Over the last few years, the choices available for enjoying Bengali cuisine have really increased in Hyderabad. The main reasons for this are continued migration of Bengalis from their native state in search of better opportunities as well as an increase in interest in people from other regions to try out Bengali cuisine. My journey for good Bengali food has taken me all over the twin cities to try out various Bengali restaurants. Here is a list of some of the most notable Bengali restaurants along with my suggestions of what to have there.
Oh Calcutta! is part of the famous Speciality Restaurants group, which has other restaurants chains such as Mainland China and Sigree. After Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore, they started their Hyderabad operations in Begumpet in December 2012.
If you ever visit their restaurant, don't forget to try their Gandharaj Bhetki (Lime flavored boneless Bhetki fish), Kakra Chingri Bhapa (Crab meat and Prawn in a mustard and green chili marinade, steamed inside a Banana Leaf) and Dab Chingri (Prawns in Raw Coconut).The combination of Chittagong Chicken (Chicken cooked in red chili paste, garlic in Bangladesh style) and Luchis (Flour puris) is pretty good too. For the vegetarians, they have specials like Mochar Ghonto (Banana Flower based preparation) and Dhokar Dalna (Shallow Fried Lentil Cake Curry). Sweet lovers can try their Malpua, Bhapa Sandesh and Nolen Gurer Ice cream.
Read a detailed review here.
Calcutta Cabin in Kondapur has an extensive spread of Bengali items and has special thalis for each Bengali festival. This is one of the first few restaurants which began offering Bengali food in Hyderabad and has been in the business for more than 5 years.
My particular favorites here are Kosha Mangsho and Bhetki Paturi . While the first is a typical spicy Bengali preparation of sautéed mutton, which is to be served with luchis or Moglai Parantha (special layered parantha), the latter is a boneless piece of bhetki fish, baked inside a banana leaf with mustard and other masalas.
Starters like Mochar Chop (a signature dish prepared from banana flower), the Bengali fish fry (thin fillet of fish coated in a batter and fried) and Beguni (slices of brinjal coated in a batter and fried) served by them, go very well with Kasundi (the Bengali mustard paste). WAtch out for innovations they present from time to time such as Cheese mocha balls.
Call Of Bengal, a restaurant in Madhapur brings a cuisine close to my heart - food from Kolkata. One of their novelties is the Mutton Khuska Pulao (a.k.a Kolkata Mutton Biryani). It is so called because the biriyani is made of khuska fragrant rice. It serves as a must try with the Chicken Chaap or Rezala, the other signature Kolkata Nawaabi dishes.
Another favorite of mine here is the combo of Kolkata Moglai Paratha and Bengali Kosha Chicken or Mutton. Apart from the right spices, the best thing here is that the Paranthas are not excessively oily.
The restaurant also serves the standard Kolkata short eats like Rolls, Cutlets, Fish Fry and Dimer Devil (the Bengali version of scotch eggs).
Recently they have also started offering unique Park Street continental food as made in Kolkata – recommended are the Chicken A La Kiev (Chicken Breast filled with butter) and Fish Florentine (Fish preparation with cheese and spinach). Weekends they often have special sweets such as Dudhpuli in their menu.
Another Bengali restaurant 10 Dalhousie in Madhapur Ayappa Society is known for its fish preparations, like Bhetki Paturi, Bhetki Bhapa, Morala Macher Jhal and Pabda Macher Jhol.
Their sweets are also sought after, especially their Rasgullas.
Amantran is a budget restaurant in Domalguda. This restaurant with about six tables, serve all types of Bengali dishes. Their snacks are especially well known – the Singadas (Kolkata Samosas) are possibly the best you get in Hyderabad with rich and pure filling of a variety of veggies. Other snacks of note are Luchi Alur Dom (Flour Puris with Potato Gravy) and Nolen Gurer Rasagolla .
