Bol Gappa – Karama

I am a huge fan of Indian street food and have been relishing the opening of so many concepts across Karama in recent months, Bol Gappa included. The problem is, after you visit the first two or three, the others all seem to look similar – it’s almost as if they all use the same interior designer. Somebody, please tell me Bhukkad Café, Once Upon a Bite and Rajdhani Street don’t share a ridiculous resemblance. And while we’re on the subject of interiors, I would actually place Bol Gappa, whose Bollywood theme gives it the most to play with concept wise, dead last – the place looks like a children’s playschool, a kindergarten. Guys, you had Bollywood and that’s the best you could come up with – really?

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The food in some way makes up for the interior, I loved the Balam Puchkari (Pani Puri) but found the greenish coloured Bhel Puri they originally served me peculiar tasting. So, surprise surprise, they quickly changed it with a Calcutta Bhel (not on the menu). This was the result of a restaurant supervisor thinking on his feet, well done. Obviously remembering my Kolkata connection from when he took my original order, he went back to the kitchen and asked their chef (also from the city of joy) to make me something special from Kolkata. Calcutta Bhel is basically what you get from street (and cart) vendors on almost every street corner in Cal. It’s heavy on the moori and laced with mustard oil – delicious. I also loved their Masala Chaas.

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What Bol Gappa may lack in interior design creativity they make up for in food quality and service. Motish, the supervisor who looked after me was truly amazing – half my rating is for him and the talented Chef Gautam.

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I was disappointed to hear of @shruthidhan13 encounter with a cockroach some weeks ago. I’m sure it was just an unfortunate fluke. Let me assure you that the place was as spotlessly clean as a children’s nursery (ha! I just had to have one more dig) when I visited. So, although there are a number of equally good venues out there, I will go back to Bol Gappa as much for the food as for the amazing hospitality.

Hey! Now read this –
Xerxes physically dines at, or orders from, each and every venue he reviews. He pays in full for whatever he and his companions eat, drink, take away or occasionally throw at each other. Xerxes accepts no money, gifts, discounts or free meals in return for reviews or favouritism. What you have read was NOT influenced in any way by the venue. Join me on Instagram @ravenousxerxes or email me on xerxes@dellara.com.