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.

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.

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.

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.

Le Coffee Creme (Salt Lake)

Le Coffee Creme Salt Lake

Le Coffee Crème is a newly opened Continental - Oriental café cum Hookah joint at the ground floor of a residential house opposite City Centre just beside Mehfil. The location is wonderful to appeal to the shopping crowd though it serves only Vegetarian dishes. The entrance is not right on the road but inside a pavement garage of the building. Right on entering, the small room decorated with stylish automobile photographs on colored wall papers with couches and small wooden tables can easily be mistaken for a waiting area to the real dining area. But it is actually just another room for serving guests like the other two interior ones: One lounge space to the left is neatly done up with pristine interiors, leather cushioned seating, fancy woodwork, Buddha statues, graphic wall paper, silk carpet, cute suspended bar counter. And another region for hookah smoking folks, which is straight ahead, having big LCD screen TV and wall sofas for cozy evenings.

Calcutta Club Dining Hall (Rabindra Sadan)

Bekti Veronique & Chicken Mont Blanc

Dining Hall Interiors

Calcutta Club is a social club located on Lower Circular Road in Kolkata. It was established in 1907 and the first president of the club was H.H. The Maharajah of Cooch Behar. Although not the oldest private members club in the city, it is notable because it was formed at a time when the existing Bengal Club only admitted whites as members. Lord Minto, the Viceroy of India at the time, had wished to invite Rajen Mookerjee to dine at the Bengal Club and, when the discriminatory policy was thus exposed, a decision was taken to form a club with a membership policy not dictated by race. The Calcutta Club remains a popular social hub for the wealthy in the city. Ironically, despite its origins as a reaction to discrimination, the club has historically restricted membership to men. However, this was changed in 2007 and the club started admitting women members.

The Basement, Hotel Samilton (Sarat Bose Road)

Chicken Reshmi Kebab

The Basement, Hotel Samilton

This 2 star boutique hotel maintains a furnished air-conditioned restaurant called Pepper Chino, and a tea bar called Camillia Tea Bar. It also has a pub / discotheque named The Basement, which is one of the most popular ones in South Kolkata. It possibly derives it’s name from its site, it is actually located at the underground basement of the hotel. This 60-seater has a glass-door entrance from the

Indian Coffee House (College Street)

Albert Hall of Indian Coffee House

The Indian Coffee House has four branches in Kolkata, namely the College St. branch, Central Avenue branch, Medical College branch & Jadavpur branch. These are one of the most favourite hang-out places among friend groups of students and youngsters, although one can see several old-timers frequenting the coffee houses on a regular basis. Today its crusty high ceilings and grimy walls ring with deafening student conversation but despite the dishwater coffee, it’s perversely fascinating. It was born in the 1940s, when the Coffee Board set them up. In the 1950s, when the Coffee Board shut down it was reopened by worker cooperatives who were backed by professors of Presidency College & Calcutta University. The history of the Coffee House at College Street can be traced to Albert Hall, which was built in April 1876. Later, the Coffee Board of India decided to start a coffee joint from the Albert Hall in 1942. Notable citizens, including Rabindranath Tagore and Subhas ChandraBose, were frequent visitors to the place. In 1947, the Central Government changed the name of the place to "Coffee House". The place became a meeting place for poets, artistes, literati and people from the world of art and culture.

Bohemian (Ballygunge)

The entrance

Chef Joy Banerjee has opened the doors to experimentation! The moment you see the menu of Bohemian, you notice words that have been regularly used in our staple Bengali diet, but unlike what we have ever tried before. We normally shy away from “shei Bangali khabar” when we dine out, but Bohemian is all set to change that habit in us. Chef Banerjee has used known spices and recipes from our Mother and Grandmother’s kitchen and has transformed them into a global dining experience. The palate is so subtle in its newness that even Bengalis who have grown up with these flavours, discover something new with every spoonful.

Wall graffiti in the loo

Unlike other restaurants where the waiters politely take down whatever you order, suggesting only when asked, here the people are encouraged to assist the diners to choose the best from the menu, for a great culinary experience.

The menu is detailed and thorough, with ample choices among appetizers, salads, mains and desert. The restaurant doesn’t serve liquor, but there are some interesting sorbets and mocktails to choose from.

Palate cleansers and appetizers

Keema wraps

The top pick in appetizers are the Vodka Soaked Prawns with Grilled Garlic Aioli, Joyous Mutton Chops, Lemon Chicken on Lemon Skewers and Chilli Pickle and Cheese Baked Crab with Kolmi Greens. This last item is a treat. Served in an earthen bowl, like the one on which ‘firni’ is served; it is delicious and you are left wanting more. There are some healthy options for salads, with lots of greens and it is served with garlic bread on the side. To wash down your food, try the refreshing Orange and Aaam Adaa Sorbet, or drink up a Sex on the Beach.

