Go Where (Sector 5 Salt Lake)

Chicken Drumstick

Located just opposite to RDB Big Cinemas main entrance of Sector V, this multi-cuisine food joint, Go Where has become one of the most favourite hangout destinations for Office, IT crowd and nearby college folks. Due to its cheap alcohol and average food price, this restaurant cum bar is crowded on most weekends and weekday evenings. Dimly lit with couches this joint has 2 sections. The inner section is well decorated and cozy compared to outer section. The music they play in the background is popular Bollywood movie tracks and it’s too loud to hear even your own voice. They allow smoking inside the restaurant, which I feel can be disturbing to some visitors. This lounge is surely not a place for family visits. The seating arrangement is better in the inner segment of the restaurant, whereas the front section is overcrowded due to small place and poor seating arrangement.

Kobe Sizzlers (City Centre Salt Lake)

Kobe Sizzlers Interiors

Perhaps Kobe Sizzlers is the only Restaurant in Kolkata which devotes to serving only Sizzlers apart from sandwiches and a few starters. Situated in the heart of City Center Salt Lake, Kobe Sizzlers is the true flavor of the very contemporary European grills and steaks. They have been the oldest Sizzler restaurant chain in India since it opened its door in Mumbai in 1975. They now have over 19 outlets in not only cities of India but abroad as well. Thick wooden tables, jute stringed chairs and modern abstract paintings on the wall make the décor. Interesting pieces of intricate wooden artwork separate each table from one another. There are cushioned long low benches on one side which maybe a bit uncomfortable for those requiring a back rest. The ambiance is pretty sophisticated.

Azad Hind Dhaba (Salt Lake Sector 5 Globsyn)

Azad Hind Dhaba Sector 5 Interiors

After its first Salt Lake outlet near College More Sector 5, Azad Hind Dhaba has come up with a new branch at Globsyn Crystals building, Salt Lake Sector V. It’s a quite massive outlet spanned in 2 levels having capacity to accommodate 78 persons. Always crowded with regular office a goer of this area, this popular Punjabi Dhaba serves you till midnight (Till 3 a.m. at night during festive seasons of Durga Puja, Diwali & Christmas. This particular outlet is decorated after Bengal and Punjab rural arts (terracotta patachitra on the mud walls), with big chakras (painted cartwheels) and dim lights of Terracotta Lamps hanging from the bamboo rafters. The air conditioned restaurant makes you feel seated in a normal roadside dhaba by its amazing clay wall decoration and terracotta art work.

Caramelle (Ballygunge)

Caramelle Interiors

Kolkata has many cafes where you can grab a cup of coffee anytime. Similarly the latest addition being the “Caramelle” (Le patisserie Cakewalk: A bakery specializing in French pastry) at Jhowtala Road in Ballygunge (near Syed Amir Ali Avenue crossing) which is a perfect gateway for today’s generation. The café aims to introduce a European-styled bistro culture to the city. The owner of the shop has put together two page beverages, three page vegetarian and five page non- vegetarian menu.

Chowman (Tollygunge)

Chowman Interiors

This Chinese & Thai restaurant, Chowman, located in Tollygunge area (walking distance from both South City Mall & Golf Club), at Prince Golam Mohammad Shah Road to be exact is quite outstanding and overtly popular in South Kolkata. Most people avail the Home Delivery & Take Away facility though because of its small space consisting of only 4 tables and one could just eavesdrop into the conversation of the nearby table very easily. In spite of the tininess of the place, they have made it quite cozy. The wall décor has abstract Chinese paintings & wall hangings. They play soft, delightful Chinese instrumentals in the background which makes anyone feel that they have been virtually transferred to a small town in China. The Red & Black cushioned chairs have an uncanny resemblance to Haka restaurant outlets. The tables are all laid out well always with proper matching red hand napkins, Chinese style bamboo table mats, chopsticks, Chinese tea pots (Aladdin Genie Lamp) containing sauces apart from the regular Salt and pepper shakers.

Bawarchi (Kudghat)

Dry Chilli Chicken

Bawarchi is one of the famous Chinese restaurants located near the Jadavpur 8B bus stand. It’s a very popular restaurant which serves good Chinese and North Indian cuisine. There are many take away shops of Bawarchi across the city which offers exactly the same menu (provided below) which is available in the family restaurant. Similarly one joint is located near the Kudghat area. This joint is basically famous for rolls and Chinese items but north Indian dishes are also quite good.

