Shimla Biryani Restaurant - EM Bypass — Restaurant in Kolkata

My recent visit to Shimla Biryani Restaurant was delightful, especially for a food enthusiast who enjoys savoring authentic flavors. The restaurant’s reputation for biryani and other North Indian dishes made me eager to try their offerings, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Starting with the ambiance, Shimla Biryani offers a comfortable, clean environment for diners. The decor isn’t overly extravagant, but it is warm and inviting, creating a cozy setting to enjoy a meal. The tables and seating arrangements were tidy, and the lighting added to the relaxed feel. It was clear that the restaurant staff maintained a high standard of cleanliness, which contributed to a positive first impression.

For my meal, I ordered butter naan, butter chicken, and the Awadhi biryani – a combination that turned out to be immensely satisfying. The butter naan was soft and fluffy, with just the right amount of butter, making each bite a treat. As a classic pairing, the butter chicken was equally impressive. The chicken was tender and cooked to perfection, while the creamy tomato-based sauce was rich, smooth, and bursting with flavor. The balance of spices made it neither too spicy nor too mild, catering well to a variety of palates. Each piece of naan, dipped in the butter chicken gravy, was a flavorful experience that kept me reaching for more.

The highlight of my meal was undoubtedly the Awadhi biryani. The aroma itself was enticing – a blend of spices that felt both traditional and unique. The rice was perfectly cooked, with each grain separated yet soft, and it was well-infused with the aromatic spices characteristic of Awadhi cuisine. What I appreciated most was the balance; the spices were neither overwhelming nor too subtle. The biryani was accompanied by tender pieces of meat that were juicy and flavorful, making it a perfect dish for anyone who appreciates traditional Indian flavors. It’s no exaggeration to say that the biryani at Shimla Biryani is worth a return visit on its own.

The pricing, though a bit on the higher side, felt justifiable for the quality of food served. I would describe it as moderate to slightly high, but for the taste and quality, it’s worth it. For those who don’t mind paying a bit extra for an authentic and flavorful meal, the prices should be acceptable. However, a slight reduction in prices would make the experience even better and likely attract a broader customer base.

While the food was excellent, one area for improvement is the service. Although the staff were polite, there were times when I felt that they could have been a bit more attentive and proactive in addressing diners’ needs. A little extra warmth and friendliness from the staff would go a long way in enhancing the overall dining experience. The service wasn’t poor by any means, but small changes in staff behavior and responsiveness could elevate the experience from good to great.

In summary, Shimla Biryani is an excellent choice for anyone looking to enjoy flavorful North Indian food. The butter naan, butter chicken, and Awadhi biryani were all delicious, and I’m already looking forward to my next visit. The slight downsides, like the service and pricing, were minor compared to the overall quality of food. If you value well-prepared, flavorful dishes and don’t mind spending a bit more for a great meal, Shimla Biryani is definitely...

We ate here twice. Once during Durga Puja and had mutton biryani here. It was late at night and the biryani was horrible. The mutton was bad in taste and was hard and chewy. Everything was bad that day. Our experience was horrible that day. I thought that it was a one time thing and it happened especially during the late hours of Durga Puja, so decided to visit here again. Later we went there on a weekday on no holiday during dinner time. We had nuns and tandoori rotis with a chicken side dish whose name I don't remember now and a special mutton biryani that we shared. Taste of all the things was above average, it was not good enough but it was not bad either. Our main issue was with the service. They didn't serve the chicken side dish or nuns or rotis to our plates. They just gave the dishes to our table and left. They serve the mutton biryani to our plate though as it was special mutton biryani shared by two people but they didn't do it properly. They did it like they have to do it, so they are doing it reluctantly and callously. There are 2 mutton pieces, 1 aloo and 1 egg in a special mutton biryani. We expected that they will give equal amounts of rice to each plate, give one mutton per head and give one the aloo and the other one the egg or ask us what to do or they can also give some portions of rice to each of our plate and give the mutton pieces and the aloo and the egg to our plates and leave the remaining rice to the table so that we can take it when we need it. That way whoever needs the rice can take it. We already had our plates lying in front of us as we had the nuns, rotis and the chicken side dish before the biryani. Instead they served the biryani to us like this. They gave 1/3rd of the rice to me with 1 mutton in my plate and took the plate in front of the other person out and there the waiter put the plate with all its components in which he brought the biryani. So in my plate I had only 1/3rd rice and 1 mutton while the other person had 2/3rd rice and 1 mutton plus 1 aloo plus 1 egg. Who serves like this? We have to then arrange the food ourselves.

Then when the bill came, I just out of decency gave some tips in cash and told them that I will pay by card. They might have not noticed that I have put tips in cash. While paying through card they asked me whether I would include some amount in the bill as tips. I replied them that I have already paid the tips in cash. My point is after such a horrible sevice, they have the audacity to ask for tips directly. Also while we were eating we could hear that they were discussing which previous customers left them how much tips and were showing their disappointment if a customer didn't give them tips. Who does that in front of...

I remember the first time when I saw Shimla Biryani. It was the time of Durga puja 7 to 8 years ago. Me and my family were going towards Santoshpur side for pandal hopping and there it was on the side of Eastern Metropolitan Bypass. A huge restaurant with the name Shimla Biryani shining brightly on the side of the road. And trust me I was always the biryani guy and for me having Biryani while Durga Pujo was one of the reasons I used to be most excited about. So you can understand how much that place amazed me.

So when I got this chance to visit Shimla Biryani for the 20th anniversary celebration, I was so pumped. And that big restaurant which always amazed me, made me fall in love with it for sure. This two storey place works its magic with some very good quality biryanis and kebabs.

Here are some of the best dishes which I had,

• Peshawari Paneer Tikka These smokey, super moist tikkas were super delicious and with the mint chutney it just became perfect.

• Chicken Reshmi Kebab A classic dish made to perfection, the Chicken was creamy and flavorful.

• Murgh Rimjhim This was so yummy with creamy gravy and soft chicken pieces. Try this with Garlic naan and you won't regret it.

• Mutton Awadhi Biryani This is not my first time having Awadhi Biryani. Awadhi Biryani is basically known as Lucknawi Biryani and to prepare this Pakki Biryani, the meat and the rice is cooked separately, layered together and then cooked in dum-style. The Biryani was so flavourful with tender and succulent mutton pieces. Much recommended.

• Shimla Special Chicken Biryani With big and juicy chicken pieces and aromatic rice, the Shimla Special Chicken Biryani was very tasty too.

• Gulaab Jamun Oh this was pure heaven with prefect amount of sweet and softness.

• Firni The texture was a bit grainy yet really tasty.

Shimla Biryani has been a Very Amazing Experience for me and I am looking forward to my...