The Backyard — Restaurant in Kolkata

Ambience & Concept

Sprawling family-focused setup: Located in Topsia near the EM Bypass, The Backyard is a thoughtfully designed café and play space spread across approximately 29,000 sq ft, combining indoor and outdoor zones tailored for both adults and children.

Nature-inspired aesthetic: Elements like a treehouse built around an existing ficus, wooden furnishings crafted from storm-uprooted trees, and eco-friendly paving tiles made of leather sludge convey a sustainable and artisanal vibe.

Kid-centric and pet-friendly: The design is cleverly inclusive—features like indoor play areas, slides, splash pads, and a pet enclosure make it an ideal recreational space for children and their furry friends.

Play & Activities (for Kids)

Wide variety of activity zones: Children can enjoy splash pads, sand pits, swings, slides, a rock-climbing wall, mud kitchen, music wall, hopsotch, treehouse with reading nook, indoor toy zone, and even a swimming pool.

Pricing & access: A flat fee of ₹1,000 per child grants unlimited access to these zones, with adults admitted free (up to 2 adults per child).

Dining Options

The Bistro: Offers world cuisine with a focus on fresh, natural ingredients—including salads, wood-fired flatbreads, coffee, ice creams, and kid-friendly dishes.

Locally sourced & homegrown: Many herbs used in the kitchen are grown in The Backyard's own garden, supporting a locally-rooted sustainable menu.

Popular Highlights

⭐ What works really well

Ambience and décor: Many visitors love the serene yet playful environment. A Google reviewer noted it as “a tranquil oasis… perfect for a solo date or a relaxing hangout,” praising both the ambience (5/5) and food (4.5/5).

Family and pet appeal: Reviewers frequently mention that both kids and pets have a blast here.

Friendly and attentive service: Evaluations on Zomato highlight staff members like Anand and Arzoo for elevating the overall dining experience with excellent service.

Areas that could be better

Service delays & kitchen oversight: A few reviews cite slow service (e.g., waiting long for coffee) and inaccuracies in food orders (like missing mushrooms in a wrap).

Pet-friendly claims vs. experience: Some pet owners feel the selection for pets is limited and staff may be uneasy around animals.

Price considerations: A few patrons found the dishes pricey for their portion size or quality.

Event booking hiccups: Reports note poor management when booking parties or events.

Final Thoughts

The Backyard stands out as one of Kolkata’s most imaginative family-friendly eateries—offering a rare blend of thoughtful design, engaging play zones, and quality dining. It’s especially great for parents looking to relax while their kids explore barefoot or interact with pets in a safe environment. The concept’s thoughtful details—from sustainable décor to edible herbs grown on-site—underscores its appeal.

That said, there are minor gaps around service reliability, pet experience, and booking processes that, if improved, could elevate the venue even further. Ideal for leisurely afternoons, family outings, brunches, or casual hangouts where kids and pets...

Disappointing Experience – Unclear Policies and Poor Handling of Families with Children

We recently visited this café after seeing several positive reviews, particularly highlighting its pet-friendly environment and the presence of a kids’ play zone. Unfortunately, our experience was far from what we expected, and I feel compelled to share a genuine and balanced review.

Upon arrival, we were informed that access to the kids’ play zone required an additional payment of ₹1,000. I requested to first take a look at the area before deciding. The play area consisted of a few basic outdoor play elements like swings, a duck ride, and some additional structures, as well as an indoor section which we did not enter—assuming this might be the paid section.

My child, who is 2 years and 3 months old, naturally got excited upon seeing the outdoor play setup and started exploring. Given her age, she could not fully use or navigate the equipment independently, and we spent no more than 5 to 10 minutes in the area. During this short time, we were approached by three different staff members—including the receptionist—insisting we pay the ₹1,000 fee for play area access.

It was 7:15 PM when we arrived, and we were told that the play area would close at 8:00 PM. Being asked to pay ₹1,000 for only about 30–40 minutes of basic play—similar to what most residential societies offer for free—felt highly unreasonable. We understand the importance of generating revenue, but believe the setup could be much more thoughtful. For example, clearly separating the paid play area from general seating or placing it indoors would help manage expectations, especially for families with small children who cannot be expected to understand such restrictions.

Despite our intention to relax and enjoy our time, we left shortly after due to how the situation was handled. The insistence on payment in such a short timeframe, especially when a toddler is involved, felt unkind and insensitive.

Businesses that cater to families should be especially mindful of child behavior and parental expectations. Using a child’s natural curiosity as a monetization tool without clarity or flexibility is not just poor service—it reflects a lack of empathy. I hope the management takes this feedback seriously and considers revisiting their policies for a better, more inclusive...

Adding response after the reply received from the cafe:

Rebranding Suggestion: Call It a Paid Kid Zone, Not a Café

Thank you for your response to my earlier review. It was both enlightening and, frankly, a bit ironic. According to your logic, the issue wasn’t your unclear communication or inflexible handling of families with toddlers—it was that we dared to arrive at 7:15 PM instead of earlier to get our money’s worth. Noted. Clearly, we should have consulted your hidden “Timing Terms & Conditions” before deciding to step into what we thought was a café, not a prepaid amusement park.

Let’s be honest here: if your main selling point is a ₹1,000 kids' play zone with basic outdoor equipment and the privilege of 30–40 minutes before closing, then perhaps the place should stop advertising itself as a pet-friendly café with kid-friendly amenities. Just go ahead and market it for what it truly is—a time-restricted, high-cost “kid zone” with a café attached somewhere in the background.

Also, claiming that your play zone equipment is “exclusive” and provided by a sole vendor in Kolkata may sound impressive—until you actually look at it. A couple of duck rides, swings, and standard structures are hardly revolutionary. I’d strongly recommend your management visit some of the well-known residential societies in the city where these facilities are not only free but infinitely better maintained—and more importantly, where toddlers are not chased by staff asking for payment before they even finish their first swing.

If your business model involves using a child’s instinctive excitement as an opportunity to demand payment, you may want to add a new section to your menu: “Parenting Penalty – ₹1,000 per curious toddler.” At least that would be honest.

Until your policies become clearer and more compassionate, I’d recommend families with young kids think twice—and probably head somewhere with more play, less pay, and a...