
For restaurants familiar with and used to carefully balancing reservations, pricing and margins, the initiative represents a very different approach to hospitality. For one evening, the focus shifts from what a meal costs to who gets to experience it. The Global Day of Hospitality therefore offers more than a different way to dine. It is an experiment in making restaurants more accessible, while asking diners and hospitality businesses to rethink what it means to share a table.
What Restaurateurs Have To Say About This?
The Pay What You Can initiative is being welcomed by Indian restaurants as a way to rethink what hospitality can mean beyond a conventional commercial transaction. At Mezcalita Cantina y Tequila Bar, Brand Head Rizwan Amlani said the movement felt particularly relevant because it originated in Mexico City and aligns with the restaurant’s aim of representing Mexican culture in India. “A Mexican cantina is not defined by price – it’s defined by openness, warmth, and belonging,” Amlani said, adding that the initiative allows Mezcalita to extend its cultural values to people who may have previously found the experience out of reach. He said success would not be measured by revenue or covers but by whether guests leave feeling welcomed, included and connected to Mexican culture.
At Bengaluru’s Mai Mai, Founder Yash Bhatia said the initiative reflects the restaurant’s belief that food should bring people together rather than be determined solely by what someone can afford. “We don’t believe that experience should always be determined by what someone can afford to spend on a particular day,” Bhatia said. He noted that opening the entire menu on a pay-what-you-can basis carries a genuine commercial risk, with the restaurant still having to cover staff, ingredients and operational costs. However, he said the aim is to give guests the same food, service and experience as any other day while removing the financial barrier. For Bhatia, the initiative is ultimately about making people feel that they belong at the table.
What are your thoughts about this initiative?
Cover Image Courtesy: Supplied
FAQs
Who is the owner of Mezcalita restaurant?
Mezcalita was co-founded and created by restaurateurs Rizwan Amlani (founder of Dope Coffee Roasters) and Vicky Singh (co-founder of Slink & Bardot).
What does "pay what you can" mean?
"Pay what you can" (PWYC) is a flexible pricing model where buyers choose the amount they pay for a product or service.
When is the "pay what you can" initiative in India?
The "pay what you can" initiative is being held on August 26 in India.
