Kolkata's Winter Dining Scene Heats Up with Record-Breaking Crowds
As the winter chill continues to embrace Kolkata, residents have been flocking to restaurants and bars in unprecedented numbers. The extended festive weekend, beginning with Saraswati Puja on Friday and stretching through Republic Day on Monday, has created a perfect storm for the city's hospitality sector.
Unprecedented Footfall Numbers Across the City
According to the Hotel and Restaurants' Association of Eastern India, footfall during the first half of January was approximately 10% higher compared to the same period last year. This surge follows record-breaking crowds during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, indicating a sustained momentum in dining out culture.
Restaurant owners across Kolkata are optimistic about this trend continuing as long as the temperature remains low. The combination of pleasant weather and consecutive festive occasions has created ideal conditions for dining out, they note.
Park Street Restaurants Experience No Slowdown
Siddharth Kothari of iconic establishments Mocambo, Peter Hu, and Peter Cat reported that footfall refused to dip across Park Street restaurants. "There was no let-up in footfall after we saw a record-smashing attendance during the last week of December", Kothari explained. "Waiting crowds remained very large, and the situation has been better than previous years so far."
Kothari further noted that "Saraswati Puja on Friday marked the beginning of another surge, which should continue until Monday", highlighting how the extended weekend is driving continuous business.
Restaurants Prepare for Busy Weekend Ahead
Tanvi Ghai of Kwality on Park Street observed that their establishment saw a bigger crowd than usual this month and is preparing for a "busy weekend ahead". "The surge in footfall started on Friday evening", Ghai said, "with Saraswati Puja revellers swarming in through the day."
Paratap Daryanani, owner of Oasis, echoed this sentiment, predicting that "the next three days should see a consistently high footfall" as the festive weekend continues.
Positive Performance Across Restaurant Chains
Anjan Chatterjee, founder and chairman of Specialty Restaurants, reported that sales and footfall during the first half of January were 5% higher than last year across multiple outlets including Mezzuna, Oh!Calcutta, Mainland China, Haka, and Flame & Grill.
"This indicates a modest but positive improvement in overall performance across our restaurants", Chatterjee noted, suggesting a broader trend of increased dining out across different segments of Kolkata's restaurant scene.
Special Events and Festivals Drive Engagement
Restaurants are capitalizing on the festive spirit with creative offerings. Oudh 1590 organized a special kebab festival to celebrate Saraswati Puja. Owner and co-founder Shiladitya Chaudhury described "The Great Indian Kebab Festival" as "our tribute to the timeless craft of kebab-making and the rich culinary heritage it embodies."
After extensive research, the restaurant ventured into lesser-known gastronomic landscapes of Rampur in Uttar Pradesh and Shikhampur in Hyderabad to uncover authentic local delicacies. "Traditionally, iconic preparations such as Rampuri Gosht Seekh Kebab and Shikampuri Tandoori Crab were never part of kebab festivals, but this year they made a debut", Chaudhury revealed.
Extended Celebrations with Special Menus
MS Bar & Lounge lined up a specially curated menu with live music sessions to "celebrate the Bengali Valentine's Day". Sudesh Poddar, owner of MS Bar, Songhai, and Manthan, explained their strategy: "The footfall surge continues, so we are still offering the special New Year dishes, apart from offers on cocktails and alcoholic beverages."
Poddar anticipates that "a surge in footfall is expected this weekend, which is going to be an extended one until Republic Day", highlighting how restaurants are strategically extending their festive offerings to capture the extended holiday period.
The combination of favorable weather, consecutive festivals, and strategic restaurant offerings has created a perfect environment for Kolkata's dining scene to thrive. As the extended weekend continues through Republic Day, restaurant owners remain optimistic about maintaining this momentum, with special events, food festivals, and beverage offers continuing to attract crowds across the city.
