Sholo Ana Bangali — Restaurant in West Bengal

This is a very popular and deceptive tourist scam in Darjeeling which everyone should avoid, unless they want to have their money wasted on garbage. The place, although was well decorated was half empty when we walked in during the rush of dinner and it was later we realised why it was such. We ordered plain rice, roti, chicken, daal, 2 veggies and alu bhaja. Pretty basic and easy bengali cuisine for a restaurant having such a name. What we experienced during the next half an hour was horrifying. The instance we set foot inside, even before sitting, the waiters started to push us to have biriyani. It was later that we realised that they were serving left over biriyani and were just looking to exhaust that stock. They made us wait for 20-25 minutes and then brought out everything except the rotis. The quantity was hilarious, it would have kept a baby hungry. 3 pieces of tiny chicken, other curries in decorative bows that can be used for childrens' kitchen toys and so on. One plate of their food is not enough for a child's half appetite. Ignoring that, we were ready to start when they brought out the left over rotis and along with that some idiotic excuses. The old rotis were torn from the middle. They said that they had microwaved the rotis which tore them. On asking why they had to microwave a fresh roti, the uncultured waiter said that in Darjeeling everyone microwaves fresh roti so that it does not get hard. He seemed to have forgotten that we were not sitting in Siachen. Another group of people had asked for roti after us, to whom these uncouth waiters had said that there were no more rotis. After we returned ours, they were arrogant enough to bring them our returned rotis. Finally I decided to leave when they brought us cold striped potato chips that are sold in grocery shops. They were even smelling of plastic. On asking, the same foul waiter said that is how alu bhaja is made everywhere. Such a pathetic and shameful experience. Such establishments should be closed down immediately, even the main branch should feel the heat...

First of all, if you are loyal to Sholo Ana Bangali brand, i am not against them. But the one in Darjeeling is pathetic.

I will start point wise.

We entered the restaurant. 3 of us. 2 adults and 1 child. They asked us to sit in a place. They gave us the plate. We asked for regular water. The waiter Anubesh Bera said, no regular water will be provided. This is illegal.

Then we ordered 3 bhetki fry. The waiter Mr. Bera came and asked another waiter to remove all plates because they don’t want to waste.

The tiny toiler doesn’t have any water supply, I don’t really know what kind of scarcity of water they were facing in the month of June in Darjeeling where it is raining almost always.

Then Mr. Bera came again, asked my wife to sit in another place as we are 3 pax only. Restaurant was not full. Only 50% tables were occupied. All because we have not ordered a main course.

This time told Mr. Bera politely that We are really feeling insulted and we want to leave.

Mr. Bera requested us to stay as the food is prepared. I stayed. Then the food came. Size of the fish fry was the smaller Mitra Cafe one but the price was INR 230. Inside the batter, it had only shredded fish. Pathetic experience.

Sholo Ana Bangali should...

This place is a textbook example of how to ruin a customer’s trust in the name of “authentic Bengali food.” The quantity is laughably small, the prices are absurdly high, and the so-called Bengali dishes are nowhere near authentic. It felt less like dining and more like being robbed with a smile.

The overall rating of 2.7 says it all, and now I know why. I deeply regret not checking before stepping inside — hunger led us in, and disappointment followed us out.

To the owner: if you think this is how you build a restaurant’s reputation — by charging sky-high rates for miserly portions and mediocre taste — then you’re not running a restaurant, you’re running a daylight robbery business. People come here to experience warmth and culture through food, but instead, they walk out feeling cheated.

Darjeeling deserves better, and so do its visitors. Sholo Ana Bangali is a place I will never return to, and I strongly advise others to save their time, money, and respect for real Bengali food...