Park Street is lined up with a variety of restaurants, but none are as grand and historical as Flurys. Started by Mr and Mrs J Flury back in 1926, it was known as tea room that served delightful cakes, tastiest pastries and puddings and the most requested European and Swiss chocolates. Till date, Flurys retains it exclusiveness and penchant for serving the best of and exotic confectioneries. You can select the goodies you want from the take-away counter or sit down and relish the unique dishes. With recipes like linzer and sacher tortes, the European influence is very evident. Flurys also serves excellent varieties of coffee and tea. It also takes orders for cakes for all occasions including requests for egg-less and sugar-free ones. While the menu is westernized, Flurys does has special parties during festivals like Durga Puja to Rakhi. Anyone who visits Flurys to buy a particular food item, is always tempted by the mouth-watering treats displayed and ends up with loads of cute little pink Flurys bags.
Oh! Calcutta celebrates old school Kolkata charm with its rustic ambiance and homely appeal. With a diverse spread of authentic Bengali cuisine and impeccable hospitality, much like the people in Kolkata, it's a foodie's delight. The freshest fish and sumptuous biryani leave you asking for more. Not to mention the famed sweets rosogulla and mishti doi they have on offer. Contemporary yet traditional, Oh! Calcutta truly justifies Kolkata's cultural capital status.
This is Kolkata's version of the real Moulin Rouge in Paris, complete with the trademark windmill at its entrance. Although it has no cabaret performances today, it was known to be much like the original, albeit less extravagant, in its golden years. Around the 1960s musical soirees were the norm and the entire place would resound with laughter and celebration that would continue till the wee hours of the morning. The sense of nostalgia may not touch upon a first time visitor, but the interiors do hold precious clues to the past. With Indian, Continental, Chinese, French and Italian preparations on offer, Moulin Rouge is a great place for a good evening out with friends even today. The Fish and Chips perfectly compliment drinks and the Chicken Tetrazzini is a highly recommended main course option. The lack of live music is a definite letdown, but the restaurant never lets you down when it comes to good tasting food.
Oudh 1590 is a replica of the Mughal Palaces and is filled with beautiful paintings and wood work. It is very easy to get a feel of the Awadhi culture and brings back the memories of Wajid Ali Shah. Started in 2011 by the Chowdhary Brothers, this place offers good food, lovely ambience and an insight into the historical past of India. Each and every aspect in the restaurant is meticulously planned keeping in mind the culture of the ancient era. The menu is also full of Afghani delicacies featuring Shahi Tangri Kabab, Jheena Biryani, Paneer Qurma and lot more. This place aims at keeping alive the old Lucknowi taste by offering them the best of Lucknow.
One of the oldest names in the Park Street row of restaurants, Bar-B-Que is one of those places that you can order food, eat, chat and walk out with utmost satisfaction. Serving Indian, Continental and Chinese Cuisine, the restaurant stays extremely crowded, especially over the weekends. Although it is best known for its Chinese specialties, don't go expecting the real thing; what you get here is a localized version of the cuisine. Authenticity aside, the food here can be considered tasty by most standards and you can always try the north Indian and Moghlai specialties on offer. The most popular dish in the menu is the chimney soup which is really big on quantity. With well-decorated interiors and ample seating space, Bar-B-Que mostly caters to large family gatherings and is known for the long queues during the Durga Puja season. Flurys or Mamma Mia, situated a few steps away, are good options if you want to indulge the sweet tooth after your meal.
Cha Bar is a coffee shop located inside a bookstore in Kolkata. This is a nice place to enjoy reading your favorite book while sipping a cup of coffee. This place is quiet and peaceful and the interiors are brightly decorated. Some of the items on their coffee menu include Cappuccino and Iced Caffe Latte. They also serve snacks to burn those hunger pangs. The snack menu includes Chicken Tikka Wrap, and Chicken and Asparagus Quiche. Those with a sweet tooth should try their Chocolate Truffle pastries. It is a pocket friendly place thus making it ideal to catch up with friends.
If you are not too familiar with dining options in the city or even the kind of cuisine, head to Mythh within the Hotel Hindustan International on AJC Bose Road. Situated on the ground floor, the restaurant is a large space dedicated to bringing flavors from around the world to your plate. Keeping in tune with the lavish interiors of the hotel, Mythh has a sophisticated aura and aroma to match. The breakfast and lunch buffets are quite a treat, with a number of live counters as well. From the a la carte menu, you can order the Lamb Chops on Mashed Potato, Fish and Chicken Kebabs and the Grilled Bekti. The Weekend Brunches organized by Mythh give access to the poolside and are especially popular among locals and hotel residents alike. The adjoining Onyx bar can be used for an aperitif or just to lounge around after your meal. It also has two Private Dining Rooms that can be reserved for big groups.
Fancy Market located at Kidderpore is always bustling with local people as well as other tourists. It is a shopping area, which is why a lot of people come to this part of Kolkata regularly. It is a very big market place and Cafe Fancy is one of the oldest cafes in this area. It attracts the shopping crowd who would like to spend some time having a cold beverage or a full meal. It is mainly a vegetarian restaurant that serves authentic veg food. Double Expresso Coffee and Chocolate Ice Cream are two fast selling items on their menu. The food is worth the money so customers are happy that the bill falls into their budget.
Glacé Patisserie is located in the ground floor of Chambers Mall. It serves French desserts and snacks. The interiors are well decorated and appear classy. It is open throughout the week so no matter what day it is, you can go to this place and pick up some pastries. The ambiance is colourful and is decorated using red and white balloons. The packaging is also very interesting as they use vibrant colors to make cake boxes of different sizes. The opera cake and the salted caramel pastry are the two most loved items here.
Situated within the Taj Bengal in Alipore, Chambers Restaurant and Lounge is the ultimate in fine dining, offering a range of specialties from various European cuisines. The unique ambiance is marked by the all-wooden decor which includes the walls and chairs but also extends to the ceiling! The large, comfortable-looking enclosures along the windows are the best seating options in the restaurant as they afford great views of the city; but only big groups can reserve these, though. Order the Pasta with Chili-Plum Beurre Blanc with a wine to match, and your taste buds will never feel the same again. For your post meal nightcap or just to unwind, you can stop by the Chambers Lounge which has pretty much the same ambiance, except with large comfortable sofas that encourage long conversations till the wee hours of the morning.
Sonargaon literally translates to 'Golden Village' and the name is captured perfectly in the restaurant's carefully created interiors. The traditional mud wall finish, an old Indian well in the center, oil lamps hanging from the ceiling and the ethnic wall drapes, together create the prefect 'village' atmosphere. The restaurant is dedicated to serving authentic preparations from the North Indian, Punjabi and Bengali cuisines. The Pathar Gosht served here is an absolute must-try. Complete with a live tandoor counter and traditional music in the background, this two-tiered Taj Bengal restaurant is an incredibly interesting place to dine in. Make sure you end your meal with the Bailey flavored Kulfi!
Souk, which translates to 'market' in Arabic, is Taj Bengal's offering in East Mediterranean cuisine. With beautifully laid out tables, each highlighted by overhead lamps, this ultra-chic restaurant is a pleasure spot to dine. The master chef creates delicacies from Morocco, Turkey, Greece and Egypt and other Arabic specialties. Of course, this is no market place, but Souk does offer a wide variety of options for the discerning epicurean. Private dining options are also available.