Meher caterers (manackjee Rustomjee Dharamshala, bow street, opposite bow barracks, kolkata)

In a nutshell:

A canteen run by a Parsi couple, inside a Parsi Dharamshala, serves fabulous Parsi food – one of the best among many Parsi food experiences we had. To top it, the conversations with the warm & hospitable hosts Mrs & Mr hansotia made the afternoon memorable.

The facade of the Dharamshala PC: DG images

Food has to be pre ordered two days prior so that there is no wastage of food.

The kitchen

Surely better than Britannia, Jimmy boy & some other famous Parsi restaurants of mumbai.

Notes after eating the food
The building
Around the courtyard

Address & other details: Meher caterers

Contact details

Phone: 098314 03863

Meal for 2: ₹1200 onwards

Cuisine type : vegetarian also, predominantly non vegetarian

Disclaimer: All restaurants / eateries reviewed by YUMMRAJ were visited by YUMMRAJ himself & he has paid for the full Bill & tips also. http://www.yummraj.com does not have even one featured / sponsored reviews. YUMMRAJ believes in going to a restaurant in anonymity, as a normal guest, experience everything & give a honest account of the same to you.

Paid in cash. No bill.

YUMMRAJ rates all the food items & then gives a final overall rating, which is a simple average of the individual item ratings. What the ratings stand for: 5 = Excellent, 4 = Very Good, 3 = Good, 2 = Fair, 1 = Disaster

Short description- in case u r in a hurry

We have been eating commercially available Parsi food for almost one & a half decade now. We have eaten at the famous but not so good ones like Britannia mumbai, newer ones like rustom’s, sodabottleopenerwala & jumjoji & also at the amazing but not so widely known among non Parsis – PAC, cafe farohar, udvada , a pop up at amaranta restaurant, Oberoi gurgaon by chefs tehmtan & shernaz durania & our most memorable experience so far – Parsi anjuman delhi.

Bow barracks
Bow barracks
Inside the Dharamshala

So when we heard of this Parsi restaurant in kolkata from our friend prof sengupta, we decided to pay a visit. Our friend Anirban Halder joined us & we had a great time.

For residents

We got to know that one has to call / WhatsApp to place an order 2 days in advance.

Facade of the building
History of the building
Inside view of bow street
Beautiful metal grill

The menu is available on the google link – Meher

Go to MENU section of the google link
Special menu
Available for sale

We got to know from Meher & Dara hansotia that this restaurant was opened to outsiders (non Parsis, not residents of Dharamshala) 8 years back when they moved to kolkata from Ahmedabad.

Meher & Dara Hansotia PC – DG images

Dara is the Manager of the Dharamshala & He & his wife Meher manage the canteen. Dara cooks himself. Both of them organise the lunch. A boy helps them serve food & probably help in the kitchen.

Meher & Dara Hansotia PC – DG images

Both of them are very warm & great to chat. We loved our conversation with them. We recounted our earlier Parsi food experiences while speaking to them.

Dara explained each & every dish to guests , going from table to table. He also mentioned how Parsis eat every dish. E.g. put the brown rice on plate. Pour dhansak on it. Add the kachumber on top. Squeeze a bit of lemon on top.

The building is retro. Pretty well maintained. Clean huge courtyard.

The dining room has 3 tables with 4-6 chairs.

Dining hall
Close up of the table we had lunch

100% of the furniture are real wood, period furniture & super retro.

Furniture in the dining hall
Close up
Close up

A wall clock that needs weekly winding, had a nice bell.

Wall clock analog
Close up

The unmissable part of the time spent here was with their pet – super active, always playful & ready to mingle with strangers.

PC – DG images

Food was outstanding. Surely Among top 5 Parsi meals ever, for us. Experience was just memorable.

Beautiful period crockery
My plate at the end of the meal. Licked off every drop of gravy

Detailed description – in case u hv the time to njoy reading:

We ordered the following for 5 of us. The food was just right. The portions are practical & good.

Chicken farcha 3 pieces

Mehers special cutlet 2 pieces

Mutton dhansak 3plates

Patrani fish 3 plates

Salli gosht. 3 plates

Lagan nu custard 3 plates

Chicken farcha – deep fried batter chicken. Excellent . Juicy chicken on the bone. Crisp outer layer. Perfect seasoning. Everything just right. Rate it 4.5/5

Chicken farcha

The chicken farcha at PAC – Parsi amelioration committee mumbai was better than at Meher caterers.

Mehers special cutlet was just outstanding. Juicy & bursting with flavors pulled chicken cutlet that was just too good. Rate it 4.95/5

Mehers special cutlet
Mehers special cutlet

Mutton dhansak was very good. For the first time in so many years at a Parsi restaurant someone told us how to eat this. Loved the dish. Loved the way the meat & daal flavors mingled. Rate it 4/5

Mutton dhansak on brown rice & kachumber added on top
Mutton dhansak
Brown rice with Mutton dhansak

Patrani fish was excellent. Strong flavorful green paste & the best quality kolkata bhetki did the magic. Perfect seasoning. Rate it 4.5/5

Patrani fish
Patrani fish
Patrani fish

Salli gosht was finger-licking good. For the uninitiated, Salli means matchstick shaped deep fried potato. Gosht is mutton.

I actually finger Iicked the plate till the last drop of gravy. Salli was crisp & contrasted very well with the gravy. Meat pieces were outstanding- perfectly cooked, falling off from the bones. Rate it 4.95/5

Salli gosht
Salli gosht
Salli gosht

Lagan nu custard was insane good. For the uninitiated, Lagan means marriage. So name of this dish means – custard served during marriages.

Perfect everything. The charred ends were fun to munch on. Rate it 4.95/5

Lagan nu custard
Lagan nu custard
Lagan nu custard

Overall rating of food at Meher caterers averages out to 4.64/5

Unreal

Unbelievably good

Did not expect so good in kolkata

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY YUMMRAJ

A lady from bow barracks was selling this home made grape wine – simply outstanding. We met her just outside the Dharamshala. Ask Mrs hansotia if you want to meet the lady selling home made wine.

4 thoughts on “Meher caterers (manackjee Rustomjee Dharamshala, bow street, opposite bow barracks, kolkata)

  1. Thank you for the review. This will be a must visit on my next trip to Kolkata.
    In case you are still there, please do try Punjabee Rasoi – their kababs and the general Punjabi fare is the best I’ve ever had. I highly recommend the Adrak Ki Panje, Chicken Lahsuni Kabab , Dal Makhani and Palak Corn.

  2. awesome, so glad to read about this place – a solid gem – nice people, nice food. The place has so much character – the clock, the weathered building, the bone China!

    awesome stuff Yummraj. Keep it up and never ever rate a Gurgaon Mangar hotel or an aero city pie shop ever again

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