Bacon wrapped prwans

Lemon chicken skewer

Vodka soaked prwans

Bohemian serves all their mains with rice and Kolmi greens. They also decorate the sides of the dish with sprinkled spices. For main course, Bohemian has some good options and you are almost at a loss as to what to choose.

Joyous mutton chops

Chicken supreme s

            
Dig into their Bhekti in Bengal Berry Sauce, teamed Breast of Chicken with Radhuni enriched curry sauce, Prawns stewed with Spicy Alphonso Sauce and Adaa Mouri Mangsho. There are numerous vegetarian options as well. You can dig into a dish of Mushroom and Pineapple Skewers with Spicy Coriander and Kalojeera, Cauliflower and Peas in Lemon, Chilli and Coconut Cream.

Aada mouri mangsho

The service is fast, with food reaching the table in 15 minutes top!! Once you taste the food, you will be left exclaiming in delight. The sauces are well seasoned and the poultry, meat and fish well cooked and tender. You will never realise that your traditional Bengali spices could create such delicious fusion food.

Spicy Grilled Bhetki with Radhuni-Enriched Curry

Everybody loves a round of dessert to wrap up and Bohemian excels here as well. They have a Malpoa Cheese Cake that is the talk of the town. If you are someone who is a die-hard chocolate fan, then the ‘Death by Chocolate’ will surely leave you stunned. The smooth luscious chocolate served in a Cognac glass, tempts you to try some more. You can also try Yoghurt and Kalojeera Brulee, and Gondhoraj Soufflé.

Mutton in green mango & cheese sauce

The only problem when it comes to dessert is that the portions are not the same for everyone, so you might be stuck with a diner who gets a bigger looking portion than you.

Bohemian adds to its culinary experience with its hippy decor. There is a display of rock and roll posters in the front while the walls have framed photos of tarot cards. The eccentric nature of the decor is extended even to the loo; it has bright colourful walls with lyrics from famous Bengali songs scribbled all over.

Malpua Cheese Cake

death by chocolate and gondhoraj souffle

Bohemian is a little over priced, with most of the food items priced between Rs. 150 – 350. A meal for two would cost you around Rs. 1300 (without taxes). A small restaurant with a maximum capacity of 30-40 people, it is always recommended that you book in advance.

If you want to experiment with food, then you should surely visit Bohemian. Tuck into the delicious fusion food and get in touch with your Bonghippy side!

Review done by- Suchismita Dattagupta

Location: Building No. 32/4, Old Ballygunge, 1st Lane, Near Sitala Mandir, Ballygunge, Kolkata- 700019

Contact No.: (+91)(33) 66064206 (+91)(33) 64601002, (+91)(33) 64604001, (+91)(33) 64609005

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Rubi's Grill (Gariahat - Dover Lane)

Pork Chop with Butter Rice

I heard about this small little quaint place called Rubi's Grill from a friend of mine and decided to try out some of their food, having received nothing but good reviews about it. The place is very small, yet has a warm and cozy ambiance. It has both indoor and outdoor seating arrangements. On a cool winter evening, it would be pleasant to sit outside and have a nice meal. Charpoys at the entrance to welcome a smoking crowd, mix of lounging rattan chairs and tables of fours, good enough for soul-satisfying pig-outs. The cute niche featuring Salman Rushdie's Midnight's Children, Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code alongside Anton Chekov's Five Plays and the directly hooked online music add to the curiosity. The menu is a humongous 6 page menu with everything American you can find under one roof- from salads with a choice of your own toppings, finger foods, sandwiches, burgers, classic hot dogs, pizzas and pastas to a wide array of gourmet dishes. 

Rubi's Grill Interiors

We ordered Onion rings and a plate of Potato skin with Bacon for starters. Nothing can really go wrong with Onion rings- they were crispy, not too oily and not soggy. They had a good bite to it! The Potato Skins were excellent! Skins, with crispy fried bacon, topped with gooey cheese and some Oregano for flavour- baked to perfection. They were an absolute delight and MUST try! For the entree, we ordered a portion of the Spare Ribs with their authentic, home-made BBQ sauce and a portion of the Pork Chop with butter rice. Oh that marvelous dish of Spare Ribs was beyond anything that I had imagined. The pork ribs, slightly charred on the outside and tender, juicy, yet moist on the inside. The BBQ sauce was sweet and spicy which added that tangy flavor to the dish! One little flaw would be, the pieces had chunks of fat in it and one feels sick if one ends up eating that much of fat. A less of that fat and the dish can do wonders for meat lovers’ taste buds! The Pork Chop had a very good flavor because of the Rosemary they added and the sauce which accompanied it. The Pork was tender, juicy, all the flavors had seeped right through- all in all, a good dish. Again, too much fat for one to consume. A little less of that would be great! All meats came with wedges, mash or vegetables on the side, just as it should. The Lamb Steak, chunky and moist, as it should be, would have been better with a thinner sauce though.

