Broadway Bar & Restaurant — Restaurant in Kolkata

A Glorious, Grumpy Trip Back in Time Broadway is not a bar or a restaurant; it’s a time machine with a liquor license. Stepping inside from the chaos of central Kolkata is to leave the 21st century at the door. The dim lighting, the dark, heavy wooden furniture, and the lingering sense of history in the air are all exactly as they have been for decades. This place doesn't care for trends, and that is precisely its stubborn, unapologetic charm.

Let’s get one thing straight: you do not come to Broadway for the service. The service operates on a geological timescale. Ordering is an exercise in patience; waiting is a lesson in Zen. The waiters are stoic figures who move with a deliberate lack of urgency, as if they are part of the building’s unshakeable foundation.

Waving frantically will get you nowhere. You simply have to surrender to the rhythm of the place, lean back, and engage in the lost art of conversation. In a way, the glacial pace is a feature, not a bug—it forces you to slow down and actually talk to your friends.

But then, after the long wait, comes the redemption. A gleaming beer tower, filled with cold, golden lager, lands on your table with a satisfying thud. It’s a beacon of promise, the centerpiece for an evening that is meant to be unhurried. And the food—oh, the food is the true reward for your forbearance. It’s not fine dining; it's something better. It’s the greasy, spicy, soul-satisfying taste of classic Calcutta bar fare. The chilli chicken is perfectly fiery and tangy, the fish fingers are crisp, and every dish is engineered to be the perfect companion to a long, slow drink.

This is a place steeped in nostalgia, holding the memories of generations of students, journalists, and office-goers who sought refuge and refreshment within its walls. Broadway is a grumpy old relic, and it's not for everyone. If you’re in a hurry or expect polished service, you will be deeply frustrated.

But if you want a taste of authentic old Calcutta, if you value character over convenience, and if you believe that the best things in life are worth waiting for, then you’ll understand the enduring magic of this place. Just be...

27th Oct 2024: We visited The Broadway Bar and Restaurant on a Sunday. Make sure to reach around 6-7 pm to avoid waiting for too long. There was a small queue outside but we did not have to wait for too long thankfully. Once we entered there was a positive vibe. The space is not huge and the tables are pretty cramped up inside but the decor and the whole place has an old-world charm. I have a heard lot about this place from many of my friends and even my grandfather apparently used to frequent this place during his hey-days. So overall the visit for me was more to find a nostalgic experience. We ordered a Tower of Beer and some starters. The mustard chicken was good..so was the fish finger and prawn chips.. the masala peanut was bad somehow, not worth even a single rupee.

There was a live band (Jazz Collective) playing that evening. The music was good and we did have a good time there. But having said all the positives I feel it is time for a reality check. The food wasn't very cheap and it wasn't really great either..it can be called "good or Okayish" at the best. I would prefer hanging out at Oly Pub over Broadway given they both go back to a vintage era and kind of have the same ambience and crowd. Also the location of this place makes parking a difficult affair except on weekends maybe. If you have never visited this place I would ask you do go there atleast once, you might even like it. But if you ask me I would not go back there for a second time. I would rather have a house party with my own music, food, drinks and friends.

There were 4 of us and we had only one Beer Tower (3litres of Kingfisher) and couple of starters. The Bill was approx ₹4,000 including taxes. Hope this helps.

P.S: I have a nice video but Google wont let me upload it because it...

There were five of us. The first two to reach (I was 3rd, six minutes behind) were denied a table till all members of the party showed up. They fought and got a table for four. When four of us were at the table we again asked for a table for five, they refused and finally added a chair which led to the fifth person sitting with their chin tucked into their knees Food was spotty to say the least. No item qualified as exciting and we tried quite a few. Till the end of our 2 hour stay we couldn't figure out who our waiter was. I hate snapping my fingers (hence didn't) but no amount of waving arms or eye contact elicited any response. The only bar I've visited where one had to wait for ice. This is because all the ice was being poured into jackets for cooling 3 liter towers of beer. With every dish being served, one had to ask for the standard sauces/condiments like mustard sauce with fish fingers. There wasn't even the basic sauces, tissue paper on the table. This one takes the cake so read carefully. There were these two maitre'd types wearing ties. When all attempts to find waiters failed, the host for the evening managed to buttonhole one of them. Here's how the conversation went: Host: we'd like a plate of shami kebab Maitre'd: yes seekh kebab Host: no SHAMI KEBAB Maitre'd: (in Bengali) "hyan oi" (yes it's all the same) Needless to say we got seekh kebab 😂😂😂 It's a lesson in life. Never feel nostalgic about places you went to when you had no money in college. As in this case, 31 years has only led to a five fold hike in prices while food and service has worsened...