Durga Puja is just around the corner, and the preparations are slowly gathering momentum. But before we get completely swept away in the Puja madness, there are more pressing matters to attend to. Like lunch, for instance!
We hadn't cooked anything today, and a late lunch seemed like the perfect solution. I had also been nursing a craving for pizza over the weekend, which had unfortunately ended with Chinese food instead. So, today was supposed to be Pizza Day!
We had even narrowed down our choice of restaurant. But then, as has become something of a familiar pattern, my wife had other ideas. She suggested an entirely different place with a more interesting menu, and before I knew it, the pizza plans had been abandoned. Our destination? Roastery Coffee House!
It had been quite some time since our last visit, and the place still had plenty going for it. The outdoor seating is absolutely lovely, but with Kolkata serving up another hot and sultry afternoon, we decided that air-conditioning was far more appealing than picturesque outdoor ambience. We shall save the open-air experience for the winter months, when sitting outdoors with a cup of coffee sounds like a pleasure rather than an endurance test!
Once inside, we settled down, scanned the QR code, and browsed the menu on our phones. A few taps later, our order was placed through the app, followed shortly by a member of the staff dropping by to confirm everything. Technology had taken care of the ordering, leaving us free to concentrate on the far more enjoyable business of deciding what to eat.
I ordered an Oreo Blend Ice-Cream Cold Coffee, while my wife opted for a Honey Cinnamon Cold Brew. She was a little disappointed that her favourite drink wasn't available here.
Now, this was an opportunity I simply couldn't let pass!
I pointed out that not every establishment gets carried away by every food and beverage phenomenon that sweeps through town. Matcha may be having its moment in the sun right now, but plenty of established eateries haven't jumped onto that bandwagon. Personally, I suspect it is one of those trends that will eventually lose its current hype and quietly settle into the regular menu.
Of course, this observation did little to console my wife, who was still missing her Matcha fix. Some debates are best left unresolved!
Moving on to the food, the Hold in Hand Chicken Salami Sandwich caught my attention, while my wife was drawn towards the Spaghetti Spinach Alfredo Chicken. To get things started, we ordered the Roastery Signature Zucchini Fries and Onion Rings.
The drinks arrived in a jiffy, and the food followed soon after.
I scooped up the Oreo pieces and took a generous sip of my cold coffee. Thick, creamy and wonderfully indulgent, it was just the sort of drink one needs on a hot afternoon. Naturally, I had to sample my wife's Honey Cinnamon Cold Brew as well. One customary sip was enough to confirm that it wasn't quite my cup of tea—or, in this case, coffee!
I immediately returned to my Oreo shake, taking a rather more enthusiastic gulp this time. Some things are best appreciated from a distance, and my wife's choice of coffee clearly fell into that category.
Then came the Zucchini Fries and Onion Rings, and this is where Roastery reminded us why we enjoy coming here. Crisp, crunchy and delicious, they were perfect little bites of indulgence. Dip them into the accompanying sauce, take a bite, and repeat. It is difficult to go wrong with food that gets the basics so wonderfully right.
The Spaghetti Spinach Alfredo Chicken was equally satisfying. The Alfredo sauce had just the right combination of cheese and spinach, coating the spaghetti beautifully, while little pieces of chicken made their appearance with every twirl of the fork. It was creamy, comforting and exactly the sort of dish that makes you glad someone else chose the restaurant!
But the real surprise of the afternoon was my sandwich.
The Hold in Hand Chicken Salami Sandwich turned out to be an absolute winner. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it was the best chicken salami sandwich I have ever had! The kind of dish that makes you pause mid-meal and wonder why you haven't ordered it before.
So much for my carefully planned pizza outing!
What began as a simple decision to grab a late lunch turned into a rather delightful rediscovery of a place we hadn't visited in a while. Good food, refreshing drinks, crunchy starters and a sandwich that has set a new benchmark in my personal sandwich rankings—what more could one ask for?
And, of course, the usual marital negotiations over food trends and beverage preferences added the necessary entertainment to the proceedings.
As we gear up for Durga Puja, there will be plenty of pandal hopping, eating, meeting friends and generally making merry in the days ahead. But every now and then, a spontaneous detour from the original plan turns out to be just as rewarding.
Today, I went looking for pizza and found a fantastic sandwich instead.
I'm glad we did Roastery today!
