6 Ballygunge Place is Kolkata’s first ever Bengali restaurant chain (Oh! Calcutta doesn’t count because it’s not Bengali). The original branch I visited is stunning, located in a fully refurbished British Raj mansion in Ballygunge (the restaurant is named after its address). The entire ground floor is decorated with colourful haath-pankha (hand fans) and plates (I think they’re plates), the attention to detail everywhere you look is just amazing. We simply don’t have something on this scale (where authenticity is concerned) in Dubai.
The food is equally amazing. A daily buffet of traditional Bengali favourites is served at lunch and dinner which, at around ₹600, is ridiculously reasonable. We served ourselves from the buffet but also ordered à la carte. I had no idea Bengali food was so diverse and so delicious. No matter what you do try the fish, especially the Hilsa (a relative of the Herring and also available in Dubai) which is now in season. Chef Sushanta Sengupta and his team have created numerous Hilsa-based dishes. You must also try their famous, to-die-for Bengali sweets.
Service at 6 Ballygunge Place foreigner friendly, I had well-groomed, impeccably mannered waitstaff patiently talk me through everything from the history of the mansion to the various dishes they recommended. For travellers to Kolkata from the UAE I strongly recommend you add this delightful restaurant to your bucket list of places to visit. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Irrespective of which part of Kolkata you are staying, this restaurant is well worth a detour. Every self-respecting hotel concierge will be able to make you a reservation and guide you to the restaurant.
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Xerxes physically visits each and every venue he reviews and pays full price for whatever he eats and drinks. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts or free meals in return for reviews. What you have read was not influenced in any way by the venue.
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