One of my favorite places to eat Italian food in Kolkata, Alla Bella Mozzarella now has a new menu. I was invited to a blogger’s meet by the restaurant on a lazy Sunday afternoon to try out the new dishes and I was floored! Old favorites like Roasted Bell Pepper Soup, Caesar Salad, Spaghetti di prawn aglio and the beautiful Wood-fired Chocolate fondant continue to be part of the menu but I may have found some new favorites.
We started off our meal with two refreshing mocktails, one with Sweet Lime and the other with Cranberry. I preferred the slightly tangy and sweet lime drink to the cranberry. Full marks on the presentation of the drinks.
For starters, we gorged on Pollo Fritto or Crumb Fried Chicken with Mascarpone Sauce. We were a group of very hungry women and we attacked the chicken with a vengeance! It also helped that the dish was cooked perfectly. There was the right amount of crunch and the sauce paired beautifully with the fried chicken. Next up was the Caesar Salad. Though not a new addition to the menu, this is one of Alla Bella Mozzarella’s best dishes. Even though it is a pretty simple salad, most places mess it up by either adding way too much dressing that makes everything soggy or scrimping on the chicken or bacon. Here, there is a good balance of everything. Crunchy veggies and croutons with the smoked chicken and parmesan make this a lovely salad. We were also served a portion of Tre Formaggi De Salmone or cheese-stuffed salmon. I was kinda disappointed with the dish though mainly because I could not taste any salmon in it.
What is an Italian meal without pasta and we were served two variants – a Fettucine Carbonara with egg, bacon and parmesan. This was simply delizioso! Loaded with cheese, egg and meat, this was heaven on a plate. The second pasta was Spaghetti with Parmesan Coated Chicken. If you are not fond of too much cheese in your pasta, definitely try this one out.
By the time we moved on to the Smoked Chicken, Rosemary, Onion and Garlic Pizza and the Lamb Lasagna, I had pretty much waived the white flag. I just could not eat anymore but again, who can resist a delicious looking pizza and lasagna placed right in front of you. Alla Bella Mozzarella makes excellent thin crust wood-fired pizzas and I loved the mix of the herb, chicken, onion and garlic. The Lasagne was a big favorite at the table but I personally found it too cheesy.
The stomach might be full but it is impossible to resist a bite of the incredible wood-fired chocolate fondant. If you’ve still not tried this delicious thing, you are missing out on something incredible!