Having eaten in a number of Hard Rock Café restaurants throughout the globe I was certainly curious to see what the one located at Park Street, Kolkata, had in store for us. On my second outing there I was a guest of the owner Mrs. Bajoria who sat patiently at my table ensuring that the food and service were both impeccable.
As this was also a blogger’s and social influencer’s meet (I was invited in the latter category), there were about 20 of us present and hence we could try out a variety of different dishes, nibbling on each and getting into those that were particularly interesting or different from what we get everywhere else.
For those unaware of HRC, there is loud rock ’n roll music played during the evenings and the large screen up front live-streams videos straight from the US. For a quieter time where conversations can be carried out among friends without having to raise your voice, the afternoons are perfect for an office lunch or a quick bite if time is of essence, or even a leisurely and relaxed meal with friends.
After having being photographed throughout the restaurant I sat down and was offered a variety of mocktails, none of which I personally tasted, but the Pineapple Honey Smash I was told was fairly sweet whereas the Sparkling Berry Sangria and Raspberry Sangria-rita were perfect for a balmy afternoon luncheon.
The reason for this luncheon was to introduce Hard Rock’s new Rock’n Bowl Menu in the city. Living in the Rice Bowl of the country, we Kolkatans love our rice and for this purpose, the new menu, which is both tasty as well as a healthy option, can be had on the go. If you are in a hurry or want to grab a quick yet wholesome meal, this is the perfect choice.
Once we were seated, the feasting began as we were served the Classic Nachos, Bruschetta and Red Hot Chili Fries as starters. The Classic Nachos came on a large platter of 26 pieces of tortillas with cowboy beans, jalapeños, mixed cheese, black olives and the dish was garnished with spring onion and served with a dollop of sour cream on the top. A perfect start to a sumptuous luncheon. The Bruschetta had the bread with sour cream, diced tomatoes and onions with a sliver of parmesan cheese but the Red Hot Chili Fries were everyone’s favorite as the fries were tossed in tomato, cheese and spring onions and fried to perfection!
Let me begin with the best Rice Bowl – The Chili Lime Chicken Bowl. The slightly tangy chicken was perfectly balanced by the diced Avocados, soft Black Beans, Roasted Corn and finished with Romano Cheese, fresh Cilantro and spiced crunchy Tortilla Straws. If you have to try just one entrée, this would be my pick for the season.
For those seeking a southern US flavor and never having travelled to Louisiana, do try the Creole Style Jambalaya packed with Chicken Sausage, Shrimp, Chicken and a host of tossed vegetables served with a tasty brown rice.
The BBQ Shrimp Noodle Bowl flavored with Soy, Garlic, Ginger and Sesame was perfect for Asian food lovers whereas those craving for Buff meatballs enjoyed the Bibimap which had the meatballs served with Red Peppers, Carrots, Cucumber and Spicy Kimchi finished with a Honey Sriracha Glaze adding a spicy yet sweet touch to their meal.
Other dishes on offer were the Southwest Meatball Bowl, the Tex-Mex Cottage Cheese Bowl and the Aglio Olio e Peperoncino Bowl which included the spaghetti with spinach, cheese croquettes, creamy Ragout and assorted vegetables.
After having a small tasting from all of the above and truly satiated, we then moved onto the dessert for the day, which was Hot Fudge Brownie which included vanilla ice cream, caramelized nuts with a dark chocolate sauce drizzled on top. Sinfully delightful – was the consensus all around.
A big thank you to Ritusmita Biswas (Digital Brandz), and the management and staff of Hard Rock Café for their warm hospitality and time spent in ensuring we had a wonderful afternoon in the newest American eatery in town.