Punjabee Rasoi

Where: 196 Rajdanga, Chakraborty Para, near the water tank. Take the second lane on the left after entering the street adjoining the KFC building.

Timing: 11am to 10.30pm, Monday closed.

First, the buzz: It is 6.30pm and the first-floor seating area is already more than half-full. Passers-by are pausing to tell the man at the takeaway counter what they want for dinner at home. The proprietor (P.V. Raju) is visiting each table, asking for feedback (he seems to know most of the customers who exchange pleasantries with him!). The restaurant is located in a quiet lane, the interiors have a calm and relaxed feel... and yet, a cheerful buzz greets you as you enter the 95-seater restaurant serving Punjabi delicacies.

What clicks: Yummy food and warm service. “I have been there at least 14 times. The food is so good that you won’t have any problems in digestion,” vouches paediatrician B.K. Manocha.

Must-try: Looking around, we notice that one dish is common to almost every table. We order the same — Adrak Ke Panje. The mildly-spiced gravy coating the mutton chops makes it bone-licking good. Also, try their Mutton Makhmali Kebab, Kaali Dal, Palak Corn and Fish Tikka Kebab.

Psst: Every weekend look out for that special dish cooked in the owner’s home kitchen. The Saturday we went, it was Kuku’s Khara Dal — urad dal cooked Punjabi-style by the mother-in-law of Raju, who set up Punjabee Rasoi in 2009. Six years on, it has gathered something of a cult following.

Pocket pinch: Rs 700-plus for two.

 

Harvey’s

Where: 229 Rajdanga Main Road. You can’t miss the giant signage on your right as you drive past the Nabapally crossing towards Gitanjali Stadium.

Timings: Noon to 11pm.

On the menu: Indian, Chinese and Continental. 

What clicks: Colourful cupcakes, pastries on the ground level, a wall-to-wall shelf filled with books on good food, and finally a huge glass showcase filled with vintage wines. We like! Wait, there’s more… large glass windows, gold-and-white interiors, spacious seating, cosy corners and a pocket-friendly menu…. 

Must-try: We liked General Tao’s Chicken, Saffron Walnut Fish and Baked Florentine. And we loved the Chicken Hokkaido Sizzler (chicken steak with flavours of garlic and black pepper, served with poached egg and greens).

Pocket pinch: Rs 1,000-plus for two.

Buzz

Where: The Gateway Hotel, 1930 Rajdanga Road, ground level.

Timings: All-day dining.

What clicks: Large glass windows with manicured greens outside, a delicious Sunday brunch spread (12.30pm to 2.30pm) with free usage of the swimming pool on the rooftop, and some delightful Bangladeshi fare on the menu (think Khasir Gelasi and Kochur Shak) are enough to keep you coming back to this 96-cover restaurant at the star property run by Taj Group of hotels.

The buffet: Live counters of phuchka, chaats, sandwich, appam, pasta, pizza, wokrie (a section where wok-tossed delicacies are served), a dessert counter with more than 20 varieties to choose from — that’s what the Sunday Brunch buffet is about. A daily dinner buffet offers a combo of north Indian, Bengali, and Continental food.

Must-try: We loved the Gondhoraj Lemon-hinted Grilled Bekti (below) with pesto butter and olive mash. Also check out the tawa mithai section, a part of the Sunday brunch, serving hot desserts you just can’t say no to. 
Pocket pinch: Sunday brunch: Rs 1,500 (without alcohol) per person; Rs 1,700 (with unlimited vodka/beer) per person. Dinner buffet is priced at Rs 1,100-plus.

Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick

Where: 290 Rajdanga Main Road and 1625 Rajdanga Main Road.

Timings: 10am to 10pm. 

What clicks: The magic they create with mishti. The sweet shop, established in 1885 in Bhowanipore, is a must-visit for all mishti lovers. From nolen gur to chocolate to aam, you get a wide array of sweets here. What’s more, they also serve snacks and pastries that are eggless, and of course baked mishti. 

