Oh! Calcutta — Restaurant in New York

Being from Kolkata, I was excited to see a Calcutta/Kolkata style Bengali restaurant open up in LIC, and their menu seemed to have some typical items from the cuisine of Kolkata. But man, how thoroughly disappointed was I with the food. This is not Kolkata style Bengali food, nowhere close to it. The only way I can describe the food is a fusion between Bangladeshi food (very different from Bengali food from Kolkata) and South Indian food, weirdly. It seemed like a Bangladeshi person (maybe the owner) described what they think Kolkatan food is supposed to be to a South Indian chef, and the chef has reconstructed the food from those descriptions. I would not call the taste of the food bad, but it is not Kolkatan food. There are plenty of good restaurants in Queens doing much cheaper and much more authentic Bangladeshi food and South Indian food, and this weird combination being marketed as Kolkatan food did not sit right with me.

Here's what we ordered and item-specific reviews: Lake Market fish fry: The fish was okay but pretty bland. The green spice paste that is signature to Kolkata style fish fry was missing (hence the blandness). The mustard sauce (kasundi) condiment was the only saving grace for this item.

Goat Biryani: This is nothing like Kolakata biryani. It had zero aroma and heavily spiced, the rice was different, and there were no potatoes. It was close to Dindigul Biryani from Southern India, not the aromatic low-spiced Kolkata type biryani. Just to clarify, by spice, I don't mean chilies. Kolkata biryani's signature is its aroma and the way it incorporates potatoes in it, not the heavy dose of biryani spices.

Kosha Mangsho: The meat was tender, and that's about it. It is not Bengali kosha mangsho where the tenderness comes from slow cooking. The tenderness in this kosha mangsho was from just boiling or pressure cooking the meat, not from slow cooking (the "kosha" part of the kosha mangsho). The spices were weirdly south Indian spices, not Bengali spices.

Fish paturi: The worst and blandest of them all. There was almost no spice, no sign of mustard paste. It was just a basic fish steamed in a banana leaf.

Butter naan: This is the only item that was good, and ironically, the only item that is not Kolkatan.

The service and the decor were...

I ordered lunch from this place through Uber Eats and was excited when I saw the name Oh! Calcutta, since the original restaurant in Kolkata is a premier spot I know well from back home. I was delighted to find Indian Bengali food available here in New York, and although I had thought of visiting for dine-in, I decided to try delivery first.

I began with the Gobi Manchurian (indo- Chinese style cauliflower appetizer). The portion size was underwhelming—just a handful of florets—and the taste was only average. What surprised me most was the use of whole green cardamom pods in what was supposed to be an Indo-Chinese dish, which felt out of place. Not terrible, but definitely not the Manchurian flavor I’m used to.

Next was the Murgir Jhol (Bengali home style light chicken curry), which was a bigger disappointment. I was expecting a comforting, home-style Bengali chicken curry with bone-in curry cut pieces, but instead received chewy, boneless breast chunks in a thick, oily gravy with a slightly burnt flavor. While I appreciated that there was a potato included (a staple in Bengali chicken curry), it was clearly boiled separately and added later, leaving it bland and disconnected from the dish. Overall, it didn’t capture the homestyle essence I was looking forward to.

This experience was not what I expected from a restaurant carrying the “Oh! Calcutta” name. Still, I may give it another try with different dishes before making a final judgment. For now, though, I left...

oh! Calcutta ohhhh!

Its just made me OH!!! Nestled in the heart of longiland, brings the vibrant flavors of Indian cuisine to life. The moment you step inside, it will feel like you're transported to a charming little corner of Delhi or Mumbai, beautifully adorned with colorful tapestries, traditional artwork, and soft ambient lighting that creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The menu at Calcutta is extensive, offering a mix of regional dishe. I with some ofmy friends began our meal with the Samosas, which were perfectly crisp on the outside, filled with a spiced potato and pea mixture, and accompanied by tangy tamarind chutney. The flavor was perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of heat.I felt like I am in somewhere in India I was craving for.!

For the main course, we opted for thechilli chicken and chikli paneer. The Chicken was a creamy, rich delight, with tender pieces of chicken swimming in a sauce that was both mildly spiced and irresistibly savory.overall, the meal felt both fulfilling and comforting.

so we have tried Chili Chicken, Chili Paneer, Mali chicken, and Butter Chicken.

The service is attentive but not overbearing; our servers were knowledgeable about the menu and offered great suggestions.I have attached menu for your view hope it will works!

Overall, oh calcutta will make you wow and it delivers a delightful experience that goes beyond simply dining.

food 10/10 Environment 10/10 Emoloyee...