Kake da Hotel (67, Municipal Market, Outer Connaught Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi)

YUMMRAJ demytifies the legend of Kake da Hotel

In a nutshell:

Perfect value for money proposition with some super YUMM, some just about YUMM & some ordinary food.

Kake da Hotel

Address & other details: Outer circle CP

Meal for 2: Rs. 160 onwards

Cuisine type: nonvegetarian & vegetarian

Short Description – in case u r in a hurry:

As most of my Indian readers wud know, ‘Hotel’ here refers to a restaurant.

keema kaleji at kake da hotel

If good ambience is a must for u stepping into an eatery, Do not go here. U might come across uncomfortable scenes like swarms of flies, a guy lying down in the first floor corner, loud co-diners , heaps of semi processed onions or worst, even a rat. However, if u wanna have good to great food at prices lower than imagination, check this place out.

A restaurant that has been around for 80 years, Kake da hotel has quite a following. Situated in the outer circle of Connaught place, the hotel, like its neighbours (National Restaurant, Royal Restaurant etc), has a tiny seating area on the ground floor & has a slightly spacious first floor. The first floor is supposedly for ‘family’ crowd but I prefer the ground floor as that shows the real character of the place.

A section of the Ground floor dining room & the stairs for going to 1st floor

Very Few ladies cud be seen on the ground floor that is usually packed with individual / groups of men. Unknown people share tables due to lack of space. The area is quite crammed – u can hear almost every word that is being spoken in the table next to u.

The entrance to the Restaurant is beside a Glass front that has become smoky. Behind the Glass wall are a row of 8 – 10 dekchis (huge metal containers) on which meats of different kinds r constantly being slow cooked.

People walk in, order a curry, eat that with as many rotis they want, ask for just gravy coz that costs less (than ordering a full repeat of the dish with meat).

butter chicken at Kake da hotel

As soon as order is placed, the curry is picked up from the dekchi to serving plate & served immediately. The gravy is usually all over the plate & no one bothers to clean that up before serving to the customer.

There are several types of rotis on offer & Roti takes a while to make & serve – ‘garma garam’.

All food is made from pure desi ghee – proclaims a writing on the wall. In some dishes that comes out very clearly, in some others it does not.

By Delhi standards the prices r a steal. Price of the curries is approx. INR 130 – 140 per plate & rotis start at INR 5 per piece!!!

Menu card on the wall of Kake da hotel (click on the picture to see enlarged image)

Service is as fast as it can get. Waiting staff have been around for years & some of them have become numb. They r obviously not ‘Hotel Management trained’ like their swanky restaurant counterparts – just being a normal nice human being yields good results. I tried asking our waiter for a recommendation. ‘All is good’ was the answer. I tried 3 times with interval of 10 – 15 minutes. Answer was consistent. He was however very attentive of the way we were finishing up. As soon as we were left with 25% of the roti, he wud appear – Do u want another one?

Detailed description – In case u have the time to njoy reading:

Continue reading “Kake da Hotel (67, Municipal Market, Outer Connaught Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi)”

Paramjeet Machi wala (near Fun Cinema, Motinagar, Delhi)

In a nutshell:

Excellent fish preparations & tandoori / fried chicken at this takeaway / ‘eat in the car’ joint.

Paramjit Machiwala

More Pics coming up in some time

Address & other details: Paramjeet

This is located on the main road between Motinagar Metro station & Ramesh Nagar Metro station. If u r facing Motinagar, the shop is to ur left.

Meal for 2: Rs. 250 onwards if u eat fish & Rs. 100 onwards if u restrict to chicken.

Paramjit Machiwale’s fried Fish

Cuisine type: Nonvegetarian

Description:

I am yet to forget the taste of tandoored fish at ‘Makhan Fish’ in Amritsar. Years back, that was my first introduction to Punjabi style fish shops. Then we discovered Pappu fish in Gurgaon & found it very good till two days back my friend mentioned Paramjeet. We did not waste time & the next day we were at Motinagar driving all the way from Gurgaon. Unlike Pappu fish who sells fish in the winters onlty, Paramjeet’s fish is available round the year.

……………… & let me tell u – it was worth it.

The shop has a chicken shop, a chai shop, a liquor shop & a paan – soft drink shop as its neighbours – As perfect a symbiosis as it can be.

The row of shops

We stuck to the fish menu only as the portions were large + good chicken is available in many places but good fish is hard to find.
The minimum order size for fish at Paramjeet is 250 grams. That meant two dishes between the two of us = half a kilo of fish!!!!

Continue reading “Paramjeet Machi wala (near Fun Cinema, Motinagar, Delhi)”

Chaina Ram (Beside Fatehpuri Masjid, Chandni Chowk)

In a nutshell:

Love the unputdownable sweets at this shop specially the Saeo paak, Karachi Halwa & the dhodha.

