Vintage Asia of JW Marriott Kolkata

Gorging on Oriental platter

For connoisseurs of good food intending to dig into sumptuous fare from Far East and go on a nostalgic trip to Thailand, there’s Vintage Asia, the fine-dining restaurant of J W Marriott Kolkata that specializes in authentic Chinese and Thai fare.  The restaurant came into existence sometime in December, 2016 and these days, the outlet has earned the distinction of churning out some of the best Chinese and Thai cuisine in the city of Kolkata. 

Moreover, the 80-seater restaurant happens to be the favourite address for Royal Thai and Chinese Consulates of Kolkata. Done up with traditional interiors, the outlet recreates the ambience of Far East with its rustic, textured wooden stuff. The setting is cozy exhibiting a blend of art deco and contemporary Oriental touches.  A beverage lounge at the entrance has seating facilities. There are two live stations where chefs rustle out real Chinese and Thai culinary dishes. The menu on offer is a la carte and one can get to choose from a broad range of options for Sunday brunch including dim sums, starters, soups, the main course items and desserts.  Serving freshly cooked items forms the main forte of the outlet with the focus on finest, fresh, traditionally-sourced ingredients. The menu crafted by chefs appears quite impressive in taste and look. The outlet procures lotus roots and Jasmine tea from Thailand.

                                        The interiors of the fine dining outlet

On one Sunday afternoon in July, I had set out to head to Vintage Asia to enjoy the lunch menu. I began my culinary journey with Asparagus Water Chestnut Crystal Dumpling, Raw Papaya salad or Som Tam and Schezwan hot and sour soup that certainly deserve mention. 

A bowl of Asparagus water chestnut crystal dumpling

Som Tam and Schezwan hot sour soup

I was waiting to have my fill with the main course when I was served burnt garlic fried rice, a Chinese recipe containing spring onion. The menu is best savoured with Thai yellow curry comprising silken tofu, pumpkin and butter mushroom. I moved on to have other platters including stir fried lotus roots with snow peas and black fungus that is a typical Thai dish. 

 Burnt garlic fried rice served with Thai yellow curry

There were other options including the Chinese preparation- Wok tossed fresh noodles rustled up with carrots, beans, onion, garlic and chilly flakes. The outlet’s hot pot tofu- a spicy preparation of onion, peppers and bean sauce would completely blow away the gourmet lovers.

                                        Wok tossed noodles

The perfect way to round off one’s Oriental meal is to go for Thai desserts like Tub Tim Krob –a popular coconut milk based dessert of Thailand prepared from chilled, jellied water chestnut served in sweetened coconut cream. There is the homemade tender coconut ice cream garnished with pomegranate, a famed Thai dessert that can send the sweet tooth holder into a culinary trance.

Some of the signature dishes of the outlet are Chinese dishes that are mainly Cantonese and Schezwan cuisine and one of the non-vegetarian items- Schezwan chicken is another signature dish of the outlet. The hottest selling dishes are Thai yellow curry, hot pot tofu to be savoured with burnt garlic fried rice. The outlet’s Sunday brunch menu is pegged at Rs 1,999 for a single person.The outlet is into serving both lunch and dinner on Saturdays while dinner is only served on weekdays.