Kolkata restaurants prepare for festive season with special menus and events
Times of India | 13 August 2025
Kolkata: With Independence Day approaching and the city gradually embracing the festive spirit, Kolkata's restaurants are preparing to delight patrons with a variety of food, music, and celebrations. Restaurant owners anticipate a significant increase in footfall during the upcoming weekend, which begins on Friday, Aug 15.
Some establishments are organising food festivals and introducing new dishes, while others aim to attract food enthusiasts with live music, special offers, and complimentary items such as free drinks during cricket matches scheduled ahead of the pujas and the festival period.
Chapter 2 in South Kolkata is presenting ‘a slice of Goa' with its ‘Goan Catholic Food Festival', which began on Monday and will continue for at least three weeks. The menu has been curated by Maria Fernandes, vice-chairperson of WBFDC, to showcase the rich and diverse culinary heritage of Goa. "Other than the gastronomic delights, it will also be about a cultural immersion and memorable moments. There will be an accent on Goan music as our live performers play songs from the state. Our staff will be dressed in Goan attire. The food will be a mix of Goan Catholic dishes as well as ‘Saraswat' cuisine, which is basically Konkanee food. Kolkatans will love it as much as they love visiting Goa," stated Chapter 2 co-founder and owner Shiladitya Chaudhury.
| Gold Rates Today in Kolkata | Silver Rates Today in KolkataSonghai and MS Bar & Lounge in central Kolkata will offer specially curated North Indian and Chinese dishes leading up to the pujas in September-end. "We will add a few special kebabs and Chinese platters in the next few weeks, with an eye on the puja crowd as well as the ensuing Asia Cup next month. Footfalls have started picking up and it should rise fast from the Independence Day weekend, which should be a big one," said owner Sudesh Poddar, also the president of the Hotel and Restaurants' Owners Association of Eastern India (HRAEI).
Footfalls have begun increasing in some Park Street restaurants. "We had a bigger waiting crowd this weekend and the coming one should be even better. The city is getting into the festive spirit," remarked Nitin Kothari, owner of Mocambo and Peter Cat.
Oasis on Park Street has introduced a pre-puja menu that includes a Hilsa platter and new kebabs. "This weekend should be the turning point and see a steep footfall rise after a lull. As people start venturing out for puja shopping, the crowd should swell. Also, the month of Shravan is coming to an end when many prefer vegetarian food. Though Aug 15 is a dry day, there will be families out for a meal," commented owner Pratap Daryanani.
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