Tram Deepo will not just take you to your desired location but also serve you a pure vegetarian meal. Spread across 3,400 sq ft in the buzzing hub of Kokata’s Ballygunje, Tram Deepo is a tram without wheels.
As the Tram completes one year soon, its young owners Ankit Agarwal and Mahesh Singhania are elated. “Trams are a part of the city’s heritage, so we thought of dedicating a space to the iconic Calcutta symbol,” they say. “The Park Street-Camac Street stretch is full of pubs and nightclubs. We thought of creating a place with a mix of both the moods and we are happy at the way people have responded.”
The look and feel is in synergy with the name. The floor in the bar looks like typical city roads, made with stone chips and tar, and complete with potholes. The main dining area seats 150 and is equipped with distinguished high chairs. The bar is 30 ft long and with a tipple in front, it makes a great adda spot.
The tram compartment has an extensive menu and quirky posters all around. The theme is reinforced with the collection of serving dishes representing trams and materials used at tram depots.
The food takes you beyond the City of Joy, encompassing several countries. There’s an array of pure vegetarian dishes ranging from Indian, Oriental, Mexican and Continental. There is also a separate section for Tandoor and Finger Food items. Chef Sukanto’s expertise in Mexican and Continental cuisine shines through his signature dishes Corn & Spinach Quesedillas, Red Wine Mushroom Risotto, Green Thai Curry with sticky rice, and Veg Jaipuri. The Finger Food section is very popular.
From Aloo Telengana to Kholapuri Misal Pav, Sabudana Vada and Chatapat Paneer Chettinad, specialities of different regions become a house speciality here. If you are on a longer journey and your Depoo is far off, no harm in ordering from the main course. The chef recommends Kashmiri Dum Aloo to Benarasi Malai Kofta, to Amritsari Pindi Chole, Dal Peshawari and Delhi’s Kadai Paneer.
Sitting in Kolkata and not having scrumptious desserts is blasphemy. Here, the ubiquitous mishti doi and sandesh take the backseat, replaced by Mudpie with ice cream and Two Berries Panacotta. That apart, it’s hard to resist the caramel custard.
Enjoy the ride and spend a gala time over Shisha sessions before your tram comes to a ‘halt’.