Darjeeling Lounge: ITC Royal Bengal, Science City Area, Kolkata

Restaurant Name: Darjeeling Lounge: ITC Royal Bengal, Science City Area
Phone: +913323454545
Address: JBS Haldane Avenue, EM Bypass, Science City Area, Kolkata 700105 West Bengal India
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 1,000
Cuisines: Cafe, Tea
Facilities: Indoor Seating

Darjeeling Lounge: ITC Royal Bengal, Kolkata – Decor

Have you filled your Christmas hamper yet? We visit the attractive Christmas Village at the ITC Royal Bengal to fill ours. Set as a delectable trail of the North Pole it is laden with irresistible goodies this holiday season, including Signature plum cakes, Christmas stollen, Spiced chocolate tart, cookies, Marzipans, Macarons, Chocolate fudge collection, Gingerbread house, trees and more.

One thing leads to another and we end up exploring the dainty layers of the Darjeeling Lounge and it’s all day layout. The open lounging square in subtle neutrals, pastels and sophisticated vibes seems a perfect afternoon tea space, while a layer inside with its living room feel of Chesterfield sofas and upholstered wing chairs bring colonial elegance and vintage Calcutta nostalgia. A central island teacoffee station with bakery and patisserie display counters add to the relaxed anytime dining experience.

Darjeeling Lounge: ITC Royal Bengal, Kolkata – Food

The 35-page menu surpasses all expectations, including every gourmet flavours possible under the star studded brand, much beyond an artisanal tea or curated coffee experience. From 24×7 breakfast offerings, both International and regional specialties, selection of deli, sandwiches, burgers, crêpes to fulfilling soul cravings of local delicacies, it extends to single estate tea collaborations and intense technique prolific baristas to mulled wine tastings on offer for the Christmas season. Though several visits cannot do justice to the menu, we traverse an intense food map touching many parts of the menu. We start with the mandatory breakfast Pavilion eggs Benedict (₹650), Slow roast pear and Rucola salad (₹525), Vietnamese pho (₹375) and move on to Porcini and Camembay crêpes (₹575), Mushroom and Red bean casserole (₹750) and Black sesame pork (₹825).

Plus & Minus:

The stack of English muffins, ham and fresh, wobbly poached eggs comes with a home style citrusy hollandaise, hash browns and grilled tomato in the delightful Eggs Benedict. The salad conjures up a picture perfect combination of plump slow roasted pear thrown in with bunch of Rucola, microgreens, beads of cherry tomatoes, sliced onions, nuts and raisins with a generous squeeze of exotic blood orange emulsion and crusty toasts; and the delicately balanced, warm serenades of chicken broth of the Vietnamese pho wakes up the palate from a reverie to deeply intense Asian flavours. Our mains are a deliberate seasonal journey of recherche ingredients, proficient techniques and regional splendors with the minimalism of mushroom and red beans casserole, stewed jalapenos and melty cheddar, followed by the decadence of French crepes wrapped with porcini and gooey Camembay with cauliflower puree and hazelnut butter sauce and the super unctuous traditional black sesame pork with sticky rice, bamboo shoot pickle and white fungus salad. For desserts, the honeycombed, crisp

ironed Belgian breakfast waffles (₹650) are wee-bit dry served with fresh cream, maple syrup and berry compote, but our choice of signature Christmas goodies of Stollen (₹850), Plum pudding (₹699) and Mince pie (₹1,500) drive us to a revered holiday fantasy.