The facade of the shop

Address & other details: Chaina Ram

Location – Besides Fatehpuri Masjid

YUMMRAJ’s advice – Take a metro ride to Chandni chowk. Once u r out, come to the main chandni chowk road & take a rickshaw ride to Fatehpuri Masjid. Avoid taking ur car.

Meal for 2: Rs. 80 onwards

saeo paak /seow paak

Cuisine Type: Vegetarian

Short Description – In case u r in a hurry:

This Sindhi Sweet shop has been around for more than a century & that speaks a lot (though not everything). The shop front is perennially full of customers. What draws one’s attention is the immense number of interesting signage on the wall.

Multiple Notes on the wall

In most of my visits I have come across the owner who sits in the shop & that makes a real difference to the quality of the sweets & also to the overall management of the place. At times the place can be overcrowded & one might have to wait for 15 – 20 minutes as well!!! I guess it wud b better if the shop introduces a queue system – that wud make things easier for the customer but might take away the warmth of conversation with the people at the shop.

Packaging of sweets

All sweets r made from pure desi ghee & the best of ingredients. The desi ghee bit is mentioned on the wall & is obvious as soon as u eat the sweets. The ‘ingredients’ part also becomes obvious as soon as u pop the sweets into the mouth.

‘Please do not refrigerate our sweets’ claims the sweet box & this is reiterated also by the people in the shop.

Notifications on different sides of Sweet box

Detailed Description – In case u have the time to njoy reading:

Continue reading “Chaina Ram (Beside Fatehpuri Masjid, Chandni Chowk)”

Natraj Dahi Bhalle wala (Opposite Parathewali Gali, Chandni Chowk, Delhi)

In a nutshell: One of the best Dahi Bhalla chaats in town & awesome aloo tikki chaat. Address & other details: Natraj YUMMRAJ’s advice – Take a metro ride to Chandni chowk. Once u r out, come to the main chandni chowk road & ask anyone. Avoid taking ur car. Meal for 2: Rs. 60 onwards Cuisine Type: Vegetarian Description: For a hardcore carnivore like me, … Continue reading Natraj Dahi Bhalle wala (Opposite Parathewali Gali, Chandni Chowk, Delhi)

Liyaqat Sweets (60 Phears Lane, Chuna Gali, near Central Metro station, Kolkata)

In a nutshell: A sweet shop that stands out for its unique offering in a city that is dotted with sweet shops in every nook & corner. Address & other details: Alight at Central metro station (towards Poddar Court end). U come across a statue of Maharana Pratap on ur left if u r facing Girish Park. Once in front of the statue, take the … Continue reading Liyaqat Sweets (60 Phears Lane, Chuna Gali, near Central Metro station, Kolkata)

Haji Allauddin sweets (Phears Lane, Chuna Gali, near Central Metro station, Kolkata)

In a nutshell: A sweet shop that stands out for its unique & outstanding offering in a city that is dotted with sweet shops in every nook & corner. Address & other details: Alight at Central metro station (towards Poddar Court end). U come across a statue of Maharana Pratap on ur left if u r facing Girish Park. Once in front of the statue, … Continue reading Haji Allauddin sweets (Phears Lane, Chuna Gali, near Central Metro station, Kolkata)

Cafe’ The’ (ICCR, Indian Council of Cultural relations, 9A Ho Chi Minh Sarani, near USIS Kolkata)

In a nutshell:

A cafe that is perfect for getting together & enjoying a adda amidst a very good ambience & some excellent food

Inside the cafe

Address & other details: Cafe’ The’

Meal for 2: Rs. 250 onwards

Cuisine type: Vegetarian & non vegetarian

Background:

The Bengali’s love affair with tea started in the 1800s when the British started mass producing it in India. Tea stalls sprung up over time all over & so did the ‘cabins’. Famous among many were Anandi Cabin, Basanta cabin etc which wud typically serve tea with Anglo Bengali snacks. For a good section of the middle income group, these cabins were equivalent to fine dining places that they wud visit on occasions.

Fish Kabiraji @Cafe’ The’

Bengali cuisine of today has many British influences like batter fried fish, orly, chops, cutlets, fries , kabiraji, dimer devil etc. By the way, Kabiraji is the Bengalification of the English word ‘Coverage’ since the fish / chicken is deep fried after covering it with whipped egg. ‘Dimer Devil’ is the Bengali version of ‘Devilled Egg.’ It is called ‘Devilled’ coz the original yolk of the egg is replaced by minced meat / potato filling.

Dimer devil

Short Description – In case u r in a hurry:

Cafe’ The’ menu card describes it as ‘the favourite place to meet & eat for artists & poets, musicians & singers, writers , thinkers, lovers, young & not so young’. It is also mentioned that the ‘cha & chop’ (beverage & snack) menu is inspired by the Cabins that dotted North Calcutta.

The very well illustrated menu card @Cafe’ The’

Apart from that there r ‘not too many restaurants serve this in Kolkata’ items like Welsh rarebit, Escalope of Chicken Milanese, fish pie, eggs Benedict etc.

