Having already made their presence felt in and around Patia, Shohala Ana, Odia, a franchise of the very popular Sholo Ana, Bangali of Kolkata, has come up with yet another outlet in Kharvel Nagar to cater to a larger population of the city. Serving authentic Bengali and Oriya cuisine that too at a reasonable price, this restaurant is a paradise for fish lovers, serving not less than 21 varieties of fish preparations.
Says owner Sakya Singh Yadav, a hotel management product with five years of work experience at ITC Grand Central Hotel, Mumbai, ‘’One of the main reasons to conceptualise Shohala Ana was to give a chance to the people to enjoy fish as they have never done before. There are a lot of eateries and restaurants in the city which are known for their mutton and chicken preparations but we are the only restaurant to provide authentic fish curries, both in Odia and Bengali varieties,’’ he proudly informs.
Be it the Ilish Bhapa, Bhekti Paturi, Chingdi Malai curry, Rohi Kalia or the Parse Jhol, fishes come in all varieties at Shohala Ana, that too all the way from Kolkata. But it isn’t all about fish. There is a lot to try out in the chicken and mutton categories as well, with a Chicken Dag Bungalow curry, (chicken with egg), being one of the most sought after dishes. The veggies have no reasons to be disappointed either with an extensive menu to choose from - be it the badi chura, saga, bharta or the baigan bhaja, dahi baigan and dhoker dalna (besan curry). Even those with a sweet tooth get a chance to taste something different with a dish like Daber Payas, (a tender coconut kheer) and few other desserts.
The restaurant also makes it a point to have a special menu, which is changed every day, to appeal to the taste buds of its customers. This apart, the thalis - veg, chicken, mutton and fish - are the other added attractions. They also home deliver for a minimum bill amount all over the city.
Interestingly, while the branch at Patia had a rustic charm with portrait depictions on the walls, cash counter inside a hut and lights hanging from bullock cart wheels, the one at Kharvel Nagar, which was inaugurated on July 15, sports a royal look like that of a zamindaar house with a decorated wooden door, swords and tiger skin hanging from the wall and cupboards filled with artificial jewels and stonestudded turbans.
True to its name, this restaurant is a place worth trying out!