Japanese Diner Bento B opens inside Crossword Book Store

Coffee and books go together. Noted book retail chain Barnes and Nobles had Starbucks cafe at several locations where the iconic book store operated.

Back in the 2010s, India’s then largest cafe chain Cafe Coffee Day operated coffee shops inside book stores such as Crossword, Odyssey, etc.

With over 125 stores, Crossword Book Store has relaunched their outlet at C-Scheme at Jaipur..

Aakash Gupta, CEO of Crossword Bookstores said, “You’ll now find beautifully curated books, gifts, stationery & toys, and the perfect surprise- an in-store, all-vegetarian Japanese diner- Bento B.

If you are in Jaipur, do drop by and experience this new chapter!” on his Linkedin post.

Given the high flow of international tourists coupled with a growing local community of discerning book readers, Crossword has collaborated with an international dining concept to woo its customers.

Bento B is a Shokudō (食堂, Japanese Diner) with culinary experiences that are focused on integral flavours, people and conversations.

The restaurant, founded by Amit Gupta operates two outlets currently at Baroda and Ahmedabad.

Imbibing the idea of ichijū-sansai, Bento B is here to serve the city with unique delicacies like Ramen, Bento Boxes and Sushi.

With the infinite power of Enso at the core, all it’s elements thrive to create excellence, every single time.

A bento box (弁当, bentō) is a single-portion take-out or home-packed meal of Japanese origin. 

Outside Japan, it is common in Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean cuisines, as well as in Southeast Asian cuisines where rice is the main staple food. 

A traditional bento may contain rice or noodles, often with pickled and cooked vegetables in a box.  Containers range from mass-produced disposables to hand-crafted lacquerware.  

Japanese homemakers often spend time and energy on carefully prepared box lunches for their spouses, children, or themselves.

Editor’s Note

The unique combination of a restaurant inside a book store is indeed a first of its kind in India and a welcome experiment.

What certainly is a concern for readers is the mix-up of aroma of the food ingredients with the unique odour of freshly printed books.

The success of Crossword’s turnaround after its takeover by the current owners Agarwal Business House has been due to the superior customer experience that is being offered..

Many book lovers dither even a small noise at the store while browsing new books and titles, let alone the smell of coffee and food. One needs to wait and see how this model works..