In this city, every corner offers a new and exciting taste experience, whether it’s an elegant fine dining restaurant or a simple street vendor. Our goal is to showcase Kolkata’s best restaurants and local flavors, perfect for you to explore this culinary paradise with your escort. Let’s dive into Kolkata’s delicious world and discover the city’s culinary treasures together!
Before we begin, let’s take a look at what awaits you on today’s journey.
Luxury and fine dining restaurants in Kolkata
Kolkata is a paradise for food lovers. While it doesn’t have a Michelin-starred restaurant, several establishments stand out for their fine dining experiences and proudly hold Michelin recommendations. Here are three restaurants that offer the highest level of culinary delight for you and your escort in Kolkata.
Baan Thai at The Oberoi Grand: Authentic Thai cuisine in an elegant setting
Baan Thai is located in the Oberoi Grand, one of Kolkata’s most prestigious hotels. This restaurant offers a special experience where traditional Thai cuisine meets modern culinary techniques. The dishes at Baan Thai are prepared by chefs from Thailand, ensuring the flavors are authentically Thai. The elegant interior, adorned with gold and wood decorations, provides a perfect setting for a romantic dinner with your escort.
When dining here, make sure to try Tom Yum Goong, a spicy shrimp soup made with fresh shrimp, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and chili paste. The explosion of flavors is a true culinary delight. Pad Thai is also a must-try; this classic Thai noodle dish is made with rice noodles, shrimp, tofu, peanuts, and fresh vegetables. For dessert, don’t miss the Mango Sticky Rice, which combines sweet mango and sticky rice for a perfect end to the meal.
The Oberoi Grand is centrally located, easily accessible by taxi or local transport. Baan Thai is one of the best choices for an elegant, authentic Thai dinner in Kolkata.
Sonargaon at Taj Bengal: Authentic Indian flavors in a refined setting
Sonargaon, located in the Taj Bengal hotel, is situated in Kolkata’s upscale district. Moreover, this five-star hotel houses a restaurant that is a gem of authentic Indian cuisine, with a special focus on regional dishes. Additionally, the interior is decorated in traditional Indian style, featuring cozy lamps and handcrafted decorations, which create a special atmosphere for a memorable dinner with your escort.
One of the restaurant’s specialties is Galouti Kebab, a tender, spicy meat kebab that melts in your mouth. Also, try the Macher Paturi, a steamed fish dish cooked in banana leaves with fresh herbs and coconut. Aam Panna, a mango cooler, is a perfect drink to accompany your meal.
Taj Bengal is located in one of the city’s upscale districts, easily accessible by car or taxi. Sonargaon is one of the best places for authentic Indian flavors in a refined setting.
West View Bar & Grill at ITC Sonar: International and Indian grilled specialties
West View Bar & Grill, located in the ITC Sonar hotel, is renowned for its exclusive services and luxurious setting. Additionally, the restaurant offers exceptional grilled dishes and fresh seafood recognized internationally. Moreover, the modern, elegant interior and the open kitchen allow you to watch the preparation of the dishes, providing a unique experience.
One of the restaurant’s specialties is grilled lobster, perfectly grilled and seasoned with butter and spices. Tandoori chicken, marinated in yogurt and spices, is also a must-try. Sample various international cheeses sourced from around the world.
ITC Sonar is situated in one of the city’s modern districts, easily reachable by car or taxi. West View Bar & Grill is a perfect choice for a special dinner, offering international and Indian grilled specialties.
Try traditional Indian food in Kolkata with an escort.
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Local foods in Kolkata: A taste of India
Walking through the city’s streets, you’ll find many tempting local dishes that let you explore India’s rich flavors. Taste Kolkata’s finest dishes and enjoy the local culinary specialties with your escort!
Puchka (Panipuri): A burst of flavor
Puchka, also known as Panipuri, is one of Kolkata’s most popular street foods that you must try with your escort when you’re on a culinary tour. This small, crispy ball bursts with flavors when you bite into it.
The balls are made from semolina and deep-fried until crispy. They are typically filled with spicy potatoes, chickpeas, and tamarind chutney. The real magic lies in the spiced water poured inside, made from coriander, mint leaves, green chilies, and various spices.
The taste of Puchka is an explosion of flavors: the crispy exterior and the spicy, tangy interior burst in your mouth. The flavors are spicy, refreshing, and slightly tangy, perfectly balancing the crispy texture.
Kathi Rolls: Kolkata’s wrap
Kathi Rolls are one of the city’s best-known street foods, offering a delicious filled wrap. It’s a perfect choice for a quick but tasty meal.
