Think of Hyderabad and the first thing that pops up in your mind is the range of delicacies the city has to offer. One destination for food is Blue Fox in Himayathnagar, a favourite haunt for many Hyderabadis, which recently completed 35 years of service. “In the 80s, there was no restaurant-cum-bar in Hyderabad for families. Women felt safe here. While men enjoyed the drinks and food, our specialities were a hit with the women,” says Krishna Mohan Reddy, director, finance and administration, of the restaurant.
On a new trend
The bar-cum-fine dining restaurant was launched by three promoters — Prabhakar Reddy, Vijayavardhan Reddy and Ramakrishna Reddy on April 11, 1982. Mohan reveals that their intention was to start a new trend in Hyderabad. “The best chefs were hired at the inception of the restaurant. The manager was a Chinese man named Chung,” he smiles. The restaurant owes its name to Prabhakar, who spotted the name in the US. “In the initial years, those residing in Banjara or Jubilee Hills didn’t have many options. The cream of society loved to spend an evening here and catch up with their friends.”
With a simple setting sans any frills, walking into Blue Fox is like entering a friend’s house. The cheerful staff make sure most regular customers have their favourite table. “Regular visitors don’t even see the menu card. Most of them know the dishes they want and order them from memory,” explains Srinivasula Reddy, from the kitchen and production department.
Range of options
Despite its lavish drinks menu, alcohol isn’t the reason for Blue Fox’s success. The restaurant has on the cards a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes that are quite popular, with fish apollo, chicken majestic and butter chicken being the major attractions. The staff share that most celebrities, politicians and film and television artistes have graced their establishment. Former Chief Ministers Chenna Reddy, Anjaiah, Kiran Kumar Reddy and actors Nagarjuna and Rajendra Prasad have all visited the place.
Srinivasula recalls an incident when a senior citizen waited patiently because the restaurant was crowded. “I suggested that instead of waiting, he go to another restaurant, but the retired chief engineer replied that he will not get the same feeling elsewhere,” he says. Many of the employees at the 140-seater restaurant have been there since its inception, like Sanjeev, who has been working there since 1984. Pandu, the assistant manager, remembers that he had joined the hotel as a helper. “I started my career here as the junior-most employee. I rose to this position, and I have also been able to complete LLB.” The restaurant’s anniversary is celebrated as a festival by all the employees.
Blue Fox is currently in 11 locations, including Vijayawada, Tirupathi and Nellore.
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