My daughter stood us dinner at 6, BALLYGUNJE PLACE, Kolkata 700019 last evening.
The ambience was typically old world, our vanished yesterdays, and a prominently displayed gramophone added lustre to the scenario. It was not very crowded in spite of being a Saturday evening. We started with Gondhraj Chicken, a delicacy where boneless chicken is marinated in ample juice of strongly flavoured lemon and the fried in oil. Chetal Macher Muitha was the next item, done absolutely right, where the filleted Chetal fish is first steamed and then cooked in a gravy. Bhetki Paturi, where the Bhetki fish is cooked in banana wrapping was mouth watering. Kakrar Jhal was the next on the menu and we simply relished the Crab meat done in a spicy sauce. The claws were all done and the juices had seeped into the flesh nicely.
But the piece de resistance* was Dab Chingri. Succulent Prawns, deveined and deshelled, marinated in mustard paste was prepared within the hollow of a green coconut over charcoal fire. The aroma and the taste were simply divine!
We had Kaju-kismis pulao to go with the gravy. It was not greasy at all.For dessert we had Chanar malpoa and Nalen Gurer icecream; and believe me they were absolutely superb!
The menu was quintessentially ethnic Bengali. The rates are not exorbitant and the quality of the food and ingredients were definitely top notch. There are many places where we can have Chinese, Thai, Continental and Mughlai dishes in Kolkata but very few restaurants serve Bengali delicacies round the year. 6 Ballygunje Place** undoubtedly takes the cake when it comes to Bengali Cuisine! Keep the flag flying high Mr. Palit for maintaining and upholding an essential part of our culture and thanks to my daughter Ananya for choosing this place.