Mango People (Golpark)

Mango People Interiors

Finally an economical restaurant located in the prime area of Golpark (Gariahat Road), Mango People, which serve decent food to “Aam Aadmi” [Mango People] of South Kolkata. It offers Chinese, Fast Food, Continental dishes and mouth watering delights. However the place is very small (4 tables for 15 persons in total) and you will be quite fortunate to get a table in busy hours. The table cloth, divan, cushioned chairs all are red in color with matching red cotton napkins as well. There is live cooking within an open kitchen separated from the dining area by transparent glass walls. Mostly college students and youngsters turn up in large numbers at this place. The waiters are courteous to make suggestions while taking orders from customers and also serve a complimentary bowl of chips when the food is being prepared.

Shiraz Golden Restaurant (Salt Lake)

Shiraz at Salt Lake Kolkata (HA Block)

Shiraz Golden Restaurant added another branch to Kolkata at HA Block (Near Tank No. 13) Salt Lake. This restaurant outlet has limited seating area with a couple of tables as it serves most of its customers through the Take Away counter and Home Delivery Facility. Similar to the Shiraz of Mallikbazar (Park Street), it not only serves different types of Kathi Kebab Rolls, but also all Indian / Mughlai dishes like Kebabs, Chap, Rezala, Korma, Tandoor Items & Biriyani. The Kathi Kebab Rolls available at their outside counter are a hit among the large no. of students and office goers who come to Salt Lake daily. Their entire list of items & Menu is given below.

Hatari (Golf Green)

Mixed Fried Rice

Hatari is a multi cuisine restaurant located at Triangular Park. The name Hatari was taken from the 1962 American film “HATARI” directed by Howard Hawks. It has opened many small takeaway branches like the one located at Golf Green. It offers Chinese and North Indian dishes and other mouth watering delights. Their menu is exactly the same like the one they have it in the main restaurant. Everything is available in this joint be it a pork or lamb. Wondering where to order food for guests who have come unannounced? Don’t worry, because if you are living near Tollygunge, Jadavpur or Garia, you can order to this branch of Hatari.

The Tea Trove (Sarat Bose Road)

The Tea Trove Interiors

If the saying goes –”a lot can happen over coffee”…then certainly “a lot can happen over tea” too!! Yes, ’The Tea Trove’ located at the Sarat Bose Road gives one the opportunity to freshen up with their various types of ‘tea’, one of the common beverages of this country. People have always preferred ‘hot tea’, but The Tea Trove paves one to a new road, where one is welcomed with brand new tea delights coupled with ice!! ’Tea’ has got an opportunity to expose itself in a totally different style, through this very young, cool, amazing vegetarian tea parlour. Situated in a very busy street, it attracts the school and college crowd and of course the young generation.

India Restaurant (Kidderpore)

Murgh Peshwari Kebab

On a cloudy July afternoon, me and two of my friends set off on a trail to taste one of the best and authentic kebabs in Kolkata. Our destination was khidderpore, an area known for goods available in cheap prices. It is a muslim locality hence most of the restaurants serves authentic mughlai cuisine. We chose the Indian Restaurant for trying out kebabs. The restaurant is quite spacious with separate A.C and non A.C sitting areas. Even in a normal weekday afternoon, there was a constant flow of customers. Since we had only kebab in mind, we straightaway dived into the kebab menu.

Go Lebanese (Sarat Bose Road)

Go Lebanese

The gastronomic capital got another addition to its family of diverse culinary destinations. Go Lebanese brings to Kolkata the taste of Middle Eastern delicacies. The small outlet remains busy with constant flow of customers throughout the day. It has got such a good reputation that most of the days they are completely sold out. The reason for this is that the Lebanese cuisine identifies it with the Mughlai and Indian dishes that are available here with the exception of being less oily. Thus, it is high on taste and low on cholesterol.

Harvey’s World Cuisine (Kasba)

Harvey's Interiors

Though it is located at a very unusual place of Kasba at Nabapally bus stop just a km away from Ruby, Harvey’s has the right World Cuisine that Kolkata needs with a blend of North Indian dishes and an array of Continental fare. An extensive glass showcase displays a vast collection of imported wines just at the entrance to the restaurant on second floor. The interiors have venetian blinds, wooden finished floors, ceiling air conditioning systems, faux flowers, wide cozy white sofas and marble-top tables. Through the transparent glass façade one can view the Rashbehari – EM Bypass connector. A lavish buffet spread was neatly placed at the centre of the restaurant with each dish on top of induction heaters set at the correct temperature.

