Cutlet to Moghlai Parota: Visit These Cabin Style Places Before They Die Out

Set up as early as 1890, Basanta Cabin was a popular haunt of iconic Bengali superstars Uttam Kumar and Basanta Chowdhury. Of the five cabins that once delighted movie stars and commoners alike, the last remaining bastion stands today in College Street. The interiors may be lacklustre now, but the delectable smell of fish kabiraji still entices both regulars and passers-by. If fish doesn’t make the cut for you, then don’t give the Basanta special thin Mughlai Paratha and Aloo Dum a miss.

Set up in 1920 by Sushil Roy near the Sovabazar Metro station, Mitra Cafe literally translates to ‘Friends Café’ in English. Bengalis, with their love for all things chop and cutlet, can’t get enough of Mitra Café’s brain chop and mutton cutlet. The queue outside the cabin has not dwindled since its inception because their kabirajis, Afghanis and do-pyajis are to die for. While it had regulars like Uttam Kumar and Anjan Dutt in its heydays, it remains a popular joint among city goers who like to take a trip down memory lane and enjoy delectable old-Calcutta food.

If you are in Kolkata’s ‘boi para’ (aka College Street) and you’re craving a good old Kolkata snack, head to Dilkhusha Cabin. Where else will you get the famous doi chicken (chicken prepared in curd gravy) or the equally delicious devilled eggs (desi version of scotch eggs) that are as good as the ones you get here? This century-old restaurant has ripped down its cabins to accommodate more guests, but it continues to be a popular stop for foodies.

If you dig prawns (well, honestly who doesn’t!), then a must-try at Allen’s Kitchen is the fluffy prawn cutlet. The serving of whole butterflied tiger prawns dipped in batter and fried in pure ghee is best enjoyed with lime wedges and Bengali mustard sauce (aka kasundi). Set up originally by a Scot gent Allen (who later passed it onto Jibankrishna Saha), Allen’s Kitchen in Sovabazaar is the place to hit up for mouth-watering chops and cutlets.

This is one of the few places to have held on to its separate cabin enclosures complete with ‘ladies’ plaques nailed to the entrances. You will find its wide open blue doors close to the Gariahat crossing. On the walls are framed photos of various celebrities like Swastika Mukherjee, Rahul Bose, and Mithun, who have dined at Fern. The chop-cutlet kind of snack items are served post 4 PM, but you can always enjoy a filling and delicious meal for lunch or dinner. You won’t be disappointed. Trust us!

A thoroughbred Kolkatan will know that, if New Market is the hero of the city, then Anadi Cabin is definitely its wingman because, without either of these places, the essential Kolkata experience is incomplete. Started in 1925 by Balaram Jana, Anadi Cabin is named after his son Anadi and is famous for its Mughlai Paratha and fish cutlets. Now, we don’t know for certain if the Mughals ate minced meat and egg stuffed parathas, but Anadi is definitely known for them. The cabins are now mostly open spaces with basic wooden furniture dotting the restaurant. But trust us when we say that the charm of this cabin is not lost and the food is still mind blowing!

Started by Dhiren Dey in 1938, Dhiren Cabin has managed to stand the test of time without letting go of its legacy and falling into the trap of modern times. An old hand-painted signboard beckons you to the two-room cabin that is dotted with wooden chairs with sun mica seats, stone tops on wooden frames, and old-world table tops. The fish pakoras here are to-die-for as are the fish fries, fish fingers, and mutton cutlets. They also serve a delicious pudding occasionally. Don’t leave without having tea served in tiny ceramic cups and saucers with interesting motifs on them - something that has almost disappeared and is not practiced anymore.

Located near Ashutosh College, Cafe has been serving delicious food to city folks for over 80 years. Done up with iron-grilled windows and wooden chairs, Cafe is the adda point for college students, especially those of Ashutosh College. It has also hosted legends like Chuni Goswami, Mahasweta Devi, and Dinesh Das. Gorge on fish or chicken kabiraji and mutton chops while you’re here. You’ll want to come back for more.

Niranjan Agar is over a century old and is famous for its Dimer Devil—basically a desi or Bengali version of scotch eggs that is crisp on the outside and meaty on the inside. It’s served with kasundi (mustard) sauce and curd and is a must-have while you’re here. They also have a sweet and spicy version made with duck eggs. The place also serves some finger-licking chops and cutlets.