Stepping into Valencia Cafe is like being transported from the cacophony of Kolkata straight to a picturesque little eatery tucked away round the corner of a paved street in Europe.
A dream-come-true for home-maker and cook, Sayantani Banerjee, this cafe is located at Survey Park, Santoshpur, and has been brought to life thanks to the support of Sayantani’s family and their partnership with Pool Cafe, a culinary organisation.
Sayantani Banerjee with her husband Abhijit Banerjee
“We want to focus on customer delight, not simply customer satisfaction,” says Abhijit Banerjee, who is Sayantani Banerjee’s husband and co-owns the cafe with her. Valencia Cafe offers a variety of mouth-watering dishes along with refreshing mocktails and aromatic brews.
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the highlights of the place:
The ambience
Inside Valencia, you will find marbled tables and plush chairs, set against a background of pink, green and gold hues. Upon entering, to the left of the door, you can see a circular, golden swing canopied by pink blossoms, making it the perfect spot for your Instagram photo sessions. The decor is further elevated with potted plants and vines crawling up the pillars. A splash of colours is seen on the rear wall, which is painted with a plethora of brilliant florals. The garden area housing their in-house bakery has quaint seating arrangements, with outdoor seats reserved for comfortable winter days.
Live music
Live music by on the keyboard at the opening of Valencia Cafe
The cafe intends to host musicians on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, so that patrons can enjoy some lively tunes along with their food and drinks.
Special picks from the menu
Valencia Cafe’s menu boasts an assortment of Spanish dishes as well as other fancy fare like Gambas Al Ajillo (Spanish Garlic Shrimp) (Rs 549), Lobster Thermidor (Rs 999), Tuna Tartare (Rs 699), Lamb Shank (Rs 409), and more. Those who prefer something more familiar can try the pizzas, burgers, soups, salads and pastas. One can also try their range of unique drinks and caffeinated delights.
Given that the cafe has an in-house bakery, baked goods and other desserts are also a must-have.
Here are a few of My Kolkata’s favourites from the menu:
Classic Cappuccino (Rs 149)
The classic cappuccino
A warm cup of foamy cappuccino, ideal for unwinding after a tiring day at work or while catching up with friends.
Mocktails
The Valencia Special Red Dragon, Mango Bite, and The Deep Blue Sea
Valencia Special Red Dragon (Rs 249)
The sparkling, crimson drink, which is a mix of coriander root, lime, cranberry, mint, strawberry and soda, comes with a charming butterfly accessory, and is refreshingly sweet without being overpowering.
Mango Bite (Rs 249)
Made with crushed mangoes, mango juice, syrup and lime soda, this fruity, tropical drink is garnished with oranges. The result is a tangy, pulpy goodness that is much like freshly squeezed juice.
Deep Blue Sea (Rs 249)
This citrusy, mildly sour drink incorporates the flavours of blue curacao, sweet lychees, limes, fresh mint and soda, and lives up to its name, thanks to its sparkling blue colour.
Valencia Cafe Special Edition Mocktail (Rs 499)
This fizzy, syrupy mocktail contains Coolberg (non-alcoholic beer) alongside mint, cranberry, peach and ginger. The combination makes this an invigorating drink, which retains a subtle taste of beer without being overly sweet.
Valencia Special Pizza (Rs 409)
The non-vegetarian Valencia Special Pizza
This delectable pizza is topped with salami, bell peppers, jalapenos, olives and caramelised onions, all on a superbly crunchy thin-crust pizza base. The vegetarian iteration of this is equally flavourful and comes with a tomato and herbs dip on the side.
Desserts
Fried Ice Cream
Besides a decadent chocolate ganache cake (special item; not on the regular menu) made by Sayantani herself, we were also served their special fried ice cream (Rs 199). A tantalising blend of hot and cold as well as soft and crunchy, the fried exterior of this ice cream is made with coconut shavings. The dessert is served with garnishings of pistachio, almonds and caramel. Digging into it feels like having warm cookies with a cold glass of milk.