Flame & Grill - South City Mall

Flame & Grill (South City) Interiors

In spite of the hot, humid and sweaty weather of Kolkata, people love to utter the words "Flame and Grill". It instantly reminds one of 'KEBABS" and various sumptuous Indian dishes. Flame and Grill is one of the finest restaurants serving amazing kebabs and yes of course a never-ending delicious buffet!! Flame and Grill is in the topmost floor of the hugely popular South City Mall, a perfect place to attract the crowd! The ambience of the restaurant gives you the rejuvenated feeling of getting ready to indulge yourself in the pool of kebabs and many more items. The entire decor has a dark and wooden look!! The restaurant can comfortably accommodate more than 50 persons and the entire atmosphere makes one feel composed and active simultaneously! The restaurant has an interesting work of art, also used as a partition! It stretches from the ceiling till the floor in the form of a grid with each square containing a bottle of spice, herbs or masala!! To talk about the sitting arrangement, the tables, which are low in height along with wooden long chairs accommodating 2 people atleast! The most interesting fact about the table is its attatched "hot wok" (personal grill chamber)!!

Pantaloons Food Court (Kankurgachi)

Mango Smoothie and Cold Coffee

Another self service food court in North Kolkata; Pantaloons Food Court is situated on the uppermost floor of the Pantaloons Shopping Centre of Kankurgachi area. After spending a lump some time on a shopping spree at one of Kolkata’s most popular brands, Pantaloons, and you are starving, you can get yourself some fast food, snacks, desserts or coffee here. This smallish food outlet is right beside the Food Bazaar (grocery store of Pantaloons) and has a few tables and even fewer food counters as compared to other shopping mall food courts.

Hangout Food Court City Centre (Salt Lake)

Hangout Food Court Interior section

Nicely sited on the rooftop, Hangout is the Food Court at City Centre Salt Lake, one of the oldest and most popular malls in Kolkata. Dishing out Italian pastas, Continental sizzlers, Chinese momos, North Indian Kebabs, South Indian dosas to Bombay Pav Bhaji, it is a multi cuisine self-service restaurant. It is split in two sections; the outside section is open air where plastic tables are laid under massive umbrellas and from where you get a good view of the Salt Lake locality. The other section is air-conditioned having all the food counters surrounding a central region with chessboard tiled floors, steel tables and green & black plastic chairs. Complete in bright colors, there is certain warmth in this place which builds up a sparkling tone.

D-Oh! Boy (Shakespeare Sarani)

Blueberry Lemon, Chocolicious, Deep Dark Desire,
Triple Choco Blast (Clockwise from top)

Well, the Donuts are here in Kolkata and D-Oh! Boy is one of the leading Donut joints in Kolkata. They have got an outlet in Theater Road (Shakespeare Sarani) which runs out of stock by 8 p.m. in most of the days, thanks to the quality of Donuts they sell.

Silver Grill (Park Street)

Silver grill (Park Street Kolkata) Interiors

Like Mags & Olypub, this bar cum Chinese restaurant, Silver Grill has been an old hangout zone for college students and after office crowd for well over three decades. The cheap prices of alcoholic drinks & classic cocktails are the major thing that attracts its regular customers of Park Street. It has two levels, the ground floor having the bar counter and the first floor restaurant invites only family. The interiors feature dim lighting, red colored leather sofas, tall wooden tables, and ragged interiors with hardly any wall decoration.

Ta'aam (Rashbehari Avenue)

Ta'aam at Priya Cinema Hall, South Kolkata

Ta'aam (meaning ‘food’ in Arabic) is the city's newest addition to the Mughal-Frontier cuisine (North Indian Cuisine) segment. This restaurant, situated within the same building of Priya Cinema Hall beside the ticket counter, has the impressive ambience of the Mughal era. Its brightly lit, very nicely and neatly decorated with Jhoomars and tall mirrors. One of the walls is fully decked with Persian clay plates. This restaurant has the welcoming feel to it with the perfect blend of music. The restaurant has classy interiors with a huge space which can accommodate 75 persons at a time. As we were seated at a sofa the server moved away after filling up our water glasses and giving us the menu cards. A small bar counter at the far end, now serves only a variety of mocktails on the cards, till they get a bar license.

Copper Chimney (City Centre Salt Lake)

Copper Chimney at City Centre Kolkata

Established in 1972 & located  in metro cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore & many more, this chain of fine dining restaurant, Copper Chimney opened its outlet at the city of joy, Kolkata, at one our very own City Centre Mall. Capturing the robust flavors of the Frontier and the rustic fare of the fabled roadside ‘dhabas’ of Punjab, Copper Chimney delivers an authentic dining experience in its own signature style. The restaurant has magnificent interiors and is spread over two levels offering comfortable seating for 130 persons. Rendered in an earthy, muted palette in lavish wood finish the artfully contained flamboyance.