Sienna Store & Café: From Home Kitchen To Two Storeys Of Delish Bengali Cuisine

You typically think of the Italian city of Seina when you hear the name "Sienna," don't you? The hitch, though, is that this cafe and restaurant is called Sienna with an extra "n." In Shantiniketan, the red clay or red soil known as rangamati is what gave rise to the name. A cool pottery workshop was the beginning of it all! Who was the teacher, you ask? The renowned Prabhash Sen sculptor! He was a buddy and coworker, and he's like a magician with clay. Shanta's daughter, Sulagna, became VERY interested in all the artsy stuff and thus, began this cafe. 

The lovely Sienna Store & Cafe is located in a peaceful small alley in Hindustan Park. There are several surprises in this two-story building. This tiny store has expanded to become the incredibly stylish flagship location, where a variety of exquisite items await discovery!

Sienna was once just a small home kitchen that Shanta ran. For anyone who stopped by their store in Hindustan Park, she would prepare some refreshing soups and salads. When chefs Avinandan and Koyel joined, the food game truly took off, delving into Bengali culinary traditions and raising the bar.

As I drank a gur latte, I was told Sienna's ground floor, now known as Boshar Ghor, honours those simpler times by serving comforting meals that fuse facets of continental cuisine with the distinct flavour of Bengal, including the timeless telebhajas. Bengali food and culture are integral to everything that Sienna Café does. The menu celebrates the finest of "epar" and "opar" Bengal by prioritising local ingredients and traditional cooking methods. Ingredients that are typically thrown out, such as khosha (vegetable peels) and ghilu (prawn head juice), are used to their full potential at Sienna.

For the ideal blend of crunch and freshness, start with the Black Rice, Avocado, and Feta Salad, a modern twist on jhaal-muri made with black rice, creamy avocado, and crumbled feta. A slice of Strawberry Crumble Cake, which has a thick butter sponge, fresh strawberries, and a melt-in-your-mouth crumble on top, is a delicious way to end the meal. For those who enjoy chocolate, Principal Trunchbull's Decadent Chocolate Cake is a magnificent dessert with three layers of chocolate sponge encased in rich chocolate ganache.

Must Try: Battered Bhetki, Sienna Fries, and Tartar paired with handcut fries. 

The fantastic 'Bengal to Table' menu upstairs in the Sienna Dining Room is dedicated to showcasing the delicious Bengali cuisine! They also use innovative cooking techniques to offer some entertaining twists. Originally, Sienna served as a venue for Bengali art exhibitions, but cuisine also gained a lot of importance. The goal was to introduce everyone who is willing to devour Bengali cuisine to all of its delicious dishes! 

Their Mocha'r Salad is a brilliant and refreshing salad with papaya, carrot, and banana blossoms that are dressed in an acidic coconut and tamarind vinaigrette for a taste explosion. The Lotus Root Chicken Meatball, which consists of tender chicken meatballs wrapped in lotus root and served in a smooth and soothing broth, is the next dish you must try.

The Golda Chingri, Ghilu Hollandaise, and Smoked Chilli Chimichurri marries grilled prawns with smoky chimichurri and a creamy prawn brain sauce to yield a dish which is full of taste in the mouth. Seeking some crisp? Try the Crispy Chicken Steak, Golabhaat, and Fixings, which include crunchy chicken, congee-style rice, and three sauces that combine all of the perfect flavours.

The Makha Sondesh, Taal Kheer, Gur is a gastronomic boom. The palm and coconut kheer's creamy richness quickly counterbalances the sweetness of the light, airy whipped sondesh, which almost melts in your mouth. And just when you think it can't be any better, the warm, sweet flavour of nolen gur strikes, transporting you to dessert nirvana.

Must Try: Doodh Puli, Pandan Oil which is a rice flour dumpling stuffed with caramelised coconut and topped with milk and aromatic pandan oil. 

In keeping with its dedication to sustainability and slow living, Sienna now has a large assortment of handcrafted clothing, linens, wood crafts, stationery items, metal and ceramic jewellery, and homeware that are all ethically made. Bengal-inspired designs, whether from the bajaar or the surrounding landscape, are what define the clothing brand. Shuli's older sister, Sumona Ghosh-Witherspoon, a designer and printmaker from New Jersey, worked with Shuli to create the motifs.

In order to score a good seat and avoid crowds, it is recommended to arrive before 12:30 PM when the cafe opens. They also alter the recipes to accommodate your vegan needs.

Timing: 12:30 PM - 10:30 PM

Price: INR 1,200 for two 

Contact: 099036 08899

Instagram: @sienna_calcutta

Facebook: Sienna Store & Cafe

Website: siennastore.com

Google Rating: 4.3/5