Must-try: Thandai Sandesh (above) and Baked Rosogolla.

Banchharam

Where: 387 Rajdanga Main Road, near Siemens.

Timings: 8.30am to 9.30pm.

What clicks: You are greeted by a sweet smell as you enter, and if the smell is sweet, the sights are sweeter. Sweets of every size and colour look right back at you through the glass. Apart from mishti, Banchharam also serves snacks like samosa, vegetable chop and paneer roll.

Must-try: Mihidana Tart (above), Laddoo, Barfi.

Naushijaan

Where: A4 Rajdanga Nabapally.

Timings: Noon to 11.30pm.

Where has the seating area gone? This popular restaurant is undergoing a facelift. The renovation work is expected to be complete in a month-and-a-half. The ground floor is being turned into a dining area and the kitchen is being shifted to the second floor. “The dining might be closed for a few weeks but we will carry on with the takeaway,” said Vinay Arora, the owner.

What clicks: The menu, which is till date Awadhi, will be extended to include a special Continental section. A fusion of European and Awadhi is on the cards, which means a burger might come with a chapli kebab instead of the usual meat patty, while a hot dog gets a kakori kebab filling. 

Must-try: The Naushijaan Biryani, mutton biryani cooked with spinach, is what we liked the most.

Pocket pinch: The pricing might “go up a bit” after renovation. As of now, a couple can have a hearty meal of biryani and kebabs for around Rs 500.

Swirl

Where: The ground-level bar at The Gateway Hotel.

Timings: 4pm to 11.30pm.

What clicks: The spacious bar with ample seating (44 covers), beer towers serving both national and international brands such as Corona and Hoegaarden, classic cocktails like martini and margarita, and indie music nights on Saturdays (SIN: Swirl Indie Nights, 8pm onwards) attract a mix of the young and not so young. You might get pro tips on hangover cure, as doctors from the nearby hospitals often drop by. Try their ‘Short Eats’ menu to go with the gulps. 

Must-try: Kajoli Fish Fry with Raw Mango Chutney.

Pocket pinch: Rs 2,000-plus with food.

KFC

Where: Rene World, 1842 Rajdanga Main Road, next to Gitanjali Stadium 

Timings: 11am to 11pm.

What clicks: Who doesn’t like fried food, KFC-style? What works for the Kasba outlet is its hard-to-miss location. Big enough to seat 70 people, the Kasba outlet also has cute booths with round tables. Overall, the ambience is one of cheer and chomp.

Subway & CCD

Where: BPCL Fuel Point, 46 Shanti Pally (opposite The Gateway Hotel, on the premises of the petrol pump).

Timings: 10am to 10pm.

What clicks: Fast food and tasty, yet non-fried. That’s Subway, a favourite pig-out place for most age groups. The 10-seater outlet shares its space with Cafe Coffee Day and In & Out (departmental store). The CCD serves its usual fare of coffee, shakes and bites such as sandwiches and puffs. And like they say, a lot can happen over coffee! So it’s a three-in-one destination: Have a bite, sip a drink and shop some goodies at one go. 

Mrs. Magpie Bistro

Where: Unit 2, Block 1, second floor, Chambers Mall, opposite Gitanjali Stadium.

Timings: Noon to 9pm.

On the menu: Bistro food mostly and, of course, cupcakes and other sweet somethings.

What clicks: Everything from ambience to food to service. Calcutta’s popular cupcake shop Mrs. Magpie of Hindustan Park opened its doors in Kasba two months back, but with a twist. Mrs. Magpie Bistro serves classic French dishes such as Roast Mutton on a bed of Potato Dauphinoise and Ratatouille along with other main-course attractions.

Don’t worry, their cupcake-and-snack menu is also available. 
From the stained glass door to the rustic furniture, the 25-seater bistro exudes an old-world-charm. We love the huge glass window that overlooks the Rashbehari connector and the two tables by the window are almost always occupied. 

P.S: There’s a smoking zone attached to the quaint bistro where one can enjoy a puff while gazing at the street below. 

