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WHERE TO EAT
Kolkata boasts of a number of good places for eating out. Park Street
which maybe regarded as the downtown of Kolkata has excellent
restaurants in every nook and corner.
Bengali traditional food, especially the yummy
mouthwatering sweets are popular all over India. Bengal boasts off its
cottage cheese based sweets like sandesh, rosogolla and chanar payesh.
Other must try delicacies consist of Misti doi (sweetened curd) and
Patali gur confectionery (date palm jaggery). When it comes to Calcutta
cuisine, it can be said that each district of Bengal has its own unique
dish to offer like Langcha and mihidana-sitabhog of Bardhaman, sharbhaja
of Krishnanagar, chanabora of Murshidabad etc.
Kolkata will never disappoint food lovers. In Bengal, Chinese cuisine is
in demand. North Indian and south Indian food can be found virtually in
any restaurant. Traditionally Bengalis are fish and rice eaters. Other
cuisines that Bengalis are fond of include Continental, Thai, Tibetan
and Anglo-Indian. If you wish to savor the taste of these cuisines, you
can visit some eating-houses in and around Chowringhee and Park Street.
When it comes to the cooking specialty of Kolkata, Kathi rolls (kebabs
wrapped in dough) truly deserve a special mention.
While doing the TESOL course you will find a number of restaurants and
cafes near the accommodation and the TEFL School. However for some fine
dining experience you may try to following:
Area: South Kolkata
Dhaba – North Indian Cuisine
Ballygunge Phari
Dhaba is another good place for meaty North Indian food. The food here
is more on the spicy Punjabi end, with lots of tikkas and tandooris to
choose from. The local breads (naans and rotis) are fantastic. Dhaba is
also known for its meaty rolls (not the bread encompassed gyps of
Bombay, real naan rolls)
Chinese Pavilion- Chinese Cuisine
Gurusaday Road
There are several good Chinese food restaurants all over the city. In
fact, Calcutta was the original purveyor of good Chinese food, which
began at little shops in the city's Chinatown. Even today, lovers of
authentic Chinese food would venture into Chinatown in Tangra a bit
outside the city. However, lovers of good food would probably like
Chinese pavilion, excellent food, well made, not too expensive.
Kewpie's Kitchen – Bengali Cuisine
Behind Subhash Bhavan, Elgin Road
For authentic Bengali Cuisine try Kewpie's Kitchen in Calcutta. It is
listed in the Lonely Planet. It is a local's favorite and off the beaten
path. You will need to take a taxi to get there and the desks at the
bigger hotels know it. You will not see many tourists there, just
families from the neighborhood. Very clean and the food is fantastic.
It takes a little perseverance to get to Kewpie's.
The best way to access it is by taking the small bylane next to Subhash
Bhavan opposite to Forum mall. The other option is a roundabout around
the block and needed only if you are in a car. The decor is minimalistic
but then this place is about food. The food is authentic bengali and
they have some awesome thali's. The Bhetki patro (fish wrapped in leaf)
and Dahi baingan are (abergines in curd gravy) are phenomenal and their
dish of prawns in mustard and coconut gravy is a must have. Be warned
that the mustard is fresh and may cause a zing in your head. The appeal
is enhanced by the terracotta dishes in which all food items are served.
Oh Calcutta! – Bengali and Anglo Indian Cuisine
The Forum, Elgin Road
Possibly the best restaurant in this city, when one takes into
consideration the space, decor, ambience, service and above all the
food. There is a constant striving after fusion cuisine that retains the
character of Calcutta. To die for ... the tomato kashundi, the bekti
meuniere with lemon butter and the rice pudding flavoured with custard
apples (ata'r paayesh).
Phone 91-33-2482015 / 91-33-2483018
Area: Central Kolkata
Zaraang – North West Frontier Cuisine
Near New Market, on Sudder Street
Zaraang has been rated among the best restaurants of India. With the
high society of Kolkata a perpetual fixture in the Indian and French
restaurants here, it is a bit of a restaurant and a bit of a 'place to
be seen in'. Nevertheless, the food is fantastic; both the French and
Indian foods are very well made. The only problem is perhaps that the
service too seems a bit on the snobbery trip, if you don't look like a
fantastic tipper, you may contend with the occasional cold shoulder.
Shiraz – Mughlai food
Park Street / Park Circus
Shiraz is a must for everyone who comes in to Calcutta. The Mughlai is
excellent, great authentic stuff, toned down for those who can't handle
the spice and in full beam for lovers of high-calorie stuff. The
Biriyani here is very famous. There is also Nizam's nearby which has
become a sort of institution in Mughlai food in Calcutta.
Upper Crust- Confectioners
Camac Street
Upper Crust is a chain of bakeries, which have become a sort of
tradition in Calcutta. It began with Flury's and Kathleen's the two
'original' bakeries in the city, subsequently followed by many more,
including chains of bakeries like Upper Crust. The Camac Street branch
is probably the best, the Black Forests and Pineapple pastries are
absolutely delightful.
Momo Plaza – Tibetan food
Lee Road
Around Elgin road and Lee road there are several Tibetan food places,
specialising in their 'Dim Sums' called Momos. These are extremely
popular in Calcutta, though seldom heard of anywhere else in the
country. Momo Plaza serves excellent Momos in several varieties, as do
the several restaurants around it.
Aheli – Bengali Food
Chowringhee
Aheli is a nice cuisine with great Bengali food with unique ambiance and
the touch Bengali hospitality is a bonus. The dishes famous here are "Paturi","Luchi"
and more. |
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