Nizam's Restaurant

There's no judgement on this is one of Kolkata's most iconic and old places that's still functional with all its pride and glory. I had visited this place again after nearly a decade and found the experience bitter than the last time. Their hygeine has degraded over these years and the food quality is also very poor compared to the pricing. I had ordered chicken special biriyani and reshmi kabab. The biriyani was very average in taste, the kabab was good but has a strange odour IDK what it was, hence couldn't savour it properly. Flies roaming around everywhere, poor cleaning of tables and floor, will make any customer uncomfortable if he/she isn't accustomed with their environment. Aside the iconic status, nothing much to explore here. Very poor service also, the waiters just "delivers the food" to your table, we had to serve it ourselves. Very average experience overall.

Recently, I visited Nizam’s Restaurant for their biryani. We ordered two biryanis — one chicken and one mutton. Both the quantity and quality were excellent. The pieces of mutton and chicken were also really good. I really liked the taste — juicy, neither too oily nor too dry. Definitely a must-visit place for good biryani..

I tried chicken Kathi roll and Mutton biriyani. The roll is quite good in taste but the mutton biryani totally disappointed and piece is too small total money wasted Biriyani was not so hot and mutton piece not well cooked .. the behaviour of the stuff is not good I tell him price of the biriyani is too much and they served with small piece not well cooked mutton , he avoid me just like don't care attitude.. it's totally go though Nizam's Name but food is very disappointing roll is quite good..

An honest review from my side: Nizam's - one of the main attractions in the New Market area, is well-known for being the inventor of the Kolkata Hot Kathi Roll. Hence, it has a special place in the hearts of Kolkata lovers. Now, let's come to the restaurant. I really loved the ambience, which would take you back in time to the old days of Calcutta/Kolkata. Both the AC and non-AC sections share the same ambience in terms of the framed photographs. Service was prompt and the waiters were very courteous and helpful. Regarding food, let me come to the items individually in terms of what we ordered: 1. Egg Chicken Roll: A roll with decent amount of chicken fillings, and lemon as one of the seasonings. Overall, loved the roll. 2. Chicken Biryani: Okayish, nothing ahamori (great). The alu/potato was too hard. Chicken piece was good. 3. Firni: Loved it. Not too sweet, but delicious. Would definitely recommend it for first timers, who wish to try out the famous Hot Kathi Roll at this iconic restaurant.

• Nizam's Restaurant in Esplanade is one of Kolkata’s most iconic eateries, famously known as the birthplace of the Kathi Roll. With a legacy dating back decades, it draws crowds for its old-school charm and Mughlai-style delicacies. • 📍 Located near the busy New Market area and just a short walk from Esplanade Metro Station, the restaurant is easily accessible via metro, bus, or cab. It’s tucked along Hogg Street, right in the middle of the city’s shopping and heritage zone. • I had heard a lot about Nizam’s over the years and finally got the chance to visit yesterday. We chose to sit in the non-AC section as we were in a hurry. While the space carries a classic, old-world vibe, I must say the cleanliness was severely lacking, both in the seating area and visibly in the kitchen. For a place with such a reputation, hygiene should be a top priority. • We ordered the Egg Chicken Kathi Roll (₹105), Murgh Malai Kebab (₹305 for 6 pieces), and Zafrani Firni (₹90). The roll was satisfying — flavorful, generously filled, and definitely value for money. Sadly, the kebab didn’t live up to the hype. It lacked the essential smokiness and the malai coating was overly sweet, making it feel out of balance and overpriced. • The Zafrani Firni stole the show. 💫 Chilled to perfection, delicately sweet with a fragrant touch of saffron — it was pure bliss. Easily the highlight of the meal and something I’d return just to have again. • The staff were polite but clearly lacked professionalism. Our initial cutlery was poorly cleaned, though they did replace it promptly when we pointed it out — without any fuss, which was appreciated. Still, basic cleanliness and service standards need serious improvement. Overall: A historic restaurant with potential, but the current state — especially cleanliness and food consistency — needs attention. Come for the legacy and that heavenly firni, but manage your expectations.

Worth a visit—this is one of Kolkata’s oldest restaurants and is famously known as the origin place of Kathi rolls in the city. The roll I tried was average, but still a nice experience given the history. You can also try their biryani and other items from the menu for a fuller taste of what they offer.

A tasty Kolkata Biriyani keeping the restaurant's iconic status in the city in tact. I couldn't try the rolls as I arrived before time. However the cleanliness, overall maintenance of the place & service if improved would the make the experience a whole lot better. I was led in to the AC hall via a cooking and cleaning route where they were cutting the meat and it was not a pleasant experience.

Rating : ★★★★☆ (4/5) Stepping into Nizam’s feels like entering old Calcutta — full of heritage charm. Ordered Tikka Butter Masala with Butter Naan — good taste, though naan was slightly cold. Service was quick and attentive despite the Sunday rush. Wanted to try rolls, but a 40-minute wait was too long. Major downside: poor upkeep — cracked walls, pillars, and even serving plates. Heritage needs care, not neglect. 👉 Overall: Great food & service, but the restaurant deserves better preservation.