“ØL means beer and Terra means land and together Ølterra means the land of beer,” explained Rudresh Agarwal, co-owner of Ølterra, as we made our way through this Greek-themed all-day dining place housed in Stephen Court, next to Peter Cat. Spread across over 13,000sqft, Ølterra is primarily a brewpub (they are awaiting licence for the same) but in the meanwhile one could sip on over 22 signature cocktails at the 100ft-long island bar. The food menu is a mix of Indian, fusion, Oriental, Mexican and Italian. “We want to stay focused on the taste of the food first and not get carried away by only presentation. That’s important but it’s secondary,” said Siddhant Agarwal, who co-owns the place. Ølterra has an offbeat quaint charm of its own, a place where you would love to indulge in brunches and meals with family and friends and also a place where you would love to indulge in exotic cocktails. t2 took a walkthrough ahead of its launch and here’s what we loved.
With private spaces gaining popularity, there is also a PDR that can pack around 30 people. The touch of blue and velvet sofa adds a certain warmth and elegance to this space.
Spread across 9,000sqft, the sprawling indoor section has mixed seating, a DJ console and a giant screen with interesting visuals. The soft cascading lights add to the mood of the place.
Themed around the Greek world, the interiors of the brewpub are done beautifully by Sumessh Menon. The piece de resistance is a massive statue of Greek God Zeus hung from the ceiling of the 100ft island bar. There are hand-painted faces of Greek Gods on the walls.
“When people come to Calcutta, I want this place to become a must-visit and slowly become iconic in the years to come. The location is a statement in itself as the building is over 100 years old, and we have tried our best to make the old-world charm blend effortlessly with our Greek interiors,” said brothers Rudresh Agarwal (right) and Siddhant Agarwal, owners of Ølterra.
More about it:
What: Ølterra
Where: 18, Park Street
Timings: 12.30pm to 10pm
Meal for two: Rs 2,400 with alcohol
t2 picks
Potato Rosti Chana Chaat is a fusion dish from Italy and India. Crunchy potatoes stuffed with chana, this one has robust flavour in every single bite.
Love dim sums? Try Water chestnut Cream Cheese Dumpling that’s filled with smooth and delicious cream cheese. Pop it in your mouth and let it melt.
Pan Grilled Cilantro Fish will warm your heart with its simple ingredients yet delicious flavours. Served in a filo basket with oven-roasted vegetables and lemon coriander sauce, the Kolkata Bekti is cooked to perfection. Pair it with red wine for best result.
Edible Lava Coal is a the traditional dahi kebab with the goodness of activated charcoal and homemade garlic aioli. A great pick to start your meal with.
Conclude your meal by digging into Choco Hazelnut Mousse. This rich dessert comes in a dome shape, which crumbles into pieces (thanks to the hot chocolate sauce) and exposes the satin-smooth chocolate and hazelnut mousse.
Ølterra focuses on an array of gin-based cocktails. You can call for Gin Fashioned, a gin-based drink with flavourful lavender tincture and a unique and beautiful flower ice mould.
Ginger Fizz is a fizzy cocktail with a fruity note of peach and mango ginger, finished with a gastronomical cloud.
Optimistic is a Bourbon whisky with pomegranate and mint with an oozy effect of orange foam and garnished with mandarin slice and mint.
Pictures: B. Halder