The place is ideal for adda (a Bengali word for nonstop chat on a vast range of unrelated topics) & get togethers with friends & family. The ambience is very good & colourful without being jarring.

The waiting staff are attentive, warm, knowledgeable but not intrusive.

We loved this place so much that we walked in for a second time in a span of two days. We were lucky to eat the food served here during a Bangladeshi food festival named ‘Festive Platter from the Kitchens of Erstwhile Nawabs of Dhaka’. Also tried the regular fare. Super liked the food.

Bangladeshi food festival @Cafe’ The’

Detailed Description – In case u have the time to njoy Reading:

Continue reading “Cafe’ The’ (ICCR, Indian Council of Cultural relations, 9A Ho Chi Minh Sarani, near USIS Kolkata)”

Gupta Brothers (Block J, New Alipore, Opposite Triangular Park, Kolkata & also at crossing of chetla road & chetla haat road, Kolkata)

In a nutshell: North Indian snacks, YUMM Kachoris, slurpy Jalebis & a host of Traditional & Fusion Bengali sweets. Food rules & nothing else does. Address & other details: Gupta Brothers Meal for 2: Rs. 50 onwards Cuisine type: Vegetarian Description: This is one place I have loved eating at for many years. I specially loved going to the rustic old shop at the crossing … Continue reading Gupta Brothers (Block J, New Alipore, Opposite Triangular Park, Kolkata & also at crossing of chetla road & chetla haat road, Kolkata)

Padmaparer Rannaghar (between Bata Gariahat & Bata Golpark, Kolkata)

In a nutshell:

A Bengali cuisine restaurant with disgusting staff whose facial expressions suggest they r doing u a favour, South Indian Udipi Restaurant kind of interiors, a super long menu card of which I guess 60% items r not available & they serve some average to good food.

padmaparer rannaghar

Address & other details: Padmaparer Rannaghar is located on the same footpath as Gariahat Bata. Walk towards Golpark & this restaurant is on ur right.

Meal for 2: Rs. 200 onwards

tablemats that look like banana leaves

Cuisine type: Vegetarian & non vegetarian

Background:

Bengali food is usually associated with fish, meats & everything non vegetarian. However there r some extraordinary vegetarian food items made from leaves, stems, flowers, roots etc that cost minimal but taste YUMM e.g. Mocha (banana flower), thor (the pith of the banana stem), oal (root), bok Phool (flower), kumro Phool (pumpkin flower), kochu pata (leaf), kochu (root), lau shak (leaf) etc. These have unique tastes & flavours and most of these r different from the mainstream usually available Indian vegetarian food.

Short Description – In case u r in a hurry:

The Restaurant has come up in a place that housed a South Indian Udipi restaurant. So we saw people still coming in & asking for dosas & idlis. The Restaurant Management has decided to keep some of South Indian items in addition to a long list of Bengali items in the menu.

Bengali + selected south Indian food

The menu card is very very interesting. It has a super long list of traditional Bengali food items. Infact, I came to know of this restaurant from facebook – someone found it interesting & had uploaded it & I shared it. However what was disturbing was 60% of items in the list were not available. I understand that all ingredients are not available on all days – Good restaurants do a ‘curry of the day’, ‘starter of the day’ etc for such items instead of giving hope to the customer & then saying ‘we do not have this’.

the colorful menu card

Waiters were dressed in Panjabi pajama – traditional Bengali dress. Even the younger guys were strange in behaviour. Forget a warmth in dealing with guests, they were not just cold – they were freezing cold. Either they r paid low / simultaneously had fights at home before they came to office or someone forced them to come to work on a day when they were expecting a holiday. In case the Owners r reading this post, they must act on it – send in friends / relatives posing as normal customers & let them experience it.

Smile is something they r not used to & the behaviour was as disgusting as it cud get or even more than that. In fact trade unionized waiters of erstwhile government run eateries were better than these chaps.

Dining Hall at Padmaparer Rannaghar

I am sure I will not revisit unless I am dying to have tasty bengali food specifically in Gariahat.

At 1.10 pm, the restaurant had 2 tables filled – first it felt strange. Later I guessed the reason.

Food was good in general – some were great, some average & some aweful.

Detailed Description – In case u have the time to njoy Reading:

Continue reading “Padmaparer Rannaghar (between Bata Gariahat & Bata Golpark, Kolkata)”

Surjya Kumar Modak (Chandannagore, West Bengal)

In a nutshell: A Legendary Sweetshop selling traditional as well as unusual Bengali sweets – Good enough to justify a 1 hr local train trip from Kolkata to just feast on these. Address & other details: Ask anyone at Chandannagore Train station or virtually anywhere in Chandannagore Meal for 2: Rs. 60 onwards Cuisine type: Vegetarian Background: the Portuguese connection Bengali sweets are different from … Continue reading Surjya Kumar Modak (Chandannagore, West Bengal)