Their non-vegetarian thali is also in much demand. For vegetarians, they often have seasonal specials such as Echhorer Dalna (Raw Jackfruit Curry ) and Mochar Ghonto (Banana Flower based preparation). They have a very loyal clientele and be prepared for wait to get a table especially in the weekends. They also have another branch at Regimental Bazar, near Secunderabad Railway Station.
And finally the new restaurant in town, Nabanno. Started in October 2013, the restaurant is tastefully decorated and gives you a look and feel of a urban Bengali household. The sitting area has a lot of books for people to browse through while they wait for the food at their table. In the main hall are paintings and photographs on the wall which bring forth glimpses of Bengal.
The menu has some uncommon items which are not normally available in Bengali restaurants – items like Fena Bhat, Panta Bhat/Pakhal, Peyaj Posto (Onion in Khuskhus), Marich bata (Spicy paste of vegetables and chillies which go well with steamed rice) and Shutki Macher (dried fish) Chochhori. Those who are not so adventurous can try their veg or non-veg thalis.
Read a detailed review here.
Apart from the year round visits of the Bengali restaurants in Hyderabad, the best time for Bengali food aficionados is during Durga Puja, when apart from these restaurants, many caterers and sweet shops put up stalls in the pandals of the various samity pujas.
Addresses and Brief Details
Oh Calcutta!
Tel : 040-30431249
Address : 6-3-1186/1/1, Near ITC Kakatiya, Greenlands, Begumpet,
Meal for two : Rs 1800
Calcutta Cabiin
The restaurant has unfortunately closed down in 2014.
Call of Bengal
Tel : 65550159
Address : Ayyappa Heights 1st Floor, Opposite to DLF Gate No 2, Hyderabad 500032
Meal for two: Rs 800
10 Dalhousie
The restaurant has unfortunately closed down in 2014.
Amantran
Tel : 040-65140170
Address : Ground Floor, Hyderabad Bangalee Samity, next to Ramakrishna Mutt, Domalguda
Meal for two: Rs 500
Nabanno
Tel : 040-40203180
Address : Nizampet X Roads, Kukatpally
Meal for two: Rs 800
Oh Calcutta! is part of the famous Speciality Restaurants group, which has other restaurants chains such as Mainland China and Sigree. After Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore, they started their Hyderabad operations in Begumpet in December 2012.
 |
| Bhetki Paturi (Oh Calcutta) |
If you ever visit their restaurant, don't forget to try their Gandharaj Bhetki (Lime flavored boneless Bhetki fish), Kakra Chingri Bhapa (Crab meat and Prawn in a mustard and green chili marinade, steamed inside a Banana Leaf) and Dab Chingri (Prawns in Raw Coconut).The combination of Chittagong Chicken (Chicken cooked in red chili paste, garlic in Bangladesh style) and Luchis (Flour puris) is pretty good too. For the vegetarians, they have specials like Mochar Ghonto (Banana Flower based preparation) and Dhokar Dalna (Shallow Fried Lentil Cake Curry). Sweet lovers can try their Malpua, Bhapa Sandesh and Nolen Gurer Ice cream.
Read a detailed review here.
 |
| Luchi with Kosha Mangsho and Chittagong Chicken Curry (Oh Calcutta) |
Calcutta Cabin in Kondapur has an extensive spread of Bengali items and has special thalis for each Bengali festival. This is one of the first few restaurants which began offering Bengali food in Hyderabad and has been in the business for more than 5 years.
 |
| Sorse Bata Rui Mach (Calcutta Cabiin) |
Starters like Mochar Chop (a signature dish prepared from banana flower), the Bengali fish fry (thin fillet of fish coated in a batter and fried) and Beguni (slices of brinjal coated in a batter and fried) served by them, go very well with Kasundi (the Bengali mustard paste). WAtch out for innovations they present from time to time such as Cheese mocha balls.
 |
| Macher Kalia (Calcutta Cabiin) |
Another favorite of mine here is the combo of Kolkata Moglai Paratha and Bengali Kosha Chicken or Mutton. Apart from the right spices, the best thing here is that the Paranthas are not excessively oily.
