Situated opposite Maharaja, Peter Cat dates back to the 1960s and is one of the first restaurants to feature in the Park Street restaurant hub. The decor and the staff project the bygone era and the restaurant maintains its long-standing reputation of quality till date. A queue outside the white stucco facade of this restaurant is not an unusual sight; with space being the most pressing problem of the eatery, guests are frequently forced to wait on the pavement outside. Once you're inside, be prepared to brush a few shoulders as you make your way through the narrow aisles between the tables. Also, make sure you place your order quickly as it takes a long time for it to get to your table; but once it does, there is no way you will regret waiting for it! The restaurant features preparations from the Indian and Continental cuisines. The Cello Kebab here is legendary and would be the most recommended dish on the menu. The restaurant also serves a variety of cocktails and has an impressive wine list too. Remember: if the queue at Peter Cat is too much for you to handle, you can always turn the corner and walk to Moulin Rouge or Mocambo.
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.
Notwithstanding the unusual name, Xrong Place is just right if you're looking for a good time. Featuring Chinese and European cuisine, this place prides itself on some great coffee and innovative mocktails. The earthy decor is enchanting with pictures of Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe and Sylvestor Stallone donning the walls. With reasonable pricing and prompt service, Xrong Place guarantees a great experience.
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.
Zen, nestled in the classy and elegant Park Hotel, is truly a 'new theater of food' that provides a visual and culinary treat as well. Wooden paneled flooring giving the effect of bamboos and artifacts adorning the room are well coordinated with the Oriental decor. It has show kitchens, where you can watch the skilled chefs expertly dishing out tasty preparations. Every order of the customer is treated like a piece d'art and right from the recipe to the presentation, each step is carried out with precision and amazing attention to detail. If you like your privacy, choose to sit in the space separated by the wooden columned curtains. The Japanese bar serves excellent sushi and teppanyaki. Be a part of this culinary journey that takes you through the unique world of Oriental cuisines.
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.
No, its not a clock tower, but the only traditional British pub that the city has to offer. Head to this bar in The New Kenilworth, which in itself has a strictly Colonial ambiance, and get tanked up on a variety of British ales and beers. True to its promise, the establishment comes with dart boards and a pool table. And if you're wondering about the finger foods, Big Ben has plenty, including the fried variety that is so necessary for a pub of this kind. Singles will particularly enjoy sitting at the bar which is simply extravagant!
Situated within the Hyatt Regency Kolkata, Guchhi is dedicated to Indian cuisine, specifically North Indian and Bengali. Named after the forest in Kashmir, the restaurant has a decidedly modern ambiance. However, the cuisine is as traditional as it gets; the specials include the Raan-e-Guchhi and Guchhi Pulao. Watching the chefs at work in the open kitchen is a pure pleasure, especially when you know the final result is going to be on your plate. The restaurant also has two private dining rooms.
If you are looking for finger-licking good Indian cuisine, Peshawari is an absolute must-visit. Situated within the ITC Sonar, this restaurant offers specialties from North India, especially of the Tandoor or Indian barbecue variety. The best way to eat here is, of course, with your fingers and the restaurant provides aprons so that everyone is comfortable eating in this natural way.