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.

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.

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.

Wow! Momo

Wow! Momo outlet at City Center (Salt Lake)

Wow! Momo is a fast food restaurants chain based largely in Kolkata, which offers mainly momo, a dumpling originating from Nepal & Tibet and thukpa. It was established in 2008 by Sagar Daryani and Binod Homagai, alumni of St. Xavier's College, Kolkata. It has spread across to the cities of Chennai, Pune, Bangalore and Coimbatore. As of end 2011, it has expanded to more than 20 outlets in India.

Mehfil (Salt Lake)

Mehfil (Salt Lake City Centre)

Situated opposite to City Center (Salt Lake), right beside Le Coffee Crème, this branch of Mehfil specializes in serving fast foods like Kati Kebab Rolls, Biriyani, Kebabs, Tandoori items, apart from regular Mughlai dishes of Rezala, Korma, Chap, Kasha (both Chicken & Mutton). The shop is very small with seating arrangement of just 2 tables inside. However they have placed few chairs outside on the footpath to handle City Center crowds during weekend evenings! They make rolls and other dishes right in front of the customers which is visible through the glass panes. The Rolls have a price range of Rs. 25 – 100 and are pretty heavy & filling in comparison of evening snacks. They prepare using their kebabs very well for the rolls.

Nizam's Restaurant (Salt Lake)

Nizam's (Salt Lake Branch) Kolkata

Nizam’s Restaurant, Salt Lake Branch is located just at the Connector of EM Bypass & below the VIP Road Flyover at Salt Lake – Ultadanga gate. This restaurant has no seating area as it only serves customers through the Take Away counter and Home Delivery Facility. Like the Original Nizam’s of Esplanade (New Market), it not only serves different types of Kathi Kebab Rolls, but also all Indian / Mughlai dishes like Kebabs, Chap, Rezala, Korma, Tandoor Items & Biriyani.

Mehak-e-Punjab (Axis Mall - Rajarhat)

Mehak-e-Punjab entrance

After a long spell of shopping at the Axis Mall of Rajarhat, when your feet are tired and you are hungry, go to Mehak-e-Punjab beside the food court. This multi-cuisine restaurant is very spacious and has two separate siting areas. One for the non alcohol consuming crowd and another for those who wants to have alcoholic beverages along with the food.

The bar cum restaurant section has much more comfortable sitting arrangement compared to the normal restaurant section. The decor is soothing with couches and chairs to sit upon.

The Blue Poppy (Salt Lake)

Pepper Chicken

Located just opposite to the Inox side entrance of the boisterous City Centre, you just need to walk through the gigantic hallway of Gorkha Bhawan to reach Blue Poppy. This is the second outlet of this Tibetan momo joint turned Chinese Restaurant after its immense popularity of Maidan outlet (Middleton Row – Sikkim House). Not to mention it’s pocket friendly prices in both the outlets. One could get fried or steamed momos (8 pcs served with homemade red chilli sauce & Soup) at Rs. 80 inc. taxes which I doubt any other AC restaurants would offer. The menu offers Original Nepali Thali & Thukpa and also Bhutanese dishes apart from the regular Chinese section which is available in every Chinese joint that crops up at every crossroad of Kolkata.

Momo I Am (jodhpur gardens, lake gardens)

The entrance

 Momo I am is among one of the numerous Tibetan food joint that has grown up in the city. Placed in a busy street of Lake Gardens, it serves mouthwatering Tibetan food at reasonable price. It is the labor of love by Reevu Wangdi, a native of Darjeeling. Bengalis’ love for Tibetan momos is the inspiration for this outlet. The cool décor consisting of Square black tables and stub stools, good food at affordable price make it a hit among college goers and youngsters. Most of the time it is difficult to obtain a seat during the busy hours which is usually in the evening. 

Interior wall decor

The menu is divided into five parts. Those are Starters, Fillers, Soups, Breath of a Wok and Cold beverages. Each item also has got a brief description beneath its name to help the customer understand about the dish.Among the starters the Momo’s are a hit, be it chicken, pork or veg. It comes at a price of Rs. 55 per plate of steamed momo and Rs. 60 for a plate of fried momo. With a plate consisting of 6 piece of momo’s, a bowl of chicken soup and hot sauce. The pork filling is a less-oily welcome version, but the outer casing is a little heavier and thicker than we would prefer. The buns, however, satisfy our perky enthusiasm. Other than momo, other Tibetan delights like T-momo and Shyafale are also hot picks. 

Chicken Steamed Momo

Thukpa

The starter menu also has other fish, chicken, prawn and

 vegetarian items. The crispy chicken marinated in five spices is very unique is taste. Marinated with herbs it has got a refreshing taste and is served with a hot and sweet sauce. The fillers are main courses and contain thukpa, different types of fried rice, noodles, and flat noodles. Chicken Thukpa: Boiling hot, zesty chicken broth poured over a bowl of noodles and strips of colored veggies, chicken strings and half an egg to garnish. As promised it is indeed simple and delicious. One bowl of thukpa is enough for two people. The flat noodles are a welcome from the same old noodles that we usually have as it tastes better and a bit different. Coming over to the soups though there aren’t many options, the ones that are given are equally good and tasty. The side dishes are good especially the pork dishes. The chili pork is very good with the pork being well cooked and tender. Though the other side dishes or breath of a wok are not over the top, they go well with rice and noodles.

Chili pork

The place in not up to the mark in terms of beverages as they run out of stock very often and I had to get a bottle of soft drinks form an adjoining shop. Though the service is prompt, it is not well organized and they don’t serve water unless asked. This is a negative point that came to my notice. Over all it was a good experience and as long as the food is good and the price is reasonable, customers are happy. A complete meal for two will cost Rs. 400 approx inclusive of taxes. They provide home delivery within 3 km if the order is at least for Rs. 400. The menu is provided at the end.

Chili Pork(left) and Fried Chicken marinated in 5 spices(right)

Location: 195 C, Jodhpur Gardens, (Near Nava Nalanda School) Kolkata – 700045

Contact No.: (+91) 9830817507, (+91) 8697070861, (+91)(33) 65411776

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Xing - Saltlake

Xing is a small multi-cuisine eatery having Chinese & North Indian dishes in its menu, located on BE Block (Kwality Bus stop). It is a budget restaurant having two levels, each with 6-7 tables. The ceiling is low; there are ordinary cushioned steel chairs, small square tables and economical plates & crockery. Toilet is clean & service is good. Weekend evenings & during festival seasons, it remains crowded, whereas on regular weekdays, hardly 3 or 4 groups come. There is no problem in parking the car. Among Chinese dishes, I would suggest you to try out Konjee Chicken as starter (it is crispy & spicy), special Xing Fried Rice with chicken Latmeikai (sweet side-dish) in main course or mutton polao among Indian dishes. Quantity is ok. For 3 persons, the price would be around Rs. 420- 450 (with tax). Free home delivery is available for areas in and around saltlake.

Location: BE-111, Saltlake

Contact No.: (+91)-(33)-65009326 / 40040364, (+91)-9874237784

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