Pagla Baburchi: Worth the hype?
With attractive interior, good food and fast service, there is a lot to like about Pagla Baburchi, but given the lofty standards set by Madchef and Cheez, customers will be expecting more
When the creators of Madchef and Cheez bring something new in town, it is bound to catch a lot of attention.
And that is exactly what Pagla Baburchi (which intentionally happens to be the Bangla for a mad chef) is getting.
Their goal is to elevate Bangla cuisine and given their track record of making some of the best pizzas (Cheez) and burgers (Madchef) in town, it is hard not to get your hopes up.
Location and interior
Located in Banani 11, where Cream & Fudge used to be, it's hard to miss the place and chances are you will find it brimming with people.
The interior of the place is a journey in itself, with the place very well lit and the walls having paintings of some fictional characters who love Pagla Baburchi and some of its food items - it truly is well thought out.
The place is decently spacious and the seating is smartly arranged without getting too cluttered and the seats are comfortable without taking up too much space.
The mains
Now let us move on to the food and we have to start off with the Mad kachchi which is the most popular item on the menu.
While the meat is tender and juicy and has the spices down to a T, the rice does not have the flavour one expects from kachchi.
The rice can also come off as too dry but on a positive note, it is not too oily and the spices are mixed very well. But it is not as mad as its name and priced at Tk399+ we give this a six out of 10 rating.
What we did like was the Sticky Ghee Bhat and that is as the name suggests, sticky rice with ghee poured on top.
The plate of rice goes excellently with the Beef Jhol Chap and the meat is so tender and well-cooked that it is bound to leave you wanting for more. You can also try the Shonali Morog Mosallam if you want a chicken item.
It is a big chicken roast with some Alu Bhorta on the side and it goes very well with the rice. The Sticky Ghee Bhat costs Tk129+ while the Beef Jhol Chap is Tk319+ and we give this combo a solid eight out of 10. The Shonali Morog Mosallam costs Tk299+ and with the rice, we give this combo a seven out of 10 rating. These three are the must-try items here.
The desserts
While the mains are bound to fill you up, you should keep space for the desserts because these are two killer items - the Shahi Tukra with Mascarpone Cheese and the Fruit Yogurtini.
The Shahi Tukra with Mascarpone Cheese is an ingenious item, and true to their motto, this truly does elevate Bangla cuisine. The Fruit Yogurtini is the perfect cooling agent after you have finished having the mains.
The star-shaped cake, along with the yoghurt and fruits go really well together. We give the Shahi Tukra with Mascarpone Cheese (Tk229+) an impeccable 9 out of 10 and the Fruit Yogurtini (Tk179+) an eight out of 10.
The verdict
While Pagla Baburchi has a few hits, people are mostly visiting it for the kachchi, which is not its best item. The owners are quick to clarify that this is not a kachchi place but a place for Bangla cuisine.
The price of the food is not cheap but that is understandable given the premium location and the interior.
The service is fast and snappy and the place stays open till 2am which is an added bonus. There are plans to start home delivery soon too.
The owners admit that they are not the finished article yet and they are willing to listen to feedback from their customers.
They have the customers coming in for the time being, but one feels that their kachchi will have to be the item that keeps people coming back for more in the long run.
It has to be the best in the business and truly elevate kachchi to a new level.
There is a lot to like about Pagla Baburchi, but given the lofty standards set by Madchef and Cheez, customers will be expecting more. Now it is up to Pagla Baburchi to heed the call and build on the initial hype and one feels that that is exactly what they will do.
