Putting behind a brief innings as a Covid-19 safehouse, The Sonnet returned to normalcy with resumption of a buffet spread at its all-day dining restaurant Aura.

And the good news is the spread is more elaborate than pre-Covid times while the price has come down.

“Last year, we were charging Rs 946 per head. Now it is Rs 746. We are calling it Weekend Family Funday. The spread will be laid out for Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch. This is a confidence-building gesture on our behalf as we recognise people have taken a financial hit in this pandemic,” said Avishek Dutta, food and beverage manager.

Vegetable Cannelloni Sourced by the Telegraph

Precautions too have been taken. The 94-cover restaurant now sits 60. “The gaps between tables have been increased. The plates and cutlery on the tables too stay wrapped.”

The buffet starts with a live counter. If it serves piping hot momo on one day, the next day there could be pasta or Mongolian starters or sushi.

A salad counter with over half a dozen varieties will cater to the health conscious.

A laksa counter allows one to add ingredients of choice to the spicy noodle soup popular in maritime southeast Asian nations.

Then there are Continental, Chinese and Indian main course dishes followed by the dessert spread.

Masala Chai-flavoured Caramel Custard Sourced by the Telegraph

In the first weekend, response was robust. “People are wanting to come out after being locked down for so long,” said executive chef Vikram Jaiswal. The chef joined the hotel in February. “We had just revamped the buffet for Valentine’s Day but soon had to close down. It is now that we are being able to serve it,” he said.

Through the week, the buffet will be served at the table at the same price. But on weekends, when the Family Funday offer is not on, i,e. Saturday lunch and Sunday dinner, it will cost Rs 846 per person.