Foxtrail is a must-visit for their framed pictures of foxes and eclectic fusion cuisine

The place evokes the feeling of an old Irish pub, as you encounter framed pictures of foxes in a dimly-lit setting 
A glimpse of Foxtrail
A glimpse of Foxtrail

Foxtrail, a cosy little restaurant at Camac Street, is full of surprises. The first one begins with the steep set of stairs that leads you to the seating area that they prefer to call the ‘den’. We are amused when we see that the dishes here arrive in a glass capsule from the kitchen on the second floor. The place evokes the feeling of an old Irish pub, as you encounter framed pictures of foxes grinning back at you, as you nurse a glass of wine. Without much ado, we ask the owner Kaushal Joshi about the rather strange name of the place, which opened earlier this year. “My friends and I like foxes, we think that the fox isn’t shrewd, but represents someone who is smart,” he says, adding that the head chef Santu Mandal is quite adept in European cuisine, given that he has been cooking on cruises in Alaska.

Ft Sliders
Ft Sliders

Howrah calling
As we tap our feet to Stayin’ Alive by Bee Gees playing in the background, Santu extends a sweet welcome with an Oreo Popper. Loaded generously with chocolate, the shake makes for a sinful start to our meal. The place is also known for its tapas, and so it seemed fitting that we kick off with the Trio Bruschetta. The platter, which offers  Tomato Basil , Mushroom and Thyme, and Cheese Bruschetta, can satisfy even a discerning palate. We have to say though that the subtle sprinkle of thyme on the Mushroom Bruschetta totally won us over.

Cocktail hour!
Cocktail hour!

“We have something to suit everyone’s taste when it comes to the short-eats — there’s European, 
Chinese and even distinctly Bengali flavours,” says the chef, adding that the place attempts to create fusion eats by combining Bengali ingredients with those from all over India and the world. Take for example, the pizza called Howrah Bridge. The unique combination of kasundi and bhetki on a pizza can sound bizarre, but wait till you try it! The slightly overpowering kasundi blends with the bhetki fish, which, topped with green chillies, results in a burst of flavours.

Prawn-to!
Next up was the Prawns Godavari. The freshwater prawns, tossed with curry leaves and burnt dry
chillies, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds, can transport gastronomes to Andhra Pradesh. We start getting slightly impatient for the tapas, and as if on cue, reading our thoughts, the Gambas arrived. The dish offers pan-seared prawns with garlic herb oil, while there was a hint of a familiar aroma that we confused with lemongrass. We found out later that it was Gondhoraj Lemon, a part of most Bengali
households, which reminds us that it often takes only one ingredient or a familiar aroma to make you instantly feel at home.


Meal for two: Rs 1,000.

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