Charcoal by Wise Owl is the newest offering by the Krystal group which has other restaurants like Wise Owl The Coffee Shop, The Wise Owl Steakhouse, Krystal Chopsticks and Tero Parbon under its wing. Located in the southern hub of Calcutta on Purna Das Road, this restaurant specialises in NorthWest Frontier cuisine. The name Charcoal is derived from the traditional cooking style in clay ovens or tandoor in the NorthWest Frontier province region. Also known as Peshawari cuisine, this cuisine traces its roots back to the lands stretching from Kabul, Kandahar, and Peshawar to Lahore. One distinctive selling point of this cuisine is its rustic element and emphasis on preserving the flavours and ingredients.
Created with the spirit of offering a casual, relaxed space to unwind with family and friends, Charcoal by Wise Owl has vibrant decor elements such as wooden panels, plants and dim lighting that lend an aesthetic appeal to the elegant diner. Spread across an area of 900sq ft, this 46-seater restaurant is divided into two sections — an indoor zone and an alfresco space. The main area leads to a pleasant outdoor seating space with a wonderful view of the skyline.
From sourcing local ingredients to developing recipes to maintain the authenticity of the traditional flavours, the team of culinary experts at Charcoal by Wise Owl pay close attention to the quality of each component. The dishes on the menu are primarily prepared in a charcoal tandoor using aromatic spices, which give the food a distinctive flavour. The flavour of spice in the food is balanced, usually with the use of cream, dry fruits and kesar. This robust and characterful style of tandoori cooking has left its mark on the culinary map of many cities across the world. The extensive menu highlights exquisite dishes like kebabs and other authentic Northwestern flavours such as Rajma Galouti, Tandoori Motiya, Sikandari Murgh, Peshawari Burrah, Mutton Galouti with Mini Parathas, Shaam O Saher, Awadhi Murgh Malai, Gosht Roghan Gulmarg, Laal Maas, Dum Biryani, amongst many others. The indulgent desserts on the menu include Baked Mihidana Tart, Malai Cheesecake and Kesar Malai Paris Brest.
More about it
“We are thrilled to introduce to the city of Calcutta a laidback, North-West Frontier cuisine restaurant where they can enjoy a leisurely lunch or dinner with friends and family. The idea to launch the cuisine originated when I travelled to Lucknow with my husband, who hails from there. I remember being mesmerised by the Awadhi food and knew from that moment that Calcutta needed to taste the authentic Awadhi food along with the other North-West Frontier cuisines like Kashmiri, Rajasthani, Punjabi, Pakistani and Afghani which at some point constituted the North-West frontier states,” says Siddhika Ghose Chaudhuri, founder, Charcoal by Wise Owl.
What: Charcoal by Wise Owl
Where: 66/2B, Purna Das Road, Hindustan Park
Timings: Noon10.45pm
Cost for two: Rs 1,000- Rs 1,200- plus
The wooden ceiling with hanging lights and pretty plant settings gives the restaurant a more light and aesthetic look.
Mawa ki sheikh is a melange of soft cottage cheese and milk khoya coated with nuts and cooked to perfect
Peshawari Burrah are luscious lamb chops marinated overnight in special spices and slow-cooked in charcoal tandoor.
Murgh Biryani is the signature chicken biryani with a rich mix of basmati rice, potato and egg cooked delicately with aromatic spices on dum.
Boneless chicken cooked in creamy yoghurt gravy and Indian spices results is Awadhi Murgh Malai.
Lal Maas is a traditional mutton curry from Rajasthan cooked with mathania chillies, yoghurt and hot spices.
The creamy Dal Makhni where black lentils are slowly cooked for hours finished with enriched butter, cream and spices.
Dig into this chilled and sinful glass of Gulab Jamun with Rabri soufflé, garnished with dried rose petals and flavourful saffron.
Pictures: B Halder
