Behrouz Biryani, Ballygunge, Kolkata Biryani Restaurant

Restaurant Name: Behrouz Biryani, Ballygunge, Kolkata
Phone: 077000 50050
Address: Shop 29, Old Ballygunge 1st Ln, near Repose Nursing Home, Ballygunge Park, Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal 700019 India
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Meals for two: Rs. 900
Cuisines: Biryani, Kebab, Lucknowi
Facilities: Breakfast, Delivery Only, No Seating Available

Behrouz Biryani, Ballygunge, Kolkata: About

Did you know that World Biryani Day is celebrated on October 11?

The one-pot dish of rice and meat has actually taken the world by storm and has been a palate pleaser across geographies and generations. Originating in Central Asia, with roots in the Persian language from “Birinj or Biriyan” it travelled east to become the celebrated dish in the modern Indian subcontinent.

So much so that it inspired a 2011 born Indian unicorn, Rebel Foods create their own legend, a brand story behind one revivalist recipe of 2000 years lost in war — the Behrouz Biryani. Today, it’s become the largest cloud kitchen restaurant chain in the world with 11 brands, 450 cloud kitchens spanning over 10 countries. We try the Behrouz Biryani in Kolkata this week.

Food:

The back story to the formula driven menu is mind boggling. And whoever thought scale could go beyond the tradition of deghs in this multitude! The biggest challenge has been bringing harmony to a meal-dish like Biryani, with a consistent recipe across regional sensibilities. An intense food lab to standardize the menu and many levels of food engineers helped in the deconstruction process. The result is a 36-spice biryani blend which helps in a time specific reconstruction and standards of service delivery. Their current menu spans a variety in kebabs and Biryani, along with accompaniments of buttermilk, mint raita, Mughlai gravy and dessert with Gulab Jamun. We order best value for money in Gosht-E-Galouti kebab (₹ 389 for 6 pieces), Hyderabadi chicken biryani + Murgh kefta (₹ 509, serves one) and Dum gosht bahaar (₹ 575, serves one).

Plus & Minus:

The professional heat intact packaging and presentation in individual black and gold box sets create fuss free service standards worthy of an unicorn, alright. Less than an hour aggregator door delivery adds to the contextual Biryani experience. The sight of mutton galouti erases all apprehension; with uniform, machine made roundels, heftier than its hand-made delicate original counterparts, finely ground mutton in a rich bouquet of spices and laced with smokiness, brings the literal translation of the word galouti or melt in the mouth. In comparison, the murgh kefta or mini chicken meatballs &are stoic, frozen food consistency and exudes a lot of heat and colour from the visible generous red chilli flakes infusion. The Hyderabadi chicken biryani is a perfect rendition of the robust street style heart warming Hyderabadi meal — high on spices and moisture, this gila blend of long grain Basmati rice is cooked with ample boneless, juicy bhuna chicken pieces — served with a chilled minced mint raita. While the dum gosht or mutton biryani comes with a preferred choice of 50% extra boneless no fat mutton chunks, cooked tender to each bite, with the rice and spice blend, but lacks the subtlety and sophistication of the legendary Kolkata biryani, also served with mint raita. Both biryanis are lavishly portioned, easily for two or maybe three for peckish eaters and the sweet touch of a gulab jamun with each portion is much appreciated.