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Think food, think Bengali’s and so Kolkata has been the epicenter of much cultural melting point of food and heritage. One of the most distinct feature of city’s culinary graph happens to be the old eateries called cabins from bygone era. The cabin culture has been the centre of adda and food and nothing really seem to have changes over hundreds of year later too. They have become Kolkata’s identity in many ways. These small tiny eateries supposedly sprung up somewhere in early 19th century. Utsa Ray, author of Culinary Culture in Colonial India (2014), highlights that that these eateries were the first of a kind of place where the common man knew the joy and pleasures of eating out. They were also appreciated as one could consume “new food”, that was not always possible within the domestic space.
Egg Devil/ Ayandrali Dutta
Almost to Mitra café, adjacent Sova Bazar Metro Station lies Allens Kitchen. Having said to have started by Mr Allen, a Scottish gentleman their cutlets are an absolute delight. The place had also garnered a heritage tag from Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach). One cannot leave the place without digging into their Prawn Cutlet, Fish Roll, Chicken Stack. Don’t expect anything flashy or fancy and best part you can actually see everything being done right in front of you. Prices too are pretty reasonable.
Basanta Cabin
Another iconic spot near College street, Basanta Cabin is also 100+ years old this place has survived all the ups and down of time. The place that was once patronized by Uttam Kumar and Basanta Chowdhury is known for their Mughlai Paratha, aloo dum, chicken kasha, fish fry.