Must-try: Moroccan Chicken Stew (chicken with spicy lentil stew served on a bed of couscous) and Veg Flammkuchen (a tart made with exotic veggies, cream cheese and sour cream).

Pocket pinch: Rs 700-plus for two.

 

6 Ballygunge Place Thali — Swade Ahlade

Where: 37/1 Rajdanga Main Road.

Timings: Noon to 4pm for lunch; snacks till 7pm; dinner from 7pm to 10pm.

What clicks: Of course the Thali with that round heap of white rice and phulko luchi and an assortment of veg and non-veg dishes is what we love. The huge sepia-toned photograph of New Market on the wall adds a feel-good factor.

Must-try: The Fish Thali gives tough competition to its meat counterpart. Add-ons like the Bhetki Chingri Paturi and snacks like the Chingri Thora Cutlet are pop picks.

Pocket pinch: The Mutton Thali and Chingri Thali are priced at Rs 275-plus each, while the Veg Thali costs Rs 175-plus. If you love fish, shell out Rs 250-plus. A Combo Thali comes for Rs 350-plus.

Panch Foran

Where: 1625/A Rajdanga Road, near Siemens.

Timings: 11am to 4pm and 5pm to 11pm.

What clicks: The “ghoroa” (home-style) Bengali food at a “reasonable price” at this 14-seater restaurant. The wall-to-wall mirror makes the place look larger. Service is decent.

Must-try: Kochi Pathar Jhol and Doi Katla, if you are not ordering a Thali.

Pocket pinch: Rs 300-plus for two.

Cakes

Where: 1625 Rajdanga Main Road, Plot 8 Phase 1, near Siemens.
Timings: 10am to 10.30pm.

What clicks: Chocolate cakes. Cookies and pastries, freshly-made tidbits like burger, puff and quiche are also available.

Must-try: Chocolate Ganache, Chicken Quiche.

Pocket pinch: Pastries and snacks start from Rs 30, cakes start from Rs 350.

Dhaba@Kolkata

Where: 81 Rajdanga Main Road, Nabapally, next to KFC.

Timings: 11am to 11pm.

What clicks: It is easy to spot. They also serve Chinese and have an extensive takeaway menu.

Must-try: Murg Hariyali Tikka.

Pocket pinch: Rs 500-plus for two.

Royal Jade

Where: 1282 Rajdanga Main Road, Shanti Pally area, next to Xclusiv, a car accessories shop.

Timings: Lunch: Noon to 4pm. Dinner: 6pm to 10.20pm (Monday to Friday) and 10.45pm (weekends).
What clicks: Good Chinese food this side of Tangra. Mostly packed on weekends (despite being a 70-seater), the restaurant has a long menu with a lot of variety. Some special dishes such as Whole Steamed Fish need to be ordered in advance. The decor adds to the Oriental feel with Chinese lanterns and dragon masks. We liked the round table with a rotating centrepiece. Fun.

Must-try: Salt and Pepper Prawn, Five Spice Chicken, Chicken with Stir-Fried Veggies (above).

Pocket pinch: Rs 600-plus for two.

Red bamboo shoot

Where: 225 Rajdanga Nabapally, first floor, above Frank Ross pharmacy.

Timings: Noon to 11pm.

What clicks: A Chinese and Thai menu. This 32-seater restaurant remains packed on weekends. 

Must-try: Chilli Butter Garlic Prawns and Bar-B-Q Chicken.

Pocket pinch:Rs 500-plus for two

Eateria

Where: 398 Rajdanga Gold Park, Rashbehari Connector, near Tribarna Sangha.

Timings: Noon to 10.30pm.

What clicks: First, the name is catchy. Then, a pocket-friendly menu (Indian, Chinese and rolls) that boasts dishes such as Drums of Heaven and Chilli Chicken. So, this 18-seater eatery is a cool place to grab a quick bite.

Must-try: Chicken Hakka Chow Mein (above).

Pocket pinch: Rs 400-plus for two.

