We suddenly decided this morning to go for continental food for lunch. Having burnt our fingers at the new joints, we decided to play it safe and go to Park Street. Mocambo was our chosen destination—for no particular reason. Peter Cat is still closed after the Stephen Court Tragedy. Oasis is a little cramped. Trinca seems to have a changed flavour. So Mocambo ,it was.
Just a minute away from the Park Street—Free School Street crossing, we entered without having to wait, which is a common occurrence in the evening. The place is old world, with a colonial hangover struggling to keep pace with the brash new generation. Red leathered sofas, hanging red lampshades, long white coated waiters and stewards with black suits—all contributed to this mixed ambience.
There were no cocktails. The drink list is just about adequate, and we settled down to a small Smirnoff with ice and Limca (not very sophisticated!!!). The snacks were a crisp namkeen which went well with the drink. We asked for Surf and Turf, well done with mushroom sauce. Do not go for the pepper sauce as they will simply pour it out of a bottle. The preparation had a generous mixture of Prawns with Bacon and tasted out of this world. There was a groovy smoothness with the mushroom sauce giving the right tang. The prawns had a slight oriental touch which went well with the firmness of the bacon.
The next dish was Ham Steak sizzler with mushrooms. The meat was a generous chunk, with the usual vegetable accompaniments. Again, the feel of the meat was right and with the accompanying sizzle, enlivened the palate. The vodka was tightening the tongue nicely.
Emboldened we ordered their famous Angels on Horseback. Bacon strips filled with chicken set in a rice setting with a slight gravy. This IS a speciality. The correct blend of the slightly crisp bacon strip with the soft chicken fillers was amazing. Again a MUST taste.
We then settled for a Fish a la Diana—gravy rich Bhetki Fish Chunks with a Prawn stuffing. Gloriously recommendable. The combination enhanced the taste of each. This was a Bengali dish with Continental overlay and one could almost visualise the sahibs(white or brown) delving into it and smiling.
Dessert was even more enticing. I settled for a Mango Souffle with little soft mango pieces contrasting well with the the smoothness of the dish. Vicky took a Meringue topped with Vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate sauce and was ecstatic. As we shared the dishes, we were satiated but did not at all feel greasy and dyspeptic.
The service was quietly efficient and instantly available. the bill came to Rs 1600.
The next time we plan to try the Devilled Crabs and the Chicken Tetrazinni or Chicken Sicilian with Fish Muniere!!!!!!
The truth is that Old is Gold and we should really delve into them and find out the reasons why instead of following blindly the new innovations.
“Everything New is not an improvement!!!”
MOCAMBO
25B Park Street, Park Street, Kolkata
2 comments:
You were lucky to have been got a table without waiting. My recent experience was very bad, No doubt they have very good food, and a nice ambience, and people do throng the place, but when they are full, the behaviour of their staff is not something apetizing at all. Since they are in the hospitality industry, they should learn to keep their heads on their shoulder, neither below it nor in the air, no matter what.
Well said. This is I find a fairly common occurrence in Indian sahib Restaurants.Though I agree some customers are very impatient, the treatment given sometimes is very reprehensible.I have not yet experienced such behaviour, but I have heard from my friends, that it happens.Let's hope that your treatment is an exception to the rule."
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