The Dhaba, Baghajatin, Kolkata

In 1984, when the first pogrom ensued in the history of independent India and Sikhs were mercilessly slaughtered all through the country, Kolkata was spared. The communist Government in one of its few moments of glory ensure that not a single Sikh was hurt. Kolkata became one of the favourite cities of the Khalsa outside of the land of five rivers and the culinary scape of the Kolkata was the winner for it.
There are a couple of Punjabi Dhabas famous in Kolkata and one of them most joyfully has decided to spread its wings. The Dhaba at Ballygunge Phari has decided to open a branch at Baghajatin mod towards Garia and was the place where I had a typically hearty Punjabi meal in my last visit to Kolkata.
The Dhaba has very simple, sparse decor. Clean but without any unnecessary pieces of art on the walls or on the floor. The focus is wholly and solely on food and jolly good food it is as well.
As is the case as with most restaurants in Kolkata, the menu was fixed in my mind even before I stepped in. The Naan is a must at The Dhaba, large, and very soft. With Naan, we ordered the Egg Tadka and the Chicken Bharta, two of Kolkata's great dishes and especially good at The Dhaba. The Egg Tadka is basically nothing but Daal Tadka cooked with a bit of egg scrambles with it. The taste of egg adds to the flavour but what really gets me is the slightly burnt taste you get with the Tadka of Kolkata. The burnt flavour gives a whole new twist to the taste buds and takes the Egg Tadka on a whole different plane of quality. Super and incredibly good!
The chicken Bharta is shredded chicken and a sliced boiled egg cooked in a sauce not very different from the standard butter masala. The taste is not exceptionally different but is as good as any butter chicken anywhere in the country. The fact that the Bharta is not usually available at restaurants outside of Kolkata makes the dish that much more special and a definite order in all visits to The Dhaba.
A meal for two at Tha Dhaba without drinks will cost you approximately Rs 450/-
How to get there: The Dhaba is right on Baghajatin Mod, where all the buses and autos stop to unboard passengers. If you are travelling from Jadavpur towards Garia, The Dhaba will fall towards your left.