Use a paratha, a butter-fried layered flatbread, to make the wrap. Fill the paratha with grilled chicken, lamb, or vegetarian options like paneer (Indian cheese) or spiced vegetables. Add fresh onions, peppers, and various sauces to complement the filling, then roll it up for easy eating.
The flavor of Kathi Rolls is rich and spicy, with the crispy texture of the paratha perfectly complementing the juicy filling. The combination of different flavors and textures in each bite provides a truly mouthwatering experience.
Mishti Doi and Rasgulla: Sweet temptations
Among Kolkata’s famous sweet dishes, Mishti Doi and Rasgulla are must-tries. These desserts perfectly conclude a meal and are sure to delight your taste buds.
Mishti Doi is a sweetened yogurt traditionally fermented in clay pots. It’s made from milk and sugar, then caramelized, giving it a unique, deep flavor. The texture is creamy and silky, with a mildly sweet and caramel-like taste.
Rasgulla is a light, syrupy dessert made from chenna (curdled milk). The chenna is shaped into balls and cooked in sugar syrup until fully soaked. Its taste is light and refreshing, and its texture is soft and spongy, almost melting in your mouth.
Kosha Mangsho: Spicy Bengali lamb
Kosha Mangsho is a traditional Bengali lamb curry that conquers taste buds with its rich and deep flavors. If you enjoy spicy, hearty dishes, you must try this with your escort.
Start by marinating the lamb in yogurt and various spices. Slowly cook it, adding onions, ginger, garlic, and aromatic spices like cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and bay leaves. Cook the lamb until it becomes tender and juicy, allowing the spices to perfectly infuse the meat.
The flavor of Kosha Mangsho is rich, spicy, and slightly hot. The lamb is tender and succulent, and the sauce is thick and flavorful, pairing perfectly with soft basmati rice or fresh paratha.
Shorshe Ilish: Mustard fish specialty
Shorshe Ilish is one of the most iconic dishes of Bengali cuisine, made from Hilsa fish. This dish is especially popular during the monsoon season when Hilsa fish is freshest and tastiest.
The Hilsa fish is first marinated with spices and then cooked in a mustard seed paste. The paste is flavored with green chili, turmeric, and a bit of coconut milk. During cooking, the fish absorbs the mustard’s sharp, tangy flavor, making the dish truly special.
The flavor of Shorshe Ilish is intense and distinctive, with the mustard paste being sharp and tangy, and the fish flesh tender and flavorful. This dish pairs particularly well with steamed rice, which helps balance the intensity of the spices.
Chingri Malai Curry: Coconut shrimp curry
Chingri Malai Curry is a rich, creamy coconut milk shrimp curry that is a delightful specialty of Bengali cuisine. This dish is perfect for special occasions, as it is both elegant and delicious.
The main ingredient is fresh shrimp, first steamed and then cooked in a coconut milk-based sauce. Flavor the sauce with onions, ginger, garlic, and aromatic spices like coriander, cumin, and turmeric. The coconut milk gives the curry a creamy texture and slightly sweet flavor, perfectly complementing the shrimp’s taste.
The flavor of Chingri Malai Curry is rich, creamy, and mildly spicy. The shrimp is tender and juicy, and the sauce is silky and aromatic, pairing perfectly with a serving of steamed basmati rice.
Luchi and Aloo Dum: The simple yet delicious pair
Luchi and Aloo Dum is a simple yet incredibly tasty pair, a staple of Bengali breakfasts. If you’re looking for something lighter but still flavorful, try this with your escort.
Luchi is a deep-fried flatbread made from wheat flour. It’s soft and crispy, a perfect accompaniment to the spicy Aloo Dum, a potato curry. Aloo Dum is made from potatoes cooked in a spicy tomato sauce, flavored with ginger, garlic, onions, and various spices.
The flavor of Luchi and Aloo Dum is simple yet deeply flavorful. Luchi is soft and slightly oily, while Aloo Dum is spicy and aromatic. Together, they offer a perfect taste experience, ideal for breakfast or a light lunch.
Jhalmuri: Spicy puffed rice snack
Jhalmuri, a popular Bengali snack made from puffed rice, is perfect for a light bite with your escort. This dish is quick to prepare and full of flavors.
Mix puffed rice with spices like chili powder, salt, and roasted cumin. Add chopped vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, and coriander leaves. For extra crunch, include roasted peanuts and sev (crispy noodles).
