May 14, 2015 01:17 PM
7450 Views
(Updated May 18, 2015 04:35 PM)
Firstly, I do not want to name it as Indian Coffee house, to me it is one and only COFFEE HOUSE! Yes, I heard about it when I was a school kid studying at class V or VI. I heard about its history, its backgrounds, and lots of stories about it. Being a Bengali, there are so many things to cherish as far as our culture is concerned and "Coffee house", this name is always associated with the tradition of city of Joy, kolkata.
It was a regular destination for famous poets and writers like Sunil Gangopadhyay, Samaresh Majumder, Shakti Chattopadhyay and many more. You can term this place as an abode of creative, intellectual and philosophical people. But, common people are also fond of this place to hang out with friends and groups. Students of Calcutta University, Presidency College are regular visitors to this place.
I first visited this place with one of my close friends after my Higher Secondary exam, and we were just mesmerized! The interior, the decor, the ambiance all looked a bit old fashioned and carefully preserved to maintain the old school charm of the then Kolkata. We ordered Cold Coffee and Pakoda, and they were delicious.
Once, I grew up, I visited Coffee House numerous times with friends or seniors, or co workers, but to all of us it was not like a simple cafe, it was like visiting a place where you can think about your old generation, your root and your culture.
As I stay in southern part of the city, this place is far away from my place and takes 1.30-2 hour to reach there by bus. I commute through Metro for faster communication. Even though this place has a special feel in my mind. The vintage look is really refreshing and if I go to college street to buy some books, visiting coffee house is just like a ritual!
Foods are not that great, but it is OK, waiters are not always very prompt and hardcore professionals, but simply these things do not matter as far as Coffee House is concerned. I mainly prefer to have my all time favorite Cold Coffee and Chicken Pakoda. Apart, I have tried Chicken Cutlet, Chicken Sandwich, Chili Chicken with Chowmin. All of these items are superb in taste!
As far as prices are concerned, they are not selling costly stuffs, but yes sometimes, we do expect more items to be added even at the price we pay. Visiting Coffee House is like visiting your old ancestral home and get a nostalgic feel where you can sit, watch, and relax hours after hours. Even if you alone, it is a good place to think and release your creative side.
So, it is a highly recommended place for me, and if some one coming to Kolkata wants to give it a visit, please do not compare it with high end cafeterias, just feel the history and if you are prepared to shift the gear to RETRO mode, it is a must must place to visit!
