Welcome to Farzi Cafe where molecular gastronomy meets Indian cuisine to offer an experience you can feast your eyes, soul and (of course) palate on. Those of you familiar with the word farzi (urdu for ‘not real’) must be wondering why Zorawar Kalra (owner) wanted to call it that. Well thanks to molecular gastronomy, the food on a Farzi table offers plenty of theatrics. What you order is what you get but looks can be deceiving. You were warned!
Before I tell you a little more on what to expect from the menu, allow me to describe the smashing interiors. There is this airy, bright and high-energy vibe to the place that is unmissable. Housed at Golden Parkk, this modern Indian bistro is spread across 4,500sq ft, divided into three sections. The seating is spaced out with options of comfy couches as well as high-raised chairs and tables.
As you enter you are greeted by a lit-up bookshelf of colourful acrylic books. While the book-lover in me would have squealed in delight at a shelf with real books, I would let that pass keeping the name aesthetics in mind! Totally dig the black-and-white pictures of old Calcutta. Celebrating Kumartuli, the Flower Market and terracotta art of Bengal, is a wall full of taxi yellow masks, flower murals and dome lights with terracotta danglers. I became quite a fan (the pun writes itself) of the ‘Hawa Aane Do’ wall - studded with green moving fans. The devil sure is in the details, like trumpet stools in the bar area hinting to the city’s love for music.
Now to the food. The menu is a seasonal spread that changes with the intent to offer dishes prepared using fresh and locally sourced ingredients. I loved the Tempura Fried Prawn with Nimboo Mirch Air! Tempura batter-fried crispy prawns are tossed in a can’t-get-enough-of spicy tangy sauce, served with light foam of lemon chilli and garnished with flying fish roe. If there is a dish you must try on the menu it is dal chawal. Yep, you read that right. Dal Chawal Arancini is basically round crispy dumplings filled with cheesy lentils and rice mixture, topped with crushed papad, garnished with pickled mayo, and served with onion-tomato salsa. Good ol’ dal chawal and papad with a delectable twist. Farzi offers a fun range of cocktails and mocktails to go with the food. Try the Farzi Bubble, mainly because it is so IG-worthy (gotta’ roll with the times) or the very innovative Chai Pani.