The restaurant also serves the standard Kolkata short eats like Rolls, Cutlets, Fish Fry and Dimer Devil (the Bengali version of scotch eggs).
 |
| Chicken Roll (Call of Bengal) |
Recently they have also started offering unique Park Street continental food as made in Kolkata – recommended are the Chicken A La Kiev (Chicken Breast filled with butter) and Fish Florentine (Fish preparation with cheese and spinach). Weekends they often have special sweets such as Dudhpuli in their menu.
Another Bengali restaurant 10 Dalhousie in Madhapur Ayappa Society is known for its fish preparations, like Bhetki Paturi, Bhetki Bhapa, Morala Macher Jhal and Pabda Macher Jhol.
Their sweets are also sought after, especially their Rasgullas.
 |
| Shorshe Diye Parshe (10 Dalhousie) |
Amantran is a budget restaurant in Domalguda. This restaurant with about six tables, serve all types of Bengali dishes. Their snacks are especially well known – the Singadas (Kolkata Samosas) are possibly the best you get in Hyderabad with rich and pure filling of a variety of veggies. Other snacks of note are Luchi Alur Dom (Flour Puris with Potato Gravy) and Nolen Gurer Rasagolla .
 |
| Nolen Gurer Rasagolla (Amantran) |
Their non-vegetarian thali is also in much demand. For vegetarians, they often have seasonal specials such as Echhorer Dalna (Raw Jackfruit Curry ) and Mochar Ghonto (Banana Flower based preparation). They have a very loyal clientele and be prepared for wait to get a table especially in the weekends. They also have another branch at Regimental Bazar, near Secunderabad Railway Station.
 |
| Fish Cutlet (Amantran) |
The menu has some uncommon items which are not normally available in Bengali restaurants – items like Fena Bhat, Panta Bhat/Pakhal, Peyaj Posto (Onion in Khuskhus), Marich bata (Spicy paste of vegetables and chillies which go well with steamed rice) and Shutki Macher (dried fish) Chochhori. Those who are not so adventurous can try their veg or non-veg thalis.
Read a detailed review here.
 |
| Amish Thali (Nabanno) |
Apart from the year round visits of the Bengali restaurants in Hyderabad, the best time for Bengali food aficionados is during Durga Puja, when apart from these restaurants, many caterers and sweet shops put up stalls in the pandals of the various samity pujas.
Addresses and Brief Details
Oh Calcutta!
Tel : 040-30431249
Address : 6-3-1186/1/1, Near ITC Kakatiya, Greenlands, Begumpet,
Meal for two : Rs 1800
Calcutta Cabiin
The restaurant has unfortunately closed down in 2014.
Call of Bengal
Tel : 65550159
Address : Ayyappa Heights 1st Floor, Opposite to DLF Gate No 2, Hyderabad 500032
Meal for two: Rs 800
10 Dalhousie
The restaurant has unfortunately closed down in 2014.
Amantran
Tel : 040-65140170
Address : Ground Floor, Hyderabad Bangalee Samity, next to Ramakrishna Mutt, Domalguda
Meal for two: Rs 500
Nabanno
Tel : 040-40203180
Address : Nizampet X Roads, Kukatpally
Meal for two: Rs 800
Apart from Nobanno have tried all.
ReplyDeleteOh Calcutta is the best and has to be ! But when it comes to a evening addaa session with friends followed by a short snacks will go to Call of Bengal always. Their Khuska Pular, Parantha and Chicken Chap with Cultel is the best. 10 D Street is good though I did not like it much apart from their ala karta menu cause their thalis are pretty much regular.
But if I have to quench my love for food and as well as need to have a check at my pockets Amantran is the best place.
They have come up with another wing at Secundrabad too.
Love the food their...it always reminds me of my grandma's dishes.
Diwakar must feature is the next installment... It's a must try for regular bengali food eaters!
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