Situated opposite to my old college - Presidency College, Kolkata, The Coffee House has a unique place in Bengali history. It has been a hot-bed for many an intellectually stirring sessions involving artists, scholars, lovers as well as musicians. Over a cup of coffee, a lot of history has been made, documented, filmed as well as reminisced.
I visited my college today after almost two years. Stepping into the campus, I couldn't but recollect my out-of-school euphoria here. It was a new life. And a very different one - culturally, academically as well as personally. Yet, some of life's best moments were spent here. Some lovely friends were made and with them some lovely memories were gathered. Before I digress, I also had some free time to spare in College Street today. Lucky enough to have good company, we quickly headed for the Coffee House across the street.
We ordered a vegetable cutlet and a chicken kabiraji. Chicken kabiraji is also sort of a cutlet with chicken-stuffing and a very thick outer skin. It is deep-fried after being heavily coated with a batter containing flour and egg. It is one of the most in-demand items on the menu. Frankly, it's a good accompaniment with the coffee. Ironically however, the coffee disappointed me. The cutlets were crisp. And that's about it. They were neither good nor bad.
I would recommend Coffee House to you only for its old-world charm. The food is a major let-down but the ambiance is unique. There are too many people smoking inside, so that could be a problem for some. Otherwise, it typically gives you the early-black-and-white-era feel. It is different and typically Bengali. Come here for the Bengali experience and do not expect a culinary delight. Among the places to see and experience in Calcutta, The Coffee House undoubtedly remains a must.
I visited my college today after almost two years. Stepping into the campus, I couldn't but recollect my out-of-school euphoria here. It was a new life. And a very different one - culturally, academically as well as personally. Yet, some of life's best moments were spent here. Some lovely friends were made and with them some lovely memories were gathered. Before I digress, I also had some free time to spare in College Street today. Lucky enough to have good company, we quickly headed for the Coffee House across the street.
We ordered a vegetable cutlet and a chicken kabiraji. Chicken kabiraji is also sort of a cutlet with chicken-stuffing and a very thick outer skin. It is deep-fried after being heavily coated with a batter containing flour and egg. It is one of the most in-demand items on the menu. Frankly, it's a good accompaniment with the coffee. Ironically however, the coffee disappointed me. The cutlets were crisp. And that's about it. They were neither good nor bad.
I would recommend Coffee House to you only for its old-world charm. The food is a major let-down but the ambiance is unique. There are too many people smoking inside, so that could be a problem for some. Otherwise, it typically gives you the early-black-and-white-era feel. It is different and typically Bengali. Come here for the Bengali experience and do not expect a culinary delight. Among the places to see and experience in Calcutta, The Coffee House undoubtedly remains a must.
