Kusum Snack Bar, Park Street, Kolkata

In the minds of the Indian foodie, the Kati roll is as inextricably linked to Kolkata as Sarson da Saag is linked to the Punjab. Kolkata is pretty much Kati roll city, with outlets vending rolls to be found in almost every nook and corner. The kati roll shop along with the 'Phuchka' (the Kolkata version of the Gol Gappa) vendor are as symbolic of the city as the Vada Pav outlet and the local train is of Mumbai.
Kolkata is the city for dreamers and thinkers, to debate is to breathe and the Phuchka and the roll are often the fuel on which many hours are spent debating everything from Kurusawa to the Kolkata Knight Riders.
What is the Kati roll? Cooked meat, spice, fried onions and a bit of green chilli, wrapped inside a hot parantha and served hot. Tasty, simple and uncomplicated as some of the best things in life inevitable are. How something like this can taste so deliciously brilliant and yet not be found anywhere else in the country is down, I believe to simple economics. Something this simple cannot be priced too high, and in Kolkata, to an extent, at least, economics don't matter!
Kusum Snack Bar on park street is easily one of the most famous Kati roll outlet in Kolkata. Tough to say if it is the best, given the sheer number of roll outlets in Kolkata, but Kusum does serve a very decent mutton roll. Kusum is a shack and like other roll outlets does not have any seating. People stand outside munching on their rolls in their groups of friends or just take the roll and continue on their way.
Kusum has the standard options of Chicken, Mutton, Egg Chicken/ Mutton, Double Egg Chicken / Mutton and the obscene Double Egg, Double Chicken/ Mutton options. The Egg basically indicate the coating of egg on one side of the Paratha but the Double Chicken / Mutton options just have too much meat in them even for an obsessive carnivore like me! If you listen to me go for the simple Chicken/ Mutton roll. If you like egg you can try an Egg Chicken/ Mutton.
A meal for two at Kusum Snack Bar without drinks will cost you Rs 140/-
How to get there: Kusum is on Park Street just someway off from Park Hotel. You will see a steel gate on the left just after the Park Hotel and the famous Olympia bar. Kusum Snack bar is on your left as soon as you enter the gate.