Thanks for all the fish!
3 May 2014 4:24 AM IST
A big news day and pending work can only mean one thing, a very heavy and spicy lunch. That is exactly what we set out to do heading for West Bengal Bhavan.
Delhi’s probashi Bengalis (non-residential bengali’s if you may) have always retreated to the comfort of Banga Bhavan (as it is better known) or the Ma Tara Hotel in CR Park to get a taste of home. Then there is always Oh! Calcutta and City of Joy in Alaknanda to offer a slightly better dining experience.
While Oh! Calcutta turns you off with the completely ludicrous prices, City of Joy offers a substantially better deal. But beating it all I comes Banga Bhavan, you can sit in the air-conditioned interiors and enjoy your fill of Bengali food along with very good service.
The menu is a fish lover’s delight - right from the crabs and the prawns and the monsoon special Hilsa - you will instinctively reach out for a well made fish fry. We decided to take the path oft not taken and ordered Mutton Cutlets. We wanted to savour the fish later. The cutlets were quite good and while we debated whether we should order round two, the Prawn Kabiraji came in. Basically a prawn cutlet fried in a thick layer of eggs is quite heavy, but sadly we were left disappointed. The prawns were not marinated enough and the coating, which is supposed to be light and fluffy was very oily and heavy on the tongue.
The Chicken Kosha did not do justice to the expectations we had off it and compared rather poorly to the fish. Both the Fish Kalia and the Ilish Bhapa were perfect to say the least. The fish was fresh and the gravy perfect, not to spicy but full of taste.
The Ilish was a part of the special monsoon Hilsa festival that is on in the bhavan and might not be easily available throughout the year - but all other items on the menu are. Including the much loved Luchi and Alurdom. But as luck would have it - office calls! While all the items in the menu will not blow you away, they have their spectacular hits and more than anything - eating at Banga Bhavan is definite value for money. We are going back again for sure!
Delhi’s probashi Bengalis (non-residential bengali’s if you may) have always retreated to the comfort of Banga Bhavan (as it is better known) or the Ma Tara Hotel in CR Park to get a taste of home. Then there is always Oh! Calcutta and City of Joy in Alaknanda to offer a slightly better dining experience.
While Oh! Calcutta turns you off with the completely ludicrous prices, City of Joy offers a substantially better deal. But beating it all I comes Banga Bhavan, you can sit in the air-conditioned interiors and enjoy your fill of Bengali food along with very good service.
The menu is a fish lover’s delight - right from the crabs and the prawns and the monsoon special Hilsa - you will instinctively reach out for a well made fish fry. We decided to take the path oft not taken and ordered Mutton Cutlets. We wanted to savour the fish later. The cutlets were quite good and while we debated whether we should order round two, the Prawn Kabiraji came in. Basically a prawn cutlet fried in a thick layer of eggs is quite heavy, but sadly we were left disappointed. The prawns were not marinated enough and the coating, which is supposed to be light and fluffy was very oily and heavy on the tongue.
The Chicken Kosha did not do justice to the expectations we had off it and compared rather poorly to the fish. Both the Fish Kalia and the Ilish Bhapa were perfect to say the least. The fish was fresh and the gravy perfect, not to spicy but full of taste.
The Ilish was a part of the special monsoon Hilsa festival that is on in the bhavan and might not be easily available throughout the year - but all other items on the menu are. Including the much loved Luchi and Alurdom. But as luck would have it - office calls! While all the items in the menu will not blow you away, they have their spectacular hits and more than anything - eating at Banga Bhavan is definite value for money. We are going back again for sure!
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