The culinary fabric of San Francisco's dining scene is facing a tear as two long-standing Indian restaurants teeter on the edge of closure. On one side of the city, New Delhi restaurant, a treasured staple since 1988 and San Francisco's oldest Indian diner, warns of shutting down in the face of dwindling patronage, as per CBS News Bay Area.

According to the CBS News Bay Area report, owner Ranjan Dey has exhausted savings and taken personal loans "left, right, and center" to keep the Union Square adjacent establishment afloat. Despite adding a creative twist to their nights with "Curry-Oke", the dip in business remains stark. The decline isn’t isolated to New Delhi. It reflects a wider post-pandemic downtown slump, as indicated by the recent exits of retail giants like Macy's and Bloomingdale's.

On the Mission's side, Aslam's Rasoi is confronting its grim realities. Opened in 2006, this local favorite for Northern Indian and Pakistani cuisine is set for closure in May, as reported by Mission Local. A 52% rent hike, soaring costs, and reduced sales are the contributing factors, with the family behind the restaurant using personal funds to keep its doors open, according to SFGATE.

Amid their respective struggles, these two restaurants share the challenge of retaining the essence of San Francisco's diverse food scene. State Senator Scott Wiener's efforts to boost downtown foot traffic, including a law change to increase alcohol service in the area, could offer a lifeline. As hinted by John Konstin Jr. of the legacy John's Grill, which has found new vigor with live jazz music, such changes might pivot the tide for these dining institutions. Whatever the outcome, the hope, as Dey expressed to CBS News Bay Area, remains that as a community, "we can help each other, we can overcome it."