i've been to kasturi's kolkata restaurant more times than i can count. i love it so much and it has kept its standards high in terms of food. this was the second time i went to the guwahati branch. the same standards have been maintained here too.
i ordered the following:
1. basanti pulao- its ghee-laden and aromatic, butthe second time i ate this in the guwahati branch, the balance of sweet and salty was missing. flavorful, nonetheless.
2. dhokar dalna- with the earthy flavor of asafoetida, this bengali version of gatte ki sabzi is great veg. side dish.
3. kochu patay chingri bhapa- this is a must-eat at kasturi and i order it every single time. it's prawn steamed in arum leaves with mustard paste. delectable.
3. pabdar begun bori jhol- this light pabdafishcurry with brinjal was quite tasty.
4. chitol mache muithha- this is a rich gravy of chitalfishcakes. a quintessentially bangal (east bengali) dish and kasturi makes it well.fishcakes do not have filler.
5. mourala macher chorchori- another tasty mustard-based, dry curry of small mourala fishes.
6. chicken dak bungalow- thick, spicy and yogurt-based chicken gravy. it tastes good but traditionally dak bungalow is served with a sliced boiled egg. missed that.
7. mutton kosha- the very common homecooking mutton dish in bengal- this is a dark, rich gravy of mutton. every bit as good as my mom's! though mutton could have been a bit more tender. the portion of mutton was also quite small.
overall, it is a good experience to eat authentic bengali food in assam and i personally thank kasturi for its unwavering standards.