Mags (Kolkata)

And Food Turns Saviour

Bang opposite the more famous Olypub, Mags is the shabbier cousin, i.e. the watering hole of Magnolia, a fairly well-known restaurant on Park Street. Situated on the floor above the main Magnolia restaurant, Mags depresses you the moment you enter simply by the look of the chairs and tables. While the tables are quite old and often creaky, the chairs are nothing but plastic armchairs that keep doing the rounds at all canteens and low- and middle-budget gatherings. The stewards too can be quite uncooperative, especially when they argue needlessly with customers over where exactly they should be seated. Thankfully for Mags, it is the quality of food alone that saves the day. The regular Chinese fare in the form of noodles and chicken gravy is quite nice. But the one that takes the cake is the dry chilli chicken, with crisp but succulent pieces of chicken and the right condiments to go along. With a separate smoking zone already in place and the quality of food ensured probably by its blood relationship to Magnolia, the thing for Mags to focus on ought to be the ambience and the service (did I mention the stewards here ask for more handsome tips actively?) if it wants to place itself as a serious threat to the pub across the street.

Ambience                ★★
Service                    ★
Presentation            ★★
Taste                      ★★★★


http://kolkata.burrp.com/listing/magnolia_park-street_kolkata_restaurants/146345663