The Irish House, Quest Mall, Ballygunge, Kolkata

Restaurant Name: The Irish House, Quest Mall, Ballygunge, Kolkata
Phone: +919073307721
Address: 5th Floor, Quest Mall, 33, Syed Amir Ali Ave, Lower Range, Beck Bagan, Ballygunge, Kolkata 700017 West Bengal India
Time: 12:00 Noon – 09:30 PM
Meals for two: Rs. 1,900
Cuisines: Italian, Continental
Facilities: Home Delivery, Takeaway Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Full Bar Available, Mall Parking, Brunch, Board Games, Live Sports Screening, Indoor Seating, Smoking Area, Karaoke, Table booking recommended, Happy Hours

Holding on to the last straw of winter and with the impending threat of the third phase of the virus looming large, I crave home comfort, yet again. Familiar food and warmth it is. And with the clubs getting out of reach, adhering to strict social distancing, we are driven to heartening pub grub from The Irish House.

The Irish House, Quest Mall, Ballygunge, Kolkata: Decor

I have never been a pubbing kind of person, jostling for drinks and sports. But of course, pubbing in the beer gardens or under the cascades of colorful summer blooms in Covent Garden, London, is another story. The London dining pub stories can be fascinating with steak tartare, Scotch eggs and fish and chips; of laid back afternoons, brilliant locally focused beers and house ales on tap. No, The Irish House cannot change its posh fifth floor luxury mall location, but it’s classic cosy, clubby woodsy interiors never fail to entertain. And the menu draws an animated cheer, especially if door-delivered with the apt excuse of a pandemic.

Food:

Let’s be honest. The menu carries inspiring imprints and titles from faraway Irish dens, but does not substantiate the efforts or content of the vibrant traditionalism of either the English or the Irish. Instead, it makes a palatable jumble for the millennial to hang out with fries and fritters, Caribbean barbecue, burgers, pizza and pasta while they quench their sports-thirst. We are picky and try to stay loyal with a line-up of heartwarming staples with Lord of the onion rings (₹295), Skewed Jamaican chicken (₹395), British fish fight (₹545) and Irishman’s supper (₹595).

Plus & Minus:

The aggregator delivery is without fault; the brown paper sealed bag packaging, back with the mandatory hygiene check and temperature mention is impeccable. The kraft paper insulation brings the food hot, fresh and favorable! The deep fried, crumb batter onion rings make a crunchy start with occasional jalapeno bits and a cheesy jalapeno sauce dip. The skewers of spicy jerk chicken are small bites of fragrant, feisty and fiery marinated chicken with a gloss of butter and insipid mango mayo dip. The smoking hot beer batter flaky Basa strips actually lift all moods, swooped in househerbed tartar, with garlic French fries and sweet apple slaw, no hint of goat cheese though. Finally, the substantial Irish Man’s Supper is a decadent beer doused chicken roast, along with a wee bit salty smoothness of red wine jus and delightful hand cut potato wedges, sauteed veggies side.