I am coming to Mocambo at the crossing of Park Street and Free School Street in the heart of Kolkata for the last 40 years!
Initially when I used to visit this sophisticated restaurant in late sixtees, I used to be awed at the elegance and decor of this sparkling dining space.There were subtle music soothing to the ears, dim lights along the corridor and above and a secluded dancing floor reserved for the evening!
Over the years the outlook has changed, the decor has become more ordinary, seating arrangements have been changed from the sprawled sofas to set of chairs across a table to accommodate more people, lights have changed to China lanterns and the dance floor had vanished.But what has not changed is the quality of the food! I still get fascinated over the smell of a dish of Bekti or Hilsa fish or still move my chairs when a plate of delicious tandoor chicken is served along with my cold beer.When the other restaurant of Park Street serve only a portion for a dish not sufficient even to my small daughter, Mocambo gives us enough for our money’s worth when we order a set of dishes.Sometimes in the evening a middle aged man appears with his key board and asks me if I want any special tune to be played.
And the drinks or beer is served and the food arrives and we forget about the day’s hurdle, about the noise around, about the traffic jam we have to face and instead concentrate only on the delicious food of Mocambo in the adequate ambience!!