Have you had a burger so good that it “speaks” for itself? We have! Celebrity chef Vicky Ratnani has now brought his chain, Speak Burgers, to Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences. The gourmet brand was originally launched in Mumbai in 2021 by the chef and is currently acquired by Ghost Kitchens. With a purple and yellow colour scheme, the burger spot is located on the ground floor of the Rajarhat hotel, right before their Cafe Joy, and is decorated with a live counter, a few chairs and tables that overlook it. Yes, you can see your ‘borgir’ getting flipped and assembled in front of you and that makes the wait worth it!
Coming to their menu, which, of course, takes us first to the Be-spoke Burger range. The burgers come in a variety of meats, including fish, chicken, lamb and buff. The vegetarian versions pack in portobello, paneer and different bean and chickpea patties. If you want to cut out the carbs, they also serve up burger bowls in a salad format. For sides, you are spoilt for choice with the ‘Signature Of Wings’ range and fries with dips.
Location, location, location
But what made Novotel the lucky place to bring the brand to Kolkata? “I have done events here before and the owners of the hotels understood my brand and they felt it fit. They were already creating a whole new kind of F&B fabric here,” said Ratnani.
Chef Ratnani thinks that there are big players like McDonald’s and Burger King, but there’s no real “pyaar wale” or “made with love” burger. A burger can reach great heights for the chef and it’s not just a fried piece between two breads, which is “how people perceive burgers.”
Then what makes Speak Burgers the “pyaar wale” type? “There’s the quality of bread… we make good bread, the patties are engineered so there is a fat-to-protein content, the flavours are different, so are the marinades, the chicken goes in a brine and sauces are all homemade,” said the chef. So, it is not just a burger.
Local flavours and chef’s recommendations
Kosha Mangho burger in the making
The menu has two hyperlocal burgers, one being the Kosha Mangsho Burger and the other is the Fish and Chips Burger, which is made with the city’s bekti and “has been very well received”. Beef is not available in Maharashtra, but since buff is available here, it has made its way to Speak Burgers, Kolkata.
The burger spot opened doors just before the Durga Puja celebrations. “We chose this moment because people are in a festive mood, and the weather is getting better,” explained Ratnani.
With so many options and sides to choose from, we asked the chef for his recommendations. He suggests trying the Portobello Mushroom Burger, which comes with Portobello mushroom fries, as well as the Korean Chicken, Tandoori Chicken and Chicken 65 Burgers. “Each burger has a unique taste, so you will never get bored of eating. There’s always something new to try.”
Fish and Chips Burger
Pop picks
Mexicano: This hearty burger is served with tortilla chips, cheesy queso sauce and salsa. The patty is made with rajma, bell peppers, chipotle chillies, ancho chilli powder, oregano and cumin, making it a Mexican-style rajma masala. The patty is minced and bound with a little potato and then chilled, crumbed and fried. Fun hack: Open the burger, add the tortilla chips, pour on a generous amount of queso, and you’ve got yourself a deliciously messy treat!
The Veggiestan: This is chef’s take on the classic Indian Railways veg cutlet, which is made with a mix of vegetables and Indian spices, all crumbed together. It goes with a bit of simple mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles, lettuce and tomatoes.
The Bohemian: This burger has black beans and beetroots bound together. The other components include harissa mayo, pickled beetroots and chilli hummus.
Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger: This is a whole mushroom that is grilled and topped with bocconcini (baby buffalo mozzarella). The burger is assembled with black pepper truffle mayo, mushroom pate, tomatoes, pickles and caramelised onions. Plus points to the charred taste that is a strong component of this dish.
Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger and (right) Grilled Tenderloin Truffle Buff Burger
Kosha Mangsho Burger: A Bengali favourite! The burger has kosha mangsho with a fried egg and crispy potatoes for a crunchy texture, along with a dollop of mint mayo.
Chicken 65 Burger: The popular bar snack has been reinvented as a burger! This burger packs in a crispy, crunchy and spicy fried chicken and comes with curry leaf mayo. It’s prepared with ginger, garlic, some soy sauce, and curd making it a lipid Chicken 65.
Tandoori Chicken Burger: Chef Ratnani says that “tandoori is our OG barbeque” and since tandoori chicken makes a good wrap, then why not a burger? The chicken is cooked in a tandoor, finished on the grill and is served with a curry and mint mayo, homemade pickles, tomatoes and lettuce.
Grilled Tenderloin Truffle Buff Burger: This patty is chargrilled to perfection and comes with a truffle mayo and thick molten brie blue cheese. It’s seasoned with steak seasoning and served with gherkins and French mustard.
