A few months ago, Salman Khan’s sister Arpita Khan ventured into the restaurant space and opened her new restaurant — Mercii — in Mumbai’s posh Santacruz area. The restaurant, sprawling over 9,000 sq ft, soon became a popular spot among celebrities, with paparazzi frequently spotting several Bollywood A-listers at the venue.
Arpita co-owns the restaurant with Ketul and Gaurav Parikh, and Anuj and Vicky Chugh of Richboyz Hospitality and Richboyz Entertainment. Mercii, which means “thank you” in French, is known for its fine-dining experience and focuses on bringing authentic European flavours to its diners.
Transitioning ceiling
The restaurant is located on the lower level, and since there isn’t any natural light source, one might expect it to feel enclosed — but that’s far from the case. The space makes a grand impression, thanks to its innovative transitioning ceiling, which uses different lighting to set the mood according to the time of day. For instance, during the day, the ceiling mimics an artificial skylight that gives a warm, sunlit glow — perfect for brunches and lunches with family. At night, the lighting transforms into a nightscape, creating an glamorous and intimate dining atmosphere.
Speaking about the transitioning ceiling and how the idea came to her, Arpita told Curly Tales, “When Carl, our designer from Creative Clinic (Dubai), suggested the ceiling as a concept, it’s something that immediately caught my fancy. With the immersive ceiling, we are able to change the lighting and mood of the ambience at Mercii. And, this helps us create a vibe. It also adds to the expanse and makes the place look more dramatic and larger than life.”
Inside Arpita Khan’s restaurant. (Pic: Mercii/Instagram)
Inside Arpita Khan’s restaurant. (Pic: Mercii/Instagram)
Palatial feel
The interior decor of the restaurant gives it a palatial charm, with a jharokha-style effect created through thoughtful lighting and small sitting corners that resemble shamianas. The restaurant is furnished with cozy yet edgy chairs and tables, along with plush, comfortable sofas.
A massive bar and DJ area form a focal point of the restaurant. There’s also a private section that can accommodate up to 30 guests, complete with a separate bar to serve that space exclusively.
Inside Arpita Khan’s restaurant. (Pic: Mercii/Instagram)
Inside Arpita Khan’s restaurant. (Pic: Mercii/Instagram)
International chef
Mercii has culinarian Deniss Koll as its Group Culinary Director. Deniss has previously worked at high-end restaurants in Dubai. Speaking about how Arpita brought him on board for the restaurant, she said, “So, to be honest. Chef Dennis is the choice of my partners Ketul & Gaurav. We met a lot of chefs and did tastings, too. But something or the other was not the way we would have liked it to be. Then, one of Ketul & Gaurav’s friends — who is also a chef from a very famous restaurant in Dubai and who had worked with Deniss closely — suggested him. When he came to Mumbai and gave us a trial we figured that his heart and culinary skills were in the right place and his cooking was great, too.”
Mercii menu
Mercii serves meticulously curated authentic European cuisine, with Asian and Indian components integrated in some dishes. During an interaction, Arpita admitted that she wanted to open a multi-cuisine restaurant but with a very thoughtful and single-target approach. She also shared that her favourite dish on the menu is the four-cheese pizza known as Quattro Formaggi, which costs Rs 1,100. Other pizzas are also priced between Rs 800 to Rs 1,100.
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The restaurant’s most expensive dish is the Herb Crusted Lamb Loin, which is priced at Rs 10,000. It’s also one of their signature dishes. Another signature offering — the Truffle Pasta on Wheel — costs Rs 8,500. The Teriyaki Salmon, another popular item, is priced at Rs 4,000.
Mercii also has an extensive wine and liquor menu. It serves champagne imported from France, with some bottles costing up to Rs 1,88,550. White wine Prosecco can cost up to Rs 50,000, while the most expensive white wine on the menu is priced at Rs 69,000. The highest-priced red wine is listed at around Rs 1,40,000. Cocktails are moderately priced between Rs 900 to Rs 1,200.
