The dining area gets a cosy feel with blue and yellow lights and a combo of desi and international decor

Vegetarians in this city of plenty have a complaint — not enough places to make it worth their while to dress up for dinner. There is compensation afoot. Kuaizi ’’ Kadai, the new 55-seater restaurant in Alipore, has opened with an all-vegetarian menu, which serves up an impressive array from Indian, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Thai and Mongolian cuisine. The name is kind of a giveaway though, ‘kuaizi’ meaning chopsticks in Chinese and ‘kadai’, well you know what a kadhai is. Despite the vast culinary areas the menu covers, the attempt here is to keep it “as authentic” as can be. “Every ingredient that goes into making a particular dish is either prepared in the kitchen or imported directly from the country it is typical to,” said Nishit Saraf, managing director, KNK Speciality Kitchen Pvt. Ltd. Though it is his first venture, being a foodie sure helps keep things shipshape.

It is with an eye towards changing lifestyle that the menu was decided upon. “There is an emphasis on healthy eating and people are shifting to predominantly vegetarian food. This is what inspired us to launch this restaurant, with plans of establishing a pan-India chain,” said Arvind Saraf, executive chairman of the group.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating and the pudding, er, Chocolate Fondue, offers ample proof. The partners pick Tandoori Dahi Seekh Kebab and Kaali Dal Makhanwali as their recommendations from the Indian menu, and Broccoli and Potato in Chilli Honey Sauce from the Chinese one.

In the pipeline are a live Mongolian counter, a lounge, a banquet hall and a cafe in the portico area of this 7,500sq ft address.

Where: 14A Burdwan Road, ground floor, Alipore

Timings: 12.30pm-3.30pm, 7pm-11pm

Pocket pinch: Rs 1,500-plus for two

t2 pick

Tolly actress Locket Chatterjee inaugurated the restaurant and voted for the Bharwain Dum Aloo Benarasi in Exotic Gravy, which is potato stuffed with paneer and served in two types of gravy, a preparation dating back to the Moghul era. “Family dinners usually get problematic when we have the grandparents preferring vegetarian food, something youngsters don’t want to settle for. With international vegetarian food being available here, coming to Kuaizi ’n’ Kadai for the next family dinner would be a good idea,” she said.

Chocolate Fondue: This signature dish is served with rich Belgium chocolate sauce, brownies, wafers and seasonal fruits. Also available with creamy milk chocolate