Hrushikesh B.
Google
Kolkata Cricket Club at Crown Melbourne is a restaurant that arrives with expectation. The setting is polished and atmospheric, the welcome warm, and the service attentive throughout the evening. The bar, in particular, deserves praise, boasting an impressive and well-curated collection of whiskies and wines that suggests a serious dining experience.
The drinks, however, set an early tone of inconsistency. The Negroni and Old Fashioned were competently executed but lacked distinction (3/5). The Aam Panna mocktail, on the other hand, was entirely devoid of character — little more than flavoured soda without the expected tang or depth (0/5).
Entrées showed flashes of promise. The Seekh Kebab was well-seasoned and satisfying (3.5/5), while the Scallops were cooked with confidence and restraint (3.5/5). The Spatchcock Chicken Tandoori looked the part, with a pleasing char on the exterior, but fell apart on tasting — excessively salty within, making it difficult to enjoy (1.5/5).
The mains continued this uneven trajectory. Kosha Mangsho, a dish that demands patience and depth, was one of the stronger offerings: rich, aromatic, and well balanced (4/5). In contrast, the restaurant’s signature Chingri Malai Curry disappointed. While the prawns were cooked perfectly, the curry itself was surprisingly bland, lacking the coconut richness and gentle sweetness the dish is known for (3/5).
Portion sizes across the mains were notably small for a restaurant of this calibre and price point, to the extent that an additional main had to be ordered mid-meal. That decision proved unfortunate. The Butter Chicken was the weakest dish of the night — thin, watery, and almost entirely flavourless, bearing little resemblance to the dish it claims to be (0/5). It appeared to share the same base as the Malai Curry, further highlighting a lack of distinction in the kitchen’s approach.
Dessert, a Crème Caramel, was pleasant but unremarkable (3/5).
In summary, Kolkata Cricket Club excels in ambience, hospitality, and beverage selection, but the kitchen struggles with consistency, portion size, and flavour depth. There is clear potential here, but at present, the execution does not justify the reputation or the pricing. A restaurant with such a strong concept deserves a far more confident and cohesive culinary performance.
We paid around 470 in 3 People with dissapointment.
