India, Aug. 5 -- Imagine this: You walk into a restaurant alone, unsure of what the night will bring. No one knows you, there's no group chat to fall back on, and yet - you leave with a full stomach and a few new friends. That's the vibe of India's newest social trend: community dinners with complete strangers. This slightly chaotic, very wholesome concept is catching on from Delhi to Mumbai and beyond. And no, it's not speed dating or networking - it's just about sharing a meal with people you don't know yet. In a world of swiping fatigue and dry group chats, this idea hits different. And platforms like StepOut and Bunchh are making it happen. These apps and websites group strangers together - usually six to eight people - and send them out to curated dinners, where food is the only common ground (at least to start with). "It was born from something we all feel - the need for real connection," says Sumati Jalan, co-founder of StepOut, which currently operates in Delhi, Gurugram, Pune, and Bengaluru. "A lot of us move to new cities chasing careers, ambitions, or simply a better life. But in that rush, we lose something essential: people." StepOut sorts users into tables based on a personality quiz that dives into social energy, interests, and even fun psych prompts. "We curate small group dinners where you can meet like-minded strangers in handpicked restaurants," she adds. They host weekly Saturday dinners and tickets are priced at Rs.599 (or monthly memberships), with guests paying separately for their food. No awkward splitting the bill - restaurants are told to give individual checks. In Mumbai, Bunchh is doing something similar, with a vibe that's part slumber party, part adulting milestone. Their Rs.749 ticket includes "Table Talk" cards to kickstart the convo (because icebreakers are hard, okay?). "We look at age, gender, personality types... and try to create a group that feels balanced," says co-founder Shivangi Adani. "There are questions like your vibe when you enter a room full of strangers and what kind of conversations you enjoy more." Their sessions have seen repeat users. "Some came alone the first time and now bring friends or attend every alternate session," she says. Digital creator Utsavi Zatakia, 28, says it was way more fun than she expected. "I had never done anything like this before, so being a part of it was an amazing experience for me," she says. "I also ended up making friends whom I speak to on Instagram." Meanwhile, 25-year-old Delhi-based health counsellor Aarushi Kanozia says, "I was confused at first, but the people were jolly and cheerful." She's stayed in touch with one of them since. "I would love to do this again and get to meet new people."...