It’s a five-star way to break your fast during Ramazan. Iftar, the evening meal that marks the end of the day-long fast by 
Muslims at dusk, is making a swish appearance at the city’s top hotels. And anyone can tuck in to the sumptuous spreads on offer — even if they haven’t been fasting.

“This is taking the iftar experience to a whole new level and making it a gourmet affair,” says Vijay Malhotra, executive chef, ITC Sonar. 

All the hotels are offering giant spreads. If you’re a traditionalist you’ve got a wide choice on offer and you could head to the ITC Sonar, Swissotel Kolkata Neotia Vista or the Novotel Kolkata Hotel and Residences. For a taste of something different, head to The Lalit Great Eastern where a host of Middle Eastern and regional delicacies are being served at king-size buffets.

And that’s not at all. Novotel and Swissotel are even serving suhoor — the pre-dawn meal.

Why are the hotels serving up Ramazan spreads? Quite simply, times have changed and people don’t always want to eat at home nowadays. Says Malhotra: “People want to eat out with their families during Ramazan and we try to make iftar a memorable experience for them by serving it as a slow-paced, multi-course Awadhi meal at Dum Pukht.”

So, seated in zardozi-embellished chairs in Dum Pukht, where the walls are clad in onyx, waiters emerge with platters of Iranian Kimia dates, freshly-sliced seasonal fruits and a refreshing rose sherbet laid out on a silver dastarkhan.

The starters include everything from Murgh Shammi Kebab to haleem (that’s especially prepared during Ramazan) and Hyderabadi Nehari and Murgh Handi Qorma. “We’re adding a twist to the tradition of eating haleem on its own by serving it with Rogani Roti,” says Malhotra. The third course comprises the restaurant’s signature Dum Pukht Lamb Biryani while Seviyon Ka Muzaffar makes a sweet ending to this feast. Reservations are needed for this spread available from 6.30pm to 11.45pm.

Additionally, the hotel’s also offering an elaborate iftar hamper priced at Rs 3,500 (plus taxes) that comes heaped with Dum Pukht specialities like Silbatte Ki Shammi, Sheermal, Gosht Biryani, Mirch Baigan Ka Salan, Burhani Raita and Seviyon Ka Muzaffar. These are all packed in earthen pots. 

Another large feast awaits guests at The Lalit Great Eastern’s all-day multi-cuisine restaurant, Alfresco. Just make a reservation for the iftar buffet laid out every Friday of the Ramazan month.

Here it’s best to focus on the exhaustive global menu. Go for the Middle Eastern salads like Moroccan Beef Salad and Lamb Sheekh Kebabs in Cucumber Cups. A mezze bar and a soup counter with Arabic Chickpea Soup and breads are ideal for weight-watchers and even vegetarians have been catered for (though purists might frown) as executive chef Madhumita Mohanta has conjured up a Vegetarian Haleem with Soya Chunks. For those who like a choice of meats, the live counter offers Ghugni with Lamb Chunks or Keema-Pav — items that aren’t cooked traditionally in homes.

The main course includes regional favourites like Rohu Rezala and Hyderabadi Achari Bainghan and sweets like the Ottoman Baklava and Middle Eastern Mahalabia. The buffet’s priced at Rs 1,550 (plus taxes).

Those looking for a casual iftar experience could try the Café Swiss, the 24-hour restaurant at Swissotel Kolkata Neotia Vista. Here, the star of the a la carte iftar menu is a main dish of Keema Sevai that’s lamb keema cooked with sevai or vermicelli and topped with a half-fried egg. “I learnt to cook this culinary gem from a chef who cooked for the royals in Hyderabad,” says Pranay Singh, the hotel’s executive chef. The iftar menu at Swissotel is traditional and includes light snacks like Tunisian dates, fresh fruit platters, green salads, beverages and juices that are available from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. “The menu also includes an Iftar Platter with nuts, fruits, fresh juice and pakoras,” adds Singh. 

“For suhoor we have a special menu of fresh fruit, juice, cereal, dal, vegetables, home-style chicken curry with rice or chapati and tea or coffee,” says Singh. This is available pre-sunrise and needs at least 20 minutes to be served.

Keeping in mind the need for home-style cooking, Novotel too has created an a la carte iftar-cum-suhoor menu for its guests who are mostly business travellers. So executive chef Ashish Bagul and sous chef Sougata Gupta have added a spin for the calorie-conscious by offering Cocktail Keema/Vegetable Samosas, a Green Salad (with broccoli, cucumber and lettuce tossed in olive oil) and boiled Black Chana. There are almond filled dates from the UAE, Rose Sherbet, Pakoras and Firni along with Gosht Biryani and Gosht Haleem. 

“This entire menu, except the chana and fried snacks, is available until suhoor and if more than 10 non-resident guests decide to drop by reservations need to be made a day in advance,” says Bagul.

So, there’s still some days to go, just take your pick from one of these feasts at a star address of your choice and break your fast in style! 

Photographs by Rashbehari Das