 

Azad Hind Dhaba

Where: 68 Shanti Pally East Kolkata Township, next to Xclusiv, a car accessories shop.

Timings: Noon to 1am.

What clicks: The best part about this 60-seater north Indian and tandoor place is that it stays open till 1am. So you know where to go for your late-night craves. Easy on the pocket, the tandoor dishes are quite popular here.
Must-try: Kadhai Murg.

Pocket pinch: Rs 500-plus for two.
 

Lazeez

Where: 83 Rajdanga Gold Park, behind the Tribarna Sangha bus stop.

Timings: Noon to 11.30pm.

On the menu: It not only has the Shiraz-special mutton biryani (the owners are the same as of Shiraz) but also an array of kebabs (think Reshmi, Cheese, Tangri, Sholay, Kasturi and more!). The takeaway counter, called Lazeez Express, is popular for its rolls.

What clicks: Food similar to what you get at Shiraz Golden Restaurant of Mullickbazar. Plus, a cosy seating area with 42 covers, done in red, brown and off-white tones. The wall, adorned with Mughlai food pictures, might leave you yearning for more even after a hearty meal!

Must-try: Chicken Sholay Kebab (above) and Chicken Kasturi Kebab.

Pocket pinch: Rs 500-plus for two.

Domino’s

Where: Chambers Mall, Rajdanga Main Road, ground floor, opposite Gitanjali Stadium.

Timings: 11am to 11pm.

What clicks: Larger than most Domino’s outlets, it’s perfect for pizza parties (let’s face it, we all indulge in that) with the entire gang. 

Pocket pinch: Rs 500-plus for two; though the menu allows you to enjoy a pizza within Rs 100!

Hangla’s

Where: P20 RK Chatterjee Road, near Bakultala bus stop.

Timings: 11am to 11pm.

What clicks: The Bollywood connection. Yes, it is the place where the Amitabh Bachchans and Rani Mukerjis go in Mumbai when they crave for a Kati Roll. This Mumbai brand, selling classic Calcutta snacks since 2008, is an initiative by Calcutta boy Soumitra Basu. Not just rolls, we loved their potoler dolma and fried momos too! 
PS: If you want two degrees of separation from the Big B, meet chef Lakshman Kanu, who had made the roll when The Man had walked into their Lokhandwala outlet.

Must-try: After the chicken roll (inset), have a fried momo. It’s good.

Pocket pinch: Rs 150-plus for two.

Baked & Fried

Where: 141 Rajdanga Gold Park.

Timings: 11am to 10pm.

What clicks: Desi version of the fried chicken from Kentucky at a pocket-friendly rate. This eatery caught our eye with its smart, youthful interiors done in bright shades of red. Burgers, chicken nuggets, cold cuts, sub sandwich, French fries, chicken steak — a group of
youngsters serves it all, with a smile. 

PS: We were delighted to find a counter dedicated to Slush, an icy drink, in three flavours — pineapple, apple and lemon. Take your pick and sip the summers away!

Must-try: The Fried Chicken (above), of course.

Pocket pinch: Rs 400-plus for two.

Cheeni Kum

Where: 1744 Rajdanga Main Road, Hotel Narayani Enclave (in the street next to the KFC building).

Timings: 7.30am to 11.30pm; 11am to 11.30pm.

What clicks: A lounge and bar, a restaurant and a snack space — all in the same place, side by side. One of the few places that open for breakfast, the Cheeni Kum restaurant has an extensive menu — north Indian and tandoor, Chinese, Continental and even south Indian. Pretty interiors and mood lighting, we like. In for a light munch? Kola Veri, the snack place, offers dosa, idli, sandwich, burger and fresh juice. The 45-cover lounge and bar is where you grab a beer or a scarlet Cosmopolitan. A place for family outings or catching up with friends.

Must-try: Tandoori non-veg platter.

Pocket pinch: Rs 800-plus for two (without alcohol).

Which is your favourite food destination on the Kasba connector? Tell t2@abp.in