ITI, Vashi
Food: Authentic
Service: Friendly
Ambiance: Homely

We could have been seated in an eatery in downtown Kolkata. The instrumental version of Purano Shei Diner Kotha, a popular Rabindra Sangeet (Rabindranath Tagore’s poetry converted into music) was fused with cheery voices greeting each other, as the whiff of Chingri (Prawn) Malai Curry filled the air. The simple décor with Chandmalas (traditional Bengali decor made of thermacol and tinsel) on its pillars, and E TV Bangla channel being played inside the three-storey structure, added to the vibe. Soon, a waiter welcomed us breaking into Bangla in a flash. We were served with complimentary staples in no time. This included the traditional Bengali Nimki (a popular salty, fried Bengali snack flavoured with black cumin seed) and a small portion of Maankochu Bata (Taro Root paste).