Raisa Naser Khan, the Co-owner of Mehfil, speaks about her experience in the food industry and how she plans on expanding her venture.
You are already an aspiring entrepreneur and the founder of Glamshow. What inspired you to venture into the food industry?
I have a keen interest in being a successful entrepreneur across different industries. Starting from the fashion industry to beauty and cosmetics, I have always had a special interest in exploring Bangladesh’s restaurant industry.
Mehfil has a unique aesthetic and ambience that sets it apart from its contemporaries. What was the inspiration behind the design?
Mehfil has a unique aesthetic and ambience that sets it apart from its contemporaries. What was the inspiration behind the design?Mehfil has been designed by my partner and brother Rehanur, who has done a remarkable job. He produced a design that induces a colourful and festive mood among the guests and ensures a joyful experience. The restaurant’s unique aesthetic has become a selling point for us; I am proud to own one of the most Instagrammable restaurants in the country.
As we hopefully move towards a vaccined world, can we expect to see the Bangladeshi restaurant industry growing at pre-pandemic levels?
As we hopefully move towards a vaccined world, can we expect to see the Bangladeshi restaurant industry growing at pre-pandemic levels?With rising vaccinations, infection rates are reducing dramatically across the world. Hopefully, things will continue to improve rather than give rise to deadly variants that warrant another lockdown. It’s looking great for the restaurant industry as more people walk in with their friends and family for a meal together. The stakeholders of the industry will be reassured to know that people still value the dine-in experience. Conversely, if things go south, I believe the industry will be better prepared for any situation than the initial stages of the pandemic.
How are you planning to expand in the next five years?
How are you planning to expand in the next five years?Any entity that provides good service while satisfying customer demand is bound to thrive. Mehfil has been able to amass a significant following among Dhaka’s foodies. Therefore, we are planning to expand to different areas of Dhaka and gradually open branches in the divisional cities across Bangladesh.
Mehfil has procured a senior chef from Oberoi hotel India. He has some mouth-watering North Indian dishes up his sleeves that we will add to our menu soon.