There’s nothing extraordinary about Kath Koyla. It presents itself as a hookah cafe serving vegetarian food for the age group of 18-40, and that’s exactly what it is. It is somewhat refreshing to have a new hangout that isn’t trying to be quirky, or serving food that’s all about presentation and less about taste. Kath Koyla, named after the coal used to light up hookah, is simple and basic.
The 50-seater cafe is located above pizzeria Sumo Dough, which opened in January by the same owner Sumit Kariwala, 24. Before you tag him as just another youngster getting into Calcutta’s hookah cafe business backed by family money, it’s important to know that he did this himself. For decades, generations before him have been in the sari-garment business and two years ago, Sumit was doing just that — trading in fabric. But his dreams were woven around a place where he could chill, a place not unlike the places he and his friends spend most of their evenings… over hookah and snacks!
“A year ago, I seriously started looking for a place; I knew it had to be a casual dining place near a college. And then everything just fell into place,” said Sumit.
t2 checked out Kath Koyla…
What: Kath Koyla
Where: 6B Elgin Road (above Sumo Dough and near Bhawanipur Education Society College)
Open: 11am to midnight, all days
Meal for two: Rs 800 without hookah. Hookah is priced Rs 295-Rs 525
The 50-seater hookah lounge, spread across more than 1,000sq ft, wears a metallic look. It has tufted sofas in suede, glass-top wooden tables and custom-made lights from Moradabad. There is plenty of mirror work to lend a sense of space. “The idea behind broader sofas is to encourage people to put up their feet and relax,” said young owner Sumit Kariwala.
The Paneer Makhani Pizza is a neater way to eat paneer and tandoori roti. “For desi pizzas, makhni gravy is the ideal replacement for a tomato base,” said Sumit, who often dabbles in the kitchen. Rs 295
A section called On Pao offers any one of five servings on pao — bhaji, tikia chhola, chana, paneer bhurji and aloo chana. Served with sliced onions and pudina chutney. Rs 165
Shake to Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You and sip on this Oreo Shake. Rs 165
Vegetarian Chelo Kebab: To compare it with the Chelo Kebab we know would be blasphemy but the name aside, the buttered rice with paneer tikka and tandoori aloo is quite tasty. Rs 295
For those looking for larger meals, here comes the Thali. Rs 275
Text: Karo Christine Kumar
Pictures: Rashbehari Das