Spare Ribs with Mashed Potatoes

Service, I must add is slightly slow or rather laid back. That isn’t much of a problem if you want to have long conversations with friends enjoying some great food in a warm and cozy place like this one! The approximate cost of a complete meal for 2 persons is Rs. 550.

Rubi's Grill has been a good experience for me and I would recommend everyone to try it atleast once. For people who shudder at the thought of eating pork, this is the place you must try your first piece and you will not be disappointed, for sure! One must not go by the decor, design, location of this place- it’s the food that matters in the end and Rubi's Grill is a pretty decent example of that!

--Review Done By Radhika Chakraberty.

Location: Building No. 7/2 B, Dover Lane, Gariahat, Opposite Dover Lane Post Office, Kolkata-700029

Also at Omega Building, Sector V, Salt Lake City.

Contact No.: (+91) 9007179876, (+91) (33) 40056001, (+91) 9831078111, (+91) 9831211333

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Wise Owl (Rashbehari Avenue Triangular Park)

Wise Owl Interiors

Wise owl is one of those hangout spots where you can relax and watch time fly by without even knowing. If you are looking for a place to sit and relax and also tuck into some food over a long period of time, then pay a visit to wise owl.  Located in the heart of south Kolkata, yet in a quiet part of Gariahat known as the Purna Das Road, this is a place where you would like to come back time and again. With both outdoor and indoor seating area, it can accommodate 30 people at a time. The outdoor lounge area is the most sought after and remains filled up since it is well decorated with plants and wall paintings, allowing a view of the road. Once seated you may light a smoke (yes, smoking is allowed in the outdoor seating area). The ambience of the interior quarter is plain and simple somewhat elegant. With wall paintings adorning the wall and soft music playing in the cool AC air. There is a shelf having all the different kinds of owl sculptures or show pieces. The crowd is a good mix of teenagers to working women to septuagenarians.

Debonair - (Dum Dum Cantonment)

Fish Finger

Debonair Entrance

Fried Momo

Debonair, the most popular food joint in the Dum Dum Cantonment region, hosts a bar in the ground floor and a fully fledged centrally air-conditioned restaurant, pizza counter and ice-cream parlor on the first floor. They also have conference rooms and banquet halls for private parties. The popularity is mainly because it faces no competition from others and local people have no other choice. Strangely though, they serve an assortment of food from varieties of cuisines like Indian, Chinese, Thai, Mongolian, Italian, South-Indian, Mexican, Mughlai & European /Continental and also Beverages, Drinks, Desserts at a descent rate. There are also live-band performances in weekend (Every Sat & Sun) evenings, the peak times for the crowd to rush in. The interiors are simple with ordinary cushioned steel chairs & tables with average lighting. If you are looking for authentic Mongolian food, you may visit this place as the food is quite good especially the Debonair Special Soup and Mongolian Thali. The recommended dishes are Fish Finger, Fried Momo, Sweet Corn Soup for Chinese starters; and Chinese Hotch Potch, Baby-corn in hot garlic sauce, Chinese Chop Suey, Chicken Cantonese style, chicken casserole, Chilli Chicken, Chicken with Schezwan Sauce, Mixed Fried-Rice for the main course. From the Indian & Mughlai section, Chicken Achaari Kebab and Chicken Butter Masala are great in taste and the chicken very soft. As tail-endings for a meal, ice-cream with hot chocolate sauce, pancakes with vanilla icecream and concort (fizzy drinks mixed with icecream) are worth a try. The service is poor due to the arrogant nature of the staff. Though nowadays, the staff is monitored through CCTV cameras. The average price for two persons is Rs. 500-600 approximately.

Location: 53/1 Jagannath Tiwari Road, Dum Dum Cant., Kolkata-700028 (Near Dum Dum Cant. Railway Station)
Contact No.: (033)-2579-1425 / 2579-5311

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Debonair Interiors

Sweet Corn Soup

Baby-corn in hot garlic sauce

Chicken Cantonese style and Mixed Fried Rice

Chicken Butter Masala

Chicken Casserole

Ice-cream with Hot Chocolate Sauce