Be it the cafe he started at the age of 19 while he was still studying or even the grand launch of Banquets as an extension to his iconic rooftop restaurant brand Laa Unico; Pankit Thakkar knows how to pass with flying colors. While there were men in the hospitality industry in Pune making calculated moves, this boy entered the industry in 2018. He kicked meat out of the kitchen and alcohol out of the bar! This was a move that no business expert understood but all he did was he followed his heart! And that gave Pune, its most iconic rooftop restaurant, Laa Unico.
A full-fledged bar but without alcohol and a modern Indian experimental menu but without meat were the challenges. Pankit turned them into opportunities by selecting a location that is the hub of vegetarians, Mukund Nagar. This was a location that was heavily neglected by the restaurant industry and the residents needed a good family restaurant. Again, a masterstroke that came from his heart!
Everything Pankit does is out of love and passion, and the same applies to his business as well. He calls it the secret ingredient of his success. He passionately has invested himself into this iconic rooftop for the past 5 years and it is the customers’ love that has made Laa Unico a success.
As a reader, you may feel this is a bit stretched. But his success has been recognised by awards like Icons Of Pune, Times Hospitality Icons, Indian Star Saga Award, Best Indian Brand Icon for Rooftop Veg Restaurant; just to name a few!
This International Men’s Day, we are celebrating and cheering this successful man who followed a unique path. Pankit Thakkar’s restaurant is a role model today in Pune and his recipes are as unique as he is. But there is a common ingredient in everything he does successfully that you may not find anywhere else, that is Love!
Laa Unico Instagram
