Flurys — Restaurant in Kolkata

Introduction:

Flury’s on Park Street is one of Kolkata’s most iconic establishments, boasting a rich history and reputation. However, my recent visit left me disappointed and disillusioned. What was once synonymous with excellence in service and ambiance now appears to be riding solely on its legacy, neglecting the very standards that made it famous.

Ambience & Atmosphere:

While the elegant interiors and historical charm of Flury’s remain intact, the overall atmosphere is far from welcoming. The lack of warmth and professionalism from the staff significantly diminishes the experience. Despite its opulent decor, the place fails to deliver the comfort and hospitality one would expect from such a reputed eatery.

Service:

This is where Flury’s utterly failed during my visit.

The staff seemed more interested in their mobile phones than attending to customers. Even after multiple attempts to get their attention, the service remained inattentive and slow. For reasons unknown, almost everyone on the service team carried an air of arrogance and indifference, including the security guard at the entrance. Instead of making you feel welcome, the attitude from the team is off-putting and unprofessional. Simple requests were met with curt responses, and there was no effort to engage with customers or ensure satisfaction. Food Quality & Presentation:

Though Flury’s is known for its pastries and continental offerings, the food quality during my visit was average at best.

The chicken patties were stale and lacked the freshness that Flury’s was once celebrated for. The hot chocolate felt watered down and didn’t have the richness one would expect from such an establishment. While the food was presented decently, the lack of flavor and freshness made it a forgettable experience. Drinks & Desserts:

While desserts are the cornerstone of Flury’s, they no longer live up to the hype. The signature pastries lacked the finesse and freshness Flury’s was once famous for. The options seemed overpriced for the quality offered.

Pricing & Value for Money:

Flury’s charges a premium, and rightly so, given its legacy and prime location. However, the steep prices are completely unjustified when paired with poor service and mediocre food. For what you pay, you’re left feeling short-changed and disappointed.

Unique Selling Point (USP):

Unfortunately, Flury’s appears to be clinging to its past reputation as an iconic Kolkata eatery. The legacy and brand name are the only reasons visitors may still flock here, but the current experience fails to honor that heritage.

Suggestions:

Flury’s desperately needs to focus on revamping its staff training to prioritize customer service. The casual attitude, lack of attentiveness, and overall arrogance need immediate addressing. Additionally, a review of food quality and freshness is essential to retain its reputation in the competitive dining scene of Kolkata.

Overall Experience & Rating:

What could have been a delightful experience turned out to be thoroughly underwhelming. Flury’s Park Street no longer feels like the legendary cafe it once was but rather a pale shadow of its former glory. The lack of customer service and staff professionalism overshadows even the food and ambiance. It’s a shame to see such an iconic name being tarnished by poor management and...

As they say, old habits die hard and you have to pay the price for such habits and the sentiments that you carry.

A recent example. A couple of weeks back, I was in the process of ordering cakes for our own consumption during the Holiday Season. Here in Bangalore, I do have the option of a number of excellent bakeries and gourmet bakers (Theobroma being one of our favourites right since our days in Delhi) but most of them are into the rum laden plum cakes and I was missing the subtle taste and holiday whiff of the old world Dundee Cake and Rich Fruit Cake of Calcutta. Besides, we also wanted to give our daughter a taste of those charms to which she had never been exposed by virtue of her upbringing away from Calcutta.

So, Google came to my rescue and I chanced upon the online shopping portal of THE iconic Flurys, and happened to be my best available option with Nahoum not having a portal from where I could shop online. So, I placed orders for a Dundee Cake Tin, a Rich Fruit Cake Tin, one packet of double chocolate cookies, one. Packet of raisin and spice cookies and one packet of their famed Ginger Cookies in two installments. I did not have any qualms about ordering so many things online from there because in Calcutta, Flury"s is synonymous with trust.

Well, orders were Blue Darted by Flury"s and arrived, albeit with a delay. But my balloon of excitement shrivelled upon unboxing. The cakes were stale and had molds all over. The biscuit packets were ripped and torn! We somehow tried to separate out parts of the cakes that did not have molds and we'll, we did not dare to ask our daughter totry some of them out for obvious reasons and of course, we threw away the biscuits.

Post pandemic, most Indian brands have become extremely conscious about the packing and the way they are servicing online orders is indeed commendable. In such a regime, how can some brands be so lackadaisical, I wonder. In any case, they charge a premium for being 'Iconic'. At that price, the bare minimum expectation that customers have is that brands should at least maintain hygiene.

Flurys should note that only being iconic does not help until and unless you manage to live up to the customers' expectations everyday. In any case, people like us have been thrown out of the state, time probably has come when we should shed off any fond memories that we might be having about...

The name is loud. Quite, actually, that it almost deafening. You may be questioned for not visiting this place for a cuppa of Viennese Coffee and some Rum Ball to go by. Well, till this much, you can do visit - provided you have time and some extra unnecessary cash to spare.

It’s been a while since Calcutta became Kolkata. Whether this iconic cafe/bakery changed its nature from being a place of excellence to a hot bubble of pure emptiness, or this is something which is quite recent, remains a mystery. Fact is - the items - like Chocolate Boat or those colourful square sweets - are so heavy on sweetness, it may blur your vision if you don’t have a stomach for extreme sweetness. It might be tastier for buds with preference for extreme sweetness, but it is surely not for buds that enjoy the bittersweet taste. Except the Rumball, which I must confess is delicious, rest of the items that I tried are at best passable.

Let’s talk about the Savoury items like Chicken A-La Kiev and Chicken Stroganoff. Safe to say that they are basic for a cafe of Flury’s repute. So, we did order. To be honest, it was Ok but given the hype and the money one would spend to eat either of the items, it was not just. The oozing of the butter of the chicken cutlet - a signature surprise of Ala Kiev dish - was surprisingly non existent. The core was not rich enough to drool your eyes.

Lastly, I packed a few items for home including one Christmas special Plum Cake, with great expectation as I have grown up hearing about the hoopla around Christmas time in Cal. Spent a fortune (e.g ₹1200 for the Cake) to buy and then carry them with high hopes for nearly a thousand kilometers. Alas, at the end of it, it was just that - hoopla.

Suggest to avoid this ‘iconic’ Flury’s for good stuff but visit once, if you must, may be for a cuppa of Viennese Coffee with a piece of Rumball. And, the vibe which is what you will get in any good place in other metros. Be ready to spend a fortune on items not worth it.

At times, I wonder how these fancy hot air brands survive to stay afloat for so long. Kolkata is a food paradise and it is a sham if Flury is one of its gastronomical flag bearer. Not fair.

In fact, just across the street, grab a beer or two at Oly and a Mutton Liver Roll from Kusum to relish a nippy evening on an otherwise vibrant...