X-Spicy, Indismart Hotel

Where: Sector V

Taste case: As part of the Bong Thai Fusion, try Padmar Ilish in Thai Green Curry and Gangar Chingri in Red Curry.
Unusual ingredients like lotus stems have been used to make Crispy Fried Honey Chilli Komal Kakri and Thai mangoes lend themselves to make Thai Raw Papaya, Mango and Aamshotto rollups.

Restospeak: “Since Bengalis’ favourite Puja getaway — Bangkok — is out of bounds, we have brought home its cuisine and that too with a local twist,” says Somek Choudhury, founder of the Kolkata Food Trotters Facebook group, that is presenting the festival in association with X-Spicy.

Price pinch: Rs 899 for a pre-plated meal

When: October 21 to 24, noon to 4pm, 7pm to 11pm. Orders must be placed 24 hours in advance.

Antipasti, Golden Tulip hotel Sourced by the Telegraph

Antipasti, Golden Tulip hotel

Where: DD Block

Taste case: The festival offers buffet and a la carte with special emphasis on Bengali cuisine. Try Anarasi Pulao where mutton and pineapples are cooked in “dum” style to prepare pulao and served in two halves of a hallowed-out pineapple.

They also offer a lesser-known variant of Sukto that makes use of radhuni, poppy and mustard paste and milk instead of water.

You love paturi made out of banana leaves, now try bekti paturi wrapped in lotus leaves. Chingri-Mochar Paturi is another favourite of chef Ratan Jana where he sautes prawn and mocha together to create a taste richer than the sum of its parts.

At the hotel’s rooftop lounge Noir, kebab platters and vodka-based “Bengali cocktails” using coconut water, lemon and mangoes will be served. Desserts include innovative dishes like Amshotto Sandesh.

Restospeak: “Keeping the pandemic in mind we have reduced the price of the buffets and increased the festival duration as we want to welcome as many people as possible. We offer different menus on different days and while Bengali food is the mainstay we shall also offer Asian and Mughlai cuisine,” says general manager Sumanta Maity.

Price pinch: Sashthi, Saptami, Dashami buffet at Rs 799; Ashtami, Navami buffet at Rs 899. Kids’ buffet for those up to 10 years of age at Rs 555 (with additional burgers, pasta, brownies etc)

When: October 18 (a la carte) to 26

De Sovrani Sourced by the Telegraph

De Sovrani

Where: DD Block

Taste case: The hotel is laying out two separate buffet meals, one at the first floor restaurant Sand, and the other at Deciduous. The premiere buffet at Sand will have 51 items, including hilsa, mutton and an alcoholic beverage. The economy one will have 40 items. Sky View, the roof-top cafe, will have live music, cocktail pitchers and hookah. Teen Paan Rose and Strawberry Vanilla continue to be the most popular hookah flavours. There are drinks and light meal combinations on offer too. Screening of IPL matches is an added attraction. The ground floor bar will serve unlimited pourings of Indian-made foreign liquor for an hour and half at Rs 1,399.

Restospeak: “We are doing our best to ensure a safe, good time for our guests. At the entry point, we are offering foot covers, head covers and gloves. Every table has a sanitiser bottle. Our staff quarters are nearby so they don’t have to commute by public transport. Our cooks have face shields on. We do regular UV treatment of our kitchen,” said Kamalini Paul, managing director.

Price pinch: Rs 999 for the premiere buffet, Rs 555 for the economy buffet

When: October 22 to 25, noon to 3pm, 7pm to 11pm, (at Library) 11am to 11pm.