The flavor of Jhalmuri is spicy, crispy, and refreshing. Additionally, the puffed rice is light and crispy, and the spices give the dish an intense and tangy flavor. Therefore, this snack is a perfect choice for a light yet tasty bite.
Overall, these local dishes are special and authentic, guaranteeing an unforgettable culinary experience for you and your escort in Kolkata. Enjoy the richness and diversity of flavors with your escort, and explore the city’s culinary treasures together!
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Local drinks: Refreshments and specialties
Kolkata offers many special drinks that perfectly complement the meals. Additionally, be sure to try some local refreshments as well.
For instance, Daab Sharbat is a refreshing drink made from green coconut. Prepare it from the juice inside the coconut and fresh coconut pieces, sometimes adding a bit of lemon juice and honey for flavor. The result is a light, cooling drink perfect for hot days.
Moreover, Masala Chai combines strong black tea, milk, and various spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger to create a spiced Indian tea. The flavor is rich and aromatic, making it perfect for a relaxing afternoon.
Lastly, try Sattu Sharbat, made from roasted chickpea flour. This drink is rich in nutrients and very refreshing, especially in summer. It has a slightly nutty and earthy flavor, often spiced and flavored with lemon juice.
As you stroll through Kolkata’s streets, sampling these foods and drinks will provide an unforgettable culinary experience with your escort.
Dining experiences with an escort
While exploring Kolkata’s restaurants, it’s important to be aware of local dining customs and etiquette to fully enjoy the culinary experience with your escort. India’s unique and diverse cuisine comes with its own dining customs and hygiene standards, so it’s worth paying attention to a few things.
First, in India, people often use their hands during meals, especially with traditional dishes. Many restaurants have handwashing stations where you can wash your hands before and after eating. Hand-eating is deeply rooted, but most fine dining establishments provide utensils, allowing you to choose your preferred way of eating.
Choosing restaurants and tap water
When selecting restaurants, consider the hygiene and quality of the food. Fine dining restaurants usually follow high hygiene standards. However, if you’re trying street food, ensure the food is fresh and properly prepared. Avoid overcrowded and dirty places, as the food may be less safe.
It’s important to note that you should avoid drinking tap water in India. Always drink bottled water from a reliable source. Try local specialties like Masala Chai or refreshing Daab Sharbat, but make sure they use clean water.
The food might be spicier than what you’re used to, so ask in advance about the spice level of each dish. If you can’t handle spicy food, request a milder version.
During meals, observe local etiquette rules. For example, in India, people consider it wasteful to leave food on your plate at the end of a meal. Also, it’s customary for guests to start eating first, with hosts eating last as a sign of respect.
In fine dining and luxury restaurants, tipping is usually around 10-15% of the total bill. Ensure the bill doesn’t already include a service charge, as many restaurants add it automatically. If it does, additional tipping is unnecessary, but you can give extra for exceptional service.
In mid-range and cheaper restaurants, tipping is lower, generally 5-10%. Check the bill here as well to see if it includes a service charge.
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Common phrases in restaurants
When dining in a Kolkata restaurant with your escort, knowing a few local phrases can help you communicate better with the staff. Here are some basic phrases and sentences you can use:
Greetings:
- Namaste – Hello/Welcome!
- Shubho Shokal – Good morning!
- Shubho Bikel – Good afternoon!
- Shubho Ratri – Good evening!
Ordering food:
- Menu chai – Can we have the menu?
- Eta ki? – What is this?
- Eta khub bhalo – This is very tasty.
- Ami ei-ta nibo – I would like to have this.
- Ami shobji nibo – I would like vegetarian dishes.
- Tumi ki recommend korbe? – What would you recommend?
Thanking and feedback:
- Dhonnobad – Thank you.
- Khida lagse – I am hungry.
- Bhalo laglo – This was very good.
- Khub bhalo! – It was great!
Special requests:
- Kom moshla den – Please add less spice.
- Pani chai – Can I have water?
- Bill den – Please bring the bill.
Using these phrases can help you communicate with locals and make your dining experience in Kolkata even more enjoyable.
Conclusion
Kolkata’s culinary offerings are impressive and diverse, making it an ideal choice for a special dinner with your escort. The city’s best restaurants, such as Baan Thai, Sonargaon, and West View Bar & Grill, offer authentic flavors and elegant settings. Moreover, local dishes like Puchka, Kathi Rolls, and Kosha Mangsho showcase Kolkata’s cultural diversity with their rich flavors and traditions. Therefore, explore the city’s culinary treasures together and enjoy unforgettable dining experiences!