Kolkata has always welcomed cuisine from all over the world with open arms and a curious palate. A plate in Kolkata has always been impressive, from modest street corners to fine dining restaurants. After all, Bengalis appreciate creative thinking, particularly in the culinary arts. Therefore, even the most parsimonious among them nod in agreement and say, "Let's give it a try," when dining becomes an art form. These restaurants and cafes are led by chefs who are expertly skilled, have won many accolades and are always staying up with food trends, which they bring to the table as well. Check these spots out before the year ends!
6 Kolkata Restaurants Where The Chef’s Creativity Leads The Menu
Overview
Here Are The Best Chef Led Restaurants In Kolkata
The Blue Poppy Thakali
Helmed by Doma Wang, who is the 'Momo Queen' of India, and located inside the first building of Sikkim House in Middleton Row, Blue Poppy Thakali is high on Buddhist and Nepali culture. The upcycled decor of woven cane is best offset by the beautiful brass Nepali Nawara lamps and the intricate wooden Nepali peacock windows. Sit on the mattresses by the low tables or on the usual one, but you’ve got to try the thali to get a taste of Thakali. From starting a home-based food delivery business to running Blue Poppy restaurants, the goal has always been to provide Tibetan cuisine as it should be: incredibly comforting without the stress. Thakali does momos with a twist – you’ve got to try their open momos that are best complemented with the spicy sesame achaar. These momos have a flower shape and an open top. You must also try their pickled pork trotters, their smoked chicken or pork salad (better known as choila) and their Kinema (fermented soya beans best had with rice and dal).
Timings: 12 PM - 9:30 PM
Price: INR 950 for two
Contact: +919330381545
Instagram: @bluepoppythakali
Facebook: The Blue Poppy Thakali
Google Rating: 4.3/5
Pinkk Sugars
Pinkk Sugars by Aayushi Bajaj is an artisanal bakery and Patisserie, serving extravagant and authentic French-style recipes. You can expect a wholesome range of delectable baked goods, desserts, gourmet sandwiches, bagel burgers, Neapolitan-style pizzas and pastas. While their food is top-notch, they’re also affordable, which is something we absolutely dig. Unlight streams through the glass windows and illuminates the pink that's splashed across the floor and walls. There are multiple sections in the seating area, and the counter at the far end is where the day's freshly baked goods are displayed. The most popular feature of this Instagrammable café is the pink candy wall. Bonus — sitting is available outside for the ideal golden-hour glow. The menu is a tribute to Italian and Mediterranean flavours. Citrus quinoa salad with orange salsa, vanilla panna cotta with raspberry jelly & matcha sponge, mezze platter, and Cappuccino di Tarturo Nero with parmesan-dusted churros are to die for.
Timings: 11:30 AM - 10:30 PM
Price: INR 1,200 for two
Contact: 09836778000
Instagram: @pinkksugars
Google Rating: 4.1/5
6 Ballygunge Place
Chef Sushanta Sengupta, Director & Culinary Head, leads the team at 6 Ballygunge Place. Since we can't imagine going to 6 Ballygunge Place without indulging in Gondhoraj Chicken, Dhakai Pora Mangsho with steamed rice, and Daab Chingri, we personally favour the à la carte menu. We typically adore daab chingri, cooked in a soft coconut pulp with coconut milk, bhetki paturi, and any Hilsa or Ilish dishes. Enchor chingri, bhapa chingri, mocha chingri, and chingri malaikari are some more prawn dishes. For seafood devotees, we strongly recommend kakrar gaal pethechi, a baked stuffed crab dish. Celebrities such as Bret Lee, Rishi Kapoor, Asha Bhonsle, Sourav Ganguly, Nasiruddin Shah, Dilip Kumar, Saira Banu, Twinkle Khanna, Shaan, and many more have visited 6 Ballygunge Place in Kolkata.
Timing: 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM and 7 PM to 10:30 PM
Price: INR 1,000 for two
Contact: 03324603922
Instagram: @6ballygungeplace
Google Rating: 4.4/5
Spice Kraft
Spice Kraft on Hazra Road in Ballygunge is a hidden gem in the city of joy. It is a restaurant that all food enthusiasts across the city should visit to celebrate the diversity of food through its amazing array of dishes. From the outside, it looks like any other small eatery, but it is so much more than that. The cuisine is excellent under the direction of Chef Sambit Banik, who is renowned for his cutting-edge cooking and molecular gastronomy experiments. Try getting Dajaj Chermoula, Alfredo Penne Pasta, Barry Callebaut Swiss Chocolate Mousse, Murgh Zarka Tikka, Stir-Fried Squid Rings, Bacardi Limon-infused Tandoori Chicken Sausages, and Baked Fish Wellington.
Timing: 12 PM - 11:15 PM
Price: INR 1,300 for two
Contact: 09831223311
Google Rating: 4.5/5
Paris Cafe
France return Sneha Singhi is the brains behind Paris Cafe. We actually caught her behind the counter once, whipping up test batches of waffles and fine-tuning her pastries. She comes up with every detail herself, trains her staff and frequents her outlets. Paris Cafe currently has three branches, all of which are incredibly pretty (you’ll feel like you’re walking right into a Parisian bakery!). The gold-hued interiors are bathed in sunlight, with stunning artefacts hanging from the walls and wrought-iron furniture that takes you to Paris. The three-layered red velvet cheesecake is meticulously assembled and features a marbled top with edible white flowers. The single slice costs over INR 200.
Timing: 9 AM - 11:30 PM
Price: INR 1,200 for two
Contact: 07439710221
Facebook: Paris Cafe
Google Rating: 4.1/5
Sienna Store & Cafe
Its head chefs, Avinandan Kundu and Koyel Roy Nandy, apply the "baajar-to-table" method of cooking. They employ creative culinary techniques to add amusing twists. Bengali art exhibitions were initially held in Sienna, but food soon became a central part of the experience. The intention was to showcase all of Bengali cuisine's delectable delicacies to anyone willing to eat them! Start with the Black Rice, Avocado, and Feta Salad, a contemporary take on jhaal-muri composed of crumbled feta, creamy avocado, and black rice. A tasty option to finish the dinner is a slice of Strawberry Crumble Cake, with fresh strawberries, a rich butter sponge, and a melt-in-your-mouth crumble on top.
Timing: 12:30 PM - 10:30 PM
Price: INR 1,200 for two
Contact: 099036 08899
Instagram: @sienna_calcutta
Google Rating: 4.3/5
