Skip to main content

The MITRA Cafe


[From 1910]

 The culture of the city is best manifested by its flavours and Kolkata is no exception to that. It is renowned for a rich gastronomic heritage with influences as varied as Portuguese and British to Chinese and nawabi. From the various roll corners to mughlai, from phuchkawallas to Prak Street restaurants all stand a ‘Testimony’ to this. Bengali is incomplete without the adda sessions, and their adda is incomplete without good food. North Kolkata is the best witness of such adda culture. 





Our next destination in the list of 100 years old eateries is a cafe which has been built dedicating the friends for which it had been named the Mitra Cafe. Though the name of this cafe has many controversial descriptions. Around 1910 Mitra Cafe was founded by Ganesh Mitra and it is said that he kept the name of the cafe “Mitra” according to his surname. Later his friend Sushil Roy took over the responsibility of the cafe as an owner. He kept the name same like before as it belonged to his friend. Mr Roy derived the name ‘Mitra’ signifying Friends’ as all his customers were their friends and the cafe belongs to them.

  

At the initial days the choice in the menu was limited but they did not compromise with their quality.  After the demise of Shri Sushil Roy his wife Smt. Gita Roy retained the legacy. Due to rising prices and their endeavor to provide “the best quality product” to the customers and equilibrium had to be maintained resulting in some rise in price of products. After the demise of Smt. Gita Roy her grandson Shri Tapash Roy is now in charge. With constant innovation and endeavor, many new varieties are been introduced in the menu. With time the food habit changed, demand increased but this shop never thought to change their patent dishes, the customers also requested to not to change the aura of such a heritage by changing the decor. The simple presentation is the most catchy factor here. Mutton Brain Chop, Fish Diamond Fry, Kabiraji, Cutlets are the famous dishes of Mitra Cafe. The menu is divided into breakfast, lunch and tiffin. There is a soup which can be bought exchanging 2 rupees only and it was initiated by Gita Roy, the wife of the founder. The persons who were unable to buy costly food it was started to satisfy their hunger too and she requested her grandson not to increase the amount in future whatever the situation would be.

47 Jyotindramohan avenue was famous for the little closet of nostalgia, the Mitra cafe. The Mutton Kabiraji cutlet here is to die for. It’s a filling of minced mutton wrapped in an egg net and deep-fried and is the very definition of a foodgasm for any non-vegetarian foodies. Moghlai Parathas, Fish chops, Fish fingers, you name it. Rolls of every kind that you can think of are available here and none of them disappoint. Heed my advice, go here with an empty stomach and walk back full, because you’ll need to burn off some of all that you stuffed!











Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Netaji-r Chop er Dokan"

[From 1918] Kolkata is famous for many things which have been originated here. If we talk about food Rosogolla and Misti Doi are the patent food items of Kolkata. It would be very unfair if we miss out one delicious snack item which is also very significant item of the city- Chop. Chop is a well demanded street food in Kolkata. Among many famous shops the 100 year Laxmi Narayan Shaw is famous for its heritage.  The shop was started by Late Khedu Shaw in the year 1918. At that time a budding youngster, a student of Scottish Church College used to visit their shop frequently. His sparkling presence had some factor which made the owner notice him. This young man was none but Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Later the shop was also called by Netajir Chop er dokan.  Whenever there a meeting was held mainly for the Swadeshi Movement snacks was ordered from Laxmi Narayan Shaw. From the primitive days this shop offers telebhaja free of cost on the occasio
Post a Comment
Read more

The Inventor of Rosogolla: Nobin Chandra Das

        [From 1866] This sweetshop is counted among the oldest sweetmeat sellers of Kolkata. More than 150 years is indeed mentionable! A notable Bengali confectioner Nobin Chandra Das who was a cultural icon of mid 19 th century established the shop in 1866 in Sobhabazar. He was keen to invent something new in the history of sweets. Two years later with his innovative recipe and technique he made Rosogolla for the first time in 1868. This famous personality was known as Colombus of Rosogolla as he introduced this syrupy, mouth-watering dessert first. The variety and taste of the sweets is absolutely eyecatching and appreciating  This person had to face a lot of hardships to infix his name in golden letters in the history of Bengali confectionary. His approach was too familiar to the ‘moira’s in Kolkata, he shared his invented technique of making rosogolla free-mindedly as for him his creation can capture every heart and satisfy every dessert-lover’s lust. The c
Post a Comment
Read more

Nahoum's & Sons - The only Jewish confectionery in Kolkata

[From 1902] A confectionary probably the last vestige of Jewish Heritage in Kolkata still shimmers with their glorious presentation. The decoration of the shop, the same teakwood furniture sprinkles the nostalgia of traditional values whenever we visit the place. It is none other than Nahoum & Sons- the internationally known Jewish bakery serving the citizens with its lip-smacking items.  This bakery was established by Nahoum Israel Mordecai, a Baghdadi Jew in the year 1902. The 116 years old confectionary is presently run by Isaac Nahoum- the descendant of the founder. In 2013 David Nahoum, the third generation owner of the bakery passed away and as he had no children his brother Isaac Nahoum took the noble responsibility to conserve the heritage. Once Kolkata used to be a residence for the Jewish community; though it was much less – around 4000. Their existence was prominent in between the late 18 th and mid 20 th century. At present this reduced to a handf
Post a Comment
Read more