Orko’s

At: E Block, City Centre

When: October 9 to 13; lunch- 12.30pm to 4.30pm, dinner- till 1am (Saptami), till 2am (Ashtami & Navami)

Pocket pinch: Rs 1,364 (lunch buffet)

The Northwest Frontier speciality restaurant is laying out a Bengali spread on the Puja days. “Our buffet is only for lunch as people prefer to eat light at night after a big meal in the afternoon,” said Kaushik Sengupta, general manager, Orko’s group.

The Bengali buffet has been planned with a nod to local favourites from other cuisines also in mind — for example, Tangra style Chilli Chicken, Chicken Biryani with potato and egg and Chicken Tikka Salad and Dahi Aloo Papdi Chaat.

While the starters feature Calcutta classics like Mixed Vegetable Chop and Crumb Fried Fish Finger, there are Bengali must-haves from Kosha Mangsho and Sorshe Bhetki Jhal to Chingri Malaikari and Kucho Chingri Potol Aloo Sobji. “While the traditionally favourite dishes are there, we have not made the menu elaborate to prevent wastage,” said chefDebanjan Sinha.

The menu card has also added a selection of five Bengali dishes, including Mutton Dak Bungalow (Rs 839) and Gondhoraj Murgir Jhol (Rs 734), which can be ordered for Puja meals. A selection of Chinese dishes too have been added to the Northwestern Frontier food. “The round-the-year top draws like Kala Bhuna Mutton, Rara Gosht, Chicken Patiala (all priced Rs 787) and Bhetki Tawa Masala (Rs 839) will continue to be available,” Sengupta added.

The lounge bar too will be open late, in keeping with the restaurant timings.

Five & Dime

A selection of the buffet spread at Five & Dime.

Where: Rooftop, The Meridian, GP Block, Sector V

When: October 9 to 12; 12noon to 2pm, 2.30pm to 4.30pm

Pocket pinch: Rs 999; Rs 1,599 (with unlimited alcohol)

The rooftop lounge near Decathlon, that serves Tandoor, Indian and Chinese food round the year, will be serving a lunch buffet that will include close to 40 items that will be a mix of their round-the-year specialities as well as Bengali dishes during Puja. Thus besides Palak Patta Chat, Tomato and Dhania Shorba and Achari Paneer Tikka, there will be quintessential Bengali items like Desi Murgir Jhol Aloo Diye, Kaju Kismis Pulao and Luchi-Chholar Dal. Keeping the high demand for the 15th floor view of the wetlands, the authorities have announced a Rs 100 discount for early book-ins. While the offer of alcohol along with the lunch buffet is unlimited, the time for lunch is limited. “We have divided lunch time into blocks of two hours, from which one has to choose while booking,” said Apeksha Lahiri, the group director. The Moroccan theme bar will also offer special Puja cocktails. There will be live performances or a DJ playing music during the festive nights when the place will be open till 2am and a la carte orders will be accepted, she added.

Pride Plaza

Where: BG Block, New Town

When: Buffet at Cafe Treat, October 8-13; 12.30pm to 4pm, 7pm to 11pm

Pocket pinch: Rs 1,770

The hotel is holding a Durga puja, which guests are welcome to attend. “It will take place in our banquet hall. This is the second year of our puja,” said Kaushik Banerjee, the assistant food and beverage manager. Two segments stand out from the list of dishes on offer. One is the street-food counter, which is a round-the-year feature, serving phuchka, Aloo Tikki Ragda, Samosa Chaat, Papdi Chaat and the like. The other is the Asian Counter, which will prepare vegetable noodles and rice live according to customer specifications and Chilli Fish. There will be a selection of salads with a traditional Bengali spin like Bhaja Masala Diye Peyara Makha and Badam Diye Chhola Alu Makha. The mortar and pestle products are great picks with steamed rice, be it Dhone Pata Bata, Kochu Bata, Ranga Alur Bharta, Alu Kumror Chokka or Dim Kasundi Bharta, among other options.

A display of the lunch spread at Pride Plaza.

Among the main course offerings, alongside Mutton Kosha, Katla Machher Matha Diye Muger Dal and Bati Chingri, an interesting pick is Khasir Mete Bhuna. “Mutton liver is slow cooked with onion and tomato,” said executive chef Tagar Shaikh. “Our Murghir Jhol is cooked with leaves of gandharaj lime to add a sweet smell,” he added. The Bhekti Bhapa is cooked with grated coconut, cashew nuts and poppy seeds to balance the pungency of mustard seeds, the chef explained.

Dinasundi Bharta at Pride Plaza.

In the vegetarian section, dhokar dalna will be prepared with green peas or minced soya bean, rather than chholar dal. Other options will include Malai Kofta, Potol Pyaj Posto, Sukto and Pur Bhora Alur Dom.